Scott Oberg (RP, COL) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~240

CURRENT ADP: ~260 overall

ANALYSIS: Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Scott Oberg is a solid late-round draft pick for owners in mixed and NL-only formats. Although the Rockies have committed to giving Wade Davis the closer role to begin 2020, he is coming off a miserable 2019 campaign. In 2019, Davis posted a horrific 8.65 ERA and 1.88 WHIP in 42.2 innings pitched, with just 15 saves in 18 opportunities. By contrast, Oberg had a solid 2019 in which he was 6-1 and posted a 2.25 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 58 strikeouts in 56 IP.

His performance was primarily supported by his 2019 metrics, which evidenced an above-average fastball velocity, exit velocity, xBA, and xwOBA. Due to his success, Oberg took over for the unreliable Davis as the Rockies closer in the second half of 2019, converting five saves in eight chances. Oberg's season, unfortunately, ended abruptly when he suffered from a blood clot issue that required surgery in August. Now healthy and ready to go for 2020, Oberg is generally considered to be the Rockies closer-in-waiting if and when Davis falters.

Oberg doesn't have the high-strikeout upside that other closers have, but he's performed well in the unforgiving Coors Field over the past two seasons. Specifically, at home in 2019, Oberg posted an impressive 1.71 ERA in 31.2 IP and didn't give up a home run in 28 appearances. Also, since 2018, Oberg has a 2.35 ERA, ranking fifth among big-league relievers, with a minimum of 100 appearances, over that timeframe. He is an excellent value for fantasy managers at his current ADP considering that he could see a number of innings and help with ratios even if he doesn't become the full-time closer.