X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Three Up, Three Down for Prospects - Starting Pitchers

A starter, a starter! My fantasy league for a starter! We're still three months away from the start of the season, but now is the perfect time to take a look at some starting pitcher prospects on the rise and some that need to turn things around.

Last season saw several pitchers make their highly anticipated debuts, such as Shane Bieber, Fernando Romero, Joey Lucchesi and of course that one guy on the Angels who can also hit. But while they might have seen their fantasy value go up, there were plenty of other pitchers who saw their value dropping instead. On this year's list three of these pitchers have already made their major league debuts, but should owners expect their performances to get better or get worse 2019? And for the other three still in the minors, will owners see them in the majors in 2019?

These are some of the pitching prospects you need to keep an eye on — for better or worse — in 2019.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball draft tools and resources:

 

Stock Rising

Dylan Cease, Chicago White Sox

The 22-year-old right-hander had the best season of his minor league career in 2018 — setting career-bests in innings pitched (124), WHIP (1.065) and BB/9 (3.6). On top of that, his 2.40 ERA was the second-lowest of his career and he recorded his third consecutive season with a strikeout rate over 30 percent. What was really impressive and bodes well for his future is that upon his promotion from Single-A Advanced Winston-Salem to Double-A Birmingham, Cease actually posted better numbers at the higher level of competition. Over 10 starts with the Barons, Cease went 3-0 with a 1.72 ERA, 0.994 WHIP and 13.4 K/9.

Right now, Cease is the best pitching prospect in the White Sox organization who's not named Michael Kopech. And with Kopech recovering from Tommy John surgery, Cease is now potentially the next pitcher in line to join Chicago's rotation if a spot opens up. As of now, Cease shouldn't be drafted in most formats. But owners should keep an eye on a potential September call-up, in which case he could provide a significant boost in the fantasy playoffs.

Justus Sheffield, Seattle Mariners

After making his major league debut last season, Sheffield could be in position to make an impact in fantasy in 2019. Sheffield only made three appearances with the Yankees in September, and a three-run outing against the Red Sox in his final game of the year blew up his numbers to a 10.13 ERA and 2.625 WHIP. But over 116 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, Sheffield posted career-bests with a 2.48 ERA and 1.138 WHIP and his 25.9 percent strikeout rate was the highest since his first year in the minors.

Out of the three pitchers on the rise in this list, Sheffield is the most likely the one with the quickest path to the majors in 2019. With the signing of Yusei Kikuchi earlier this month, the Mariners appear to be heading into the season with a projected rotation of Kikuchi, Wade LeBlanc, Marco Gonzales, Mike Leake, and Felix Hernandez. Leake, LeBlanc, and Hernandez are all over the age of 30, and with a 3.72 ERA, LeBlanc is the only returning starter to have posted a sub-4.00 ERA in 2018. Bottom line, it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility for Sheffield to have a big spring and pitch his way into the Opening Day rotation. If he starts the year in the rotation, Sheffield should be targeted in most leagues at an ADP of around 170. If he doesn't make the Opening Day roster, owners should avoid him on draft day, but he should still be closely monitored as Sheffield could be one of the top rookie pitchers in fantasy this season.

Jesus Luzardo, Oakland Athletics

In just two seasons in the minors, Luzardo has already skyrocketed from Rookie ball to making four starts with Triple-A in 2018. Luzardo threw 109.1 innings across three levels of the minors last year, compiling a 10-5 record, 2.88 ERA, 1.088 WHIP, and 29.2 percent strikeout rate — all as a 20-year-old. The majority of his season was spent at Double-A Midland, where he posted a 2.29 ERA and a 27.7 percent strikeout rate over 16 starts. While his numbers did take a dip once he reached Triple-A, where he posted a 7.31 ERA and 14.1 H/9 over 16 innings of work, Luzardo should spend most — if not all — of 2019 there, and there's no reason to expect him to put up those numbers again.

Luzardo is probably the least likely of the three pitchers on the rise to make it to the majors in 2019 — if for no other reason just his age. But if Luzardo does make it to the majors this year he will be a high-risk, high-reward add off the waiver-wire. He will be just as likely to record a sub-3.50 ERA and a double-digit K/9 as he is to post an ERA over 5.00 with a 7.0 K/9. The best bet for owners right now is to watch how Luzardo pitches at Triple-A this year and look to target him in drafts in 2020.

