Using middle relievers to help with roto rates (1 Viewer)

[Frank Costanza's Lawyer]

Im new to fantasy baseball and was reading about a strategy to fill pitching slots with middle relievers and then use one or two other slots to stream starters.

To anyone who has used this strategy, what stats do you use to identify which middle relievers to roster? K%, SwStr%, and FIP? Do you compare stats this season to a player's career stats to see if he's playing over his head?

 

[jfranco77]

I think FIP is meaningful for relievers. I know that xFIP is better for starters because their HR/FB rates normalize, but relievers HR/FB rates DON'T always normalize.

I look at K/9 or K% first, and then GB%.

 

[MAC_32]

I usually start utilizing these types around May, relievers are so volatile year to year and month to month I want sufficient data before diving in. I opened the year with closer hand cuff's with enough prior experience for comfort - Herrera, Jansen, and Robertson - but for the most part err on the side of caution for at least a few more weeks. I've added Russell and Blevins in my one deep league because waivers are bone dry and their early season numbers have been just that good though.

I usually do two sets of filters. One is for the full season and one for the last 2-4 weeks. I sort both based on K's. A lot of variables come into play at this point, but generally speaking the stats mentioned above are a good starting point.

 

[Frank Costanza's Lawyer]

Thanks for the responses guys.

I usually start utilizing these types around May, relievers are so volatile year to year and month to month I want sufficient data before diving in. I opened the year with closer hand cuff's with enough prior experience for comfort - Herrera, Jansen, and Robertson - but for the most part err on the side of caution for at least a few more weeks. I've added Russell and Blevins in my one deep league because waivers are bone dry and their early season numbers have been just that good though.

I usually do two sets of filters. One is for the full season and one for the last 2-4 weeks. I sort both based on K's. A lot of variables come into play at this point, but generally speaking the stats mentioned above are a good starting point.

When you say 'around May', do you mean beginning, middle, or end of the month?

 

[MAC_32]

Thanks for the responses guys.

I usually start utilizing these types around May, relievers are so volatile year to year and month to month I want sufficient data before diving in. I opened the year with closer hand cuff's with enough prior experience for comfort - Herrera, Jansen, and Robertson - but for the most part err on the side of caution for at least a few more weeks. I've added Russell and Blevins in my one deep league because waivers are bone dry and their early season numbers have been just that good though.

I usually do two sets of filters. One is for the full season and one for the last 2-4 weeks. I sort both based on K's. A lot of variables come into play at this point, but generally speaking the stats mentioned above are a good starting point.

When you say 'around May', do you mean beginning, middle, or end of the month?

It depends, probably closer to early-mid than late though. Once all of the potential breakouts in April have been scooped up waivers get drier and drier as the season goes on. As waivers dry up that's when I start looking for MR's as I inevitably have a couple of injuries and busts by then.