Value At Each Category...The SP

With the start of the 2011Major League Baseball season set to begin in a few weeks, most of us are in the midst of preparing for our fantasy baseball drafts. When rounding out your team, some of your late round picks can propel you to a championship. As you fill your final pitcher slots and bench look to target categories that you know your team has particular weaknesses. The players below have value as SP that can boost certain categories in standard 5x5 leagues. They all have a Yahoo default ranking over 200, so we are looking at low risk high reward. I have given you a SP in both leagues that can help you in the pitching categories. I do not consider these players sleepers but rather true value at their current ADP.

Wins

NL Bronson Arroyo (276): One of least likely pitchers that come to mind for putting up consistent Wins but he has 47 wins in the last 3 years. He pitches in a weak division for a team that can put up runs. That combo = Wins…they may be ugly at times but still wins.

AL CJ Wilson (202): The 5 year RP moved into the rotation last year and posted 15 wins in a pitcher friendly AL West Division. He will actually contribute across the board in the other pitching stats.

Ks

NL Brett Myers (207): Last year was the 3^rd time Myers put up over 180K in a season. Pitching in the free swinging NL Central he could lead this Division in punch-outs.

AL Edwin Jackson (308): Pitching on one of the best staffs in baseball he lead the team in Ks. I expect him to learn from the likes of Peavy and Buehrle on this team. Could top 200K this year.

ERA

NL RA Dickey (329): A former 1^st round selection it took him a decade to finally put it all together. Coming off last year’s 2.84 ERA, he will be one of the work horses for the Mets this year.

AL Justin Duchscherer (479): A career 3.13 ERA sounds almost too good to be true but that is what he brings to the Orioles after his hip injury last year. Though he will have the 5^th rotation spot, he is worth storing away until he will be fully used come May or one of your first waiver claims if you have an ace go down to injury.

WHIP

NL Chris Young (415): Since he was injured last year he is under everyone’s radar. Three times in his seven year career he’s had a WHIP under 1.13.

AL Dallas Braden (332): Braden finished last year off with 1.16 Whip to lead the A’s staff. He only allowed 43 walks in almost 200 IP. He also had that perfect game last year.