2023 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: Pitchers
Everyone loves sleepers no matter what fantasy sport you play. Baseball drafts are so deep that the chance to find a sleeper is greater and can really change the outcome of your season. In this article, I’ll touch on some pitchers that can help you in your fantasy baseball leagues this year. Especially in those late rounds.
Some of these names could go undrafted but will absolutely appear on waivers and cost a lot of FAAB. Continue reading and see who I’m targetting in the late rounds with these sleeper pitchers for fantasy baseball season.
Starting Pitchers
Hunter Brown
Houston Astros
Hunter Brown is going to skyrocket in average draft position very soon. With the news of Lance McCullers not being ready for Opening Day, Hunter Brown will now slide into the final rotation spot in Houston. Brown currently has an ADP of 253 on NFC, which is going to go very high.
In 2022 he appeared in just seven games. Over that time, he had an ERA of 0.89, a WHIP of 1.08, and 22 strikeouts in 20.1 innings. Furthermore, Brown also has relief pitching eligibility for those head-to-head leagues that require you to start a relief pitcher or two.
Brandon Pfaadt
Arizona Diamondbacks
Need a deep sleeper? Brandon Pfaadt might be it this year. In his Spring debut, he threw two scoreless innings and struck out two against the Cubs. Pfaadt is competing for the final rotation spot in Arizona, and with that outing, could put himself in serious contention for the final rotation spot.
Right now, his ADP on NFC is 459. Pgaadt was the organization’s pitcher of the year in 2022, and if he cracks the rotation could make for a reliable starter throughout the season. He’s someone you can target in the latest rounds of your fantasy baseball drafts this year and is defninitely a sleeper candidate.
Andrew Painter
Philadelphia Phillies
Andrew Painter is only 19 years old. However, he is one of the Phillies’ top prospects, and now has a real chance to make the team. Not to mention, be in the starting rotation.
Painter is one of the top pitching prospects in major league baseball, along with Grayson Rodriguez. He has a low walk rate in the Minor leagues and is working with a high strikeout rate. Painter worked deep into games in the Minors. If he makes the Phillies team, he has a real chance to make a significant impact from day one. Finally, he has an ADP of 404 on NFC, but if he makes the team, that will easily double.
Merrill Kelly
Arizona Diamondbacks
Another Diamondback on this sleeper list is Merrill Kelly who had a career season last year. He threw 200.1 innings and posted a 3.37 ERA. Additionally, he struck out 177 batters, and his WHIP was 1.14. So why isn’t he in the top tier? Simply put, he is 34 and people are unsure if he can do it again.
That being said, Kelly’s current ADP on NFC is 245. In 2021 his ERA was 4.44, and within a year he turned it to 3.37. The big question again is can he repeat this? For an ADP of 245, this is a slam dunk pick. If he doesn’t pan out this season, you didn’t use a high pick. If he does? You got a steal in the late rounds.
Jack Flaherty
St. Louis Cardinals
Jack Flaherty has the potential to regain ace-like form. In years past, he has shown that he can. While he has battled injuries over the past couple of seasons and enters 2023 healthy. He was shut down last season with shoulder soreness but returned in September for a final few starts. Obviously, this is a risky pick, but it’s one that could have a great upside.
In 2021, Flaherty threw only 78.1 innings but had a 3.22 ERA with 85 strikeouts. He needs to put together a full season, but the potential is there. Right now, he has an ADP of 224 on NFC, making him a nice value and a sleeper candidate.
Trevor Rogers
Miami Marlins
Trevor Rogers had a season to forget in 2022. He posted a 5.47 ERA in 107 innings pitched. Furthermore, he struck out 154 and posted a 1.21 WHIP. While Rogers is only 25 years old, he can easily turn this around. He was a popular pick last off-season and now is a bounce-back candidate. In 2021 he posted a 2.64 ERA in 133 innings and struck out 157 batters with a 1.15 WHIP.
The potential is there for Rogers to bounce back. He’s done it before and can do it again. On the bright side, he did impress in some of his final starts last year, giving hope for a bounce back. With an ADP of 248 in NFC, he’s a good flier to take to see if he does bounce back this year.
Chris Sale
Boston Red Sox
Chris Sale was once an elite starting pitching option. The issue is that Sale simply could not stay healthy. Last season he hurt his ribs, broke a pinky, and finally injured his wrist in a bicycle accident in August. He only threw 5.2 innings last year, striking out five batters and posting a 3.18 ERA and 1.06 WHIP.
Moving on to 2023, Sale seems to be healthy. If he is indeed healthy, he could be a steal at his current ADP of 162 on NFC. He will be making his Spring debut in early March. Overall, if he is the Chris Sale of old, expect that ADP to jump up quickly. For now, take advantage of his price and get him on your fantasy baseball teams.
Justin Steele
Chicago Cubs
Justin Steele had a huge 2022 season. He threw 119 innings and posted a 3.18 ERA, striking out 126 batters and posted a 1.35 WHIP. His current ADP is 291 on NFC, and he is projected to be in the Cubs rotation. While he did battle arm soreness, he seems to be in line to be ready for Spring Training games. Steele only threw 119 innings so with a full season we should expect somewhere along the lines of 150 plus strikeouts with an ERA somewhere in the mid-3.00 range.
Relief Pitchers
Alexis Diaz
Cincinnati Reds
Alexis Diaz is going to be the closer for the Cincinnati Reds this season. Right now, he is being slept on, but that will probably change soon. Diaz appeared in 59 games last season. During those games, he threw 63.2 innings and had a 1.84 ERA with 83 strikeouts. That’s averaging over a strikeout per inning. Furthermore, Diaz had 10 saves last season, and I expect that number to double.
Currently, his ADP is 149 on NFC, and I would consider him a safe closer right now you could get near the double-digit rounds.
Carlos Estevez
Los Angeles Angels
Coming to Los Angeles from Colorado should be a big deal for Carlos Estevez. Estevez has practically been confirmed as the closer in Los Angeles. Colorado is known to be a horrible place for pitchers to throw with the air changes, but Estevez had a career year last year. He threw 57 innings and posted a 3.47 ERA with 54 strikeouts, and a 1.18 WHIP.
Now away from Colorado, there is a good chance his numbers could drop. However, his ADP right now is 350 on NFC, making him a fantasy baseball sleeper candidate. He should be considered a shaky closer right now, but he could be a real sleeper at this current ADP.
2023 Fantasy Baseball Best Ball Sleepers
Breakout Candidates
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