Fantasy Baseball RPV Breakdown: Middle Rotation Men

The men in the middle are crucial to your fantasy team’s success. The names in this group may not always be the sexiest, but they are the glue that holds a fantasy rotation together. Oftentimes, these names are undervalued and underappreciated. That’s why it’s time to highlight them and show a little love to the blue collar boys holding things down one start at a time. During a time when No. 1 starters are having their share of injuries and issues, the best of the Nos. 2-4 starters are getting the job done in baseball right now. It’s equally important to determine what we can expect from them down the stretch.

Here’s the Fantasy Black Book Relative Position Value (RPV) of the starting pitchers ranked No. 26-60 overall in fantasy points:

Zack Greinke may look like the best of this group, but when you consider he was drafted mostly as a No. 1 starter, he’s been a disappointment. If you somehow did nab him as a No. 2 or No. 3 starter then he’s been a value. Julio Teheran has pitched well of late with four quality starts in his last six tries, a 2.68 ERA and a .80 WHIP over that period. He’s the last chip the Braves have left to move and all signs point to the fact he will indeed be so by July 31. When (not if) he goes, he should improve his win potential immensely. He’s an under-the-radar trade target in fantasy leagues as well. Drew Pomeranz has already been dealt, but I have serious reservations about him post trade. The AL East is extremely tough, and when you add in the DH factor and the innings wall he’s bound to hit, he would be a “sell high” right now in my world.

If anyone has the chance to leave this group in the dust in the second half, it’s Jacob deGrom of the Mets. His peripherals have been terrific after a slow start and the run support will come around. If history teaches us anything, Kenta Maeda is most likely to fall further down this list. Historically, Japanese imports have struggled with the “every fifth day” routine as the season drags on. As tough as it might be, one would be wise to entertain offers for him.

Trevor Bauer and Michael Fulmer have been waiver wire godsends, but Fulmer (like Aaron Sanchez) will likely turn into a pumpkin by mid-August. He’s never thrown more than 125 innings in a pro season and once he reaches that threshold, he’ll likely tire. The bullpen could be a real possibility for him as the Tigers will not risk his long-term upside. Trevor Bauer will be the more durable of the two, but no doubt the more mercurial.  His home ERA (3.98) still leaves a lot to be desired (2.78 ERA on the road), but this is nothing new for Bauer who have even more extreme splits last season.

Rich Hill and Junior Guerra have outkicked their coverage and if you’re leaning on them to carry you down the stretch, you’ll be sorry. On the other hand, Jon Gray and Steven Matz are two names to target down the stretch. Matz is toughing it out through bone chips and Gray is dealing with half his games in Colorado. However, both guys have outstanding ability and can be acquired at a discount in most leagues. They both come with risk, but when you’re trying to make a run at a championship they’re both the kind of risk worth taking.

Joe Pisapia (@JoePisapia17) is the seven-time best-selling author of the Fantasy Black Book Series for baseball and football and hosts Fantasy Sports Tonight on Sirius/XM Fantasy Sports Radio.