New Studs on the Block takes a look at players ready to make the leap from "possibly productive fantasy player" to "must-have fantasy stud." This is not a "you've never heard of this dude, but ... " series -- these should be names you already know.After a sparkling start Sunday afternoon, it's becoming pretty clear that Edwin Jackson is a pitcher who should be active in every fantasy baseball league. The imposing right-hander is only 25-years-old, but he's already had two teams give up on him. All the pitching-rich Rays wanted back for him was Matt Joyce. Think they want a mulligan?
All Jackson's done for the Tigers this season is work up a 2.30 ERA in one-third of the season. His record is a good 5-3, but the ERA and WHIP (1.04) are stellar. It's possible to point to the somewhat low BABIP (.256), but that's not ridiculously low and his other rate stats support his growth into an elite pitcher. He's figured out the strike zone, as his walks per nine innings stands a full two walks lower than his career number (2.2 in '09, 4.2 for career). His 57 strikeouts to only 18 walks also represents a career best 3.17 K:BB ratio. In fact, the next best in his career was 1.73 in only 22 innings his rookie season. So, yeah, he's having decent "luck" in terms of not allowing hits, but he's also learned how to pitch instead of just trying to strike everyone out -- meanwhile his strikeout rate is much higher than last season.
The best part about Jackson's growth, though, is that it's continuing during the season. In his past five starts, Jackson is 4-1 with a 1.49 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 29 strikeouts and only 8 walks in 36 1/3 innings. He's teaming with Justin Verlander to form one of the league's most potent 1-2 punches atop the Tigers rotation.
You shouldn't expect Jackson to keep that ERA headed downward toward the 1.00s, but he's arrived as a legitimate fantasy star, and yet he's still only owned in 75 percent of Yahoo! leagues. If you happen to play in a league where he's available, get him immediately, because Edwin Jackson is the New Stud on the Block. Not that we're surprised.
