Target & Avoid Oakland A’s

Target Jarrod Parker

The young 24 year old had a stellar rookie campaign last year going 13-8 with a tremendous 3.47 ERA. His peripherals with a 7.5 K/9 is above average but he does tend to walk a few. So why did I select Parker as a target?

He has definite 3rd SP value, if not a No. 2 but his ADP is 193 being the 46^th SP off the board. At Roto Champ they have him as the 94^th best SP in the draft. Both projections are nearly ludicrous. He is closer to a top 30 SP than the 50^th. Don’t forget He pitches in the cavernous Oakland Coliseum which is the 8^th best pitcher park in baseball.  His start in the playoffs against the Tiger he went 6.1 innings giving up 2 ER on 7H. Who would take that line every 5^th day? He was also the Winning pitcher when the A’s beat the Rangers to clinch a playoff birth, which shows you he can be clutch in big games. Remember last year…13-8 with a 3.47 ERA if it wasn’t for Trout he would have won ROY.

 

Avoid Chris Young

Do not get me wrong I like Young and owned him last year and loved his hot start. The problem this year is a crowded Oakland OF and probably a platoon at DH. I see Young getting close to 100 starts (if he stays healthy) which just is not enough to have fantasy relevance. What I do predict for young is an increase in SB in late inning PR efforts.  Currently the 73^rd OF off the board; so only in the deepest leagues is he even worth a look. If someone goes down in Oakland’s OF, Young will be on the FA wire and that would be the only time to grab him.