Which of these hurlers would you have preferred in 2014?

16 wins, 2.46 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 220 strikeouts in 219.2 IP
16 wins, 2.55 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 215 strikeouts in 218.2 IP

Pitcher A had an ADP of around 150 last year.

Pitcher B wasn't drafted in the top-400 last year.

Pitcher A is Jon Lester.

Pitcher B is Bryan Shaw, Tony Watson and Adam Ottavino, three hurlers that were only taken at a draft in 2014 if you played in a league with holds. The group also posted a total of five saves to add even more value.

The point should be obvious. 

Middle Relievers Matter. Way more than most people seem to think.

Facts.

Middle relievers, in many instances, produce better ratios (ERA, WHIP) than all but the best of the best on the hill. 

In most instances, relievers have better K/9 rates. 

Only relievers can accrue saves. There's always a chance, and I just got done going through this in a previous article, that the middle reliever you roster will find his way to a couple of saves or perhaps a full-time closing gig. 

Middle relievers are throwaways in the minds of many meaning their draft day cost is negligible to non-existent. 

It's fair to point out that a relievers ERA can be ruined by one or two horrible outings and it's also fair to note that many middle relievers see their performance vacillate on a yearly basis. I will posit that this is correct. I will also point out the following. Even if a reliever has his ERA "ruined" by a bombastic outing or two, what are we really talking about? Two outings, two innings, eight runs allowed. That type of effort kills that relievers ERA no doubt, but in the grand scheme of the 1,500 innings your team pitches eight runs matter less than you would think. 

It's also fair to point out that no one is likely to be rolling out there three middle relievers on a daily basis, but the point should be clear. If you choose the right arms, and are wise about how you deploy them in-season, middle relievers can have far more of an impact than most people seem to think they will. Given the fact that your investment in those middle relief arms will be virtually non-existent, it might be worth kicking the tires on a couple of those bad boys towards the end of your fantasy baseball draft.