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This is the top 100 starters for 2023 fantasy baseball? This is the top 100 starters for 2023 fantasy baseball! Which means. Dot dot dot. This is the end of the 2023 fantasy baseball rankings. I can reclaim my fingers! Wait, I still have to do the top 100 overall and top 500 overall. Hmm, that was short-lived. Subscriptions are up and running, and they come with our Fantasy Baseball Draft War Room, now for auction leagues, snake leagues, Best Ball leagues and AL-Only and NL-Only leagues. Here’s Steamer’s 2023 Fantasy Baseball Projections for Hitters and 2023 Fantasy Baseball Projections for Pitchers. As always, my projections are included, and where I see tiers starting and stopping. If you want an explanation of tiers, go back to the top 10 for 2023 fantasy baseball and start this shizz all over again. Anyway, here’s the top 100 starters for 2023 fantasy baseball:
NOTE I: All my rankings are currently available on Patreon for the price of a Starbucks coffee, if you get one of those extra grande frappuccino jobbers. Don’t wait for the rankings to come out over the next month, and get them all now.
NOTE II: Free agents are listed as just that and not yet projected. Once a guy signs, I will write out their blurb and add in projections, or remove them, if they sign in an unfavorable place. They are ranked currently where I think they might be if they sign on for a full-time job.
GO BACK TO THE TOP 80 STARTERS FOR 2023 FANTASY BASEBALL
81. Michael Kopech – This tier started in the top 80 starters for 2023 fantasy baseball. This tier ends at German. I called this tier, “I’m using the milkrowave.” As for Kopech, we have a little sub-tier of pitchers who should be a lot better. They’re sub-tierranean. *puts on snorkel, starts typing* It’s subtearraiq18–Ugh, the snorkel mask got all fogged and I couldn’t see the keyboard. Kopech’s stuff should be an absolute delight. The results so far? Cringe emoji that is standing outside of a Subway arguing with its boss, saying it only worked there because it liked the Jared commercials. Just real cringe stuff. Kinda wonder if Kopech might be better suited for the pen. Welp, here’s to him figuring out starting! 2023 Projections: 10-7/3.89/1.23/133 in 129 IP
82. Reid Detmers – Every time I look at a guy and think, this guy should be 30 spots higher, then I look at the 30 guys in front of him, and I don’t know who to move down. Said this a bunch but there’s really just too many starters. It doesn’t hurt that 28ish clubs were using a dead ball last year (minus Texas at home, Yanks and Pujols). Why Reid didn’t replace anyone above him is the whole 2nd year thing. Pitchers usually come into their own in the third year, so 2023 might still be up and down for Detmers. Also, his peripherals so far have been kinda meh. Lots of blue on his Statcast, but his curve is gorge and hasn’t yet hit its peak performance. Couple it with a 93 MPH fastball that produced a .233 BAA, and he should be solid, but, yeah, there might be some questionable starts still. Also, there’s a Coolwhip Reid Detmers sleeper. 2023 Projections: 9-10/3.89/1.26/143 in 142 IP
83. Tyler Mahle – Last year, Mahle only threw 120 2/3 IP, down 60 innings from the year before, because of a strained shoulder, and *slowly tiptoes out of the room*. Okay, could see a bounce back. He’s in a much better park than Cincy, and the cost is way down from previous years, but velocity was down on all his pitches, and, with only 28 1/3 IP last 2nd half, not sure there’s any way of knowing what to expect. Maybe getting more of that? Sure, but what is “that?” He said while walking out on a lake with a top hat and cane. 2023 Projections: 8-8/3.81/1.24/124 in 117 IP
