MLB

Fantasy Baseball: 5 Bargain Starting Pitchers to Target

Matt Kupferle  —  @MKupferle Feb 5th, 2019
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Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres

NFBC ADP: 206th

Draft Round (12-team league): 18th

Currently slotted deep in the draft in 12-team formats, Joey Lucchesi quietly put up a solid rookie season in 2018 for the San Diego Padres. Over 26 starts and 130 innings pitched, the southpaw posted a 26.5% strikeout rate and 10.6% swinging-strike rate. Both of those marks rank above the 2018 averages for starting pitchers (21.6% strikeout rate and 10.2% swinging-strike rate).

While Lucchesi certainly had his warts, allowing 1.59 home runs per nine innings and a 40.6% hard-hit rate, his 3.64 skill-interactive ERA (SIERA) offer plenty of promise, especially with his home outings coming in pitcher-friendly Petco Park.

Building off a changeup that generated a 20.2% swinging-strike rate last season, Lucchesi could be primed for a step forward in 2019, but even if he only repeats his 2018 numbers, he's a decent late-round producer.

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