Fantasy Baseball Tinder: Three pitchers to “Super Like” this season
We’ve all been there before, you’ve had the app Tinder open and you’ve just relentlessly swiped left or right for potential matches. You’re looking at bio’s and pictures and trying to possibly line up your weekend. There is absolutely nothing better than getting “Super Liked” from another user on the app. However, it also sucks getting Super Liked by someone who doesn’t meet our standards.
We’re going to turn our attention from the Tinder app and focus on some Fantasy Baseball prep. We’re going to merge the two worlds together, Fantasy Baseball and Tinder and find three pitchers who we Super Like heading into this season.
Super Like: Sixto Sanchez
Marlins starter Sixto Sánchez has been dominant this spring. With less than two weeks before Opening Day, fantasy owners should be Super Liking Sánchez and targeting them in their drafts.
Sanchez has the ability to be a fantasy ace, but the Marlins are expected to limit his innings this season. According to The Miami Herald, he is expected to be a 150-160 innings limit but its reportedly not a “fixed limit”.
2020 PitchingNinja K Pose of the Year Award. 🏆
Winner:
Sixto Sánchez pic.twitter.com/tIhS0QSmaT
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) November 27, 2020
The Marlins future ace was effective last season in 39 innings of work while posting a 3.46 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 20.9% strikeout rate. He has touched triple-digits a few times this spring while mixing in a four-seam fastball and a sinker. Sanchez isn’t afraid to throw anything in his pitching arsenal to either right-handed or left-handed hitters.
Target Sanchez around the eight round, his current ADP is 121 and has extreme upside. He will not be your ace, but I love his electric fastball and his ability to slot perfectly as a No.2 in any fantasy rotation. Sanchez is not only a swipe right, he is a Super Like heading into 2021.
Super Like: Ian Anderson
What is there not to like about the 22-year-old Ian Anderson? Well for starters, I am Super Liking him to the moon this season because I love his upside. In six starts last season he was 3-2 with an impressive 1.95 ERA, 1.08 WHIP striking out 41 batters in 32.1 innings of work.
Anderson threw his disgusting changeup 31 percent of the time last season. This allowed him to play off his fastball and curveball nicely leading to success.
Ian Anderson, Nasty 87mph Changeup…and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/hUYwCwvhip
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 19, 2021
He has been good this spring, in fact in his last outing against the Twins, he struck out nine Twins batters. If he wants to maintain his success he will need to limit his walks. Following the game, Anderson would say, “I think my pitch mix is working well, and I’m throwing a lot of strikes. I’m happy. I think I’m in a good spot moving forward.”
Durability will be a factor as to why an owner should draft Anderson. He is projected to throw around 160 innings this season and he’ll be relied on while Mike Soroka comes back from his Achilles injury.
Anderson was awesome since his call-up last season where he beat Yankees Gerrit Cole. He carried a no-hit bid into the sixth inning in his debut. The Braves will be looking for more of that this season. Fantasy owners would benefit tremendously from Anderson and he is worth one of your precious Super Likes.
Super Like: Max Fried
From one Braves stud pitcher to another, is Max Fried a future fantasy ace?
The Braves left-hander was excellent in the 2020 shortened season. In 11 starts last year, Fried went 7-0 with a 2.25 ERA over 56 innings. Fried finished the season with a 1.09 WHIP and 50 strikeouts. He featured a deceptive fastball which hit 96-mph regularly, a revamped slider and a curveball.
🔥@MaxFried32 | #BravesST pic.twitter.com/XAb00WWquZ
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) March 10, 2021
When looking at those numbers, most fantasy owners would salivate having him this upcoming season. He is someone that we all should be targeting which is why he is one of my Super Likes. But there is some downside to Fried that I would be remiss if I didn’t mention. There is history of injury with the 6-foot-4 lefty and coming off an outstanding year, he has yet to throw over 165 innings.
Every year he has been in the MLB, Fried has spent some time on the injured list. When a player has nickel and dime injuries during a season it concerns me. But the upside of Fried is exciting to me and I want to draft him. I don’t want him as my ace but someone with ace potential.
If he is healthy all season long, he is a top-10 starter from a fantasy perspective. Fried has the ability to be elite, draft him early and reap the benefits. He is a great option and if you’re in a larger league, he’s an ace. If you’re in a smaller league, he may not be an ace but the upside is attractive. His ADP is at 75, which is about a 7th round pick.
Wherever you get Fried, you’ll be pleased and he will have the ability to carry your fantasy staff.
Conclusion
It’s time to stop swiping and start prepping, time is running out before your draft. However your league is structured, you’ll be thrilled if you can get any of the three pitchers. All have upside to be ace’s but they’ll all slot perfectly in any fantasy rotation looking to compete for another championship.
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– Chris Henrique (@ChrisHenrique on Twitter)