Every good fantasy team needs some sleeper picks or some under-the-radar pick ups during the season. As the fantasy baseball playoffs approach every stat you can add to your team helps, and picking up pitchers based on current history and matchups is a good way to pad your stars. The following are five under-the-radar pitchers that may be available to you.
Bronson Arroyo - Cincinnati Reds
You may not know this, but over the last two weeks Arroyo is the fifth best starting pitcher in standard yahoo fantasy leagues. The other upside, he is facing the Rockies this week who are banged up and ripe for the picking. He is owned in 61% of Yahoo leagues so he may be available for you to pick up. If he’s there make the pick up and ride the veteran all the way to the playoffs.
Jon Niese - New York Mets
If you missed it, Niese was the fifth best pitcher last week, and this week would be a good time to add him to your roster if you don’t already have him. He is only owned in 44% of Yahoo leagues and has two starts this week against teams with struggling offenses, the Nationals and Phillies. Niese is on a roll and the time is now to jump on his bandwagon. He may not be a sexy addition to your team, but for now at least, he could be the biggest addition you make all year.
Jose Quintana - Chicago White Sox
Quintana has been pitching solid all season, but the reason you should pick him up this week is very simple, he is pitching against the Astros. Even if you are not looking for just one week Quintana may be the guy for you. He isn’t going to get you a ton of wins down the stretch (Although this one against the ‘Stros is almost guaranteed), but he has been a solid pitcher all year long a good 3.67 ERA, and he is only owned in 27% of Yahoo leagues.
Jorge De La Rosa - Colorado Rockies
De La Rosa does not have the best matchup this week. He is facing a tough Reds lineup and his offense is beat up bad, but he is red hot right now. There is no telling if this hot streak will continue, but he’s won his last four starts, and has pitched efficiently all year long for the Rockies. It is something to have a decent ERA when you pitch for the Rockies, it is fantastic when you have a good one, and he has a good one at 3.28. He is owned in just over half of the standard Yahoo leagues, but if he is there you should grab him.
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Andy Pettitte - New York Yankees
It may be hard to believe that anyone on the Yankees could be a sleeper, especially a 41 year old veteran with the trace record of Pettitte, but he is only owned in 39% of Yahoo leagues. On top of that, he is heating up. In his last three starts, two wins and a no decision, Pettitte has only given up two earned runs. If his great pitching isn’t enough to sway you to take a chance on an aging pitcher, the Yankees offense is heating up as well, and a good offense could lead to wins for a starting pitcher. If you have a chance, snatch him up and ride the Yankees offense to wins and Pettitte will get you the decent ERA.