Fantasy Baseball: Oakland Athletics Pitchers
Starting Pitchers
You may be a fantasy sports junkie like myself, or you might be a rookie. Whatever your skill level is you likely have a strategy of waiting on starting pitching.
That is great if you are an A’s fan because there at least three Oakland starters who will be mixed league relevant in 2015, with the possibility that three or four more enter that equation.
Sep 28, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) delivers a pitch to the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
Sonny Gray – Oakland’s by-default-ace was a top-30 starter in his first full season despite his strikeout rate lowering by nearly two strikeouts per nine innings. ESPN sees him as a top-20 starter because he is likely to surpass 200 innings again and pitching in Oakland will help keep his rate stats – ERA and WHIP – down.
Two Key Stats: 1. In 2014 Gray allowed 10 homers at home to just 5 on the road. He should correct his home run-prone ways at home. 2. Gray walked nealry three batters per nine innings. If he can lower his walk rate, and restore his K/9 to closer to the 9.4 of his rookie season he should easily repeat his 3.08 2014 ERA.
Gray is owned in 100 percent of ESPN standard leagues and his ADP is 71.9. He should be a target for the fifth round or later.
Next: Scott Kazmir