Fantasy Baseball: 2016 Bounce Back Pitching Sleepers

Justin Verlander

ADP: 33rd pitcher – 120th overall (12th round)

Only a few years ago, Justin Verlander would be a value pick in the third or fourth-round. These days, you’ll be able to pick up the former MVP in the 12th-round.

Verlander had a terrible 2014 campaign which saw him slowed by injuries after he was phenomenal from 2009-2013. In 2014, he put up an ERA of 4.54 but he still managed to earn 15 wins. That’s what happens when you play for a team that scores runs in bunches.

Last season didn’t start out any better for Verlander, who missed most of the first half of the season with an injury. His first five starts of the season resulted in a 5.34 ERA and a 1.385 WHIP across just 30.1 innings. He also gave up six home runs in that span.

In the second-half of the season, Justin Verlander completely turned things around. He threw 103 innings across 15 starts which is good enough to average just under seven innings per outing.

He also posted an ERA of 2.80 and a WHIP of 1.000 in that time frame. His Ks/9 jumped from 5.3 in the first half to 8.3 in the second half and he only gave up seven home runs in those 103 innings.

In the second-half of the season last year, Verlander was in the top ten starting pitchers in both ERA and WHIP. He also was one of only six pitchers to log 100 or more innings in that time frame.

If he can start the season in 2016 like he finished 2015, he’ll be one of the best fantasy pitchers out there. He’ll also be a steal in the 12th round.

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