The Washington Nationals pitching rotation includes names such as Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, and Dan Haren. So who are we going to talk about today? Survey says: Ross Detwiler!
The “Rosswiler” will enter the season as the Nationals #5 starting pitcher. However, he should be flashing on everyone’s radar come draft day. The 26-year-old from Missouri State is poised for a breakout season in the nation’s capital this season.
If you owned Detwiler a season ago, you already understand his worth on a fantasy roster. In 2012, Ross made 27 starts for the Nationals. In those starts, he accumulated a 10-8 Record, 3.40 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 105 K, 52 BB. Those numbers may surprise owners who failed to snatch him up off the waiver wire in middle July.
So what does he throw? Last season, Detwiler threw 47% fastballs, 33% sinkers, 13% sliders, and 7% changeups. His fastball averaged 93 MPH. And did I mention he’s a southpaw? Detwiler has a chance to prove himself as a legitimate threat each and every time he steps on the mound this season. Many teams would view him as a potential #3 starting pitcher with upside. Meanwhile, the Nationals will be putting him in low-pressure situations and giving him great opportunities to gather wins along the way.
So why will Detwiler fall to owners late in drafts? First of all, being in the 5 hole of a rotation sometimes means his starts could be skipped over. However, Ross is looking to project around 30 starts in 2013. Also, his 5.75 K/9 and 2.85 BB/9 rates in 2012 don’t jump off the page. There have also been reports of the Nationals inquiring on starting pitcher Javier Vazquez. This could mean one of two things. Either Washington is worried about Dan Haren’s lingering back problems, or Ross Detwiler could potentially lose out on some starts.
As a fantasy sleeper, Ross Detwiler has a ton of intrigue. The Nationals easily have the talent to total around 100 wins in 2013, meaning ample W opportunities for starting pitchers. Also, as mentioned earlier, Detwiler is also only 26 years young. This means that he is just beginning to enter his prime. Plus, his arm is fresh. Detwiler has only pitched 336 innings in his 4 years with the Nationals. This means that the training wheels will begin to come off for the gifted lefty.
Now, it’s time to calculate Ross Detwiler’s fantasy value for 2013. Call me crazy, but I can see him amounting to a low-end #3 SP in mixed leagues. Detwiler plays on a very talented, young team, and will be the beneficiary of lopsided pitching matchups throughout the season. I have his 2013 projections down as: 30 GS, 200 IP, 12 W, 8 L, 3.35 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 130 K, 50 BB.
