Fantasy Baseball Player Notes

Chris Sale has perenially been the "If he can stay healthy" pitcher, and in 2024, he finally showed us what that looked like. In his age-35 season, Sale pitched 177 2/3 innings, held a fantasy-happy 18-3 record, struck out 225 batters, and had a 2.38 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP. It was his best year since 2017, so now the question is: Does he have another one of these in him? Pitchers at age 36 are risky, and part of what made Sale's 2024 so magical was his low draft-day cost. At this point, he will cost you a third-round pick, which seems too high for someone with his profile. However, we circle back to the "If he can stay healthy" mantra; if he can offer a repeat, he'll return value in spades. How much risk you want to take in your SP1 slot is up to you.

Spencer Schwellenbach jumped from A+ and Double-A ball directly to the majors and made an impact for Atlanta almost immediately. He started 21 games for the Braves, pitching 123 2/3 innings and striking out 127 batters. He ended the year with a 3.35 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. He offers a full six-pitch arsenal and sat in the 96th percentile in chase rate (34.2%) and the 95th percentile in walk rate (4.6%). That combo is going to serve fantasy managers well heading into 2025. After missing the entire 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery, Schwellenbach may be somewhat overlooked on draft day, but he has the potential to be a top sleeper in 2025.

Spencer Strider's 2024 season was cut short due to an elbow injury sustained in April, limiting him to just two starts. Looking ahead to 2025, Strider's health will be obviously be a pivotal factor. If he returns fully recovered, his track record suggests he can reestablish himself as a top-tier fantasy pitcher, offering high strikeout totals and the potential for a strong ERA and WHIP. Fantasy managers should monitor his progress during spring training to assess his readiness for the upcoming season. If his anticipated return is May, he could pay huge dividends coming out of the 11th round.

Reynaldo López delivered an exceptional 2024 season for the Atlanta Braves, posting an 8-5 record with a stellar 1.99 ERA over 135.2 innings, and accumulating 148 strikeouts. However, López's advanced metrics suggest potential regression in 2025. His expected ERA (xERA) was significantly higher than his actual ERA. Fantasy managers should temper expectations for López in 2025, anticipating some statistical normalization.