MLB
Fantasy Baseball: 6 Swinging-Strike Stars Who Could Rebound in 2018
Masahiro Tanaka possessed a fantasy-damaging ERA last year, but his sparkling swinging-strike rate indicates he could be in for a much better season in 2018.

Danny Salazar, Cleveland Indians

ERA: 4.28 (72nd/135)

Swinging-Strike Rate: 16.4% (1st/135)

The skill set has never been in question for right-hander Danny Salazar of the Cleveland Indians, but there are legitimate concerns about his health. Salazar has made only 44 starts over the last two seasons thanks to a myriad of injuries. He also got sent down to the minors last year and spent some time in the bullpen.

But when he is on the bump, he has been really good -- which is obvious from his league-high swinging-strike rate.

A closer look at his advanced numbers shows he may have been just a bit unlucky last year. He allowed 1.22 home runs per nine innings pitched, which is near his career mark of 1.12, and his 10.0% walk-rate, while high, was actually down from previous seasons. Salazar did allow a batting average on balls in play (BABIP) of .343, which is well above his career mark of .310.

If he can avoid the disabled list and reduce that BABIP, Salazar could easily climb his way back into the top tier of fantasy starters. He'll always possess massive upside as long as Cleveland keeps him in the starting rotation.

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