Up and Coming Starting Pitchers: Anderson, Jungmann and more

With the All-Star Break coming up in Week 15, there are no two start pitchers to use this scoring period. Thus, this could either be an extremely short article, or it opens the opportunity to explore some other aspect concerning starting pitching for fantasy purposes. The latter seems to be the better course, and therefore, here are seven young starting pitchers that you may want to target for the second half of the 2015 season.

Next week, we will be back on track with the normal two start pitcher analysis as well as the Sunday Streaming Pitchers article. Until then, enjoy the All-Star festivities and consider trying to add one or more of these rising young arms to your fantasy roster.

Stat lines for each SP are current through the end of Friday, July 10, 2015.

Cody Anderson CLE

2015 production:  2-1, 0.89 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, 11 K

Anderson began the year in Double-A, but was promoted to Triple-A and now finds himself a member of the Indian rotation. He struggled in Double-A when first promoted in 2013 after dominating in Single-A ball, and things continued to be shaky in 2014, where he posted an unimpressive 4-11 record in 25 starts, with a 5.44 ERA and 1.49 WHIP over 125.1 innings. After being reassigned to Double-A this past March, however, he figured something out and in 10 appearances, put up stellar numbers: 1.73 ERA, 1.02 WHIP with a 36:9 K/BB ratio. That led to a three start stint at Triple-A Columbus, where he continued to show off his skill set, posting a 18:5 K/BB ratio with a 2.33 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 19.1 innings, resulting in a June 21 call up to the big league to replace Shaun Marcum in the rotation. He held the Rays scoreless over 7.2 innings in his first start, scattering six hits and striking out four. He has started four games in his brief MLB career, and the strikeout rate is disappointing, sitting at 3.26 K/9 over 30.1 innings, but he is exhibiting exceptional control, having walked just three for a 0.89 BB/9 rate. He has been generating a decent number of ground balls (1.57 GB/FB) and has been keeping the ball in the park as evidenced by his 0.6 HR/9 rate. Before you get too excited, realize that his .168 BABIP and 94.4% strand rate, as well as his 3.63 FIP all scream that regression is due to come at some point, but the Indians believed enough in the kid to keep him on their 40-man roster even after his struggles at Double-A in 2013 and 2014, so there is reason to believe he has enough of a skill set to provide benefits as a SP in the second half of 2015, especially if the Cleveland offense can stabilize.

Taylor Jungmann MIL

2015 production:  3-1, 2.43 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 27 K

Jungmann was a first round pick by Milwaukee in 2011, and it has taken him some time to rise through the minor league system. He began to look like a true prospect with potential once he stopped pitching to contact and started racking up some Ks in 2014 at Double-A. In early June, he was called up to replace the injured Wily Peralta in the rotation, despite posting less than impressive numbers at Triple-A Colorado Springs (6.37 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 61 hits in 59.1 innings) and rewarded the team for their continued faith by winning his first start against the Pirates on the road, holding Pittsburgh to only three hits and one earned run over seven innings. Since then, he has generated a ton of ground balls (2.57 GB/FB) and avoided giving up home runs, allowing just two over 37 innings, both on the road. He needs to develop better control to be more trustworthy, especially while pitching for the struggling Brewers, although his 2.43 BB/9 is nearly two walks better than the 4.42 rate he was posting at Triple-A prior to his call up. He could be a late bloomer, who is just now figuring out how to pitch effectively, or he could blow up. He was a a No. 12 pick overall a few years ago, so there is hope he can continue to develop, but for now, he is a decent back of the rotation SP to spot start when the opponent dictates a chance for success.

Manny Banuelos ATL

2015 production:  1-0, 0.75 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 9 K

At age 21, Banuelos blew out his elbow, missing most of 2012 and all of 2013 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The Yankees let him pitch at Triple-A in 2014, and he was good if not exceptional, posting a 4.13 ERA over three minor league levels with 71 Ks in 76.1 innings (8.4 K/9), and then moved him to Atlanta in the off-season. He was called up to replace the injured Williams Perez in early July, and has started three games for the Braves. Despite his peripherals, he has not shown great control nor a strong ability to miss bats. Plus, he may be heading back to Triple-A or the bullpen as Perez is due to return from the DL after the All-Star break. Banuelos is a pitcher to keep on your radar, but I would hold off adding him to your roster until he locks down a rotation slot.

