RADIO
BALLER MOVE: Draft in Middle Rounds of All Leagues
ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays middle-of-the-rotation starter Jake Odorizzi had a pretty solid season in 2014, compiling an 11-13 record, a 4.13 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP and 174 strikeouts in 168 innings of work. The former first round draft pick has never dazzled at the minor league level, but after refining his control and adding new pitches to his repertoire, he's got the makings of a possible no. 2 starter and a Roto league stud.
Don't let the 4.13 ERA fool you, Odorizzi is a better pitcher than his earned run average indicates. Last season, he struck out 24.2% of the batters he faced, good for a top 15 mark in the majors. He's a great candidate to top 200 strikeouts this season. While he is an extreme fly ball pitcher prone to giving up a few long balls, he is excellent at home with the spacious outfield of Tropicana Field. As his command continues to improve, we may see the home run totals shrink.
Speaking of command, his WHIP the second half of last season was just 1.19, compared to his 1.34 mark in the first. The addition of his split-change pitch should not just help his fastball and curve, it should allow him to get under a few bats and induce more ground balls.
Odorizzi's average draft position among starting pitchers this year is 58th and 212th overall. Let me be clear: there aren't 50+ pitchers and 200+ overall players who are better fantasy pieces for your team this year. There just aren't. And if you can get Odorizzi in the middle-to-late rounds of your draft, don't hesitate do so.
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