Once the top talent in Fantasy Baseball is gone and the big
names have been picked is when the leagues are truly won and lost each season.
It’s the later picks, the scrap wire picks and the high risk high reward picks
that can truly make you or break you each season. This season will be no
different as I expect there to be more than a few starting pitchers that are
coming off injuries that will still be on the board late or after your draft
wraps up. Should you pick them?
In the first case, yes, you should absolutely pick him. Yu
Darvish was cruising right along on his way to another great season in 2014
when an elbow injury ended his season. Darvish is already back on his usual
schedule as far as throwing and spring training and all signs point to him
being dominant in 2015 like he has been his entire career. The triceps injury yesterday does worry me but only a little.
Homer Bailey was always one of those prospects you thought
were going to finally break out that year and it never happened, and then his
no hitter happened. Bailey also suffered from an elbow injury in 2014 and
pitches in a very hitting friendly Citizens Bank Park in Cincinnati. Bailey is
one of those guys that is behind in spring and will possibly be still on the
board after the last pick is made and definitely worth a final roster spot if
you can wait on him.
For the third elbow injury thrown into the mix we have the
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee. Lee missed more than half the
season in 2014 with an elbow injury after several setbacks ruined his attempts
at a comeback. Lee will have no pressure in Philadelphia and if he can prove that
he is still effective he will likely be dealt to a contender. I’d definitely
take a waiver on him late in the draft and hope for the best.
I’ll personally always remember Clay Buchholz as the guy who
gave up Derek Jeter’s final hit in the major leagues in 2014 and the guy that
Jeter shook hands and congratulated before walking off into the sunset. Other
than that game Buchholz battled knee injuries and a less than mediocre team
behind him in 2014 and his stats suffered for it subsequently. If you need an
ace you probably shouldn’t draft Clay but if you need a solid innings eater
type pitcher that will get you wins while sacrificing ERA then he may be your
man.
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)