2012 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers – Pitchers, are based on a standard single season redraft mixed AL/NL fantasy baseball league for the 2012 season. Scoring settings include: wins, losses, saves, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP – (W, L, SV, K, ERA, WHIP). ( ) = players age.
Pitcher Sleepers are based on pitchers who have the potential to make a significant statistical impact during the 2012 season.
2012 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers – Pitchers
Brandon Morrow – Tor – SP (27)
With the ability to rack up huge strikeout numbers, Morrow entered the 2011 season with high expectations of becoming a front of the rotation ace starting pitcher. Unfortunately those expectations were slow to develop, as Morrow began the 2011 season injured and ultimately never really got comfortable on the mound until June. After an up and down season in 2011, Morrow enters the 2012 season as an excellent sleeper who will often be ranked outside of the top 50 SP in fantasy baseball leagues, but he clearly has the potential to put up stats worthy of finishing as a top 20 scoring SP in 2012.
2011 Major League Stats: 179 IP, 11 W, 11 L, 203 K, 4.72 ERA, 1.29 WHIP
2012 Stat Projections: 200 IP, 14 W, 8 L, 230 K, 3.80 ERA, 1.25 WHIP
Derek Holland – Tex – SP (25)
After a stellar second half of the 2011 season and a respectable showing in the postseason, Holland is poised to take another step up as a front of the rotation starting pitcher in 2012. With a 16 win season under his belt from last year, and an excellent Texas Rangers offense backing him this season, there is plenty of reason to believe that Holland will tally between 15-20 wins during the 2012 season. As a starting pitcher who is often ranked after the top 50 SPs in fantasy baseball leagues, Holland is an excellent mid round sleeper SP pick that fantasy teams will not want to pass over.
2011 Major League Stats: 198 IP, 16 W, 5 L, 162 K, 3.95 ERA, 1.35 WHIP
2012 Stat Projections: 210 IP, 18 W, 4 L, 175 K, 3.30 ERA, 1.25 WHIP
Jair Jurrjens – Atl – SP (26)
If not for the injury bug over the past two seasons, Jurrjens would likely be considered a top 20 fantasy baseball starting pitcher entering the 2012 season. However as it stands, Jurrjens is a proven successful major league starting pitcher when he is healthy. With an ability to maintain a sub 3.00 ERA, Jurrjens offers plenty of potential to all fantasy baseball teams in 2012, if only he can just stay healthy. As a mid round option in fantasy baseball drafts, Jurrjens is easily worth the risk and pick in 2012.
2011 Major League Stats: 152 IP, 13 W, 6 L, 90 K, 2.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP
2012 Stat Projections: 200 IP, 16 W, 5 L, 150 K, 2.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP
Sergio Santos – Tor – RP (28)
Taking over as the Chicago White Sox closer for the 2011 season, Santos broke out as one of the best strikeout relief pitchers in all of baseball last season. Posting an exceptional 92 strikeouts over just 63 innings pitched, Santos who is entering the prime of his career at age 28, is poised to become a top 10 closer in fantasy baseball leagues in 2012.
2011 Major League Stats: 63 IP, 4 W, 2 L, 30 SV, 92 K, 3.55 ERA, 1.11 WHIP
2012 Stat Projections: 65 IP, 3 W, 3 L, 32 SV, 90 K, 2.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP
Jordan Walden – LAA – RP (24)
Entering the 2011 season having just 15 innings pitched of major league experience under his belt, Walden took over as the Angels closer to begin the 2011 season and never looked back. As a rookie, Walden notched 32 saves to go along with a very respectable 2.98 ERA. With the addition of Albert Pujols to the Angels lineup, there is plenty of reason to believe that Walden could be looking at a 40 plus save season in 2012.
2011 Major League Stats: 60 IP, 5 W, 5 L, 32 SV, 67 K, 2.98 ERA, 1.24 WHIP
2012 Stat Projections: 65 IP, 5 W, 3 L, 40 SV, 70 K, 2.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP
Jason Motte – StL – RP (29)
After a breakthrough 2011 season that culminated in tremendous postseason success, Motte enters the 2012 season as the Cardinals undisputed closer. Offering solid strikeout potential, Motte has all the tools needed to be a successful major league closer. One the downside, the loss of Albert Pujols in the Cardinals lineup may result in less save opportunities, but even at that, Motte has a realistic chance at tallying 30 saves during the 2012 season.
2011 Major League Stats: 68 IP, 5 W, 2 L, 9 SV, 63 K, 2.25 ERA, 0.96 WHIP
2012 Stat Projections: 65 IP, 5 W, 3 L, 30 SV, 65 K, 2.25 ERA, 1.05 WHIP