Top 10 Sleeper Starting Pitchers

Over the last 3 seasons Blanton has quietly won 42 games for an average team. In 2 of the last 3 seasons Blanton has also pitched over 200 innings with a whip below 1.23. Blanton does give up a lot of hits, but has improved his command on his pitches. Last season Blanton walked only 40 batters in 230 innings of work. An increase in strikeouts or a trade to a contender would only help Blanton's cause. Oakland as a franchise is in a complete rebuilding mode, so Blanton's name has frequently been mentioned in trade offers. If Blanton remains in Oakland, 15 wins with an E.R.A below 4.0 can be expected. At age 27, a break out season could soon be on the horizon for Blanton. That horizon could be as soon as 2008.

Wang is not a standard sleeper. Most team owners have heard of Wang and know that he pitches for the high-powered Yankees. Most team owners also devalue Wang due to his lack of strikeouts. Wang has only 180k's in over 400 innings of work the last two seasons. It is for this reason that Wang becomes a great fantasy sleeper. What Wang lacks in strikeouts he more then makes up for in wins. Wang has won 19 games in each of the last two seasons. I have seen Jeremy Guthrie (Guthrie is not a sleeper folks) drafted ahead of and ranked higher than Wang on many lists and mock drafts. Don't do it! Take the proven guy with the 38-13 record, with an E.R.A. of no higher than 3.70 over the last two years. Wang's value as a potential 20 game winner makes him a borderline #2 starter, and at worst a very solid #3 on any fantasy team. Wang Chung on draft day and reap the rewards!

In 2007 Bonderman finally looked like he had arrived. He was coming off of a solid 2006 campaign where he had won 14 games and had over 200 strikeouts. His hot start in 2007 didn't last and he eventually was shelved in September with a pinched cartilage in his throwing shoulder. He did still manage to win 11 games, but his E.R.A. ballooned to 5.014, leaving many fantasy owners wondering what to expect in 2008. He is set to be ready for spring training and with 5 years of experience under his belt, is still just 25 years old. The Detroit offense is scary good and all Tiger pitchers will benefit greatly. Bonderman can still bring the heat, plus he pitches in a forgiving home ballpark . If things fall right, Bonderman could achieve 17 wins, 200 innings, and 180 strikeouts.

Jimenez was a popular free agent pick up late last season. Deservingly so, reason being in his last 10 starts he was 4-2 with 46 strikeouts. Don't forget about Jimenez during your 2008 draft. I know a lot of owners shy away from any pitcher on the Rockies. Jimenez, however, had an E.R.A that was a full run lower when pitching at his home park, in the dreaded thin air at Coors Field. Jimenez can pitch very erratically at times, but has shown he can pitch his way out of jams. The Rockies offense should provide Jimenez with ample run support this season. There is bound to be some growing pains in 2008, but an upside of 12 wins with 150 strikeouts is realistic.

McGowan rewarded the fantasy owners that picked him up in 2007. In his first season as a full time starter, he won 12 games. He also was a fantasy owner's dream last year because he qualified as a starting or relief pitcher. In 2008 he will only qualify as a starting pitcher. McGowan has been a little late in his arrival, but his 2007 season proved the future is now. McGowan had a 12k game in September, and two starts later struck out 9 batters against the World Champion Red Sox. McGowan won't carry your fantasy staff this year, but he will definitely help it. Future ace potential was shown in 2007 when he struck out 144 batters in just 169.2 innings. This will be the last season that McGowan will come at a bargain price; people are already jumping on this bandwagon. If you do land McGowan and he hits the 200-inning plateau, you can mark him down for 15 plus wins and 180 strikeouts. With a little polish and tutelage, the sky is the limit for McGowan.