With a lot of Fantasy Baseball seasons in head-to-head leagues coming to an end after the games on September 24, it is time to take a look at the players who played large roles in the fantasy world despite not being drafted in every league.
Today is a look at the pitchers who weren't expected to be fantasy-relevant entering the season but had excellent fantasy seasons. A five-man starting rotation makes the team, as well as a closer.
To see the all-not on your fantasy baseball draft radar team hitters edition, click here.
Starters
Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Gonzalez has been a viable fantasy pitcher throughout much of his career, but struggled with a 4.18 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
He regained his form this season though, as his 2.68 ERA is tied with teammate Stephen Strasburg for fourth-best in the majors. In 30 starts, Gonzalez is 15-7 with a 1.13 WHIP (tied for ninth-best in majors) and 179 strikeouts in 191.2 innings.
Luis Severino, New York Yankees
After a strong rookie season in 2015 when Severino finished with a 2.89 ERA in 11 starts, 2016 was a completely different story. In 22 games (11 starts), he had a 5.83 ERA and 1.45 WHIP. Severino has been one of the best pitchers in the American League this season though, as his 3.03 ERA is seventh-best in the majors, his 1.05 WHIP is tied for sixth-best, and his 221 strikeouts are the sixth-most. He has a 13-6 record in 30 starts.
Alex Wood, Los Angeles Dodgers
Wood made 10 starts last season but was not expected to be a part of the Dodgers rotation in 2017. A few injuries forced him to join the rotation, and he has been nothing short of fabulous on the mound. In 26 games (24 starts), he has a stellar 15-3 record and has struck out 150 batters in 146.1 innings.
He is just shy of the minimum innings threshold needed to qualify amongst leaders, but his 2.71 ERA would be sixth-best in the majors and his 1.04 WHIP would be tied for fifth-best.
Chase Anderson, Milwaukee Brewers
Anderson was a consistently average starting pitcher in his first three seasons of 2014-16, as he went 24-24 in 78 starts with a 4.26 ERA and 1.35 WHIP.
He has looked like an ace for the Brewers in his 24 starts this season, and has an 11-4 record. Much like Wood, he doesn't quite reach the innings necessary to qualify amongst leaders, but his 2.81 ERA and 1.12 WHIP would both place him in the top-ten in the majors. He has struck out 128 batters in 134.1 innings.
Ervin Santana, Minnesota Twins
Now in his 13th season, Santana is one win from tying his career-high of 17 wins, and the 3.36 ERA that he currently owns would be his best other than 2013. His 16 wins are tied for the eighth-most in baseball. His 3.36 ERA ranks 12th in the majors, his 1.13 WHIP is tied for ninth-best, and his 166 strikeouts are the 29th-most.
Honorable mentions: Zack Godley, Jimmy Nelson, and Mike Clevinger
Closers
Corey Knebel, Milwaukee Brewers
Knebel wasn't anywhere near the closer discussion for Milwaukee entering this year after a 2016 season that saw him post a 4.68 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 32.2 innings.
After dominating in his first 19 appearances in 2017, he earned his first save of the year on May 14. Despite taking over a month to get his first save, he is currently tied for fifth in the majors with 37. He has a 1.60 ERA and 1.16 WHIP on the year while averaging a ridiculous 14.9 strikeouts per nine innings (121 in 73 innings).
Honorable mention: Brad Hand, Brad Brach
