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Jake Odorizzi and Kyle Gibson should be picked up

By Mike Marteny

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Welcome back to “Off The Deep End”, where I will give you fantasy baseball tips on who to pick up in deeper leagues. For people who play standard leagues, drop/add columns are easy for you to find, but for those of you that love deeper leagues, advice can be harder to come by. That is where I can help. All of these players are available in 85% or more of ESPN leagues.

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This time around we will do things a little differently. I will only do one position at a time, but I will give you advice on who to drop as well.

Here are the previous installments: The catchers are here. The first basemen are here. The second basemen are here. The shortstops are here. The third basemen are here. The first outfield piece is here.  The second outfield piece is here.

We have finally made it to the pitchers!  Today will deal with starting pitching, while tomorrow will deal with the relievers.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi (23) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Add:

Chase Anderson, Diamondbacks: He was not one of the big name prospects within the organization, but he has provided quality innings for the Diamondbacks so far.  He has only given up more than two runs in one of his seven starts.  He won’t provide a lot of strikeouts, but the 5-2 record with a 3.18 ERA will help you in deep leagues.

Danny Duffy, Royals: Aside from back-to-back starts at the end of May in which he gave up five runs in each, he has been brilliant.  He has not given up more than three runs in any of his other seven starts.  He has a 1.75 ERA in June, so it’s time to hop on and see where he takes you.

Kyle Gibson, Twins: Gibson has not given up a run is his last 21 innings.  And before you go saying he played lousy teams, that just is not true.  He had an outing at Detroit and another at Boston in that stretch.  He has given up just nine hits in those 21 innings, while striking out 16.  He was the best pitching prospect in the Twins’ system for the better part of two years, and he is showing why now.  He can really help you over the rest of the season.

Matt Shoemaker, Angels: He has not allowed more than three runs in any of his seven starts.  He has been particularly impressive over his last two starts, striking out 16 in 15.1 innings, while giving up only three runs.  He could be serious help to your deep league rotation right now.

Jake Odorizzi, Rays:  Unlike the other names on this list, Odorizzi has been lit up a few times this year, mostly in April.  That said, he has struck out 20 and only given up three runs in his last three starts.  This is the  kind of strikeout potential you usually have to trade for at this point in the season.  You can take the occassional blowup for his 91 striketouts in 77.2 innings pitched.

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa (29) wipes his face after allowing 5 runs to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning . Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Drop:

Chase Whitley, Yankees: Whitley suffered his first loss of the season last night when he was blasted by the Blue Jays for eight runs in 3.1 innings.  To put that into perspective, he had given up just 11 runs all season before that.  While one start does not make someone worth dropping, his lack of strikeouts, and inability to go deep into games make him not really worth taking the chance on at this point.

John Danks, White Sox: He had given up only six runs in four starts prior to Sunday.  He gave up six in five innings to the Twins then.  Again, Danks doesn’t miss any bats, so blowups can happen at any time.  That is the third time on the season that he gave up six or more runs in a start.

Jorge De La Rosa, Rockies: The honeymoon is over.  Over his last three outings, De La Rosa has given up 14 runs in 14.2 innings pitched.  Bench him or drop him until he turns it back around.  If he can turn it back around.

Ricky Nolasco, Twins: He had a string of good starts in May, but he is reverting to old habits again.  He allows way too many baserunners, and has only turned in one quality start in seven tries since May 18th.  His WHIP is 1.56 on the season.  You can do much better than that!

Ryan Vogelsong, Giants: He has allowed 13 runs in 16 innings in his last three starts.  He doesn’t strike out many, and doesn’t go deep into games.  There really isn’t any reason to keep playing Russian Roulette with him.

Come back tomorrow for the relievers!

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