84. Garrett Whitlock – Not gonna go too far down this road, but it’s not only that the Red Sox are acting like a small market team with their roster and signings, which is especially craptastic, but they’re also janking* Whitlock and Houck back and forth from the rotation and pen, and ruining them. (*Had to use ‘jank’ because can’t use “yank” or any form of that word in a Red Sox player’s blurb.) So, the Sawx are saying they’re going to stretch out Whitlock, but they said that before about him and Houck. Whitlock’s stats look great, his stuff backs it up, but we’re going to get to May and he’s going to be relieving Pivetta, right? I mean, of course, right? I said I wasn’t going to fall for the ol’ banana in the ol’ bullpen again, but I totally am. 2023 Projections: 8-6/3.24/1.06/113 in 103 IP
85. Bailey Ober – Just last year, Bailey Ober was a sleeper of mine. So, what happened? Well, right before writing that post, I hit my head–Oh, what happened with him? Right, well, he was great, actually (8.2 K/9, 1.8 BB/9). Just not enough of it (56 IP). He suffered a severe groin strain and now I’m crossing my legs, can we change the subject? He missed most of May and June, and all of August. Could still be a solid late flyer, but likely going to be limited on innings. 2023 Projections: 7-6/3.47/1.12/98 in 109 IP
86. Josiah Gray – Think this is the 2nd year in a row JoJo Gray’s found his way into this tier. No one gets a third year. Ask Pivetta. You either make good on your promise or you go to the “Omitted But Considered” section of the rankings and think about what you’ve done. Gray’s been exceptional with his curve and slider, but his 95 MPH fastball ain’t working for shizz. If he can get his fastball to work, then he’s gonna be a top 30 starter. 2023 Projections: 8-13/3.91/1.33/164 in 158 IP
87. Domingo German – These next few guys would make the Texas GM, Chris Young, cry, recalling his youth, because I’d call these guys long men. UPDATE: With Rodon out, Sonntag’s rotation spot becomes a lot less tenuous, and becomes more someone I can see making mein. (That’s the extent of my German.) German’s command is roughly 2.5 BB/9 and his strikeouts are anywhere from excellent to terrible. By the by, Excellent 2 Terrible was the original Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde title. Little fun fact for you! 2023 Projections: 10-5/4.07/1.13/111 in 127 IP
88. Tyler Anderson – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Wainwright. I call this tier, “Six-sevenths of almost interesting.” You see 8.3 K/9, and you’re like, “Ya know what, that’s almost interesting!” Then you see a guy’s K-BB% and you’re like, “That’s gonna lose about 1/7th of an almost interesting.” That’s this tier, six-sevenths of an almost interesting starter. In deep (NL-Only or AL-Only, for unstints) leagues, this tier is a strong option because in those leagues waivers are scant/skank, and you need IP. If I do my top 500 correctly, this tier and every starter after won’t appear draftable for 12-team leagues or shallower. This is your basic, old/boring starter tier.
As for Anderson, here’s what I said this offseason, “Signed by the Angels. One thing always remains true: Angels buy the spike. I wouldn’t be surprised if Arte Moreno has to sell because he’s over-invested in crypto. Arte loves the spike! Change them to the Anaheim Stonks and send them career years. Angels get more out of a spike than Keith Raniere. So, last year Tyler Anderson went 2.57 ERA, 1.00 WHIP with incredibly good command — 1.7 BB/9 — with no strikeouts — 7 K/9. He’s the poster boy for the ratio boon of 2022, and where does that take him in 2023? I’d say regression and not on my teams.” And that’s me quoting me! 2023 Projections: 8-10/4.09/1.19/134 in 172 IP
88. Jose Quintana – Here’s what I said this offseason, “Signed with the Mets. Steve Cohen got all his money wrapped up in formaldehyde sharks or what? Mets gonna get to the postseason and be like: Geez, wonder why our 67-year-old pitchers are tired. Quintana is likely a better real-life pitcher than a fantasy one, even though he has a better career ERA than Taijuan (3.75 to 3.89), and seemed to be reborn last year as a Pirate/Card. Or was he?! Damn, Mr. Reversal Question, freaking me out. His xFIP looked pretty similar last year as to his 4+ ERA years on the Cubs. Seems to be an okay late flyer that is wildly *shrugs*.”And that’s me copying and pasting me! UPDATE: Stress fracture of his rib. 2023 Projections: 10-8/3.86/1.29/142 in 171 IP
