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Fantasy baseball: 3 starting pitchers who could be valuable adds

By Chris Timoney

Apr 11, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland (21) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland (21) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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There are a handful of pitchers having good seasons who face real tough challenges this weekend. These big-league arms aren’t exactly the aces on their teams but if they come through for your fantasy baseball team you’ll be dancing like Tom Cruise in Risky Business.

Let’s take a look at some of these risky fantasy baseball plays that could pay off huge dividends

Bryce Miller, Seattle Mariners

Bryce Miller was called up from Double-A Arkansas at the beginning of May and one might say he’s settling in rather well. Heck, never mind one might say, all are saying that! The young righty is off to an historic start in the Bigs. Miller has only allowed eight baserunners in his first three starts, the fewest allowed to start a career (minimum 15 innings pitched) since 1901 back when William McKinley was President. Just five years after Ford invented the car! Wow!

With a record like that, it’s no surprise Miller’s numbers are quite impressive. Through three starts the Mariners wunderkind is 2-0 with a 0.47 ERA and an equally minute 0.42 WHIP.  He’s only given up seven hits and one walk (hence the record) and has 18 strikeouts. Opponents so far are hitting just .111 against him while slugging just .143 off two doubles. His only earned run thus far came off one of those doubles in his first start versus Oakland, a six-inning, 10-strikeout, no-decision on the road. Miller has simply dazzled Mariners fans while helping get Seattle back to the brink of .500, something I felt to be inconceivable just a few weeks ago.

After facing the likes of Oakland and Detroit with the Astros sprinkled in between, Miller got surely his biggest test yet Friday night in Atlanta when he faced the NL East-leading Braves. After a funky four-game skid that included a three-game sweep in Toronto, Atlanta rebounded in Texas grabbing two of three from the Rangers and outscoring them 25-9 highlighted by a 12-0-win last Friday.

Miller held his own against the Braves, allowing four hits and three runs in 6.1 innings. If he’s still available, after passing yet another test, add him to your squad.

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