Going into every fantasy baseball season, every fantasy owner has to figure out a strategy. A truly dangerous and rewarding strategy includes a culture shock to your pitching rotation. If you choose to challenge yourself, go with middle relievers.

Never try this in a league where more than just pride is on the line. It takes time, patience, and in some cases, luck.

I first tried this strategy with little knowledge of how someone like Jessie Crain could help me win a fantasy championship. It took a couple tries, but won a league where I had one starting pitcher and all middle relievers.

Successful fantasy owners always keep an eye on the next man up for closers. Winning a league with middle relievers keys in on that idea and making sure you know every team’s relievers, and then a lot of young players brought up to fill in as the season wears on.

If you have a team lacking in ERA, saves, and WHIP, now could be a time to dabble with this approach. Teams without starters will lose wins and strikeouts, guaranteed. In roto leagues, getting any and all of everything could mean the half point in the league standings that wins your league. Thankfully, relievers pitch multiple time s a week, tend to strikeout as many hitters as innings pitched, and keep categories like ERA and WHIP low.

I won my league last year with the likes of Tyler Clippard, Sean Burnett, Nate Jones, and Clayton Kershaw. Call it luck, but I actually drafted six pitchers that I kept from day one. Two injuries hurt my team long-term, but Nate Jones was the steal of the season for me. Eight wins from a reliever gets you those extra points you need, plus have one stud like Kershaw, never hurts.

In 2014 when you get the itch to draft a team for fun, give it a try. Free leagues are there to help you learn the game from new and different perspectives. Concentrating on the big name players across the board in everything other than pitching can lead to championships. This is especially true in auction draft leagues. Spend money on Miguel Cabrera and spend little on the unheralded guys poking around in the bullpen.

Peaking

Jorge De La Rosa” alt=”Jorge De La Rosa” src=”https://thefantasyfix.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Jorge-De-La-Rosa-300×237.jpg” width=”300″ height=”237″ /> Photo courtesy of beisbolsinaloa

Jorge De La Rosa, Starting Pitcher, Colorado Rockies: It is great to see De Le Rosa coming full circle after Tommy John surgery in 2011. His career 4.83 ERA entering 2013 is fair from sexy, but his control is there. Major arm surgery forces that. After the expected struggles once he was back in 2012, it is safe to say the recovery process is over. He is a nice addition for any team looking for wins with some ERA relief.

Marcell Ozuna, Outfielder, Miami Marlins: I felt bad that I had look up more about Ozuna because I only caught one White Sox game when Miami was in town. Ozuna is making a great impression in his first major league stint. He does not walk, but his ability to steal an occasional base and be a consistent .300 hitter makes him a speculative add. Miami needs any spark with the team playing so bad, and Ozuna may be a surprise rookie when the season ends.

Chris Johnson, First Baseman/Third Baseman, Atlanta Braves: Johnson was given the “keys to the car” at third base after the Braves DFA’d Juan Francisco. I was one of the guys who rode his wave of offense a few years back, and went down with the ship as well. It appears a small resurgence in Arizona and has lead to a full rebirth in Atlanta. He is widely available, and has a long leash considering a player was cut to pave his way at third.

I loved seeing Dominic Brown finally explode in May, but man does he scream sell high. As most of you saw, his inability to walk hurts his value, but fingers crossed he finally has reached his potential.

In the Valley

Yasiel Puig, Outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers: The 22-year old has mashed in the minors, and hit well against some of baseball’s future stars. That said L.A.’s brass wanted to protect him for as long as possible. The injury bug has put the outfield in the M.A.S.H. unit, so Puig was the next man up. I do not know if he will be worth the add now that he has to face the best of the best. I would not add him, but if an outfielder is killing your team and were waiting for a big name to fall in your lap, tada!

Wade Miley, Starting Pitcher, Arizona Diamondbacks: Log this under the sophomore slump, but keeping Miley on your team is a mistake. He is giving up a hit per inning and walking almost three per nine innings. He ran into a hot Cubs team this past Friday, but his next start is against the best team in baseball. St. Louis puts up runs, period.

B.J. Upton has had a bad season to date, sound familiar? His bomb on Sunday may be what he needs to get on track, or what you need to see if any other owner may be interested in the older Upton.

Follow me on Twitter @jeffrotull44, and check out my work with The Sports Bank, where I cover the Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Blackhawks, and entertainment.