89. Jameson Taillon – Here’s what I said this offseason, “Signed with the Cubs. Have a theory on the Cubs’ offseason moves. If they do nothing, the fans will lose their collective shizz. So, the Cubs put together a non-competitive team, but sign a few randoms to make it seem like they’re trying. “Yeah, we lost Willson Contreras, but check out Jameson Taillon! He’s fun, right? Who’s he throwing to? Uh…Cody Bellinger during pregame warm-ups!” Taillon strikes out no one, is home run prone and I wouldn’t go near him in Wrigley.” And the’s me quoting me! 2023 Projections: 8-11/4.17/1.16/155 in 181 IP
90. Taijuan Walker – Here’s what I said this offseason, “Signed with the Phillies. Can’t believe the powers that be are insisting I call him The Republic of China Walker. I’d remove this tin-foil hat, but then they’d read my thoughts. So, Taijuan lost a strikeout on his K/9 last year, and had his best ERA in a few (ignoring 2020 season). His xFIP was even near his career best (3.89), and his career ERA is 3.89, so call him a 3.89 ERA pitcher and be done with it, but he’s super home run prone and going from Metco to Philly is worrisome. Love that he’s a safe bet for 160 IP, and his walk rate was better. How’sever, losing strikeouts and needing the ball to stay in the park for success doesn’t sound like a good combo for Philly.” And that’s–Well, there were a lot of old, boring starters signed this offseason. 2023 Projections: 11-9/3.98/1.18/141 in 163 IP
91. Steven Matz – Last year, he dealt with a worst MCL than the House of Welf at Bopfingen. Hey, did Dennis Miller start writing these blurbs? Long Island’s own Matz could be a bounce back candidate. 2023 Projections: 7-9/4.11/1.28/121 in 123 IP
92. Kenta Maeda – Some of the guys in this tier could be nicknamed, “Currently listed as healthy for Spring Training.” 2023 Projections: 8-11/4.03/1.24/138 in 140 IP
93. Lance McCullers Jr. – It wouldn’t shock me to see a guy in this tier bounce back, but I’m not counting on it either. McCullers has had Tommy John surgery; he’s had a setback or two from his flexor strain this year; he’s admitted to rehab not helping; he’s never pitched more than 162 1/3 IP, and that was a career high by 35 innings; his velocity was down, and his strikeouts were down and his walks up. But…*scratches chin*…other than that? Everything’s been great! Maybe multiple years of throwing a curve 47% of the time wasn’t the best idea, in retrospect. UPDATE: Has a small muscle strain, and won’t be ready to start the year. As my blurb says, I wasn’t drafting him anyway, so that remains unchanged, but I did lower him and his projections. 2023 Projections: 7-4/3.43/1.21/83 in 77 IP
94. Frankie Montas – I’d love to get back in on Montas, but the A’s offloaded a guy who was damaged goods, due to a nobby shoulder, and everyone knew it when they did it. In the 2nd half, he had a 5.66 ERA in 47 2/3 IP, and I’m absolutely woofing into a paper bag and taking it outside to throw it directly in a trash bin vs. a garbage pail inside the house. UPDATE: Out for the season 2023 Projections: 7-8/3.88/1.20/116 in 121 IP
94. Adam Wainwright – After his first start, tell your friends Wainwright only has 324 more to go with Contreras to catch his record with Yadier. Put it in your iCal now. It’ll be a good chuckle for everyone. Spread joy for once, you miserable SOB! 2023 Projections: 10-8/3.94/1.26/108 in 143 IP
95. Drey Jameson – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Nelson. I call this tier, “Saying romance into a glass bottle, then tossing it into the sea.” Putting a message in a bottle is rarely answered, it’s even more rare when someone just speaks words into a bottle and casts it off into the ocean. That’s this tier. The very rare chance for success. For what it’s Cronenworth, this tier last year started with Nestor Cortes, and I said I was going to move him up to the top 80 starters if he was in the rotation, and apparently, I forgot about that. This is clearly the deep league, upside tier.
