Fantasy Baseball 2014: 5 Starting Pitcher Sleepers

In every fantasy baseball season, there are players who are overlooked in drafts. Today, I take a look at five starting pitchers who are being way undervalued in 2014.

Masterson is currently the 45th starting pitcher being drafted in ESPN leagues and the 48th starting pitcher being drafted in Yahoo! leagues. I have Masterson ranked as my 34th starting pitcher entering 2014. In 2013, Masterson substantially increased the rate at which he threw his slider. With it, he saw a drastic increase in his strikeout rate.

Estrada is currently being drafted as the 60th starting pitcher in ESPN leagues, and he's falling all the way to 79 in Yahoo! leagues. I currently have Estrada ranked as my 51st starting pitcher. Estrada's WHIP has fallen from 1.21 in 2011 all the way to 1.08 in 2013.

Lincecum is going as the 57th starting pitcher in ESPN drafts and the 54th starting pitcher in Yahoo! drafts. I have Lincecum ranked as my 32nd starting pitcher heading into 2014. The two-time Cy Young award winner has been plagued by the home run in the last two seasons, but his other numbers are fairly consistent with his career averages. If he can keep the ball in the park, he should bounce back strong.

Wood is currently the 67th starter being drafted in ESPN leagues and he's 61st in Yahoo! leagues. I have Wood ranked as my 45th starter entering 2014. Wood looked excellent as a rookie in 2013, and the Braves have already suffered some devastating injuries within their pitching staff. Wood will be asked to step up in a big way in 2014.

Most people clearly haven't bought back into John Lackey after his bounce-back year in 2013. Lackey is currently going as the 63rd starter in ESPN leagues and he's going as the 96th starter in Yahoo! leagues. I have Lackey ranked as my 31st starting pitcher entering 2014. Lackey's xFIP suggests there's even room for his numbers to improve from last season. At the draft position he currently sits at, I'm all in.