New fantasy baseball heights for these skyscraping pitchers?
These upward-trending, twentysomething, skyscraping hurlers can assist your fantasy baseball squad on a trial basis, but each arm comes with caveats.
RHP Luke Hochevar, Royals - The 6-foot-5 three-time draftee (tops overall in 2006) recorded a 2.94 June ERA with a .174 opponents’ clip. He’s cutting more grass: Hochevar’s combined 39.8 percent minor league grounder rate in ‘07 became 68.6 percent at Class AAA Omaha in ‘08 and 62.9 percent there in ‘09.
Hochevar’s favorable June schedule has some overestimating his progress. Instigating contact won’t help his 4.57 MLB K’s per nine innings (3.68 this year) or his fortunate .244 BABIP. That’s a key to his success, because he still isn’t keeping his free passes (3.33 per nine) at bay. Be careful.
There are positive signs, but don't overvalue the 2006 No. 1 pick
LHP Andrew Miller, Marlins – Hochevar’s 2006 classmate can force more whiffs but has shaky control (3.91 walks per nine). Miller’s improved changeup, though, finally complements his low-90s heat and has lowered his walk rate.
Despite lefties’ .288 clip against him, he has tamed righties (.240). He has learned to more effectively conserve his tosses despite two four-walk outings in June. You’ll be riding a 6-foot-6 rollercoaster, but Miller’s strikeout upside can help you catch up if you can hold your lunch.
LHP John Lannan, Nationals – His aversion to strikeouts (4.04 per nine this year) and better-than-average BABIP (.270 this year) make him a rotisserie pariah. A rental would show you his infield employment (50.0-plus grounder percentage in each of his first three MLB seasons) and ability to throw quality starts (34 of his last 54 outings).
Lannan’s BABIP and strand rate have also hovered at similar levels each year. His 6-foot-4 frame gives more downward momentum to his high-80s “heat.” Though Lannan holds the least upside and skills of this trio, his efficiency gives you the best chance at a stable appearance. He can round out deep fantasy rotations.
