Dream Weaver
Cards pitcher can get you through the fantasy fight
WHETHER you still are battling for the fantasy crown or you have been planning your fantasy football season since May, it never is too early to plan for the future — especially with all the young talent taking, or about to take, the league by storm.
Luke Weaver did not make a great first impression during his brief stint with the Cardinals last season. He went 1-4 with a 5.70 ERA, 45 strikeouts and a .311 opponent average. They weren’t numbers that were going to get any fantasy owners excited, but his 4.33 FIP, 3.34 xFIP, 11.1 strikeouts per nine and .394 BABIP suggested he was much better than his performance indicated — as did his career in the minors.
The 24-year-old was 10-2 with 2.55 ERA for Triple-A Memphis this season, while striking out almost 25 percent of the batters he faced while walking about six percent. Since 2014, he was 25-11 with a 1.99 ERA, 8.8 strikeouts per nine and just 1.8 walks per nine in the minors. It was easy to see why expectations have been, and remain, so high.
Weaver has been in the bigs since late July and has been living up to those lofty expectations. In four starts, he is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA, 33 strikeouts, just six walks and a .228 opponent average. He is striking out 12.6 per nine innings, including 20 strikeouts over his past 12 ²/₃ innings, and his .319 BABIP this season indicates his performance is sustainable.
When you add in the fact he has a solid homer-toflyball rate (13 percent), an amazing strand rate (87.7 percent), a solid groundball rate (50.7 percent), an incredible strikeout rate (11.2 per nine), and this is a pitcher who should be owned in more leagues. Oh, and he also has favorable matchups on the schedule against the light-hitting Giants and Pirates, and the last-place Reds. He also might get a start against the Brewers, who have struck out the most in the majors, and the Cubs, who rank in the top 10 in whiffs.
Weaver was the most-added pitcher in ESPN leagues this week, but he still was hovering around 50 percent ownership (about 55 percent at Yahoo). That is something that needs to, and will, change. Don’t get left behind, grab him while you can.
Weaver is just one of several young guns who can offer assistance the rest of the way and help build a better future for your squad. Here’s a look at some other youthful arms, available in 65 percent or more of all leagues: t hi s season, but they both came last month when he went 2-0 with a 2.97 ERA with 28 strikeouts, nine walks and a .214 opponent average. He is 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA over his past nine starts.
St. Louis’ top pitching propsect Jack Flaherty, who was 14-4 with a 2.18 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 25 minor league starts this season, made his big league debut Friday night, taking Mike Leake’s spot in the rotation. He has ace potential and should be considered in all leagues.
Despite Tyler Glasnow’s lack of success in the majors (2-8, 6.49 ERA), his situation is similar to Jose Berrios’ earlier this season: He has nothing left to prove in the minors. He is 8-2 with a 2.06 ERA and 131 strikeouts over 87¹/₃ innings. It is time for the Pirates to commit to youth, and he should be up soon.
OK, Blake Parker is not young (32), but he has been awesome out of the bullpen this season (3-2, 2.14 ERA, 75 strikeouts in 63 appearances). Oh, and he may be the newest Angels closer as he has picked up three saves in the past week. Need saves? Pick him up!