Every year we look at big second-half performances to determine if a player might be one to target for the following season. This year is no different. However, sometimes we should buy in, and other times we should pass on last year’s production. Below are some of the players who excelled in the second half of the 2023 campaign.
- 2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit
- Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings
- Fantasy Baseball Projections
- Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft Simulator
Notable 2023 Second-Half Fantasy Baseball Performances
Peralta threw 73.2 innings in the second half last year, posting a 2.81 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and league-best 36% strikeout rate. Like both Ragans and Skubal, Peralta has issues with health, but he also struggles with repeating his mechanics. That’s why he wasn’t nearly as good in the first half. Peralta also struggles with command at times which can lead to home runs. I think there is really interesting upside here, but I have Peralta a bit lower than Skubal and Ragans due to these added issues.
Kikuchi was great in the second half, throwing 74.1 innings with a 3.39 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, and a 27.6% strikeout rate. This is what many of us in the industry have been waiting for from Kikuchi, but I am skeptical that he can keep it up this year. His SIERA was 3.61 in the second half, and he can also struggle with repeating his mechanics. While he had better control, Kikuchi’s command can elude him, which leads to bad home-run problems. I worry that these will return and result in a truly bad season. I am lower on him than most.
Rodriguez struggled in the first half before being demoted. After returning to the bigs, he was excellent, logging 76.2 innings with a 2.58 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, and a 24% strikeout rate. Rodriguez has a ton of potential, and there should be more strikeouts coming. He pitches in one of the best pitching environments and for a team that should win a ton of games. Rodriguez is a top-20 starter for me as well.
Fantasy Baseball Draft Strategy
- Justin Mason’s Top 10 Fantasy Baseball Draft Mistakes to Avoid
- Philosophy of Fantasy Baseball by Kelly Kirby
- Guide to Punting Categories
- How to Approach Stolen Bases
- How to Better Avoid Injuries
- MLB League Trends & Impact on Fantasy Baseball Player Values
- Should You Draft a Pitcher in Round 1?
- Fantasy Baseball Position Scarcity Draft Strategy & Targets
- Fantasy Baseball Salary Cap Draft Primer
- Fantasy Baseball Categories League Draft Primer
- Fantasy Baseball OBP League Draft Primer
- Fantasy Baseball Value-Based Drafting Primer
- Fantasy Baseball H2H Categories vs. Points Leagues Draft Primer
- Players that Gain & Lose Value in Categories vs. Points Leagues
- Fantasy Baseball Roto vs. H2H Leagues Draft Primer
- Fantasy Baseball Points League Draft Primer
- Fantasy Baseball Draft & Hold League Strategy & Advice
- Fantasy Baseball Quality Starts Leagues Draft Primer
- Fantasy Baseball Best Ball Draft Strategy & Targets
- Fantasy Baseball Saves + Holds Leagues Draft Primer
- Second-Year Player Draft Primer: Hitters | Pitchers
- Spring Training Stats That Matter
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