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Mike looks at five sneaky fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for starting pitchers in Week 23 (2024) who are on hot streaks and sees if they can sustain their success.
There have been plenty of important starting pitchers who have landed on the injured list in the last couple of weeks. They include Tyler Glasnow (elbow), Hunter Greene (elbow), and Luis Gil (back).
For those who need starting pitching reinforcements, streaming the right players could be key. Are Ryne Nelson, Cody Bradford, Frankie Montas, Zebby Matthews, and DJ Herz just viable streaming options, or could any of them be worth rostering for the remainder of the season?
Let’s dig into the stats for these five starters and discuss if they can sustain their current level of success. All roster percentages are via Yahoo.
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Ryne Nelson, Arizona Diamondbacks (38% rostered)
Nelson’s 4.29 ERA isn’t all that impressive, but his 3.61 FIP indicates that he has pitched well this season. After giving up 1.5 HR/9 last year, he has only allowed 0.9 HR/9 this season. He’s still not a major force when it comes to strikeouts, but he has increased his strikeout rate from 15.5% last season to 19.7% this year.
With Nelson pitching so well, the Diamondbacks have decided to keep him in their starting rotation, even with Eduardo Rodriguez and Merrill Kelly back from injuries. They moved the struggling Jordan Montgomery to the bullpen instead.
Now that Nelson has a clear path to remaining a starter for the remainder of the season, he should be rostered in 15-team leagues and used as a streamer for favorable matchups in shallower formats.
Cody Bradford, Texas Rangers (36% rostered)
Bradford was roughed up in his first outing since coming off the injured list, but he has settled in to allow 11 runs (10 earned) over his last 27.2 innings. During that span, he posted a 1.01 WHIP and recorded 25 strikeouts. For the season, he has a sparkling 0.94 WHIP.
Bradford has shown excellent control both in the minors and in the majors. This season, he has a 4.1% walk rate. His 22.7% strikeout rate doesn’t leave him with a ton of upside in that department, but he’s also not a detriment to fantasy managers. He’s a great option for his next projected start against the Athletics, who entered Tuesday having scored the sixth-fewest runs in baseball.
While not a must-roster player, Bradford has a path to be a viable streaming option in 12-team leagues down the stretch. Max Scherzer (shoulder) doesn’t appear to be close to returning, and Tyler Mahle (shoulder) is back on the injured list.
Frankie Montas, Milwaukee Brewers (28% rostered)
Montas has made five starts since being traded to the Brewers and he allowed three or fewer runs in four of them. He was taken deep a total of just two times, while also recording 28 strikeouts over 27 innings. He was a bit wild, though, issuing 10 total walks.
Frankie Montas, 98mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/dy1BxlcJq9
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 25, 2024
Despite his recent improvement, it’s difficult to have much faith in Montas when you consider his 4.64 ERA and 4.53 FIP. He also has just a 20.2% strikeout rate to go along with his 1.38 WHIP. The Brewers need him to eat innings at the back of their rotation, but he’s a low-upside streaming option for fantasy purposes.
Zebby Matthews, Minnesota Twins (20% rostered)
The Twins have battled injuries to their starting rotation for much of the season. Joe Ryan (shoulder) is their latest big name to hit the injured list, and he is in danger of missing the rest of the season. They have since turned to Matthews, who has logged five innings and allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his three starts with the team. He also produced a 1.00 WHIP during that span.
The appealing part about Matthews is his strikeout upside. He had a 30.1% strikeout rate this year and a 28.4% strikeout rate at Triple-A. While he has just 13 strikeouts over 15 innings with the Twins, he faced the Padres, Royals, and Rangers.
The Padres and Royals are the two toughest teams in the league to strike out, while the Rangers have posted the eighth-fewest strikeouts. Strikeouts are coming, and Matthews should be viewed as more than just a streaming option in 12- and 15-team leagues.
DJ Herz, Washington Nationals (13% rostered)
Herz has been locked in since the All-Star break, posting a 2.62 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP over his last seven starts. He produced 42 strikeouts over 34.1 innings during that run, leaving him with a 29.1% strikeout rate for the season. That comes on the heels of his 26.2% strikeout rate at Triple-A.
DJ Herz, K'ing the Side in the 5th.
Finished with 8Ks in 5 IP. pic.twitter.com/Xl1GT9Wjwy
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 25, 2024
The downside with Herz is that he can be a bit wild. He has issued at least two walks in nine of his 14 starts this year. He also doesn’t pitch very deep into games and plays for a bad team, which has left him with a 2-6 record. Still, he has a 3.84 ERA that is supported by a 3.85 FIP. For those who need a boost in strikeouts, Herz is certainly worth streaming when he has a favorable matchup.
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