Top Fantasy Pitchers in the Minors
Best Minor League Pitchers Who Will Soon Be Fantasy MLB Studs
With all of the injuries and incompetence among MLB pitching lately, these young pitching prospects and veteran hangers-on will help your 2007 Fantasy Baseball Team.
The 2007 fantasy baseball season is only three weeks old, and already, fantasy MLB pitchers are in high demand. Between the many injuries to top starters (Jason Schmidt, Mike Mussina, Francisco Liriano, and Felix Hernandez) and the poor starts made by veteran stalwarts (Jake Westbrook, Jose Contreras, etc.), fantasy MLB owners are in dire need of new talent.
1. Tim Lincecum, Fresno Grizzlies (Giants AAA Affiliate)
This guy is pitching out of his mind. In four April starts, he is 4-0 with a 0.36 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched. He also has a ridiculously low 0.80 WHIP. The Giants are getting good pitching from Barry Zito, Matt Morris, Noah Lowry and Matt Cain. But if one of those starters should slow down, or fall to an injury, Lincecum will be up with the club in the bat of an eye.
2. Phil Dumatrait, Louisville Bats (Reds AAA Affiliate)
The Reds pitching has been okay -- Arroyo, Lhose and Harang are all throwing pretty well -- but nobody is going to keep Dumatrait out of the show for very long. He is also 4-0, he's got a 0.38 ERA and a WHIP well under 1.00. A little less impressive than Lincecum in the strikeout department (17 Ks in 23.1 IP), Dumatrait could still be the next great call-up. Watch for him. Seriously.
3. Alfredo Aceves, Sultanes De Monterrey (Mexican League)
Any scouts looking in the Mexican League are going to find this young righthander. In five starts this spring, Aceves is 4-0 with a 1.84 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and 14 Ks in 29 innings pitched.
4. Homer Bailey, Louisville Bats (Cincinnati Reds AAA Affiliate)
At the beginning of the 2007 baseball season, Bailey was ranked second behind only the New York Yankees' Phillip Hughes among minor league pitching prospects. With Hughes going to the majors this week, Bailey is now the top prospect. Although the three pitchers above him are having better seasons at this particular moment, Bailey has the best tool set to be a tough MLB pitcher.
In 3 starts, Bailey is 1-0 with a 1.76 ERA and a WHIP of 1.04 WHIP. AAA hitters are batting just .154 against him, and he has struck out 11 hitters in 15 innings. Bailey and Dumatrait could really shore up the Reds -- and your fantasy baseball pitching staff.
5. Yovanni Gallardo, Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers AAA Affilliate)
In pre-season polls, Gallardo was the third best starting pitching prospect in the minors, after Phil Hughes and Homer Bailey. So far, Gallardo has done plenty to justify the hype: he is 2-1 with a 2.65 ERA, 26 Ks in 17 innings pitched and a 1.00 WHIP.
6. Justin Germano, Portland Beavers (San Diego Padres AAA Affiliate)
David Wells is nearing the end. Germano is probably the Padres best bet to shore up their already solid rotation. The 24 year old is 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA and a WHIP of 1.00. After a strong 2006 season (10-6, 3.28 ERA), and a good start this spring, Justin has put together enough of a record to earn him that call from San Diego.
7. D.J. Houlton, Las Vegas 51s (L.A. Dodgers AAA Affiliate) (2-0, 1.99 ERA, 19 Ks in 22.1 IP, 1.01 WHIP).
8. Eric Stults, Las Vegas 51s (L.A. Dogers AAA Affiliate) (2-0, 2.91 ERA, 17 Ks in 21 IP)
Unless Jason Schmidt heals very quickly, you can expect either Houlton or Stults to be called up to the Dodgers in the next few weeks. They are both very tough and either one can make an immediate splash for your fantasy basbeall team.
9. Jose Lima, Saraperos de Saltillo (Mexican League)
Yup, same dude. He is still around. Lima is currently 4-1 with a 3.47 ERA in the Mexican League after seven starts. You can bet your life that some general manager is going to sign him to a major league deal very soon. It's posible, of course, that Lima could run off a 1-9 start, as he is wont to to do. On the other hand, he has had two of the greatest starts in the past twenty years in the 1999 season (11-2 in first 13 starts with a 2.48 ERA) and the 2004 season (when he also started 11-2). Lima is worth a watch, and maybe even a pick. Perhaps lightning will strike a third time.
10. J.A. Happ, Nashville Lynx (Philadelphia Phillies AAA Affiliate).
The Phils have gotten pretty good pitching recently from Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer and Adam Eaton. However, Brett Myers has struggled mightily and the middle relief corps has been about as effective as George Bush in a battle of wits with Albert Einstein. The Phillies need somebody to bridge the gap to closer Tom Gordon. One possibility is moving Myers into the set-up role. Even if the Phillies don't take that drastic step, they will still bring up Happ very soon. He is 1-0 with 1.08 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 16 innings pitched. He will help the Phillies and many fantasy teams.
