If you still go to Best Buy, Target or Walmart to buy DVDs, chances are you have scoured through the large bins of movies being sold for $3.99.
In those bins you will find straight-to-video movies like “American Pie Presents: Band Camp,” or “American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile,” or “The Lion King 1 ¹/₂.” If you dig deep enough, however, you can often find classic movies like “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” “The Silence of the Lambs,” “Road House,” “School Ties” “Howard the Duck” or “No Holds Barred.” (Hey, if you can honestly look at the cover of that 1989 Hulk Hogan classic without smiling and can resist purchasing it, you’re not human). It is no different when searching for fantasy pitchers to round out your rotation. Sometimes, you just have to reach in and dig deep to find what you’re looking for.
In Ivan Nova’s seven years with the Yankees, he went 53-39 with a 4.41 ERA, 1.388 WHIP and 543 strikeouts (6.7 per nine innings). They’re not the worst numbers, but they certainly don’t jump off the page, screaming, “I belong on your fantasy squad.”
There are several reasons why Nova, who landed in Pittsburgh last season, is an attractive late-round selection this year, with the main reason being his price. According to FantasyPros, Nova has an average draft position of 283.7 and an average auction price of $1. At those prices, it pays to make a play for him. Why? Well, yes, most pitchers are more attractive in the NL than they are in the AL, but the simplest answer is this: pitching coach Ray Searage.
The Pirates’ pitching guru has made a name for himself in recent years for his success with reclamation projects like Francisco Liriano, J.A. Happ, A.J. Burnett and Edinson Volquez.
Though it was a short sample size, Nova was spectacular after moving from The Bronx to the Steel City.
After allowing 2.3 walks per nine innings while going 7-6 with a 4.90 ERA, 75 strikeouts and a 1.356 WHIP in 21 outings with the Yankees, Nova was dealt to Pittsburgh where he quickly became a viable fantasy option. The 30-year-old righty went 5-2 with a 3.06 ERA, 1.098 WHIP, a crazy 52:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 2.62 FIP, which indicates he was slightly unlucky in his 11 starts with the Pirates. He never has been a big strikeout pitcher, but he struck out 19.8 percent of the batters he faced (his highest percentage since 2013).
It is unlikely he will maintain the same walk rate, but Nova signed a three-year deal with Pittsburgh this offseason, so he not only gets to stay in the NL, but he gets to stay with Searage — both of which should work to his advantage on the mound, and yours in the fantasy world.
Here are some other late-round starting pitcher bargains:
James Paxton’s (167.3, $5) record (6-7) and ERA (3.79) were nothing to write home about last season, but his velocity was up (from 95 mph in 2014 to 97 last year), he walked a career-low 1.8 per nine innings, struck out a career-high 8.7 per nine and had a 2.80 FIP. This could be a breakout season for the lefty in Seattle.
Mariners starter Drew SmylyAPComing off his worst season in the majors, Drew Smyly (200.3, $1) finds himself with the Mariners in pitcher-friendly Safeco Park and a solid buy-low option. He limits walks (2.5 per nine innings), has great strikeout potential and a solid strand rate.
The Diamondbacks’ Robbie Ray (231.5, $2) may be 14-31 with a 4.65 ERA for his career, including his 8-15 record and 4.90 ERA from last season, but don’t pay attention to those numbers. He struck out 218 (11.3 per nine innings), had a 3.76 FIP and 3.45 xFIP, so his overall numbers don’t tell the entire story. Target him late.
If the Rays’ Blake Snell (248.7, $1) can gain some control (he walked 5.1 per nine innings over 19 starts last season), he could be in for a big year. He throws hard (93.5 mph) and can strike out batters (9.9 per nine innings) with regularity.
Ervin Santana (283.7, $1) may be 34-years-old, but he still managed to get the job done last season on a miserable Twins team. Though his 7-11 record left much to be desired, he went 6-4 with a 2.41 ERA, .213 opponent average and 100 strikeouts over his past 18 starts. He can provide solid depth as a back-end starter.
Guide to Insanity
Draft preview special: Part 5 of 5
Roto Rage Jarad Wilk ranks the top starting pitchers:
Starting pitchers
1. Clayton Kershaw LAD
2. Madison Bumgarner SF
3. Corey Kluber Cle
4. Noah Syndergaard NYM
5. Max Scherzer Was
6. Johnny Cueto SF
7. Chris Sale Bos
8. Yu Darvish Tex
9. Carlos Martinez StL
10. Jon Lester ChC
11. Jake Arrieta ChC
12. Jacob deGrom NYM
13. Chris Archer TB
14. Julio Teheran Atl
15. Jose Quintana CWS
16. Carlos Carrasco Cle
17. Cole Hamels Tex
18. Marcus Stroman Tor
19. Justin Verlander Det
20. Stephen Strasburg Was
21. Masahiro Tanaka NYY
22. Kevin Gausman Bal
23. Zack Greinke Ari
24. Jameson Taillon Pit
25. Jake Odorizzi TB
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26. Danny Salazar Cle
27. Kyle Hendricks ChC
28. Aaron Nola Phi
29. Aaron Sanchez Tor
30. Felix Hernandez Sea
31. Carlos Rodon CWS
32. John Lackey ChC
33. Matt Moore SF
34. Gerrit Cole Pit
35. Kenta Maeda LAD
36. Dallas Keuchel Hou
37. David Price Bos
38. Jeff Samardzija SF
39. Rich Hill LAD
40. Robbie Ray Ari
41. Rick Porcello Bos
42. Joe Ross Was
43. Michael Fulmer Det
44. Hisashi Iwakuma Sea
45. Danny Duffy KC
46. Ervin Santana Min
47. Gio Gonzalez Was
48. James Paxton Sea
49. Tanner Roark Was
50. Michael Pineda NYY
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Top starting pitcher prospects
1. Lucas Giolito CWS
2. Tyler Glasnow Pit
3. Jose De Leon TB
4. Luke Weaver StL
5. Jharel Cotton Oak
Team Name of the Week
Ozuna the Better
— Submitted by Manny Hellen


