Last week I looked at some offensive players that have far outperformed their ADP (average draft position) and have helped many of you lead your fantasy baseball leagues because of the incredible value they have provided. I love this exercise because it proves that you can win your league even if you have a few misses early in your draft. Early and aggressive waiver wire action, plus great late picks in your draft, are what make the difference. Let's look at some arms that have turned out to be total studs. What do they all have in common? They all were taken in round 22 or later, which means in twelve-team leagues, many went undrafted in March. 

  1. Robbie Ray. ADP 277. It turns out, rumors of his Spring Training dominance were not exaggerated. It was hard to pull the trigger on Ray with how many times he had broken my heart. The tantalizing high-strikeout upside always had to be tempered due to his absurd amount of free passes. Plus, a move to the Rogers Center and the AL East? Well, that sounded like a recipe for disaster. But, as we now know, it certainly was not, and Robbie Ray seems to have reinvented himself. Ray is dealing at a rate of 11 strikeouts per nine innings with a career-low walk rate of 2.29 per nine. Last season that walk rate was 7.84. Talk about a turnaround. Luckily, I could grab Ray off the waiver wire in a few leagues, and he has been a go-to for my DFS lineups. Ray is currently a Top 20 starting pitcher. 
  2. Freddy Peralta. ADP 271. I heard the rumors he may make the rotation, and I took a shot due to his high strikeout ability. I figured he would at least last a few weeks before he was eventually sent back to the bullpen. But, amazingly, Peralta has instead turned into one of the best starting pitchers in baseball. His ERA as a starter across a career-high 121 innings pitched this year is the lowest of his career at only 2.45. He's striking men out at a rate of more than 12 per nine innings, and he doesn't give up the long ball (only .74 per nine). STUD. Peralta is currently a Top 20 starting pitcher. 
  3. Carlos Rodón ADP 531. All credit to Adam Ronis, who was on Carlos Rodón early after watching him in Spring training. I had zero shares on draft day and also missed my waiver-wire chances. That was a massive mistake as Rodon is now in the conversation for the AL Cy Young. Across 109 innings pitched, the veteran leftie has a 2.38 ERA and a .96 WHIP. He has career-bests in everything for 2021- strikeout rate, walk-rate, ERA, and let's not forget, he also pitched a no-hitter. Carlos Rodón is a Top 12 starting pitcher. I hope you pulled that lotto ticket. 
  4. Logan Webb. ADP 527. Webb has been fantastic for the Giants this year. Across 18 games, Webb has pitched to a 2.84 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. His strikeout rate is the highest of his career, and his walk rate is the lowest. 
  5. Luis García. ADP 708. Before the season started, Garcia wasn't on anyone's radar- except maybe mine (homer). As it turns out, Garcia has been phenomenal for the Astros, even pushing Cristian Javier into long relief. Garcia had some tough-luck losses at the beginning of the season, but he has won eight of his last eleven. Garcia strikes men out at a rate of 10.5 per nine innings and on the season, his ERA sits at 3.39 with a 1.11 WHIP and .219 OBA through 23 games pitched. That's a waiver-wire win.