Fantasy Baseball: 7 Starting Pitchers Who Could Bounce Back in 2019

Jon Gray, Colorado Rockies

ADP: 201
Steamer: 146 IP, 146 K, 10 W, 4.19 ERA, 1.31 WHIP
THE BAT: 146 IP, 147 K, 9 W, 4.18 ERA, 1.30 WHIP

After successfully navigating Coors Field in 2017 with another campaign of solid peripherals, Jon Gray looked poised to take the next step in 2018. Instead, that faith was rewarded with a disastrous 5.12 ERA that included a brief demotion to the minors.

Yet, Gray still posted a 3.68 SIERA, 24.6% strikeout rate, and 7.0% walk rate. His swinging-strike rate jumped from 8.8% to 12.3%, returning to the level he showed in 2016. An inflated 18.1% HR/FB rate suggested some poor luck with dingers, allowing 1.41 home runs per nine innings after sitting below 1.00 in each of the prior three seasons.

Gray's fastball velocity was also down a tick, and he admitted at the end of last season that he "wasn't really healthy," further cementing we should give him a mulligan on his 2018 performance.

And through it all, his slider and curveball remained money makers. In 2018, Gray's slider produced a 31.8% strikeout rate, 19.1% swinging-strike rate, and allowed a .281 wOBA. The curve registered marks of 41.6%, 18.1%, and .250, respectively. The ingredients are all still there, particularly if that fastball velocity comes back around.

We all know what we're getting into when rostering a Rockies pitcher, and Gray's campaign was a perfect example of that scary floor. But he's still just 27 years old and remains the same talent that has intrigued fantasy owners since he was a top prospect. His teammates, German Marquez (ADP 82) and Kyle Freeland (ADP 148), are both talented and coming off strong seasons, but Gray may prove to be the wiser investment on the cheap.