Shelby Miller: Lack Of Wins Do Not Decrease Fantasy Value
By Bill Pivetz
The starting position is very finicky for fantasy baseball. One pitcher can have a great win-loss record, but struggle in the ratio stats department or vice-versa. So, what actually determines the value of a starting pitcher? Is it wins? Low ERA and WHIP? K/9? All of the above? It all depends on the structure of your league. What this all boils down to is that Shelby Miller is still valuable in fantasy baseball despite his low win percentage this season.
More from FanSided
- Joe Burrow owes Justin Herbert a thank you note after new contract
- Chiefs gamble at wide receiver could already be biting them back
- Braves-Red Sox start time: Braves rain delay in Boston on July 25
- Yankees: Aaron Boone gives optimistic return date for Aaron Judge
- MLB Rumors: Yankees-Phillies trade showdown, Mariners swoop, India goes to Seattle
Before joining the Atlanta Braves, Miller spent three seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. He made just six appearances in his first season. Between 2013 and 2014, he appeared in 63 games (62 starts) and finished with a 25-18 record, 3.41 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 2.28 K/BB ratio. He was then traded to the Braves on Nov. 17, 2014.
In his first season with the Braves, Shelby Miller posted a career-best 3.02 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP with 171 strikeouts and 73 walks. The downside to owning Miller in 2015? His win-loss record. He had just six wins with 17 losses. He had the most losses among all qualified pitchers.
My colleague, Brad Kelly wrote about Miller being the prime example on why fantasy leagues should abolish the wins category in favor of quality starts. If you owned Miller, you were awarded just six wins from him. If you played with quality starts, he gave you 21 of them.
Digging deeper into his stats, Shelby Miller had a great season. He had a 7.50 K/9 and 3.20 BB/9. His 0.57 HR/9 is good for sixth in the league among qualified starting pitchers on FanGraphs. It also helps that Turner Field is a pitcher-friendly park.
Shelby Miller finished as the No. 40 pitcher on the Player Rater, mostly because of his low win-percentage. As long as he remains in Atlanta, he has top-30 starting pitcher potential. The NL East is not the scariest division in the league, so Miller can continue to post numbers that fantasy owners will like.
Projections: 10-12, 3.19 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 168 strikeouts
Draft: Round 20