In the pursuit of top-tier pitching talent for fantasy baseball, analyzing walk and ground-ball rates can unveil hidden gems. Bryan Woo of the Seattle Mariners made significant strides in his control, reducing his walk rate to an impressive 2.8%, while Jack Flaherty revitalized his career with the Detroit Tigers, showcasing a 5.9% walk rate in a bounce-back season. Jake Irvin, pitching for the Washington Nationals, improved his zone command, though he still battles hard contact issues. Nick Pivetta's transition to the San Diego Padres includes a notable drop in walk rate, though concerns about home runs linger.

Ground-ball specialists also emerged, with Brandon Pfaadt of the Arizona Diamondbacks enhancing his ground-ball rate significantly, thanks in part to a revamped pitch mix. Detroit's Reese Olson and Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves have also shown improvements, with Sale looking to reclaim his Cy Young form despite injury concerns. Ryan Weathers, another noteworthy mention, has made strides in both walk and ground-ball rates, making him a potential sleeper for fantasy drafts.