As Spring Training approaches its halfway point, the Atlanta Braves are gearing up for the upcoming season, with Opening Day just weeks away. Predicting the team's 26-man roster, The Athletic's David O'Brien identifies Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, and Spencer Schwellenbach as the top three starters, with Grant Holmes and Ian Anderson expected to fill out the rotation. Despite Anderson's struggles with walks during the spring, his impressive ERA and batting average against suggest he remains a strong candidate for the starting five.

O'Brien emphasizes that both Holmes and Anderson lack minor-league options, making it likely the Braves will retain them unless significant injuries or poor performances occur. Such depth is valued by the Braves, so losing a starter to waivers seems improbable unless a drastic decline happens. Notably, while Anderson's control issues are concerning, his ability to restrict opposing hitters demonstrates potential that could pay off during the regular season.

As the fantasy baseball draft season nears, the focus shifts to identifying starting pitchers to target or fade based on their performance metrics. Analyzing SIERA (Skill Interactive Earned Run Average) provides insights into pitchers whose ERAs may not reflect their true effectiveness. Pitchers like Hunter Greene, Reynaldo Lopez, and Ronel Blanco are highlighted as significant overachievers, showcasing how their ERAs deviated from their SIERA values.

Greene, now 25, posted impressive stats, dropping his ERA significantly, but with concerns about sustainability due to low home runs allowed and a need for a reliable third pitch. Lopez's first full season as a starter yielded surprising results, but indicators suggest he might regress to a mid-rotation role. Blanco, while successful, also faces regression risks with inflated SIERA metrics. Additional pitchers deserving scrutiny include David Peterson and Andrew Abbott, who may not meet expectations this season.

As the MLB 2025 season approaches, fantasy baseball players are already strategizing for their drafts, focusing on sleeper pitchers who might significantly outperform their average draft positions. Among the highlighted players is Joe Ryan from the Minnesota Twins, who has enhanced his pitching arsenal with new pitches leading to a promising season. Drew Rasmussen of the Tampa Bay Rays is set to return to a starting role post-Tommy John surgery, showing strong metrics from his previous seasons. Max Meyer of the Miami Marlins, a post-hype prospect, is looked at favorably following Miami's pitching overhaul.

Other notable mentions include David Festa from the Twins, who showcased skills suggesting a potential breakout season, and Justin Verlander, potentially undervalued due to past injuries. Shane Baz of the Tampa Bay Rays, despite missing two seasons due to surgery, has demonstrated high strikeout capabilities in the minors. Lastly, Quinn Mathews from the St. Louis Cardinals and Reynaldo Lopez of the Atlanta Braves also present intriguing late-round options for fantasy players.