Every year Erik Bedard teases us fantasy owners with some of his brilliant pitching.
Analysis: This year Erik Bedard has been special through six starts. He is currently the thirteenth rated fantasy stater over the last two weeks of the season. He has a 2.78 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 6.12 K/9 through 32.1 innings of work. He has been his usual self- walking about four batters per nine innings and throwing his fastball and cutter in the high 80s. Bedard has allowed just two earned runs in his last four starts.
But… we have to consider the red flags as well. His xFIP is 4.96, his FIP is solid at 3.11. His HR/FB ratio is 9% below his career average at… 0%(he hasn’t allowed a home run in 32.1 innings this year). His strand rate is sustainable so there aren’t any issues there.
Erik Bedard is available in 95-99% of fantasy leagues. That number is a bit high for a pitcher who has only allowed two earned runs over his last four starts. He has to improve the strikeouts a bit and limit the walks for more consistent quality starts. He’s an “add at your own risk” guy but he still has middle tier upside.