Oakland A'sAJ Griffin: Oakland's Best Fantasy SP Option?
Griffin was Oakland's most durable starting pitcher in 2013 pitching 200 innings and compiling a 14-10 record. While obviously has the most upside, Griffin might be the safest option among Oakland's starting pitchers considering his fly ball tendencies and his home park. The 26 year-old pitched to a 3.86 ERA and reasonable thinking would have him regressing considering his DIPS (4.55 FIP and 4.18 xFIP) and .245 BABIP. However, Griffin is able to succeed because Oakland's greatest strength is overall defense in the outfield. Griffin is able to record an above average strikeout rate (7.70 K/9) because of a strong 12-6 curveball, and he is an above average strike thrower. He will continue to give up his share of home runs because of his fly ball rate, but I would expect his 12.5 percent HR/FB ratio to regress somewhat. Griffin might not keep his BABIP below .250 this season, but Oakland's defense will continue to turn a lot of those fly balls into outs.
Brandon Moss: Top Platoon OptionMoss might be platooned this year at DH and first base, but the 30 year-old is a hitter I've targeted at first base because of his ability to rival others in he counting stats despite sitting against left-handed pitchers. Moss has hit 51 home runs over the last two seasons in only 800 plate appearances while spending half of his time in a pitcher friendly park. Moss should hit another 28-31 home runs this season considering his ability to hit fly balls (51.8 percent last season), and his HR/FB ratio should hover around 18 percent once again. His average batted ball distance in 2013 was 295 feet meaning that his HR/FB ratio last year was not a fluke. Moss won't hit for a high average because of his high strikeout rates (27.7 percent in 2013), but he should have a .250/.325/.490 type of slash line.