 

Stock Falling

Cal Quantrill, San Diego Padres

A former first-round pick and at one point the top right-handed pitching prospect in the Padres' system, Quantrill has seen his value gradually dropping over the last two seasons. Quantrill pitched a career-high 148 innings between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso in 2018, and while he lowered his walk rate from 7.9 percent to 6.5 percent, his 1.466 WHIP tied for his career-worst. He also saw his strikeout rate drop for the third straight season, as he has gone from a 28.8 percent rate in 2016 to a career-low 18.7 percent in 2018.

There is some hope for Quantrill still, as he pitched slightly better at Triple-A with a 3.48 ERA and a 3.6 percent walk rate. But that improvement came with a dip in his strikeout rate — dropping from 19.3 percent at Double-A to 16.1 percent at Triple-A. Quantrill will be 24 entering this season and should start the year out at Triple-A. If he can finally put things together, he could be a potentially interesting waiver pick-up later this season. For now, though, there isn't much to be excited about here.

Yohander Mendez, Texas Rangers

Mendez has had stints with Texas in each of the last three seasons, and each time he's gotten the call he has been less than impressive. Over 43 career innings in Texas, Mendez holds a 6.28 ERA with a 13.2 percent strikeout rate and 10.5 percent walk rate. In the minors, Mendez has posted slightly better numbers, but he has seen most of them continue to drop over the last few seasons. Making 23 starts across three levels of the minors last season, Mendez set career-lows with a 2-10 record, 4.71 ERA and a 9.3 H/9 while his 21 percent strikeout rate was his lowest mark since 2013.

While Mendez may be trending downwards slightly, there are still some positive signs he can put it all together and become an impact pitcher. He has posted at least a 20 percent strikeout rate for five straight seasons, and before last season he had four years in a row with a sub-1.150 WHIP. Right now, both FanGraphs and RosterResource are projecting Mendez as being a part of the Rangers' rotation, but with a current ADP of 744, he's clearly not worth drafting in an overwhelming majority of leagues. Owners should keep an eye on him during Spring Training, and if he's showing promise, he might be worth keeping an eye on as a potential streaming option. But Mendez will have to show significant improvement before owners should consider rostering him full time.

Chance Adams, New York Yankees

While Mendez and Quantrill have shown a gradual drop in their value over the last few seasons, Adams saw a sudden drop in 2018 — a drop that could potentially be injury related. In his second season at Triple-A last year, Adams set new career-lows with a 4.78 ERA, 1.407 WHIP, 11.7 percent walk rate and a 1.3 HR/9 over 113 innings. This performance came after undergoing surgery following the 2017 season to remove a bone spur from his elbow. Before 2018, Adams had posted a 2.33 ERA, 0.990 WHIP, 26.1 percent strikeout rate and 8.5 percent walk rate over 313 innings.

Now while Adams' value has taken a hit after last season, by no means is it time to abandon ship just yet. It's possible now that he's a full season removed from surgery, Adams could bounce back to his previous career numbers. He'll start off the year back in Triple-A once again, but after making his major league debut last season it's possible we'll see him back in New York again in 2019. Owners should treat Adams in a similar way as Mendez for the time being — not worth drafting but worth keeping an eye on, and with improvements, he could be a potential streaming option upon his call up.

More Fantasy Baseball Prospects & Dynasty




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jordan Kyrou25 mins ago

Tallies Three Points On Sunday
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins28 mins ago

Dishes Out Three Helpers
Cale Makar37 mins ago

Tallies Three Points On Sunday
Dmitry Kulikov43 mins ago

Injured On Sunday
NASCAR3 hours ago

Bubba Wallace Wrecked at Las Vegas, but Showed Promising Speed
Alex Bowman3 hours ago

Recovered From Loose Wheel to Finish Seventh
Austin Cindric3 hours ago

Won Stage 1, but Loose Wheel Foiled Victory Bid
William Byron3 hours ago

Lost Las Vegas Race on Strategy, but Still Expanded Points Lead
Ryan Preece3 hours ago

Earned Best Career Non-Drafting Oval Finish at Las Vegas
Mookie Betts8 hours ago

Won't Play In Tokyo Series Against Cubs
Tee Higgins8 hours ago

Becomes Highest-Paid WR2 In NFL History
Ja'Marr Chase8 hours ago

Bengals Make Ja'Marr Chase The Highest-Paid Non-QB In NFL History
Brandin Podziemski8 hours ago

On Track To Return Tuesday
Christian Braun9 hours ago

Tagged As Probable On Injury Report
Aaron Gordon9 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Monday
Jamal Murray9 hours ago

