"Nothing against Detroit Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal, Boston Red Sox LHP Garrett Crochet or Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Paul Skenes, but these excellent fellows were supposed to be rotation anchors in fantasy baseball this season. Each was among the top starting pitchers in ESPN ADP for good reasons and, while they produced fantastic statistics for investors in standard points formats and roto/categories leagues alike, they were not "draft day bargains.""
"However, Seattle Mariners RHP on average a 16th-round selection -- was quite the bargain. He gets our nod for fantasy starting pitcher MVP. Woo, 25, emerged as a solid fantasy option during the 2024 season, when he went 9-3 with a 2.89 ERA and an 0.90 WHIP, but he did so for only 22 starts (121 1/3 innings), and his below-average strikeout rate scared potential investors."
"Woo performed better this season, shaking off durability questions by making 30 starts, and he raised his strikeout rate from 21.4% to 27.1%. He whiffed 198 hitters and won 15 games. Woo nearly matched the exalted Skenes for value, regardless of format. He pitched like a fantasy ace, the fourth Mariners starting pitcher off the draft board, but easily No. 1 for fantasy value. Plus, he's the No. 4 starting pitcher (omitting Shohei Ohtani) on the season-ending Player Rater."
Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet and Paul Skenes were expected rotation anchors who produced strong fantasy statistics but were not draft-day bargains. Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo, typically drafted around the 16th round, emerged as a clear fantasy bargain and top starting pitcher candidate after improving durability and strikeout ability. Woo made 30 starts, increased his strikeout rate from 21.4% to 27.1%, recorded 198 strikeouts and won 15 games. He finished among the top starting pitchers on the season-ending Player Rater. Jacob deGrom also provided outstanding fantasy numbers while making 29 starts for the Rangers.
Read at ESPN.com
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