2020 Asset Group Analysis — (e,k)
Asset groups are how BABS assembles players with comparable skills and then reviews how the marketplace ranks them. The philosophy is that, if several players are comparable, they should be valued at about the same level. As described in Chapter 2 of The BABS Project 3.0, that’s is not always the case, It is here where we can uncover numerous opportunities to build profit into our rosters.
(e,k)
| ADP | R$ | PITCHER | Pos | Tm | PT | Er | K | Sv | * | Pk | Rg | Sk- | Inj | Ex | Nw | Ag | Pk | Rg | |
| 55 | $18 | Paddack,Chris | SP | SDP | M | e | k | EX | |||||||||||
| 62 | $17 | Severino,Luis | SP | NYY | M | e | k | INJ | Rg- | ||||||||||
| 73 | $15 | Syndergaard,Noah | SP | NYM | M | e | k | inj- | |||||||||||
| 89 | $14 | Berrios,Jose | SP | MIN | F | e | k | ||||||||||||
| 103 | $12 | Gray,Sonny | SP | CIN | F | e | k | inj- | |||||||||||
| 131 | $10 | Gallen,Zac | SP | ARZ | M | e | k | EX | |||||||||||
| 135 | $9 | Rodriguez,Eduardo | SP | BOS | F | e | k | ||||||||||||
| 141 | $9 | Fried,Max | SP | ATL | M | e | k | Rg+ | inj- | e | |||||||||
| 162 | $8 | Urias,Julio | rp | LAD | P | e | k | e | |||||||||||
| 172 | $7 | Manaea,Sean | SP | OAK | M | e | k | INJ | |||||||||||
| 191 | $6 | Weaver,Luke | SP | ARZ | M | e | k | INJ | |||||||||||
| 232 | $4 | Tanaka,Masahiro | SP | NYY | M | e | k | inj- | |||||||||||
| 245 | $4 | Gray,Jon | SP | COL | M | e | k | inj- | |||||||||||
| 300 | $2 | Stripling,Ross | rp | LAD | P | e | k | INJ | |||||||||||
| 488 | $(2) | Pomeranz,Drew | rp | SDP | P | e | k | Pk+ | Rg+ | Nw | |||||||||
| 711 | $(6) | Chatwood,Tyler | rp | CHC | P | e | k | inj- |
The (e,k) starting pitching group is not overflowing with full-time options to fill out fantasy rotations. That said, there is a bumper crop of intriguing arms in this set. Inevitably, some will shoot past their IP projections. When attrition rears its ugly head, pitchers with this asset mix have the skills to, at least temporarily, prop up both ratios and counting stats alike.
Noah Syndergaard and Jose Berrios have regularly teased fantasy GM’s. BABS might not endorse either as a surefire #2, but current prices do leave a bit of room for either player to take the next step up. Injuries are the main worry with Syndergaard, while Berrios has surpassed 192 IP in each of the last two seasons. In this environment, that alone is worth the cost of admission.
Aside from Berrios, the only other pitchers in this set slated for full-time innings are Sonny Gray and Eduardo Rodriguez. Rodriguez ($9) is about half the price of Chris Paddack ($18), who goes about 80 picks earlier.
It is after pick 140 when things get interesting. Max Fried, Sean Manaea, Julio Urias and Masahiro Tanaka (pictured) all check in once the 10th round begins. Injuries and innings caps will be part of the equation, but the potential for profit is certainly available. Urias might be riskier than the rest, given his legal issues and perennially short innings totals.
In Arizona, Zac Gallen has some helium, and don’t sleep on Luke Weaver. Prior to his injury in 2019 (forearm tightness), Weaver again flashed skills that made him an up-and-comer back in 2017.
Jon Gray (ADP 245) is still lurking in Colorado, and costs little to find out if he can stay healthy and finally deliver on his top prospect pedigree. Ross Stripling (300) does not have a clear path to innings yet, but a little bit of health could be all it takes to open up more playing time. Tyler Chatwood is fighting for the 5th spot in Chicago and is basically undrafted.
When it comes to picking back end rotation options, this group is the last bastion of dual-asset starters. The risk only increases when rostering pitchers with empty asset columns.