Welcome to the 2023 Fantasy Baseball Week 25 Drop List!
The time has come, it's officially the last week of the regular season. While we may be sad that it's ending, we have to give ourselves some credit for managing our team(s) throughout this grueling season.
With our last article of the 2023 season, we will drop our last two players of the season. Admittedly, this is not an article you want to see your name on at any point during the season, but these two pitchers can be happy that they made it to the final week.
Our first drop had quite the breakout season for the Cubs, while our second drop has been in Boston's rotation for much of the year, but just recently ran out of gas.
2023 Fantasy Baseball Week 25 Drop List
Become an All-Access Member to get access to the Most Accurate Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Tools and more.
If you are already a member, sign in.
Justin Steele, SP, Chicago Cubs
Steele had quite the year for the Chicago Cubs. Considering Steele was drafted at an overall ADP of 288 and as SP87, this season was an absolute treat for all managers who scooped him up at the end of their draft or on the waiver wire.
Through 29 starts for the Cubs in 2023, Steele has a record of 16-5 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. He also leads the NL in HR/9 at 0.7.
Steele never really struggled this year, as his worst month of the season came back in May when he was 2-2 with a 3.98 ERA.
Aside from May, Steele has been nothing but solid.
Unfortunately, the wheels have started to fall off for the 2023 breakout star. Steele has given up 12 runs over his last nine innings pitched while also losing back-to-back games for the first time this year.
Steele has found himself facing a number of issues lately and things only get tougher with a start in Atlanta against the Braves looming on the schedule.
Thank Steele for everything he did for you in 2023, but it's time to let him go.
Brayan Bello, SP, Boston Red Sox
After starting only 10 games for the Red Sox in 2022, Bello has managed to start 27 games thus far in 2023.
Bello is 12-10 with a 4.11 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. These numbers aren't necessarily stellar, but they are an improvement for the 24-year-old sophomore.
Most recently, Bello blew up in Texas where he had one of his worst outings of the year. He gave up eight runs in just three innings pitched vs. the Rangers while only striking out two.
Similar to Steele, I think Bello is running out of gas quickly. He's pitched 150+ innings after only throwing 57 in 2022, and I don't see his tank refilling anytime soon.
His next start comes at home against the Rays who are no slouches offensively. They rank in the top five in both OPS vs. RHP and OPS in away games.
You don't want to throw Bello out there in the last week of the season. It's not worth it.
Bello is a drop.
Thanks for reading the 2023 Fantasy Baseball Week 25 Drop List and for reading all season. Check out the rest of Fantasy Six Pack's Fantasy Baseball content.
