The start of baseball’s regular season is fast approaching! Fantasy managers are preparing for the draft. Without question, starting pitchers are a huge part of any fantasy team. As that is the case, this fantasy baseball starter targets may be the most important article yet! Of course, you readers will be the judge of that.

When finished reading, go check out the many baseball articles on the Belly Up Fantasy website, including my last article, top fantasy outfielder values, available here. Further, we discussed starting pitching in depth as well as closers on the Sports Stove Fantasy Baseball this past Sunday. Make sure to check it out by going here. Without further ado, let’s get down to it.

Pablo Lopez, Minnesota Twins

First, let’s discuss one of the pitchers traded during the offseason: Pablo López, now with Minnesota. His important stats from last season: 32 starts, 180 innings, 10-10 won-lost, 3.80 ERA, with a 1.17 WHIP. Further, he struck out 174 and walked 53, which comes to a 23.64 K% and a 7.20 BB%. His career WHIP is an outstanding 1.19.

As far rankings are concerned, FantasyPros has Lopez as the 45th best starting pitcher and 144th overall. No question, he will be pitching for a much better team in 2023 and there is every reason to believe his won-loss record will be much better than it was last season. Lopez is only 27, which means his best years are still in front of him.

To be able to get a pitcher with this kind of potential in the 13th or 14th round is a no-brainer. If offense is the priority at the beginning of the draft, Lopez can be an excellent addition to the fantasy rotation. Go get him.

Chris Bassitt, Toronto Blue Jays

Another pitcher moving to a new team in 2023, fantasy fortunes should be favorable for Chris Bassitt. His important 2022 stats: 30 starts, 181.2 innings, 15-9 won-loss record, a 3.37 ERA, and a 1.14 WHIP. Bassitt struck out 167 and walked 49, coming in as a 22.42 K% and 6.58 BB%. Like Lopez, his career WHIP is an outstanding 1.19.

Right in the same neighborhood as Lopez, Bassitt is ranked 46th as a starter and 147th overall. He has an excellent offensive team behind him, and he should rank up the wins in 2023. At age 34, he is much older than Lopez, but that should be of no concern this year.

If a manager is looking for pitching in the middle rounds, Bassitt must go near the top of this fantasy baseball starter values edition.

Jordan Montgomery, St. Louis Cardinals

Dealt at the trade deadline last July, Jordan Montgomery pitched well whatever his address was and looks to do the same in 2023. Montgomery’s important 2022 stats: 32 starts, 178.1 innings, 9-6 won-loss record, a 3.48 ERA, of which he registered a 3.11 ERA as a Cardinals starter. Additionally, his WHIP for the year was 1.09.  In St. Louis, that WHIP was 1.10 and in NY, it was 1.08. Consistency is the word I believe we are looking for when it comes to Montgomery.

For the year, he struck out 158 and walked 36, coming to a 21.82 K% and a 4.97 BB%. As he enters his age 30 season, there is no concerns in that area. If in the 13th or 14th round and Lopez or Bassitt are not available, Montgomery would make a fine addition to a fantasy pitching staff.

Montgomery is in their area code, as he checks in at number 47 as a starter and 154th overall on FantasyPros. In the final analysis, calling Montgomery’s name on draft day is simply a smart play.

Framber Valdez, Houston Astros

Moving up to the top of the champion Houston Astros’ pitching staff, the prospect of having Framber Valdez on a fantasy team should excite any manager. A pitcher ranked much higher by FantasyPros than the three above, (24th as a starter, 69th overall), Framber is a huge value when compared to other team’s staff aces.  His important 2022 stats: 31 starts, 201.1 innings, 17-6 won-loss record, a 2.77 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP.

For the season, Valdez struck out 194 and walked 67, 23.46 K% and an 8.10 BB%. He threw three complete games, which was more than any major league team except for two. age 29, Valdez is known for innings and quality starts. At age 29, he has a lot of great baseball still in front of him.

Knowing that Valdez is the ace of the defending World Series champions and can be had in the sixth round will allow a manager to focus on other positions earlier in the draft. Doing just that couldn’t possibly be more highly recommended on this fantasy baseball starter targets edition.

Jeffrey Springs, Tampa Bay Rays

Ranked below the other starters already mentioned, Jeffrey Springs, could nonetheless be one of the biggest starting pitcher targets entering the draft this year. At present, Springs checks in ranked 50th as a starter and 162nd overall. His important 2022 stats: 33 games, 25 starts, 135.1 innings, 9-5 win-loss record, 2.46 ERA, 1.07 WHIP. Digging deeper, he had 144 strikeouts and 31 walks, good for a 26.23 K% and a 5.65 BB%.

Springs’ low walk percentage means that he be an excellent pickup in points leagues, but he will deliver value in any league setting. Additionally, his WHIP is extremely encouraging, as was his season ERA. While Springs is no youngster at age 30, that isn’t ancient by any means.

Tampa is a quality team year in and year out and they know how to handle a pitching staff. Expect his starts, innings and wins to increase in 2023. Bottom line: as a 16th or later selection, Springs has a ton of value for anyone that selects him.

Jon Gray, Texas Rangers

Without question, health is the key that will determine the season that Jon Gray has for Texas in 2023. As of this writing, Gray is ranked by FantasyPros as the 55th best starter and 187th best player overall. His important stats from 2022: 24 starts, 127.1 innings pitched, 7-7 won-lost record, a 3.96 ERA, and a 1.13 WHIP.  Gray’s 134 strikeouts and 39 walks from a season ago equals a 25.72 K% and a 7.49 BB%.

Who knows what kind of career Gray could have had if he wasn’t forced to pitch for the Rockies all of those years? Obviously, there is nothing that can be done about that now. The good news is that the Rangers’ home ballpark isn’t the launching pad it was previously.

In his age 31 season, Gray doesn’t have the pressure to be the staff ace. His being the number three or four starter could come together huge for him and his fantasy manager. Watch Gray in the spring and if his back isn’t an issue, pounce on him in the 17th or 18th round.

Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks

Last, but by no means least, the fantasy baseball starter targets discussion turns to Arizona’s Merrill Kelly.  He is currently the lowest starter and player in the article by FantasyPros at 64th and 217th. Even so, Kelly is one of the biggest values to be found here. His important stats from last season: 33 games, 200.1 innings pitched, 13-8, with a 3.37 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He struck out 177 batters and walked 61 walks for a 22.01 K% and a 7.59 BB%.

While Kelly is 34, the time to worry about that is in the future, not this year. Every possible statistic was better for Kelly in 2022 than it was in 2021, except for BB9, and that was only a slight increase from 2.3 to 2.7. Simply stated, a pitcher that threw over 200 innings going in the 20th or later round can’t be ignored.

The Diamondbacks have a ton of exciting young players and should be a club on the rise in 2023. When on the prowl for pitching values towards the end of a draft, place a target on Kelly and pull the trigger.

The Final Word

Thank you for joining me for this fantasy baseball starter targets edition! As always, I welcome any and all suggestions, comments and input from my readers. Let’s discuss! Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea. Please feel free to share this article. Be sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports for all the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL happenings and the latest sports news! The Sports Stove Fantasy Baseball Show will have a live fantasy draft this coming Sunday night at 8 eastern. Make sure to tune in!