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Mike looks at five sneaky fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for starting pitchers in Week 19 (2024) who are on hot streaks and sees if they can sustain their success.
It has been a busy trade deadline across the majors with a ton of players on the move. Turning our attention toward fantasy baseball, there are also some fantasy managers looking to add starting pitchers to their squad.
As managers look to fortify their pitching staffs down the stretch, streaming the right players could be key. Are Kyle Harrison, Spencer Schwellenbach, Yusei Kikuchi, Max Meyer, and Eduardo Rodriguez 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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Kyle Harrison, San Francisco Giants (49% rostered)
Harrison has stepped up his efforts down the stretch, allowing one or no runs in four of his last five starts. His last outing might have been his best of the season. He locked down the Rockies, allowing one run and recording 11 strikeouts across 6.2 innings.
Kyle Harrison matches his career high with 11 strikeouts for the @SFGiants 🔥
The southpaw ranks among the top 10 in punchouts (90), K/9 (8.3) and quality starts (8) for qualified rookies. pic.twitter.com/0uS8k2gZIZ
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 27, 2024
With his hot streak, Harrison now has a 3.69 ERA and a 3.87 FIP for the season. However, his splits indicate that he is only someone to consider streaming when he has a favorable matchup at home. He has a 2.97 FIP and a 1.18 WHIP at home this season, compared to a 4.98 FIP and a 1.39 WHIP on the road.
Spencer Schwellenbach, Atlanta Braves (44% rostered)
Injuries have been a major problem for the Braves this season. They have lost key hitters in their lineup and are currently without Max Fried (forearm) for their starting rotation. One player that they have been forced to turn to is Schwellenbach, who didn’t even reach Double-A until this year.
Across his last four starts, Schwellenbach has given up six runs and recorded 28 strikeouts over 26 innings. During that span, he had a stellar 0.77 WHIP. While his overall ERA of 4.06 for the season is nothing to write home about, his 3.38 FIP is noteworthy. Strikeouts aren’t always easy to find on the waiver wire, but Schwellenbach can help in that department with his 25.5% strikeout rate. Schwellenbach is worth rostering in 12-team and deeper leagues.
Yusei Kikuchi, Houston Astros (43% rostered)
Unlike Harrison and Schwellenbach, Kikuchi has not pitched well lately. Over his last eight starts, he has a 7.75 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He was hit hard, allowing 10 home runs over 38.1 innings during that span. If there was a silver lining, it’s that he recorded 54 strikeouts.
Now a member of the Astros, Kikuchi isn’t someone to ignore on the waiver wire. While his ERA for the season sits at 4.75, his FIP is much better at 3.65. He has also followed up his 25.9% strikeout rate last season with a 26.2% strikeout rate this year. Kikuchi is not only a viable streaming option, but he is worth taking a chance on for the remainder of the season in 12-team and deeper leagues.
Max Meyer, Miami Marlins (37% rostered)
The Marlins were one of the biggest sellers at the trade deadline and have turned their roster over to their young players. One of the top prospects that they have called up is Meyer, who started Saturday against the Brewers. His outing was not a triumphant one, considering that he allowed three runs over four innings.
Max Meyer strikes out six in his latest scoreless start 🤫
MLB's No. 80 prospect (@Marlins) has given up just one run over his past 16 innings for the Triple-A @JaxShrimp: pic.twitter.com/W7bHsntItm
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 14, 2024
Meyer has shown strikeout upside in the minors, including his 27.1% strikeout rate at Triple-A this year. He will also have the benefit of his home games being at the Marlins’ pitcher-friendly home park. Meyer has enough upside to at least be worth streaming during favorable matchups.
Eduardo Rodriguez, Arizona Diamondbacks (32% rostered)
Rodriguez (shoulder) has yet to pitch for the Diamondbacks this season, but his return is on the horizon. He is slated to throw 55-60 pitches in a simulated game Wednesday. While he has not done a rehab assignment in the minors yet, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said he could make his debut next week.
Rodriguez was a key offseason addition for the Diamondbacks after he recorded a 3.30 ERA and a 3.66 FIP for the Tigers last year. One of the keys to his success throughout his career has been his 32.1% hard-hit rate allowed. With Rodriguez still available in so many leagues, he’s worth taking a flier on down the stretch.
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