Here’s what Prospect Itch said about Drey Jameson, “His 6.95 ERA in Triple-A might’ve made some forget about Drey (Is Itch dropping some rap lyrics here? Nice!), but inflated damage is the nature of pitching at Triple-A Reno. Survive and advance is the lens I’m trying to use with young Diamondbacks, and Jameson didn’t miss his first big opportunity to pitch with the help of gravity on the main stage. His 1.11 WHIP in Arizona was closer to his Double-A (0.91) than the Triple-A version (1.59), so it’s not like the 1.48 ERA in 24.1 innings came out of nowhere. Jameson’s pitch-mix is lab-built for our game: a double-plus fastball at 95 that thrives atop the zone, a dynamic slider at 85 and a sinker that tunnels so well with both it adds deception to the 6’0” Jameson’s release. When he’s really in rhythm, the changeup flashes plus and provides a finishing weapon. He repeats his delivery well and will be a late target of mine in redraft leagues, much like Grey’s a target of mine.” I’m legitimately scared. 2023 Projections: 6-9/4.14/1.29/112 in 124 IP
96. Mike Clevinger – Here’s what I said this offseason, “Signed with the White Sox. Clevinger should feel right back at home in the AL Central. “They’re called Guardians now? Were they when I was there?” That’s Clevinger, while wearing tie-dye and Birkenstocks. Hopefully, Clevinger doesn’t run into his old friend Zach Plesac. They were trouble together. Bad influence! We need to separate you two! Sorry, I just became my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Langdon. So, Clevinger returned at about 35% capacity after Tommy John surgery, but maybe it’s taking him a little while longer than most. His velocity was way down, though, and his strikeouts and, yeah, he didn’t look great, tee be aitch.” And that’s me bingo’ing my bango’ing! 2023 Projections: 10-9/4.02/1.17/139 in 154 IP
97. Brayan Bello – His change is so nasty. Small sample size (57 1/3 IP), but his change in its first appearance still produced a .158 BAA. Once he gets his 97 MPH fastball over the plate, he’s going to be putting up some sick numbers. Sick as in very healthy. He just missed getting a rookie outlook post for me, due to having a few too many innings in the majors, and, if he were in the rotation, I might’ve wrote up a sleeper. Don’t worry, if the stuff is as good as I think, we’ll be talking plenty about him in-season. He’s gonna be one of those guys where, when you see him pitching, you’re gonna be like, “Damn, why didn’t I draft him with my last pick?” 2023 Projections: 6-7/3.71/1.35/121 in 104 IP
98. DL Hall – Ya know what this tier is? A group of guys who are going to get big write-ups when they’re called up, or if they seem to be breaking out. They’re Kids ‘n DL Hall. They also might not be “worth” this draft pick by looking at their projections, but if they somehow get called up or start the year with the team, they’re going to be huge value. 2023 Projections: 4-5/3.19/1.32/84 in 61 IP
99. Eury Perez – Already gave you my Eury Perez fantasy. 2023 Projections: 3-4/3.79/1.12/68 in 53 IP
100. Braxton Garrett – Leave it to the Marlins to have eight solid starter options and no 1st or 3rd baseman. 2023 Projections: 5-7/3.94/1.28/103 in 97 IP
101. MacKenzie Gore – Saw a news report that Gore was healthy and would be in the Nats’ rotation this year, and I immediately drafted him in my first, very deep, league, and, boy, am I ducker for this guy. Ducker because I’m not sure if I’m a sucker or this guy is just a *ucker. 2023 Projections: 5-10/4.21/1.36/117 in 109 IP
102. Jared Shuster – The Braves sent down Ian Anderson and Bryce Elder, and Mike Soroka is hurt, naturally. That leaves the Braves’ 5th starter job up to Shoe and Dylan Dodd, who sounds made-up so we’re going Shoe! No, that’s not why. If this were any other organization, I’d say Shuster would have no chance of breaking camp, but the Braves have, year after year, proven that they will go with the best guy for the job, and that is the Shoe Man. Itch said, “A sturdy lefty at 6”3” 210 lbs, Shuster kept bats quiet for 90.2 innings at Double-A, but the team’s affiliate there in Rome tends to suppress runs. After striking out 106 and allowing a 2.78 ERA in Double-A, he struck out just 39 and allowed a 4.25 ERA in 48.2 innings at Triple-A. Doesn’t matter much, of course, but there’s a big difference between 0.96 WHIP and a 1.21, and a bigger difference between a 23.8% K-BB rate and an 11.4% K-BB rate and a bigger difference between wanting to punching Grey and actually doing it.” Okay, not cool. 2023 Projections: 7-4/4.28/1.34/72 in 90 IP