Iffy For Monday
Nikola Jokić9 hours ago

Nikola Jokic May Sit Out Meeting With Warriors
Quinten Post9 hours ago

Uncertain For Monday
Stephen Curry9 hours ago

Questionable To Play On Monday
Vince Williams Jr.11 hours ago

Returning On Monday
Coby White11 hours ago

Tagged As Probable For Monday
Josh Giddey11 hours ago

Doubtful For Monday
Gary Trent Jr.11 hours ago

Cleared For Sunday
Scotty Pippen Jr.11 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Monday
Ja Morant11 hours ago

Won't Play Monday
Aaron Nesmith11 hours ago

Questionable Versus Minnesota
Tyrese Haliburton11 hours ago

On The Injury Report For Monday Night
Michael Tonkin11 hours ago

Will Open Season On Injured List
Aaron Wiggins12 hours ago

Returns To Action Against Bucks
Michel Otañez12 hours ago

Michel Otanez Shut Down From Throwing
Myles Turner12 hours ago

Questionable Against Minnesota
Kyle Kuzma12 hours ago

Ready To Play Sunday
Pascal Siakam12 hours ago

Won't Play On Monday
Damian Lillard12 hours ago

Good To Go Sunday
Giannis Antetokounmpo12 hours ago

Available Against OKC
Brandon Marsh12 hours ago

Exits Early Sunday
Royce Lewis12 hours ago

Expected To Begin 2025 On Injured List
Miami Dolphins12 hours ago

Ryan Stonehouse Signs With Dolphins
Sam Darnold12 hours ago

Could Opt Out After One Season
Mark Andrews13 hours ago

Unlikely To Be Cut
Igor Shesterkin13 hours ago

Remains In Rangers Crease Sunday
John Gibson14 hours ago

Still Out On Sunday
Nick Bjugstad14 hours ago

Returns For Utah Sunday
Filip Chytil14 hours ago

Questionable For Sunday
Jiri Kulich14 hours ago

In Concussion Protocol
Adam Pelech14 hours ago

Out On Sunday
Zach Hyman14 hours ago

A Game-Time Call Sunday
Bailey Falter14 hours ago

Ready To Go For Monday
Yu Darvish15 hours ago

Dealing With Fatigue
Clarke Schmidt15 hours ago

Won't Start On Monday
Mark Leiter Jr.15 hours ago

Should Be Ready For Opening Day
David Bednar15 hours ago

Not Officially Named Closer
Yoán Moncada15 hours ago

Yoan Moncada Could Land On Injured List
Atlanta Falcons16 hours ago

Keith Taylor Signs With Falcons
Atlanta Falcons16 hours ago

Storm Norton Back With Atlanta
Ronnie Rivers16 hours ago

Re-Ups With Rams
Mason Adams17 hours ago

Diagnosed With Flexor Strain
Joey Gallo17 hours ago

White Sox Release Joey Gallo
Sean Burke17 hours ago

Named Opening Day Starter
Jung Hoo Lee17 hours ago

Expected To Remain Sidelined For A Few Days
Max Kepler17 hours ago

Exits Early On Sunday After Collision
Eiberson Castellano17 hours ago

Could Win Bullpen Job
Kyle Freeland18 hours ago

Rockies Name Kyle Freeland Their Starter For Opening Day
Royce Lewis18 hours ago

Exits Early On Sunday
Ramón Urías18 hours ago

Ramon Urias Expected To Return On Thursday
Emmanuel Rivera18 hours ago

Dealing With Sore Shoulder
New York Jets19 hours ago

Derrick Nnadi Signing With Jets
Washington Commanders19 hours ago

Eddie Goldman Joins Commanders On One-Year Deal
Cooper Rush19 hours ago

Agrees On Two-Year Deal With Ravens
Baltimore Ravens22 hours ago

Ben Cleveland Remaining With Ravens
Seattle Seahawks22 hours ago

Shemar Jean-Charles Signing With Seahawks
Velus Jones Jr.22 hours ago

Signs With Saints
Christopher Bell23 hours ago

Quest For Four Wins In A Row Just Got More Difficult
Kyle Larson23 hours ago

Should Contend For Another Win At Las Vegas
Ryan Blaney23 hours ago

Once Again The Chalk DFS Pick At Las Vegas
Ross Chastain23 hours ago

Fastest In Practice At Las Vegas
Chris Buescher23 hours ago

Has Sneaky Upside This Weekend
Quinton Byfield24 hours ago

Scores In Sixth Straight Contest
Chase Elliott1 day ago

May Be A Sneaky DFS Option For Las Vegas Lineups
Artemi Panarin1 day ago

Extends Point Streak To Eight Games
Pyotr Kochetkov1 day ago

Shuts The Door On Flyers On Saturday
William Byron1 day ago

Expect William Byron To Compete For The Win At Las Vegas
Tyler Reddick1 day ago

Is One Of The Top DFS Options For Las Vegas
Anthony Cirelli1 day ago

Strikes Twice On Saturday
Denny Hamlin1 day ago

Could Denny Hamlin Be A Quality Driver For DFS At Las Vegas?
Alex Ovechkin1 day ago

