MLB

Fantasy Baseball: Should You Believe in These 5 Starting Pitchers?

John Stolnis  —  @johnstolnis Apr 13th, 2018
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Dylan Bundy, Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles' right-hander Dylan Bundy has long been talked about as a potential top-of-the-rotation starter, and he's flashed greatness before. His problem has been sustaining it.

That will be the key to his 2018 season, which has gotten off to a blistering start. Through three outings, he's tied with Pivetta and two others at 0.8 fWAR, thanks to a 1.35 ERA, 1.95 FIP and 2.51 xFIP. In 20 innings he's struck out 25 batters and walked just 5, increasing his strikeout rate from 8.06 K/9 last year to 11.25 this season. More importantly, his walks are down -- just 2.25 BB/9 -- from 2.71 a year ago and 3.45 the season before.

Bundy is throwing 95 mph with his four-seamer, and his slider is doing things like this.


That's not very nice, Dylan.

Of course, there is reason to be skeptical of Bundy's early-season run. We've seen him have stretches where he looks un-hittable only to see his command leave him for multiple starts at a time. He was a bit homer-prone last season, surrendering 26 bombs in 169.2 innings. But the talent has always been there and, in his third full season, he might finally be putting it together.

Bundy shouldn't be available in your league and, if he isn't, you shouldn't move heaven and earth to try and trade for him. In fact, if you own him, now might be the time to try and sell high, just in case this is more mirage than reality.

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