103. Cade Cavalli – Here’s what Itch said, “A linebacker-sized power arm who’s ready for his close-up, Cavalli should open the 2023 season in the Nats’ rotation. The command comes and goes, but the stuff is electric. He posted a 1.18 WHIP and 3.71 ERA in 97 Triple-A innings, which is indicative of the path Cavalli’s on: even when he’s good, the ratios won’t be elite, at least not for a while yet. His plus athleticism gives him an advantage when it comes to refining and maintaining his mechanics, which move a little too quick for his own good at the moment, and Grey better move quick or I’m going to get him.” What on earth? UPDATE: He felt something behind his elbow. 2023 Projections: 6-12/4.31/1.37/128 in 123 IP
103. Ryne Nelson – Here’s what Itch said about him, “I’m not going full Nelson on Ryne. This ain’t Sandberg, is all I’m saying. I might be low here, but he ended the season with right scapula inflammation, and no sir, I don’t like it. Like Drey Jameson, he pitched much better in the majors than he did in Triple-A. Or at least, the results were much better when he wasn’t pitching on the moon. A 6’3” 184 lb prototype innings eater, Nelson is a good athlete who played both ways in college. His moneymaker is a plus fastball he threw 70 percent of the time in the majors. Probably can’t get away with that, long term. His other pitches are solid, but he’ll probably need to throw the changeup more than the 6.3 percent as he did as a D-back last year. Only trouble is he had more control than command in general but especially of his off-speed stuff, but one of Strom’s specialties seems to be off-speed command, so I’m interested here even if I’m not eager, like I would be if I saw Grey in a crosswalk.” Okay, not nice! 2023 Projections: 8-12/4.23/1.34/114 in 133 IP
104. Eduardo Rodriguez – This is a new tier. This tier goes until Keller. I call this tier, “Janky McJanky Jankerstein.” These guys are not safe, a bunch are injured; they’re not 6/7ths of almost interesting, and, finally, they’re not worth the flyer. They’re just a bunch of Janky McJanky Jankersteins.
As for Ed-Rod, he’s the Tigers’ “ace,” which makes me laugh very hard that I bet the Tigers to win the World Series last preseason. Yo, do I have actual marbles in my head? 2023 Projections: 7-12/3.94/1.31/144 in 158 IP
105. Ranger Suarez – As one says to Ranger Suarez and an elderly man at a Korean spa, “Nice that you keep your balls down.” Suarez was a sleeper of mine last year, and, well, they ain’t all winners! The ratios might be okay, because everything is hit down, but with a little bad luck, this could go so sideways. UPDATE: Dealing with more forearm inflammation. 2023 Projections: 7-5/4.03/1.31/106 in 121 IP
106. Kyle Gibson – Here’s what I said this offseason, ” Signed with the Orioles. Hey, the O’s got their number one starter! *emoji wearing an Orioles hat rolls a wheelbarrow onto train tracks and hops in* Nah, the O’s have starting pitcher prospects they’re going to promote, right? Dot dot dot. Right?! So, Gibson is a good bet for 160 IP and I wouldn’t bet on anything else with him.” And that’s me–you know! 2023 Projections: 7-12/4.17/1.31/134 in 162 IP
107. Sean Manaea – Here’s what I said this offseason, “Signed with the Giants. Was looking at Manaea’s stats, and couldn’t for the life of me remember why I liked him so much going into last year, to the point where I wrote a sleeper post for him. Guess it was the above-average Ks and excellent command, but Keyzer Sozë your fingers to your lips and go poof because that’s gone. It shows you the danger of liking a guy who has a barely 9 K/9 and 2 BB/9. If it goes to 8-something and 3-something, then it sucks. He lost velocity on his sinker (stinker) and can’t use anything but his slider. Maybe the Giants can work some magic, but it’s not worth the flyer for the bounce back unless it’s dirt cheap in an incredibly deep league.” And that’s me yadda yadda! 2023 Projections: 9-11/4.19/1.26/169 in 172 IP
108. Alex Wood – Gives me a ton of confidence when I google Wood and the first thing I see is his season ended with a shoulder injury. Thankfully, my Google has parental controls. 2023 Projections: 6-6/4.26/1.31/108 in 103 IP
