Looking Beyond The Top Tier Pitchers

Drafting pitchers can sometimes be a problem in fantasy. The top tier pitchers in fantasy are usually drafted within the first three rounds leaving you a laundry list of guys that are far behind the 6 or 7 top tier pitchers. A few seasons ago, I would be talking about guys like Rich Harden, Zack Greinke, and Dontrelle Willis. Last season, it was Justin Verlander, Cole Hamels, and Josh Johnson for a good part of the season that were guys that were waiver wire pickups that helped change your pitching staff into one of the better one’s in the league. Now who do you look to this season? Well here’s a list of a few of guys that you might be interested in that have a chance to change your pitching staff during draft day.

Erik Bedard- 15 wins last season with an ERA of 3.76 in the American League East. He’s now 27 years old and is entering his third year with Leo Mazzone as his pitching coach. Baltimore’s staff is young and has the potential to do some very good things in the coming season. I expect his win total to climb by a couple and his strikeout total to rise with it.

Daniel Cabrera- So this guy’s has been on a list like this for each of the past few seasons, I know. However, it would seem that he has his act together. We all know the potential he has, however, the problem has always been control. In 20 innings this spring he has only walked 3 batters, and has struck out 16. He, like Bedard, is also an up and coming product of Mazzone. Perhaps this year he shows his real potential and has that break out year. It would seem that his spring numbers appear that way.

Ervin Santana- Santana has been a guy in the back of the Angel’s rotation for his first two years. Now in year three he has been moved up to 3 in the rotation. It would seem that this year will be the year that he shows that he can be one of the better pitchers in the league. He raised his win total by 4 last year from 12 to 16 in 2006, and lowered his ERA from 4.66 to 4.29. This year looks like he breaks out n tries to be the team’s number one starter. I expect his win total to be around 18, and his era to be just under 4. Expect a big year from Santana.

Chuck James- He had great season for the Braves last year. He went 11-4 with a 3.78 ERA. He had a respectable 91 strikeouts in 119 innings last season to go along with his other numbers. Like Santana, he is now a number 3 starter for the Braves. This team’s pedigree in the last decade has always been pitching. He is capable of getting guys out without over powering them. (Sounds familiar right? Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine) Obviously I am not comparing him to either one of these two but he will do very well this season. He is pitching to a 1.80 ERA this spring. Look for him in the middle to later part of the draft.

Anibal Sanchez- The young Marlin’s starter went 10-3 last year, winning 5 of those games in the final month of the season. He also threw a no hitter during that stretch of games. His 2.83 ERA was just another great ERA that the surprising Marlin’s staff had last season. Now that Josh Johnson will be missing some time due to injury, Sanchez will have to step it up for the first part of the year. The Marlin’s had a good team, and will be competitive in 2007. Sanchez is a very good middle round draft pick if you can get him.

Adam Wainwright- Converted closer for the Cardinals now in the opening day rotation. This spring he is 2-2 with a 1.25 ERA. He hit the scene last year and did very well out of the bullpen for the Cardinals. It would seem that he can do just as good in the rotation. He has some great stuff, including a very good curveball. Like all the other players that made this list he is a middle round draft pick with a potential to do some great things for the defending champs.

Matt Cain- This guy is only 22 years old. He led all rookies with 13 wins last year, and had a very good strikeout total, 179 in 190 innings last season. Barry Zito coming over from Oakland may help him avoid the pressure of having to become the ace of the Giants staff. I expect him to win 15 or more games this year and his ERA being under 4, with his strikeout ratio to be slightly higher than last season. Cain, like everyone else on this list has potential to become a great pitcher. At his age, he may be able to become a top pitcher in the entire National League. He can make a great keeper in leagues that have that rule. Look for him in the upper-middle part of the draft.

That’s a looks at some middle round pitching that can really help your staff in 2007. These guys are very young and have a lot of potential. The only way they can answer that is with their performance on the field. They are all middle round draft picks with the potential to pitch like guys taken in the first 5 to 8 rounds. Last year it was Verlander and Hamels on this list, and they are now drafted in the first 10 rounds. I expect these guys to be in the same position that Hamels and Verlander were in last year.