Fantasy baseball managers often live and die by their rookie pitchers. The highs are thrilling, but the lows — like what we just saw from Chase Burns and Jacob Misiorowski — can shake your confidence.
Still, it is far too early to hit the panic button on either of these talented young arms. If anything, the smart fantasy move is to double down.
Sure, Burns was absolutely shelled by the Red Sox: seven runs (five earned) and only one out recorded. It looked ugly on the surface, and frankly, it was ugly. But there is an important detail that shifts the context of the outing: Burns was caught tipping his pitches.
The broadcast cameras even caught Boston outfielder Jarren Duran whispering to Carlos Narvaez prior to the catcher’s first at-bat, alerting him that Burns had distinct tells. His fastball came with a higher leg kick and an open glove, and his offspeed stuff had a lower kick and a tighter glove.
That is a huge edge for any lineup, as even a struggling Red Sox team was able to take full advantage. But more importantly for fantasy purposes, this is a correctable flaw.
Many young pitchers tip pitches early in their careers, and with the right coaching, Burns should be able to clean this up quickly. His stuff — mid-to-upper 90s fastball, nasty slider and a developing changeup — is absolutely electric. This is not a case of, “He isn’t ready.” It is more like, “He got figured out, and now he’ll adjust.”
Misiorowski’s blowup was different but similarly forgivable. He cruised through the Mets lineup the first time, retiring the first six batters with ease. Then the wheels fell off. He walked the bases loaded, couldn’t locate his fastball and looked visibly frustrated. Five runs later, his night was over.
But again, this isn’t a sign of a pitcher overmatched by big league hitters. It was a mental and mechanical blip, the kind of hiccup even seasoned veterans have. Misiorowski’s command is usually a plus, and his fastball-slider combo gives him double-digit strikeout upside every time he takes the mound. Like Burns, his pure talent is off the charts.
The truth is, rookie pitchers are unpredictable. You will get some duds, sometimes back-to-back. But when the upside is elite — and both Burns and Misiorowski fall squarely into that category — you tolerate the volatility.
Yes, both could be on innings caps as the season wears on, so enjoy the ride while it lasts. But every time they start, they’re capable of giving you six innings, eight-plus Ks and a chance at a win. That isn’t something you find on the waiver wire every week.
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So, if you’re frustrated or thinking about benching or dropping them, don’t. These two are too talented to give up on. Weather the storm now, and the payoff could be league-winning in August and September.
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy baseball news and advice.