109. Corey Kluber – Here’s what I said this offseason, “Signed with the Red Sox. Interesting that Theo both once led the Cubs and Red Sox to the Promised Land, and now both teams seem utterly rudderless, dinghy’ing about against the jetty, just hoping to do enough to shut their fans up. Is Kluber better than Brayan Bello in the rotation? Is that the guy that gets shoved out for Kluber to shove? I don’t know, maybe the Red Sox figure if they can get 200 IP from Kluber and Paxton combined, they’ll be happy. Maybe this is just a signing to get them to July, when they offload Kluber to a contender. Not sure, tee bee aitch. Unlike some of the previous Old Heads I’m liking this year, Kluber is not one of them. He lost two miles on his fastball and two Ks on his K/9.” And that’s–well, you know. 2023 Projections: 8-10/4.31/1.31/127 in 152 IP
110. Jose Berrios – If you rostered Berrios last year, and can go back in on him this year, then you’re my hero. Your ability for forgiveness is truly inspiring. You should give a Ted Talk about the power of forgiveness centered around drafting Berrios again. If someone is sitting in the audience, screaming, “Idiot,” it’s not me. 2023 Projections: 10-10/4.36/1.31/156 in 174 IP
111. Johnny Cueto – Signed by the Marlins. Now, with Segura, the Marlins have Jean and Johnny? Well, Thelma & Louise me into the Grand Canyon if that ain’t too cute! Wait a second, Cueto…O, Cute! These guys! So, if I were the Marlins, I’d prolly trade away a guy before signing on a 6th starter and making it obvious they have a starter to trade, but to each their own, I suppose. This is one of the best possible landing spots for Cueto for fantasy, but he’s still a barely 6 K/9 pitcher now, so I wouldn’t get carried away. 2023 Projections: 8-12/3.91/1.25/112 in 166 IP
112. Kyle Bradish – True story alert! With so many guys, I look at their stats and think, “This guy could easily move into the top 80 starters.” I said “true story” not a “fun story.” There’s just so many starters. Bradish is about 0.5 BB/9 away from being a Miles Mikolas type. ACKSUALLY, Mikolas was in this tier last year. There’s gonna be guys in this tier, who are absolutely rosterable. Betting on a guy who pitches in a home park that has a left field fence in a different state isn’t a bad gamble. 2023 Projections: 7-11/4.31/1.36/144 in 141 IP
113. Clarke Schmidt – With Frankie Montas going bye-bye, I dragged my heels adding in Schmidt, but now that Rodon joins Montas on the IL, I’m left like the Yankees with no choice but to assume Schmidt will be in the rotation. Honestly, I don’t know how much they, or us, can rely on him. He’s started 22 games going back three years. He had 90 IP pitched total last year, and 33 were in Triple-A. I’m fine with the deep league flyer, and, if he looks great in the season, I will be adding him everywhere, but, for now, I’m lukewarm. No relation to Luke Weaver. 2023 Projections: 7-5/4.18/1.25/103 in 98 IP
114. Aaron Civale – Samesies as Bradish, as in, Civale could be as good as Mikolas or completely unusable. Or maybe he’s a 2nd half pitcher (6.17 ERA vs. 3.35). Or maybe Civale can throw his curve (.124 BAA) 75% of the time. McCullers just winced. 2023 Projections: 8-9/4.27/1.20/138 in 144 IP
115. Mitch Keller – One of the saddest subplots of last year was that Oneil Cruz had to go hire his own batting coach, because the Pirates suck, but another similar storyline I didn’t talk about nearly as much is Keller used to chat with Clay Holmes into the wee hours, having Holmes help him with his pitches. I’m not joking. He helped him with his sinker. Imagine if the Pirates spent like one freakin’ dollar on their coaching staff. Such a joke of an organization. 2023 Projections: 6-13/4.14/1.36/149 in 165 IP
116. Jose Suarez – This is a new tier. This is also the last tier of the 2023 fantasy baseball rankings, so here’s hoping the blood eventually comes back to my arthritic fingers. I call this tier, “Using my nose to type, because my fingers are so sore from writing all the tankings. Damn, stupid nose!” One quick word about Mike Clevinger and Trevor Bauer. Originally had both ranked. Will add Bauer back in if a team signs him, and will add in Clevinger if MLB doesn’t suspend him, but that seems very likely. Maybe we’ll get lucky and both will just get launched into the sun so I never have to think about them again.
