Sleeper of the Week

Unless you’re playing a deep AL-only format, Gil Meche probably went undrafted in your league. That’s understandable: in 2000, his last season in the majors before surgery derailed his development, Meche only won four games for the Mariners, and his 3/2 k/bb mark wasn’t exactly enough to excite fantasy owners, either.

On top of that, Meche’s era after his first two starts this year was a whopping 7.59, enough to make many owners lose patience and place him on waivers.

Yet maybe it’s time to take another look at Meche. This year, he’s already posted three wins in five starts, while picking up a very solid 29 strike outs in 32 innings of work, while allowing only nine walks in that span. In his last three starts (against Oakland, Cleveland and New York), Meche has looked particularly dominant, going 21.1 innings without allowing a single earned run.

Is Meche for real? It’s hard to say this early in the season, but we feel he very well might be. Meche is still only 24 years old, and is still adjusting to the major league game. He made significant strides last season, lowering his whip from 1.52 to 1.34, and there’s no reason to believe the young righty won’t continue to improve. Also keep in mind that Meche went under the knife twice in 2001, and that it’s normal for young pitchers to take some time returning to their pre-injury level of play.

Control will be the key for Meche; if he can keep his walks down, he’ll be an asset to any fantasy team that decides to take a chance on him. If he’s still available in your league, he’s worth a shot.