Most underrated players in MLB in 2017

Betances has been unable to maintain the closer role with the Yankees by not fault of his own. He finished last season as the closer but moved back to setup work when the team brought back Aroldis Chapman this offseason. Despite only 28 saves over the last four seasons, he's arguably been the best reliever in baseball over that time with a 1.82 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 14.5 K/9.

Chatwood has been fantastic for the Rockies since returning from Tommy John surgery last season. He has a 3.97 ERA in 41 starts, including an ace-like 1.69 ERA away from Coors Field last season.

Cozart has the seventh highest WAR among shortstops since the start of the 2016 season, rating as an elite defender who has also been elite with the bat this season. He's hitting .324-9-33 with a .982 OPS through 56 games.

Defensive shortstops don't get much better than Crawford, who leads the position in defensive WAR since the start of last season. He's fifth overall in WAR at shortstop over that time despite some regression at the plate this season.

Devenski has been an incredible bullpen weapon for Houston since he was called up last season. He has a 2.32 ERA in 147.1 innings with a tremendous 0.90 WHIP. Manager A.J. Hinch often uses him over multiple innings and key situations.

Seattle prioritized defense during the offseason by acquiring Dyson from Kansas City. His .337 on-base percentage since the start of last season is adequate, and he has the 16th best WAR among all outfielders since the start of last season.

Despite a torn ACL that ended his season early this year, Eaton deserves consideration as one of baseball's very best outfielders. His 6.0 WAR season last year was fourth best among all MLB outfielders, and he was off to an even better start offensively this year before getting injured.

Phillies shortstop prospect J.P. Crawford gets much of the attention as the team's future at the position, but Galvis has been a decent regular since the start of last season. He's coming off a 20 home run campaign, and his defensive WAR ranks third best at shortstop since the start of last season. He's effectively allowed the organization to be patient with Crawford.

Since arriving to Houston in 2015, Harris has been one of the game's best relievers. Beyond his 16 saves, Harris has a 2.06 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over that time.

Hernandez has quietly been a strong regular at second base for the Phils since last season. He's produced a respectable .756 OPS over that time and contributed elite defense, helping him rank with the eighth highest WAR of all second basemen since last year.

Herrera has become a staple in the Philadelphia lineup since he was selected in the Rule 5 Draft before 2015. He's slashed .283/.341/.416 over that time, and his WAR is the 10th highest among all outfielders during that period due in large part to his defense.

Inciarte was more than just a throw-in when he was sent from Arizona to Atlanta last year in the Shelby Miller trade. He's a .294 hitter over four seasons with a strong .340 on-base percentage, and he has the 12th highest WAR among all outfielders since 2015.

When searching for baseball's best reliever, Jansen is often overlooked. The Dodgers' closer has the second highest WAR among all relief pitchers since 2015, when his control went to another level. Over that time, he has a 1.88 ERA and 0.69 WHIP. Unbelievably, Jansen still hasn't walked a batter through 27 appearances this season.

Kiermaier's incredible defense in center field has made him one of the most valuable players in the game. Since 2015, Kiermaier has the eighth highest WAR among all outfielders. He's set to miss a large portion of 2017 due to a hip injury, however.

Miller finally got the credit he was due after his work in the 2016 playoffs. He doesn't close for Cleveland, but Miller is arguably the game's best relief pitcher. Since 2014, Miller has a 1.78 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and 14.5 K/9.

Nova's control has been nearly perfect since arriving in Pittsburgh at the trade deadline last season, and he's become the clear ace in a rotation with high-powered arms. Since he was acquired, Nova has a 2.93 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and only 10 walks in 153.2 innings for the Pirates.

While Cody Allen and Andrew Miller get most of the attention in Cleveland's bullpen, Otero has been spectacular since last season. The control artist has a 2.06 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 96 innings over that time.

Pillar has been an elite defensive center fielder since he became a regular for the Jays in 2015. Over that time, his WAR ranks 17th best overall among all outfielders.

Despite a 4.90 ERA in 32 starts last season, the indicators suggested that Ray was just unlucky. He's turned his fortunes around early in 2017, with a 2.62 ERA in 13 starts. He has an 11.4 K/9 since the start of last season, third best in baseball.

Coming on late last season and leading the NL with eight losses this year, the perception is that Samardzija has been a bust since signing with the Giants. The reality is different, as Samardzija leads the NL with an 8.33 K/BB ratio this year and has the 23rd highest WAR among all starts since the beginning of last season.

Stroman was a disappointment last season, posting a 4.37 ERA in 32 starts for Toronto, but his .310 BABIP suggested that he deserved better luck. He's been one of Toronto's only reliable starters this year and has the 16th best WAR among all starters since the beginning of last season.

A late bloomer, Turner has been an elite player since last season. He hit a career-best 27 home runs last year and is off to a nice start despite injuries this year, hitting .380/.453/.506. in 44 games. He has the third best WAR among all hot corner players since the start of last year.

With a fastball that only averages the mid-80s, it's easy to overlook Vargas. The lefty has been a clear ace this season with a 2.10 ERA in 13 starts, along with a strong 1.09 WHIP. He could be a hot commodity at the trade deadline with the Royals falling out of contention.

There's a perception that Wainwright has been finished since the start of last season with a 4.65 ERA in 46 starts over that time. However, he's also been quite durable during that period, and his WAR ranks 30th best among all starting pitchers. It's clear the Wainwright is due for better luck after posting a .334 BABIP last year and .360 this season.

Overshadowed in the talented Miami outfield by Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna, Yelich has been a great contributor since last season. With the help of strong defense, he has the ninth highest WAR among all outfielders during that time with a very good .821 OPS.