Scores Goal, Adds Assist In Victory
Connor Dewar1 day ago

Scores Twice On Saturday
NASCAR1 day ago

Bubba Wallace Could Be A Solid DFS Option For Las Vegas
Brad Keselowski1 day ago

Qualifies Deep In The Field For Las Vegas
Erik Jones1 day ago

Is Erik Jones Worth Rostering At Las Vegas This Week?
Daniel Suarez1 day ago

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Daniel Suarez At Las Vegas?
Carson Hocevar1 day ago

Showcases Speed And Can Be Worth Rostering At Las Vegas
Ryan Preece1 day ago

Is Ryan Preece A DFS Fade For Las Vegas Lineups?
Joey Logano1 day ago

Likely To Lead At Las Vegas, But Will He Lead Enough For DFS Consideration?
Jordan Mason1 day ago

Vikings Acquire Jordan Mason From 49ers, Sign Him To Two-Year Deal
Dee Eskridge1 day ago

Sticking With Dolphins
JuJu Smith-Schuster2 days ago

Returning To Chiefs
Tennessee Titans2 days ago

Chidobe Awuzie Released By Titans
Parris Campbell2 days ago

Headed To Dallas
Jiri Kulich2 days ago

Sustains An Upper-Body Injury Saturday
Tyler Myers2 days ago

Set To Return Against Blackhawks
Nikita Kucherov2 days ago

Good To Go Against Bruins
Yegor Chinakhov2 days ago

Rejoins Blue Jackets Lineup Saturday
Philadelphia Eagles2 days ago

Patrick Johnson Rejoins Philadelphia
Los Angeles Rams2 days ago

Larrell Murchison Back With The Rams
Roman Dolidze3 days ago

Set For A Rematch
Marvin Vettori3 days ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Chidi Njokuani3 days ago

Looks For His Third Win In A Row
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos3 days ago

Looks For His 12th UFC Win
Kurt Holobaugh3 days ago

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 104
Alexander Hernandez3 days ago

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Cody Gibson3 days ago

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Da'Mon Blackshear3 days ago

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 104
Brendson Ribeiro3 days ago

Searching For Second UFC Win On Saturday
Diyar Nurgozhay3 days ago

Set To Make His UFC Debut
MMA3 days ago

Seung Woo Choi In Dire Need Of Victory
Kevin Vallejos3 days ago

Makes Debut At UFC Vegas 104
Jacob Bridgeman5 days ago

Use Caution For Jacob Bridgeman At TPC Sawgrass
Nicolai Hojgaard5 days ago

Looks To Stay Consistent Heading Into PLAYERS Championship
Karl Vilips5 days ago

Makes PLAYERS Championship Debut After First PGA Tour Win
Taylor Pendrith5 days ago

A Sneaky Play At TPC Sawgrass
Sahith Theegala5 days ago

Out Of Form Ahead Of The PLAYERS Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick5 days ago

A Shaky Play Heading Into PLAYERS
Scottie Scheffler5 days ago

Eyeing Three-Peat At TPC Sawgrass
Aldrich Potgieter5 days ago

A Risky Play At TPC Sawgrass
Si Woo Kim5 days ago

Looks To Keep Building Momentum At The PLAYERS
Denny McCarthy5 days ago

Looks To Continue Solid Play At TPC Sawgrass
Collin Morikawa5 days ago

Poised For Another Strong Performance At TPC Sawgrass
Robert MacIntyre5 days ago

A Risky Play With Upside At The PLAYERS Championship
Jordan Spieth5 days ago

Looking To Change Fortunes At TPC Sawgrass
Cameron Young5 days ago

Avoid Cameron Young At The PLAYERS Championship
Michael Kim5 days ago

Continues Incredible Form Ahead Of The PLAYERS Championship
Justin Thomas5 days ago

Looking For More Magic At TPC Sawgrass
Xander Schauffele5 days ago

Continues Competitive Return At The Players Championship
Rory McIlroy5 days ago

Looks To Reverse Recent History At TPC Sawgrass
PGA5 days ago

Victor Hovland Looking To Find Form At The PLAYERS Championship
Brian Harman5 days ago

