Who’d you rather? Chris Sale or Kris Medlen?

Kris Medlen can anchor your pitching staff, but is Chris Sale a better option?

Who’d you rather target for your pitching staff, Chris Sale or Kris Medlen? We’ll profile both players, comparing and contrasting, then determine which is the better bet for your fantasy baseball pitching staff.

Kris Medlen

First, let’s get to know him. He’s a barely 5’10” righty who played shortstop in college and was drafted as a reliever in 2006’s 10th round. His wife’s name is Nicole and his drink of choice is Coors Light.

Returning from TJ surgery the Atlanta Braves started him in the bullpen in order to ease him into action. He got his first start on July 31 and ended that second half with a 0.94 ERA, 0.82 Whip, 9 Wins, and 95 Ks to only 14 walks. That half of pitching has been matched only by the likes of Pedro Martinez, Greg Maddux, and Bob Gibson. Had that been stretched over a full season, they would have been forced to rename the Cy Young award after him. It can not be overstated how unhittable he was in 2012.

Can he stretch it over a full season in 2013?

Medlen throws four pitches. First, a two-seam or four-seam fastball in the 89–92 mph range. Second, a curveball used against righties that sits between 77–80.  An insanely good changeup (80–83), which is used primarily against left-handers (Hitters hit just .098 vs. this pitch and, in fact, whiff against it an astounding 44% of the time). Lastly, Medlen will throw a handful of sliders just to keep hitters guessing.

It’s this type of pitch mix mixed with impeccable control that allows him to be so dominate despite his being a diminutive righty, and it’s also what will keep him effective in 2013 and beyond.

But will he be more effective than Chris Sale?

Chris Sale

Sale is a 6’6″ hard-throwing lefty, the rock to Medlen’s roll. In 2012 he led the NCAA in strikeouts. He also jumped from relief to the rotation, but he was stretched out early and got a full slate of innings in 2012, which ended with a 9.0 K/9, 3.05 ERA, and 1.13 Whip.

Sale also throws four pitches. A fastball that can clock in at 95 mph and a second two-seam fastball at about 90. Third, a 81-85 mph changeup to righties and finally a wicked slider that serves as his out pitch.

Sale will give you plenty of K’s, which are great for fantasy. He also doesn’t walk a ton and keeps the home runs allowed to a minimum, all the things you are looking for in a successful pitcher. He’ll be a stud for years and the White Sox agree, signing him to an extension.

Who’d you rather?

Medlen has been a poster child for what coming back successfully from Tommy John surgery can look like. There are no injury concerns with him. Additionally, his pinpoint control coupled with his ability to change speeds bring comparisons to Greg Maddux. No one places those types of lofty expectations upon him, but for him to be in the same ballpark of that skill-set makes him a fantastic fantasy baseball option.

Sale has been a poster child for what a successful shift to the rotation can look like. He has all the skills you are looking for in a successful pitcher, plus he misses bats, which makes him a fantastic fantasy baseball option as well.

I’m calling this a wash.

We have Medlen as our #16 starting pitcher off the board and Sale as the #18 in our Draft Kit. It really comes down to value with these two, meaning which of the two you can get at a bargain on draft day. If either one slides even a spot or two, don’t hesitate to draft him.

Our 2013 fantasy baseball projections: