Get ready for all the feels. Back in the preseason someone, either JB or an emailer, asked Grey on the Razzball Podcast (did you know we had one? Subscribe!) who could be the next Corey Kluber in fantasy baseball, a pitcher that had a high K%, a good minor league trajectory, and displayed something that would trigger a breakout? In 2014 Kluber ascended into Cy Young status, and won many a fantasy league for owners everywhere (this guy included – love you Corey!). It’s the type of question posed every offseason, because finding the diamond in the rough is part of what it takes to really excel in fantasy baseball. The season is so long, there is such a huge accumulation of stats, and there are so many players. If only you can find that special one.
Driving in the car listening to the podcast that day in March, a name immediately popped into my head. An answer. No, the answer! And I got all smiley thinkin’ about it: Drew Smyly! So far in 2016 he’s just had that affect on people…bringing smyly faces everywhere he goes. For me, it’s been nothing but that since late March because I own him nearly every league and he’s making look like quite the smarty pants.
While he may not win the Cy Young in 2016, thanks in part to the anemic Rays offense (can a brotha get some run support?), he may win some of you fantasy leagues if he keeps this up. And nothing in his peripherals says that he can’t. Not much has changed for Smyly this season compared to years past, except he may be throwing a four-seamer more and walking batters at a slightly slower clip. Nothing’s changed other that the giant elephant in the room when it comes to Smyly: injuries. He’s only topped 100 IP in a season once (that’s not good), and compiled just 66 in 2015 before a shoulder injury derailed his stellar season. He’s a great target in your leagues, but since he’ll cost a pretty penny due to his 10.66 K/9, 2.70 ERA and 0.78 WHIP use his injury history as leverage to lower the price. But hey, none of that matters or puts a damper on the incredible value Smyly brings this week as a Two-Start Pitcher! Here’s where he, and the others, rank for Week 6.
Pitchers are listed in order by rank.
‘Gettin’ Giddy‘ (The Best) – Well, would ya look at that, he’s right next to his best friend (in my mind)! There are plenty of aces in this group, and you’ll need em to excel in Week 6 as the dropoff from this group to the rest is massive compared to weeks past. Both Kluber and Smyly, mentioned above, settle firmly into the middle of this group. And no, I’m not worried about DeGrom at Coors. Tap the Rockies, Jacob!
| Player | Opponents | ERA/FIP | K9/BB9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Strasburg (WSH) | DET, MIA | 2.36/1.78 | 10.07/1.93 |
| Jose Fernandez (MIA) | MIL, @WSH | 4.28/2.65 | 12.56/4.28 |
| Jon Lester (CHC) | SD, PIT | 1.58/3.14 | 8.55/2.03 |
| Corey Kluber (CLE) | @HOU, MIN | 3.35/2.58 | 8.79/1.47 |
| Drew Smyly (TB) | @SEA, OAK | 2.72/3.02 | 10.66/1.82 |
| Jacob DeGrom (NYM) | @LAD, @COL | 1.02/2.06 | 7.13/2.04 |
| Masahiro Tanaka (NYY) | KC, CWS | 2.87/2.78 | 8.04/1.72 |
‘Got Me Tickled‘ (The Replicas) – A good friend of mine said I laugh like Amy Poehler. I’ll take that, as she probably has the best laugh around. Does that mean I have the best around? No, I won’t venture to say that. It’s more of a replica of the best, which is what you’ll find in the following five: not quite the best of the week, but have the potential to look like the aces above with their final lines.
| Player | Opponents | ERA/FIP | K9/BB9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Sanchez (TOR) | @SF, @TEX | 2.82/3.33 | 7.98/2.82 |
| Felix Hernandez (SEA) | TB, LAA | 2.21/4.10 | 7.12/4.42 |
| Kevin Gausman (BAL) | @MIN, DET | 2.45/3.52 | 8.18/2.45 |
| Steven Matz (NYM) | @LAD, @COL | 2.83/2.37 | 9.42/2.20 |
| Adam Conley (MIA) | MIL, @WSH | 3.67/3.77 | 9.33/4.00 |
‘A Good Chuckle‘ (The Standards) – Sometimes you just need a good one. Ya know, the kind that can make your day. The laugh that doesn’t bend you over and make you have to wet yourself, but solid enough to turn that frown upside down. It’s a necessary element in the good day equation. You’re starting these guys below, but they’re just the standard with a lot of potential to grow.