As for Suarez, his 2nd half ERA was 3.35. Baby likey! His first half ERA was 6.17. Uhh…What was his 2nd half ERA again? 2023 Projections: 7-9/4.08/1.28/129 in 138 IP
117. Ian Anderson – Such a great example of drafting pitching. Crap happens for hitters too, but do outfielders who are being drafted in the top 25 overall for their position at the age of 23, just up and disappear? Ian Anderson is a 60-grade pitching prospect, too. And now he’s going around the same draft spot as Nicky Lopez! And Matthew Boyd! And Carlos Santana! The singer! 2023 Projections: 4-5/3.71/1.31/71 in 82 IP
118. Cole Irvin – Traded to the Orioles for “reaching into pockets, pulls out lint.” In a deep league draft, I had Cole Irvin in my queue for about five rounds, unable to pull the trigger. Opting for guys like “3rd setup man who might get three saves” and “middle infielder like Kyle Farmer,” but, if you’re desperate for a pitcher who will throw 240 IP, if his arm will allow it, then Irvin’s a solid bet. Of course, in 240 IP, he might get 80 Ks. 2023 Projections: 8-15/4.28/1.18/129 in 179 IP
119. German Marquez – If I were the Nazi in Exile, I’d show up to camp wearing a Giants jersey. Try to subliminally get the Rockies to trade me, ya know? Until Marquez can subtly get his point across, he’s a road warrior. 2023 Projections: 8-12/4.41/1.34/161 in 184 IP
120. Anthony DeSclafani – Der Ballhaus! Oh, sorry, I was trying to keep with the newly established theme of Germans above. “Touch my monkey in Der Ballhaus.” That’s someone speaking broken German about the German Disco. Any hoo! He’s not currently in the rotation, but San Francisco moving on from Disco? What’s next, their most popular game of the season not being, $12 Chardonnay Night? 2023 Projections: 6-8/4.12/1.11/94 in 105 IP
121. Michael Wacha – Signed with the Padres. Says a lot of Wacha that he didn’t sign until camp opened and for $7 mill. He could be the answer to the Padres’ prayers. If the prayers were, “Please give us a 120-inning guy who can team up with two other middle relief and give us a total of one 200-inning fifth starter.” 2023 Projections: 9-6/4.12/1.27/110 in 126 IP
122. Cody Morris – Steamer’s K/9 projection for Morris are higher for him than anyone else outside of guys you know well in the top 20. Replacing Zach Plesac in the rotation, hopefully sooner in the landmark case of sooner vs. later. Or at least piggybacking with Zach for the Ks, so I can be like, “Yeah, Zach/Morris getting those Ks, and not as in Kelly Kapowski.” 2023 Projections: 6-2/3.55/1.33/84 in 72 IP
123. Mike Soroka – Saw him penciled in as the Braves’ 5th starter and thought about how I wonder if that pencil has an eraser. He’s thrown 13 2/3 IP in the last three years. Oh…*climbs to the top of Mt. Rushmore and hangs from George Washington’s eyebrow*…kay. 2023 Projections: 3-4/4.21/1.34/61 in 81 IP
124. Bryce Elder – Ya know what you can infer from Ian Anderson, Soroka and Elder all being in this tier? No idea who will be the Braves’ 5th starter, but whoever it is, they will prolly be a top five finisher for the Cy Young. 2023 Projections: 5-2/3.91/1.36/58 in 65 IP
