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Shaun looks at four sneaky fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for starting pitchers in Week 23 (2025) on hot streaks, and sees if they can sustain their success.
The fantasy baseball playoffs leave no room for hesitation, as every roster spot matters, and sometimes the difference between advancing or going home comes from an unexpected source. While most managers lean on established stars this time of year, a handful of under-the-radar arms have been quietly stepping up and offering real value down the stretch.
This week, four pitchers—Tanner Gordon, Luis Morales, Martin Perez, and Michael McGreevy—are proving that sometimes the best help comes from unlikely places. Each brings a unique profile to the table, from Gordon’s recent dominance in Colorado, to Morales’ electric fastball in Oakland, to Perez’s veteran stability on the South Side, and McGreevy’s pinpoint control in St. Louis. Despite low roster percentages, all four have shown they can provide quality innings when it matters most.
In playoff matchups where strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP can swing categories—or one strong outing can tilt a head-to-head contest—these pitchers deserve a closer look. Let’s break down what each has done lately, the underlying skills driving their success, and why fantasy managers should consider them as sneaky late-season difference-makers.
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Note - All statistics are updated as of Monday, September 1
Tanner Gordon, Colorado Rockies
1% Rostered
It’s not often fantasy managers look toward Colorado for pitching help, especially during the playoff stretch. Gordon has forced himself into the conversation with a remarkable run over the past two weeks. The 27-year-old has delivered three consecutive quality starts, holding the Dodgers, Astros, and Cubs in check—no small feat considering the offensive firepower of each opponent.
Last 4 starts:
5IP, 3 ER, 2K’s against Arizona
6IP, 1 ER, 3K’s against the Dodgers
6IP, 1 ER, 5K’s against Houston
6IP, 2 ER, 9!!K’s against the CubsIs it time to have a conversation about #Rockies starter Tanner Gordon? pic.twitter.com/GLvklgssWu
— Spencer Smith (@BDSpenc) September 1, 2025
Across those outings, Gordon has logged 18 innings while compiling a sharp 2.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts. His most recent performance against Chicago stood out the most, as he fanned nine hitters in six innings, giving fantasy managers a glimpse of his strikeout upside when he’s locked in. What’s fueling this success is Gordon’s simplified pitch mix—he’s leaning on his fastball more than 50% of the time, while evenly mixing in his slider and changeup to keep hitters off balance.
That approach has helped him generate swings and misses while limiting hard contact, a critical skill for any Rockies pitcher.
Gordon’s next test comes Saturday at Coors Field against the Padres. While San Diego’s bats have been inconsistent, losing six of their past eight games, the thin air of Denver always adds risk. Petco Park is not this, and streaming a Rockies arm at home is never comfortable. Still, given Gordon’s current form and the Padres’ struggles, managers in deeper leagues or those desperate for pitching help may find him worth the gamble.
There’s no long-term guarantee here, and the floor is certainly lower while pitching at altitude. Still, the fantasy playoffs are about chasing short-term production, and right now, Gordon is on a legitimate heater. If you need innings and upside, he belongs firmly on the radar as a sneaky waiver-wire pickup.
#Rockies RHP Tanner Gordon after pitching 6 strong innings in Rox 6-5, walk-off win over #Cubs pic.twitter.com/HOgNEJcIEt
— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) August 31, 2025
Luis Morales, Athletics
17% Rostered
Athletics right-hander Luis Morales has wasted no time making an impression since his call-up on August 1. The 22-year-old Cuban prospect, ranked No. 4 in the Athletics’ system and No. 100 overall by MLB.com, earned his third win in just his sixth game Monday. Through 28 1/3 innings, Morales owns a sparkling 1.59 ERA with 30 strikeouts, showing both swing-and-miss stuff and the poise of a more seasoned arm.
Luis Morales’ last 4 starts:
3-0
23.2 IP
14 H
4 R
5 BB
26 K22 years old. 🌟📈😤#Athletics pic.twitter.com/UKxa4oh6PG
— SleeperAthletics (@SleeperAth) September 1, 2025
What’s driving his early success is an effective four-pitch mix led by a lively fastball that averages 97 mph. Morales leans on that heater 54% of the time, pairing it with a sweeper (22%), changeup (12%), and slider (11%) to keep hitters off balance. That arsenal has fueled a 25% strikeout rate and a limited hard-hit rate (44.6%), providing him with a safety net even when his command wavers.
