Fantasy Baseball Week 8 Buy or Sell: Pitchers

The fantasy season is well underway. Pitchers all over the league are struggling, and others are flourishing. Here are four pitchers you should buy or sell in the near future.

Some of the elite fantasy players out there know how to buy and sell players with the best of them. They know how to make a trade at the right time in order to better their team for the long run and head for the finals come season’s end. Trading at the right time is often key. Owners regularly lose faith in their players if they’re underperforming at any given point in the season, so take advantage.

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Players going through slumps can be beneficial for you. Help your team compete for a championship here in 2016. Who is worth holding on to from your team? Who are the players you should toss or trade away?

Knowing the true value of a player can be very difficult to figure out. I am here to help with that. In this article I will go into detail as to which pitchers right now you should buy and those you should sell while you still can. Just one trade can make all the difference for fantasy players out there and break teams in some instances. If you are not sure who on your team or other teams can be of serious value to you or who can be a bust in the end, please read ahead.

These tips and strategies can help you take over your league and leave the other players scratching their heads wondering where they went wrong. Today, I will be discussing pitchers such as Sonny Gray, Michael Wacha, Jeremy Hellickson, and Rick Porcello and if you should buy or sell.

Next: Sonny Gray: Buy

Sonny Gray: Buy 

Oakland Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray is must buy for me right now. If you do not have him on your team, now is the time to try to make trade for him. Gray has gotten off to his worst start in his young MLB career. After four “Gray like” starts to open the year against elite competition, he has been nothing short of dreadful since. Fantasy owners out there are beginning to get frustrated with Gray, and rightfully so.

To begin the season, Gray is 3-5, with 41 strikeouts and an ever imploding ERA of 6.19. Gray’s three wins came in his first four starts of the year. He was 3-1 at that point with a more than respectable ERA. Since April 27, in five starts for Oakland, Gray is 0-4, pitching for just 21.1 innings and giving up 25 earned runs in that span. Startling stats for the young right-hander who is the ace of the Athletics staff.

Late last week, Gray was placed on the 15-Day DL. Something had to have been wrong with Gray for him to preform this awful to begin the season. Gray has been very hittable for batters while he has been dealing with this injury. Before entering this year, Gray had a career ERA of 2.88 and was averaging well under a hit per inning.

Fantasy owners may have lost hope in the young man, claiming hitters have figured him out. Let them think that, and go out and make a trade for him. He will help your team down the road once he comes back.

Next: Michael Wacha: Buy

Michael Wacha: Buy

Michael Wacha, much like Sonny Gray has gotten off to a lack luster start to 2016. But he too is another pitcher you should consider investing in and trading for this year; especially while he is underperforming for St. Louis at the moment. Wacha is one of the elite and certainly one of the most consistent pitchers you will see in fantasy. He is a great SP3-SP5 for your squad depending on the size of your league.

To begin the year, Wacha is 2-4 with a career high 4.03 ERA, and 44 punch outs this season. He has not been able to reach the fifth inning in each of his last two starts. He has struggled much with his control so far this year; something he will figure out soon.

While he’s in the midst of his slump, owners should try to make a trade for him. Wacha is a pitcher that will not put up top-tier numbers like Clayton Kershaw or Chris Sale, but he is always a threat to throw six or more innings of three run ball or less.

Wacha will regain his accuracy as the season rolls on. He has not walked many in his career. Chalk this slow start up to him simply not being able to hit his groove. Playing on a team like the Cardinals, look for Wacha to improve on the two measly wins he has to begin the season. His ERA should be in the low 3’s in the upcoming months.

If you have a hot pitcher at the moment, whom you do not have too much faith in, try to trade him for the slow starting Wacha. Owners make rash decisions all the time in fantasy; take the opportunity while you still can, because Wacha will soon heat up.

Next: Jeremy Hellickson: Sell

Jeremy Hellickson: Sell

Jeremy Hellickson is currently ranked in the top 50 in fantasy points for starting pitchers. However, this means little to me and it should to you as well. He will not be near the top 50 come seasons end. Hellickson is one of the most inconsistent pitchers I have seen throughout my fantasy career. He is one of those pitchers that can easily fool owners out there with the amount of quality starts he can put up. Take these with a grain of salt however, because he can blow up on any given day.

Hellickson can be the reason you win a match-up, but he can also be the reason you lose. This season so far, he has a 4-2 record, with 50 K’s, and an ERA just under 4.00. This is promising for him right now, so trade him while you can. Perhaps even for Wacha or Gray as previously stated.

Down the road, you would win that trade hands down. Over the past three seasons, Hellickson’s best ERA in a given season was no better than 4.52. Another sub par start or two for Hellickson and he is right back there.

Hellickson is nothing more than a 4-5 starter for MLB teams, and should be nothing more than a spot starter for you in fantasy. if you are desperate for some extra help during a match-up. If it’s a Sunday, you’re losing, and need another start in attempt to sneak out a win, by all means, grab Hellickson if he is available. However, if you currently own him, take advantage of his decent start to 2016 and trade him for someone who can really help your team down the road.

Next: Rick Porcello: Sell

Rick Porcello: Sell 

The Boston Red Sox right-hander, Rick Porcello too, is another sell for me here in the 2016 season. Porcello is one of the best one of the best options for you to trade this season. This due to his highly impressive start so far this year. Porcello is off to a 7-2 start for the Red Sox. He also brings with him 54 strikeouts and a 3.47 ERA. He currently ranks in the top 20 in fantasy points for starting pitchers. Use all of these stats to your advantage and trade for someone who can actually maintain these numbers.

The New Jersey native is now in his eighth MLB season. He has a career 4.35 ERA, which is a very accurate depiction of his capabilities. He too is another pitcher that can blow up on any given night, and lose your match-up for you.

With Porcello now playing in the AL East and facing exceptional hitting teams like the Orioles, Yankees, and Blue Jays, I don’t project these statistics to last. All teams have exceptional power in their lineups and can eat Porcello alive, especially in a hitter friendly park like Yankee Stadium with that short porch in right.

Porcello’s stats have already begun to decline in his past few starts. As the season progresses, Porcello’s arm will begin to fade, and the AL East hitters will begin to figure him out. Use his great start to your own advantage and sell him for someone more consistent.

Mention all of his positive stats and persuade your league members on taking him. Playing for Boston, he will have opportunities to win games is a great selling point for him.

Next: Wrap Up

Porcello and Hellickson are both pitchers which I do not trust, regardless of their hot starts to the year. By seasons end, they will not be where they are now. Same goes for pitchers like Gray and Wacha. They will be much higher once the respective pitchers come back from injury and get more reps on the mound. Don’t lose faith just yet on them.

Making the right trade at the right time can be the difference in a winning season and a losing season, first place and second place, making playoffs or watching from the sidelines.

Next: Angel Pagan Placed on 15-day DL

Don’t be one of the teams looking from the outside in. Run your league and take home that trophy. Trade and trade for these respective pitchers. Making these types of moves can lead you to a championship later in the year.