(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
With the 2023 baseball season just around the corner, we look at three players being drafted too late in most fantasy leagues.
With the MLB season only a week away, many people who are avid fantasy sports lovers are getting ready to draft their baseball teams. Ahead, we have compiled a list of players that are being slept on without any real reason as to why. Fantasy baseball is all about getting as much value and depth as you can.
If you have drafted already, keep an eye on the waiver wire, as some of these players may still be available. If you still need to draft, these three players are still being drafted way too low, if at all.
Fantasy Baseball sleepers No. 3: Justin Steele, Chicago Cubs
Given an average draft pick (ADP) of 288th overall in most leagues, Justin Steele is one pitcher you must have circled that you can pick up near the end of your draft. Nobody is looking at the Chicago Cubs from a fantasy perspective due to how poorly they performed just a season ago. Now, the Cubs not only have a much-improved offense that can help their pitchers pick up wins, but they also witnessed a breakout season from Steele in 2022.
In the second half of last season, Steele quietly put up an elite 0.98 ERA in 36.2 IP, including 47 punchouts. More importantly, with Wrigley Field primarily being a hitter’s ballpark when the wind isn’t blowing in, Steele registered a 2.78 ERA over 71.1 frames, allowing a slash line of .236/.308/.304. He only allowed four runs in 36.2 innings in his last six starts.
In a fantasy matchup, you’ll want to target opposing teams that struggle against hitting fastballs and sliders against left-handed pitchers. Steele through his slider, in particular, nearly 31 percent of the time, allowing a line of .136/.179/.216, including a minuscule ISO of .080 to opposing hitters. There’s no reason he should fall to the 28th round in 10-team leagues.