125. James Paxton – Thinking about the guy who drafts Paxton and Soroka and says something like, “You won’t be laughing in May when they’re both aces.” Trust me, I’ll be laughing then too. Unless that guy has a genie, then DRATS! We’ve been beat by a genie! 2023 Projections: 3-2/4.38/1.37/49 in 43 IP
126. Dean Kremer – As the great Israeli, Dean Kremer, can prolly tell you verbatim, there’s an old Jewish proverb that goes, “Orioles’ fences are so far back it’s mashuga, but at least I’m not eating my mother’s stuffed cabbage.” 2023 Projections: 9-12/4.06/1.31/123 in 167 IP
127. Sixto Sanchez – He’s had two shoulder surgeries in the last two years. Wait, it gets worse! He changed wallets, so he had to start a new stamp card after the first one. It was the same doctor too! The doctor remembered him but refused to stamp an extra one! Ridiculous! 2023 Projections: 3-4/3.68/1.13/38 in 41 IP
128. Shintaro Fujinami – Signed with the A’s. The 28-year-old righty is supposed to be in the A’s rotation, but he hasn’t started games since 2017, when he had a 4.12 ERA. Not really sure what to make of that alone, that moving from the pen to the rotation as he transfers to the new league. That alone has me pretty lukewarm. Then, if you’re comparing apples of a reliever’s stats and oranges of a starter’s: At the age of 28, Miles Mikolas in Japan went 2.25/0.98 and a 9 K/9, 1.1 BB/9 with 7 IP/G. Fujinami went 2.77/1.12 and a 9.6 K/9, 3 BB/9 with 4.3 IP/G. That says to me he’s barely a flyer. 2023 Projections: 4-7/4.58/1.39/87 in 124 IP
129. Marco Gonzales – Picturing a guy who yells “MARCO!” then dips underwater and pops back up 45 minutes later to scream, “GONZALES,” then whispers, “Struck out one guy in seven innings today.” 2023 Projections: 11-8/4.21/1.31/102 in 174 IP
130. Graham Ashcraft – That’s U.S. Attorney General Graham Ashcraft working for the Commies–What? Oh, I’m being told it is not. This is the Reds’ Ashcraft, who had 105 IP last year and a 6.1 K/9. That plays as well in Cincy as chili without pasketti. 2023 Projections: 8-13/4.37/1.39/106 in 139 IP
131. Zach Plesac – “What’s up, cats and dogs? It’s your boy, Zach-arooski! Back for another year of drinking up the Hater-ade and peeing out the It’s-All-Good Juice! If you don’t know the haps, I’m at the Hamps! That’s Hampton Inn! Dur! I’m in the jacooz with my boys, eating pineapple ‘za and inviting down the girls we meet in the lobby!” 2023 Projections: 7-14/4.38/1.29/107 in 141 IP
Omitted But Considered: Hayden Wesneski, Keegan Thompson, Trevor Bauer, Seth Lugo, Andrew Painter, Rich Hill, Adbert Alzolay, Nick Pivetta, Spencer Turnbull, Matt Manning, Bailey Falter, Ryan Nelson, Matthew Boyd, Tyler Wells, Kyle Muller, JT Brubaker, Jakob Junis, Tarik Skubal, Drew Smyly, Matt Brash, Nate Pearson, Jake Odorizzi, Kyle Hendricks, John Means, Yusei Kikuchi, James Kaprielian, Daniel Lynch, Glen Otto, Chris Flexen, Dane Dunning, Jordan Lyles, Stephen Strasburg, Dillon Tate, Kyle Freeland, Madison Bumgarner, Zack Greinke, Dylan Bundy, Wade Miley, Chad Kuhl, Chris Archer, Zach Davies, Jose Quintana
