Five Overlooked Starting Pitchers You Should Consider Now

Unveiling Hidden Gems

In the vast world of fantasy baseball, even the most attentive managers can overlook players whose performances quietly excel. Take Ryan Pepiot, for instance; in the last five weeks, he has emerged as the fifth-best scorer among starting pitchers, amassing 119 fantasy points. This achievement is impressive, especially considering he outperforms well-known names like Zack Wheeler, Max Fried, and Logan Webb.

Ryan Pepiot: A Rising Star

Currently playing for the Tampa Bay Rays, Pepiot has been a standout, rivaling Cy Young contenders Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes. However, despite his stellar performance, he remains a free agent in over a third of ESPN leagues. This presents a prime opportunity for fantasy managers to snag him in trades within leagues where he’s already rostered.

The Rays’ recent move to the more homer-friendly George M. Steinbrenner Field—boasting a 117 Statcast HR factor compared to Tropicana Field’s 98—might have skewed perceptions of Pepiot’s value. Known for his fly ball tendencies (28.6% rate), he has been mistakenly viewed as a potential bust, particularly in home games.

This season, Pepiot has made notable improvements, increasing his strike zone percentage to a career-high 54.5% and elevating his average fastball velocity to 95.3 mph in June, a personal best for any month. Remarkably, he has walked two or fewer batters in his last 13 starts, a significant improvement from earlier in his career. He’s also consistently thrown over 96 pitches in his last four outings, positioning him to surpass 160 innings this season after a modest 130 in his first full campaign as a starter.

Other Pitchers to Watch

Another promising name is Bryan Woo from the Seattle Mariners. Woo has struggled with injuries in the past, but since his last stint on the IL, he has been a force, ranking 11th in fantasy points (402) across 29 starts. With a stellar walk rate of 3.3% and a fastball averaging 95.5 mph, his potential is undeniable, making him a must-have, despite being 91.5% rostered in ESPN leagues.

Then there’s Jesus Luzardo of the Philadelphia Phillies, whose recent back-to-back poor performances have caused concern among fantasy players. Nonetheless, excluding those outings, he would be tied for 14th in fantasy points among starting pitchers. Luzardo boasts a solid fastball velocity of 96.4 mph and an impressive Statcast expected ERA, suggesting he could be a valuable asset available in about a quarter of ESPN leagues.

Will Warren from the New York Yankees is another pitcher gaining traction, ranking fifth in K/9 ratio (11.47) and tenth in strikeout rate (29.7%) among his peers. Despite being under the radar, his fantasy value should be much higher than his current roster percentage indicates.

Lastly, Matthew Boyd of the Chicago Cubs, despite his recent injury history, has shown impressive form since returning, with a 2.80 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP across 23 starts. His fastball velocity is at a career-high 93.1 mph, making him a potential asset for fantasy teams.

Context & Analysis

The landscape of fantasy baseball is ever-changing, and these underappreciated pitchers represent significant opportunities for savvy managers. As the season progresses, keeping an eye on these players could yield valuable returns as they continue to find their rhythm.