A Sleeper Pick At The PLAYERS Championship
Min Woo Lee6 days ago

A Hard Name To Trust At The Players Championship

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Kaleb Johnson - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks - NFL Draft

2025 Fantasy Football Rookie Drafts: Best, Worst Picks In Rounds 1-4

You don't want to draft the below players, trust me. There are busts in every year's rookie class, and while some of them are tough to predict, others show clear signs that they aren't worth their capital. Many players have great fortune in college, playing on great teams that elevate their production and thus the […]


Matthew Golden - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks, NFL Draft

2025 NFL Draft Wide Receiver Rankings: Top 5 Rookies

Last year’s wide receiver class was one of the best in recent history, totaling three top-10 picks and seven prospects coming off the board in the first round. Many have called this year’s class a massive downgrade compared to last year’s unit. Yet, the 2025 wide receiver draft class has several impressive prospects. There might […]


Brenton Strange - Fantasy Football Rankings, Waiver Wire, TE Streamers, NFL DFS

Winners and Losers of 2025 NFL Free Agency in Fantasy Football

NFL Free Agency has been quite the frenzy. At RotoBaller, we track it all for you right here! It might not always feel like it, but there have been a ton of impactful moves. And with every move comes a fantasy football impact, right? This article takes a look at some of the top winners […]


Jaylen Wright - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Fantasy Football Breakouts: Running Back Sleepers For 2025

The running back position is in constant flux in Dynasty fantasy football, as depth charts are constantly shuffled around, teams often decide to move on from productive players and replace them with cheaper or younger options, and players have their first good seasons in their careers. We're mostly concerned with that last point -- RBs […]


Albert Haynesworth - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Worst NFL Free Agent Signings Of All Time

With the free agency period for the 2025 NFL season now underway, many big-name players will find new homes as teams compete to sign anyone and everyone they think they need to help their squad. While many signings end up being good moves, or at least help their teams fill holes at certain positions on […]


Cole Kmet - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL injury News

Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets and Avoids: Tight Ends to Buy or Sell (2025)

It's tough to find good tight ends in dynasty fantasy football. Unfortunately, it's also very easy to be stuck with one that sticks around in the doldrums of low production. Such is the case for many TEs, and even those who have good seasons here and there often lack consistency year over year. It's not […]


D'Andre Swift - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injuries

Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets and Avoids: Running Backs to Buy or Sell (2025)

Running back volume and production is highly mercurial in the NFL. It can thus be difficult to know when to trade away and when to trade for tailbacks. There is constant competition for roles in certain backfields, and red-herring situations are abound due to injuries and plain luck. While some RBs are certainly safe in […]


Josh Downs - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News Updates

2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Third-Year Breakouts

Patience can be tough, especially in fantasy football. We want instant production from rookies, but these players often take a while to get going. These youngsters need to adjust to the speed of the NFL and learn from their early struggles to break out fully. The third year in the NFL is oftentimes when things […]


Justin Fields - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

NFL Free Agency Winners and Losers - Fantasy Football Outlooks from Florio

Free Agency is the most fun week of the NFL offseason. Even when it is not the strongest class, there is never a shortage of excitement. Players changing teams at a rapid rate. It is a week filled with hope that your favorite team will add stars and that those under-the-radar players you love will […]


Josh Downs - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News Updates

Josh Downs Fantasy Football Dynasty Outlook (2025)

The 2025 NFL Draft is quickly approaching. For the last few months, dynasty fantasy football gamers have been meticulously studying the incoming rookie class to gain any edge they can on their league mates. While we should be anxiously awaiting our rookie drafts, we must also take time and analyze how veteran players are valued […]


Tyron Smith Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

New York Jets and former long-time Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Tyron Smith was one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL for an extended period of time. He's made five All-Pro teams, two with the first team and two with the second team, been selected to eight Pro Bowls, and earned a spot on […]


Bills Defense - Von Miller IDP Rankings, D/ST Streamers, Fantasy Football Team Defense

Von Miller Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller, one of the greatest pass-rushers in NFL history, was released by his team on March 9, 2025. He had signed a six-year, $120 million deal with the team in 2022, but the soon-to-be 36-year-old wasn't able to make it to the end of that contract, so he's now looking for […]


Aaron Jones - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Staying Put - Impact Players Re-signed: Aaron Jones, Zach Ertz, Jaylen Warren, more

NFL free agency is a frenzy. As football fans, we love to see the movement around the league. It allows us to dream about the possibility of our team signing a fresh player who could make a serious impact. However, one cannot overlook the impact of re-signing significant contributors. While it is not as exciting […]