RADIO
Yuki Matsui is a fantasy baseball closer draft sleeper, and potential ADP draft value for saves. Target Matsui as an undervalued relief pitcher in 2024 fantasy drafts.
ANALYSIS: San Diego Padres reliever Yuki Matsui is a 28-year-old relief pitcher signed from Rakuten in the Japan Central League. The lefty has 236 career saves in the JPPL and is now in the rebuilt San Diego bullpen.
Last season, Matsui had a career-high 39 saves with a tidy 1.57 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings. Matsui features a good fastball, but his best pitch is a wicked splitter that generated a 56% whiff rate last year for Rakuten. The splitter is used mainly against right-handed hitters. He throws a slider to left-handed hitters that gets good results down and away.
Matsui’s introduction to MLB came with a trio of strikeouts over his perfect 1-2-3 inning. He then was forced to the medical ward with back tightness, though it shouldn’t jeopardize his April availability.
Robert Suarez may open as SD’s closer with a healthy 2.99 ERA/1.00 WHIP in 75 MLB frames, but a .157 BABIP helped cover up a slip in strikeouts (31.9% to 22.2%) despite more grounders and a higher hard-hit rate. Do not be surprised if Matsui wrestles the job from him at some point.
The ATC projections give him 12 saves and a helpful 3.54 ERA. This is a good value late in drafts.
More Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers
Logan Henderson - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups and Prospect Stashes (Week 4)
BALLER MOVE: Monitor in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 3% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Milwaukee Brewers called up their No. 12 prospect, Logan Henderson, earlier this week to give the team another fresh arm. The Brewers are dealing with injuries to Nestor Cortes (elbow), Aaron Civale (hamstring), Brandon Woodruff (shoulder), and Tobias Myers (oblique) early in the […]
Edgar Quero - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups and Prospect Stashes (Week 4)
BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team / Two-Catcher Leagues ROSTERED IN: 1% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Chicago White Sox called up their No. 6 prospect, Edgar Quero, on Thursday afternoon to make his MLB debut. Quero was acquired by the White Sox at the 2023 trade deadline in the deal that sent both Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo […]
Caleb Durbin - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups and Prospect Stashes (Week 4)
BALLER MOVE: Consider in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 6% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Milwaukee Brewers have promoted infielder Caleb Durbin, who MLB Pipeline ranked as their No. 21 prospect coming into the season. Durbin will make his MLB debut on Friday night, batting ninth against J.T. Ginn and the Athletics. Before the game, manager Pat […]
Noelvi Marte - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups and Prospect Stashes (Week 4)
BALLER MOVE: Monitor in Deeper Leagues ROSTERED IN: 2% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Cincinnati Reds infielder Noelvi Marte has spent time in both the majors and minors this season. He originally started the year with Triple-A Louisville before being called up when Matt McLain went down with a hamstring injury. However, the Reds former top prospect only […]
Chandler Simpson - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups and Prospect Stashes (Week 4)
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 6% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Tampa Bay Rays are promoting their No. 7 prospect, Chandler Simpson, ahead of the team's series opener against the New York Yankees. The move appears to be connected to Richie Palacios heading back to the injured list with a knee issue. It will […]
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!
Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!
