Fantasy Baseball Sleepers 2012: Late-Round Steals for Your Pitching Rotation

You could be the guy at the draft that stocks up on starting pitchers early on and is left trying to fill out your lineup with paltry options later in the draft.

Or, you could play it smart and target middle- and late-round values that allow you to draft big boppers early and compile a sneaky-good rotation later on.

Here's a few late-round gems who should help you do just that.

Jonathan Sanchez, Kansas City Royals

On one hand, Sanchez is risky—he walks a lot of batters, is transitioning to the American League and the designated hitter could inflate his ERA and WHIP.

On the other, Sanchez strikes out a lot of batters (102 strikeouts in 101.1 innings last year) and will help you in that regard. If he can cut down on the walks and stay healthy, he could be a surprisingly good value at the end of your team's rotation.

Jhoulys Chacin, Colorado Rockies

Chacin has top-of-the-rotation ability, but his 2011 was a bit disappointing, as he finished with 11 wins, 150 strikeouts, a 3.62 ERA and 1.31 WHIP.

If Chacin can work more efficiently and keep his pitch count down, he'll be more effective this year. On a Rockies team that I believe will be very good, he could give you 15-17 wins as well.

Brandon Morrow, Toronto Blue Jays

Strikeouts, strikeouts, strikeouts. If you need a player to infuse your rotation with a high number of strikeouts, Morrow is absolutely your guy—he fanned 203 batters in 179.1 innings last year.

He's a risk to hurt you in ERA, but for all those strikeouts, it's a risk worth taking. If he can get his ERA under 4.00 for the year, he's good value as a late-middle to late-round pick.

Ervin Santana, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Few pitchers were better in the second half of 2011, and Santana finally appeared to pitch up to his potential. He was good for 178 strikeouts, 11 wins, a 3.38 ERA and 1.22 WHIP last year.

He's another guy who you'll probably need to snag in the late-middle rounds, but he'll give you consistency and a solid portion of strikeouts.

Justin Masterson, Cleveland Indians

Masterson isn't the sexiest pitcher around, but for a late-middle round selection, he's steady and reliable. If his 2011 of 158 strikeouts, 12 wins, a 3.21 ERA and 1.28 WHIP sound like something you'd like at the bottom of your rotation, be sure to snatch him up.

I'd expect him to post better numbers this year, though not dramatically. Masterson is a safe bet to help your rotation at a reasonable cost.

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