Scouts have long touted Morales as one of Oakland’s most promising arms, and he’s living up to expectations early. His velocity gives him a legitimate weapon at the top of the zone, while his sweeper has already flashed as a true out pitch. Though control issues occasionally surface, Morales has shown the ability to pitch his way out of trouble by missing bats when needed.
Looking ahead, Morales is slated to face the Angels in Anaheim this weekend. Los Angeles’ lineup has struggled this season, ranking in the bottom half of the league in runs per game (4.27). That sets up another favorable spot to deploy him, especially with the A’s giving him the innings necessary to qualify for wins.
Kotsay on Luis Morales' impressive start and the Athletics' offensive outburst pic.twitter.com/FmmXUrae1m
— Athletics on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) September 1, 2025
Rookie pitchers always carry volatility, but Morales’ velocity, strikeout upside, and prospect pedigree make him one of the most intriguing waiver-wire adds of the week. He’s the type of late-season arm who can swing playoff matchups for savvy managers.
Martin Perez, Chicago White Sox
5% Rostered
After dealing Adrian Houser to the Rays at the trade deadline, the White Sox needed stability in their rotation. Veteran left-hander Perez has provided exactly that, and then some. Since returning from a left flexor tendon strain, Prez has made four appearances, logging 21 2/3 innings with just three earned runs allowed. That stretch has lowered his season ERA to 2.16, paired with an impressive 0.98 WHIP.
Perez’s recent success stems from both command and a balanced pitch mix. He relies heavily on his cutter (30%, 86 mph) and sinker (30%, 89 mph), while complementing them with a changeup (28%, 82 mph), curveball (8%, 76 mph), and occasional four-seam fastball (3%, 90 mph).
That arsenal has helped him post a 23.6% strikeout rate and hold opposing hitters to just a 38.5% hard-hit rate. For a pitcher once viewed primarily as an innings-eater, Perez is now delivering both volume and efficiency.
7 innings
5 Ks
1 hitIn a season he wasn’t even supposed to be playing in.
Martín Pérez👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/yDGEQWTPVq
— SleeperWhiteSox (@SleeperWhiteSox) August 27, 2025
Next up is a road start against the division-leading Tigers on Friday. While Detroit holds a commanding nine-game edge in the Central, they’ve shown signs of easing off lately, dropping six of their last eight games while averaging just 4.5 runs per contest (down from their season mark of 4.79). That creates an opportunity for Perez to extend his strong run with another quality start.
Wins may still be difficult to come by given Chicago’s overall struggles, but given Perez’s ability to limit hard contact and work deep into games, he is a sneaky streaming option down the stretch. As fantasy playoffs heat up, managers looking for reliable innings with strong ratios should keep Perez firmly on their radar.
He may not flash ace upside, but his consistency could provide the exact boost needed to push teams over the top.
Michael McGreevy, St. Louis Cardinals
5% Rostered
St. Louis right-hander Michael McGreevy has found his stride at the perfect time for the Cardinals. The 25-year-old has been one of the most consistent arms in the rotation lately, flashing elite command and a deep arsenal to keep opponents in check. After carrying a 5.08 ERA into August, McGreevy has trimmed that mark down to 4.17 while improving his record to 6-2 on the year.
What stands out most about McGreevy is his ability to limit free passes. His 3.9% walk rate would rank as the best in Major League Baseball if he had enough innings to qualify, just ahead of Tarik Skubal’s league-leading 4.1% mark.
While he doesn’t rack up many strikeouts (14% K-rate), his ability to attack the zone and generate weak contact has carried him. McGreevy’s 38.1% hard-hit rate, 7.4% barrel rate, and above-average 46.8% ground-ball rate all point toward sustainable success.
The Cardinals have leaned on McGreevy for length as well, with the rookie working at least six innings in seven of his last eight starts, including five quality starts in that span. That type of reliability makes him especially valuable in fantasy leagues during the playoffs, where innings and ratios often separate winning managers.
How Michael McGreevy and Cardinals won 1st zero-strikeout game in 16 years https://t.co/trjdPXsDkF
— St. Louis Post-Dispatch (@stltoday) August 31, 2025
McGreevy’s next test comes Friday at home against the Giants. San Francisco has been hot, winning eight of its last 10 games, but the offense remains middling overall—ranking 22nd in runs per game (4.23) with a collective slash line of .236/.311/.384. This sets up as another spot where McGreevy’s control and efficiency can keep him ahead in counts and give the Cardinals a chance to secure a win.
For fantasy managers seeking steady production down the stretch, McGreevy’s command-driven profile makes him a sneaky streaming option despite the low strikeout totals.
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