Assembling a winning Fantasy baseball team involves identifying sleepers, breakouts, and busts. While it's exciting to discover potential diamonds in the rough, it's equally important to steer clear of pitchers who have shown inconsistent or underperforming trends.
Here are a few essential tips that should be followed before making the final pick.
Look out for pitchers with frequent injuries or recent surgeries. Avoid pitchers showing a notable decline in performance, velocity, or control. Older pitchers may face higher injury risks or declining effectiveness. Exercise caution with pitchers who struggle with consistency or control. Pitchers on teams with weak offenses or poor defense may face challenges. Beware of pitchers in stadiums favoring hitters, as it may impact their stats negatively.
Pitchers to Avoid
Based on their past performance, here is a list of names of pitchers that you should avoid.
#1: White Sox - Dylan Cease
Despite starting the 2023 season as a frontrunner, Cease faced difficulties and had an ERA of 4.58 across his 33 starts. This was his worst performance since his rookie year, leaving many Fantasy managers disappointed
#2: Reds - Hunter Greene
Greene, another disappointing pitcher last season, finished with a 4.82 ERA across 22 starts. His inconsistent performances and injury history make him a risky choice for the 2024 season.
#3: White Sox - Eloy Jimenez
Despite an impressive start to his MLB career in 2019, Jimenez has encountered issues with staying fit and producing consistently, with 139 games played over the past two seasons. His inconsistent playing time and injury history add uncertainty to his 2024 Fantasy baseball value.
#4: Reds - Elly De La Cruz
Although showing impressive potential as a rookie with 13 home runs, 44 RBI, and 35 stolen bases in just 98 games, De La Cruz's batting average was disappointing (.235/.300/.410). His lackluster average and inconsistent performances make him a risky option for the upcoming season.
#5: Blue Jays - Daulton Varsho
Varsho achieved career highs in doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, and stolen bases 2022, raising expectations for a breakout in 2023. Despite being drafted 73rd on average, experts identified potential weaknesses, dubbing him a 2023 Fantasy baseball bust.
#6: Yankees - Carlos Rodon
Securing a substantial six-year, $162 million contract in the offseason, Rodon boasted impressive stats from 2021-2022. Despite an ADP of 76.88, the experts foresaw a downturn, accurately predicting his disappointing 2023 performance: just 14 starts, a 3-8 record, and a high 6.85 ERA.
#7: Cubs - Nico Hoernan
Coming off a stellar season, he showcased his prowess with a .283 batting average, 43 stolen bases, and a National League Gold Glove. Excelling in various statistical categories, he scored 98 runs and hit 175 hits. With only two seasons of at least 135 games played, he grapples with generating significant power at the plate. Hoerner recorded a career-high 83 strikeouts last season, accompanied by a modest nine home runs.
#8: Tigers - Casey Mize
Once considered one of the top pitching prospects, Mize has failed to live up to expectations since making his MLB debut in 2020. With a career 5.33 ERA and inconsistent performances, it may be wise to avoid him.
#9: Angels - Chase Silseth
After an impressive rookie season in which he posted a 3.48 ERA in 15 starts, Silseth struggled with a 6.69 ERA and poor command in his sophomore campaign. His inconsistent performances make him a risky pick for the upcoming season.
Avoid these pitchers when constructing your Fantasy baseball roster to increase your chances of success in the upcoming season.
