Injuries and the 10-day DL has made it almost impossible to simply just set it and forget it when it comes to your fantasy baseball pitching staff. Do whatever it takes to get these six pitchers on your roster by way of trade or picking them off the waiver wire.
SP Tyson Ross (San Diego Padres) – From 2013-15, Tyson Ross was one of the better starting pitchers in the league. Unfortunately, surgery to correct his thoracic outlet syndrome was necessary and it’s been a long road back to the bigs. However, it looks as if he’s fully recovered and gotten his confidence back in San Diego where he’s 2-1 and only allowed 7 ER to go along with a 14:4 K/BB ratio over 18 innings. Brimming with upside, Ross could be a savior for your pitching staff when it’s all said and done. If he can continue what he’s doing and remain healthy, I expect to see his name on a number of title winning rosters come the fantasy season’s end.
Vintage @TysonRoss was on full display after hurling 6️⃣ strong frames and knocking in the first run of the game in last night’s victory. 💪 https://t.co/zrq1hZMGlZ
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 14, 2018
SP Luis Castillo (Cincinnati Reds) – Snatched up in rounds 10-13 in season-long leagues, Castillo was pegged by many as a hurler that could find his way into the top-20 and pay off big time. Early on, the young fireballer isn’t returning nearly the value as expected. Castillo has looked average at best failing to register a win in either of his first three starts while pitching to a 7.31 ERA and allowing better than a hit per inning. It’s been such a blah fantasy start that he’s been dropped at an eight percent clip. That’s freaking nonsense! This kids got one of the liveliest arms in the game. All three game temps were less than 60 degrees. If you can find the righty on the wire, snatch him up immediately! If not, try and send someone over like Joey Lucchesi to his owner and see if you can strike a deal.
Breaking news: Luis Castillo has filthy, filthy stuff. #Reds
— Doug Gray (@dougdirt24) April 11, 2018
RP Josh Hader (Milwaukee Brewers) – The Brewers bullpen situation has been downright nauseating ever since Corey Knebel went down with a gruesome hamstring injury. Craig Counsell has shuffled different arms in and out of the closer role since. Nothing has worked and it has everything to do with him wanting to utilize Hader as his team’s version of Archie Bradley or Andrew Miller. Hader has been flat out dominant allowing a pair of hits and 2 ER through his 9.2 innings while racking up an impressive 22:3 K/BB ratio. Jacob Barnes and Matt Albers aren’t cutting it. Until Knebel returns, Milwaukee is best served throwing him out there in the ninth. They can’t afford not to with the NL Central now having three other teams vying for the division pennant.
https://twitter.com/TheFantasySmith/status/985332243815071744
SP Mike Foltynewicz (Atlanta Braves) – Folty has given us glimpses in the past. The kid can flat out bring it evidenced by the 143 Ks registered over 154 innings last season. His issue in 2017 was the inability to bring his “A” game on the road. However, he just put forth a decent road start at Washington even though the Nats saw him in his prior start at Sun Trust. To limit Washington’s offense to just 9 hits and 3 ER over 10.1 innings shows there might be some growth going on. He’s allowed two or less ER in each 2018 start and gets both outings at home this week. Take a fantasy flier on him now if you need to fill up the end of your bench and see if it grows into something bigger.
Even though it was a ball, this 98mph heater from Mike Foltynewicz blew my mind pic.twitter.com/41kvK1LF0e
— Nick Pollack (@PitcherList) April 11, 2018
SP Trevor Williams (Pittsburgh Pirates) – How much more does this kid have to do before you actually become a believer in his 2018 breakout? Pittsburgh has gotten out to an incredibly unforeseen start to the season, and one of the main reasons why is because of the right-hander. He’s won all three of his made starts, and done so by only allowing 14 hits through 17.1 innings. The Buccos are hot right now and he’s been a main benefactor. Take a shot and hope he wins a few more games. If he does, you just might be able to pawn him off in a deal to another owner on an upper tier pitcher that’s gotten out to a terrible start. Cough, Robbie Ray. Cough, Chris Archer.
Trevor Williams work reel. 💪 https://t.co/XHENGSQxhP
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 13, 2018
SP Joey Lucchesi (San Diego Padres) – It’s weird recommending two Padres this week, but alas, that’s where we found ourselves. How could the 24-year old not be on your radar after the start he’s gotten out to over the last couple weeks? Since getting roughed up by Milwaukee in his 2018 fantasy baseball debut, he’s thrown 17 innings of 10 hit and 1 ER ball at the Rockies (twice) and Giants. He’s allowed just 1 HR and fanned 25 while walking only four. Those are stats to fall in love with! He gets the benefit of tossing in the pitcher’s paradise otherwise known as Petco, and the Friars have been marching a competent bullpen to the bump. He’s only on 28 percent of rosters as of now, so it’s possible he’s out there hanging on the wire. If he is, put in a claim or high bid and get him in your mix.
#Padres No. 9 prospect Joey Lucchesi was on 🔥 in his fourth @MLB start:
6 IP
5 H
1 ER
0 BB
9 KHere's how all #Padres prospects are performing: https://t.co/Z90LsXuMnk pic.twitter.com/X5gGNrwhh2
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 15, 2018
Add To Watch List: Andrew Cashner, Keynan Middleton, Tyler Skaggs, Zack Wheeler, Yonny Chirinos, Matthew Boyd, Nick Tropeano