| Player | Opponents | ERA/FIP | K9/BB9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Rodon (CWS) | @TEX, @NYY | 4.36/4.01 | 9.00/3.82 |
| Sonny Gray (OAK) | @BOS, @TB | 4.84/4.54 | 8.15/4.08 |
| Hector Santiago (LAA) | STL, @SEA | 3.58/4.47 | 7.65/3.11 |
| Tyler Chatwood (COL) | ARI, NYM | 2.15/3.39 | 6.45/1.91 |
| Michael Fulmer (DET) | @WSH, @BAL | 3.60/2.07 | 7.20/1.80 |
‘The Pretentious‘ (The Knockoffs) – Should you laugh with it? Should you be turned off by it? Both? You’ll find a good matchup below, but coupled with one you’d rather not mess with.
| Player | Opponents | ERA/FIP | K9/BB9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trevor Bauer (CLE) | @HOU, MIN | 5.28/4.18 | 10.57/4.11 |
| Jose Berrios (MIN) | BAL, @CLE | 6.75/5.65 | 12.54/6.75 |
| Matthew Wisler (ATL) | PHI, @KC | 3.24/4.34 | 6.21/2.43 |
| Kris Medlen (KC) | @NYY, ATL | 6.85/4.90 | 7.25/6.85 |
| Robbie Ray (ARI) | @COL, SF | 4.97/5.00 | 9.59/5.33 |
| Colby Lewis (TEX) | CWS, TOR | 3.32/5.53 | 6.39/2.61 |
| Chase Anderson (MIL) | @MIA, SD | 5.55/5.94 | 7.03/3.70 |
| Chris Young (KC) | @NYY, ATL | 5.76/5.73 | 8.80/3.34 |
| Adam Morgan (PHI) | @ATL, CIN | 6.00/3.51 | 9.00/3.00 |
| Zach Davies (MIL) | @MIA, SD | 6.98/4.93 | 6.05/4.66 |
‘Sad Panda‘ (The Trash) – I don’t care the name, the perception, the percentage owned. I’m staying away. Because if not, they’ll make me a….you get it.
| Player | Opponents | ERA/FIP | K9/BB9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Fiers (HOU) | CLE, @BOS | 5.35/4.97 | 6.95/1.07 |
| Scott Kazmir (LAD) | NYM, STL | 5.68/5.09 | 8.52/2.27 |
| Rubby De La Rosa (ARI) | @COL, SF | 4.60/4.09 | 9.82/3.07 |
| Wily Peralta (MIL) | @MIA, SD | 7.50/5.54 | 5.40/3.90 |
| Daniel Straily (CIN) | PIT, @PHI | 3.56/5.18 | 7.71/4.41 |
| Clay Buchholz (BOS) | OAK, HOU | 5.71/4.97 | 6.49/3.89 |
| Mike Leake (STL) | @LAA, @LAD | 6.03/5.11 | 5.77/2.63 |
| Anibal Sanchez (DET) | @WSH, @BAL | 5.87/5.09 | 9.68/5.58 |
| Jonathon Niese (PIT) | @CIN, @CHC | 5.94/5.74 | 6.75/3.78 |
| Michael Foltynewicz (ATL) | PHI, @KC | 9.82/13.16 | 9.82/4.91 |
| Cesar Vargas (SD) | @CHC, @MIL | 1.10/4.23 | 6.61/4.96 |
| Jake Peavy (SF) | TOR, @ARI | 9.00/4.96 | 7.76/2.48 |
| Colin Rea (SD) | @CHC, @MIL | 4.61/4.64 | 7.24/4.28 |
| Henry Owens (BOS) | OAK, HOU | 4.82/6.92 | 6.75/6.75 |
| Matt Cain (SF) | TOR, @ARI | 7.00/4.66 | 7.00/3.00 |
All players listed are projected for two starts, and this list is subject to changes after the article is posted.
So, there you have it! Hopefully you can find some sunshine in your life and get all the smiley feels like me! Drop a comment below, and good luck with Week 6! Check back next weekend for Week 7!
