Sleeper Watch

Ok, we admit it: John Lackey’s success has caught us a bit by surprise. Sure, we knew the twenty-three year-old from Abilene had potential, but we figured he was still about two years away from being able to contribute at the big-league level and being worthy of a spot on a fantasy roster. What makes Lackey’s rapid development all the more surprising is the fact that he was converted from playing first base not all that long ago…

Lackey’s best pitch is a fastball that reaches the mid-90’s, but his changeup and curve are also both above average. His control is impressive, and he seems to have the mental toughness to succeed in the majors. In his first ten games with the Angels, he’s already bounced back from both poor outings and tough losses. His numbers so far are stellar: a 3.11 era, a whip of 1.26, five wins and a better than 2-to-1 k/bb ratio. Increasing his strikeout rate (so far, Lackey has 40 through 63.2 innings) should be the next step toward long-term success.

As a keeper, John Lackey’s value is undisputed, but he’s also worth a look if you’re looking for a starter to give you a boost for your stretch run. With so few games under his belt, he’ll have his ups and downs, but his overall numbers should be very satisfactory. With most free agent pools pillaged of all worthwhile pitching options this late in the season, Lackey could be a great sleeper find indeed.