Matt Wisler ATL

2015 production:  3-1, 3.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 14 K

Wisler was part of the package sent to Atlanta in exchange for Craig Kimbrel by the Padres, and was considered to be the primary piece the Braves were interested in when making the deal. He struggled more than anticipated at Triple-A Gwinnett, posting a 4.29 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 65 innings. When Mike Foltyniewicz was demoted, the Braves called up Wisler and thrust him into the rotation. He has been up and down in his four starts, holding opponents at home to a mere earned run but allowing seven earned runs in his two road starts. He has been striking out more hitters in his last couple of outings, although his K rate has been trending down since a high of 10.50 K/9 at Double-A in limited action in 2014. He has shown decent control over his four starts in the majors, posting a 2.35 BB/9 but the below league average K rate hurts him with his 1.04 GB/FB ratio. Unlike his teammate, Banuelos who was profiled a few inches above, he is likely locked into the Brave rotation unless he blows up at some point. If he can continue to demonstrate decent control and push his strikeout rate up nearer to league average, he makes for a good SP4/5 to add to your roster for the second half of the season.

Chris Bassitt OAK

2015 production:  0-2, 2.95 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 14 K

Bassitt appeared in seven games for the A's this season, two of those being spot starts before being reassigned to Triple-A Nashville when Sonny Gray returned to action after a salmonella poisoning experience. Bassitt came over to the A's in a trade this past December when the White Sox acquired Jeff Samardzija from Oakland. Although it has not shown up in his limited MLB stints with the White Sox and A's, Bassitt has good strikeout potential. That is discounted by his poor control, however, as witnessed by the 14:10 K/BB ratio he put up in his 21.1 innings while with Oakland. Obviously, while he is pitching in the minors, you do not want to roster him. I have long believed, though, that if Billy Beane goes after a pitcher, keep an eye on him as the potential is certainly there for him to become a decent to great pitcher.

Andrew Heaney LAA

2015 production:  2-0, 1.77 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 17 K

Heaney struggled when he first was called up to the majors by the Marlins in 2014, starting five games and posting a 5.83 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. His short stint with the Angels has been much more impressive, and he generating a fair amount of ground balls from opposing batters (1.56 GB/FB) and his control has been superb (1.33 BB/9). Do not discount his strikeout rate, either, as despite throwing a low-90s fastball, he is able to post a K rate of 7.52, slightly lower than league average. At 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, he is not an intimidating mound presence but is getting the job done, at least so far in limited action in place of the injured Jered Weaver in the Angel rotation. He will force the organization to make a choice once Weaver is ready to return to action, but if he keeps pitching as he has in his first three starts, he may lock up a back end rotation spot for the balance of the 2015 season. Add him now while you can, with a thought to dropping him if he gets sent back down to Triple-A or moved to the pen (I think the former the more likely outcome, but it will depend on circumstances, as always).

Robbie Ray ARI

2015 production:  3-4, 2.16 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 38 K

Ray was a cornerstone in the Tiger's trade of Doug Fister to the Nationals in 2014, but he never really got a chance to show Detroit his worth as a MLB pitcher. He struggled at Triple-A Toledo and was even worse with Detroit, leading to his move to Arizona. He has been called up twice to start for the Diamondbacks this season, and while the strikeout potential he has flashed in the minors and at the Arizona Fall League last winter has not shown up, he is showing off good control with a 2.16 BB/9 rate over his eight starts covering 50 innings. He has been able to keep the ball in the park, despite having to pitch at Chase Field (a mid-range HR allowance park). His 0.82 GB/FB rate is a bit scary with regard to the homer rate, admittedly, and his low BABIP (.264) and high strand rate (79.6%) portend an adjustment to his superb initial peripherals, so be expected for some regression as the season goes forward. He is still a fine SP5 to add for your second half run to the championship of your league.

If you have any questions about starting pitching or fantasy baseball, feel free to contact me at ia@fantasyalarm.com.