Okay, call me crazy, but I know I’m right…
San Diego Padres closer Huston Street will be the late-round fantasy draft closer of the year.
Well, that is if he can stay healthy for a full season.
Street landed on the disabled list two separate times last season—once at the beginning of the year with a right shoulder strain and again on August 10 when he suffered a strained left calf while fielding the final out of a game.
However, when Street is healthy, the guy is lights out.
At the time of his August injury, Street hadn’t allowed a run since June 17. He compiled a 2-1 record with a 1.85 ERA, 23 saves with 47 strikeouts in 39 innings and was also selected as the lone representative for the Padres in the 2012 All-Star Game.
Okay, so the sample size of Street isn’t enough to dictate a full season of stats.
Before he came to the Padres, Street had a 9-9 record with a 3.50 ERA, 84 saves and 170 strikeouts in 167.1 innings for the Rockies while pitching in hitter-friendly Mile High Stadium.
And before that, he had a 21-12 record with a 2.88 ERA, 94 saves and 271 strikeouts in 269 innings pitching for the Oakland Athletics.
Now in San Diego—though the fences were just recently pulled in—the veteran righty has the advantage of closing in pitcher-friendly Petco Park—an environment historic for favoring pitchers—while under the careful supervision of ex-pitcher and Padres manager, Bud Black.
It’s safe to say that if Street can remain consistently healthy in 2013, he will add plenty of saves to your fantasy team and will be a great late-round pick in most drafts.
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