Welcome, RotoBallers, to our pitcher waiver wire pickups for points leagues heading into Week 11 (June 3 to June 9). It’s been a wild season so far for starting pitchers in fantasy, as several waiver wire options have become reliable fantasy pieces.
Just look at what Luis Gil is doing for fantasy managers who picked him up earlier in May. He has been the best fantasy pitcher over the last 30 days and has serious potential to be this year’s league winner.
While most pitchers on this list might not be long-term options, there are some pitchers listed below who can be. So, without further do, here are the best starting pitchers to pick up heading into Week 11. All pitchers on this list are rostered in 50% or less of Yahoo leagues.
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Points League Waiver Wire - Best Choices
Taj Bradley, Tampa Bay Rays
Yahoo: 49% ESPN: 20%
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley continues to be one of the most under rostered players in Yahoo leagues. Bradley is only rostered in 49% of Yahoo leagues, yet in his first four starts, he has been impressive. The right-hander has a 3.13 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP so far this season.
In all four of those outings, Bradley has also scored above 20 fantasy points in standard Yahoo leagues. So, the 23-year-old has real fantasy appeal moving forward. He has struck out at least six batters in every start too while giving up two runs or less in three of them.
Taj Bradley's 6th, 7th and 8th Ks.
Thru 3. 😲 pic.twitter.com/NDDMYReZEv
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 20, 2024
Bradley will surely face a couple of challenges in his next few starts, especially against a tough Orioles offense in Week 11. But this is a pitcher who has looked great on the mound this year and delivered six strong innings against the New York Yankees earlier in May. His long-term value makes him a nice add going into next week.
Ryan Weathers, Miami Marlins
Yahoo: 29% ESPN: 15%
The potential has always been there for Miami Marlins pitcher Ryan Weathers. He was a former top-10 pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, and now fantasy managers are finally seeing some consistent production from the left-hander.
He has given up just one earned run with 19 strikeouts over his last three starts. In those three outings, Weathers threw a combined 21 innings pitched and scored at least 29 fantasy points in Yahoo leagues in each game. With the recent success, he is a pitcher who fantasy managers should be looking to add immediately.
He not only has pitched extremely well recently, but he also has some favorable matchups approaching -- after his Week 10 start against the Texas Rangers. He’ll face the Cleveland Guardians in Week 11, the Washington Nationals in Week 12, and the St. Louis Cardinals in Week 13. Pick him up now and see if his strong stretch continues.
Ben Brown, Chicago Cubs
Yahoo: 36% ESPN: 13%
Chicago Cubs rookie pitcher Ben Brown has bounced around from the starting rotation to the bullpen in 2024. However, we could certainly see the right-hander stay in rotation following a career night against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday.
Brown gave up zero hits with 10 strikeouts across seven dominant innings in his latest outing. If it wasn’t for his pitch count -- which sat at a career-high 93 pitches -- there was a good chance that the rookie was going to make history in just his sixth career start. He also threw four scoreless innings against the Atlanta Braves one start before on May 23.
Ben Brown is making his 6th Major League start.
He has 10 strikeouts and a no-hitter through 7 innings! pic.twitter.com/ob39IMvAWp
— MLB (@MLB) May 29, 2024
With Brown, there are going to be plenty of ups and downs throughout the season. But if he can stay in the Cubs’ rotation, there is a good chance he can provide solid fantasy value for the rest of the year. Take a chance on the rookie in fantasy.
Points League Waiver Wire - Next Choices
Ben Lively, Cleveland Guardians
Yahoo: 37% ESPN: 13%
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Ben Lively has come out of nowhere to provide solid fantasy value in the early going. Lively currently has a 2.80 ERA while allowing three runs or less in every start this year. That alone should make the right-hander a popular waiver wire pickup heading into Week 11.
Now, will Lively keep this up? It’s hard to tell. His metrics don’t totally back up his numbers, as his expected exit velocity (91 mph), chase rate (2%), and hard-hit rate (41.9%) all don’t rank particularly well. However, it’s hard to ignore what the Guardians pitcher has done so far this year. That’s why he is worth a shot in fantasy right now, especially with a start against the Miami Marlins upcoming.
Michael Wacha, Kansas City Royals
Yahoo: 45% ESPN: 14%
If you’re looking for a pitcher who can just eat innings and pitch deep into games, Kansas City Royals pitcher Michael Wacha could be a nice pickup. He has thrown at least six innings in four of his past five starts and was certainly headed for a fifth straight time on Friday -- if not for a wild sixth inning against the San Diego Padres.
Still, he has given up two runs or less in five straight outings, which has boosted his fantasy value. While Wacha won’t finish with high strikeout numbers, he will make up for it by pitching into the sixth and seventh innings. So, in that regard, the veteran is a solid pickup for most fantasy managers. He is lined up to face the Cleveland Guardians next week.
Points League Waiver Wire - Two-Start Choices
Tyler Anderson, Los Angeles Angels
Yahoo: 46% ESPN: 27%
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Anderson might be the best two-start pitcher rostered in under 50% of Yahoo leagues in Week 11. Despite struggling against the Yankees his last time out, Anderson has pitched well for most of May. He threw seven innings of one-run ball against the Texas Rangers on May 17 and then delivered eight innings of one-run ball against the Houston Astros on May 22.
Like Wacha, the strikeout numbers won’t necessarily be there. The left-hander has struck out only 16 batters over his last four starts. But he’ll make up for it by going deep into games and not allowing many runs. Anderson has a 2.47 ERA across 69 1/3 innings pitched this season.
Hey contending teams looking for starting pitching: take a look at Tyler Anderson’s bWAR. 👀
Second among all starting pitchers in MLB. https://t.co/lJ78pcOIes
— AngelsWin.com (@AngelsWin) May 30, 2024
With Anderson expected to have two starts next week, he should be a pickup in most formats. The southpaw is lined up to face the San Diego Padres on Monday and the Houston Astros on Sunday, two matchups that aren’t terrible for the 34-year-old veteran in fantasy.
Matt Waldron, San Diego Padres
Yahoo: 13% ESPN: 5%
One month ago, San Diego Padres pitcher Matt Waldron had no business being on a list like this. Nonetheless, a lot can change in baseball, especially considering Waldron’s success on the mound over the last few weeks.
The right-hander has a 1.96 ERA over his last four starts and pitched fantastic against two powerhouse offenses in the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers during that stretch. In all four outings, the 27-year-old has given up two runs or less while striking out at least six batters. Now, with a two-start week approaching in Week 11, he should be a popular waiver wire add.
Waldron is lined up to face the Angels on Monday and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, two matchups that could result in a lot of swings and misses on his knuckleball. That's why you should add him now before your league mates do.
Points League Waiver Wire - Deeper Choices
Tylor Megill, New York Mets
Yahoo: 9% ESPN: 3%
The last pitcher I want to talk about here is New York Mets starter Tylor Megill. Megill started off the 2022 campaign with some strong performances and entered May of that season with a 1.93 ERA. However, the right-hander was unable to sustain that success, as he dealt with different injuries.
That strong start has taken place again for Megill after he delivered seven shutout innings with nine strikeouts against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday. That dominant performance was only his third start of the year, so there is a small sample size here. But things could be different for the 28-year-old in 2024. We could be seeing a true breakout from the young pitcher. That’s why he is at least worth a waiver wire add in deeper formats.
1) Tylor Megill has been a bright spot for the floundering Mets in his short stint this season, posting a 1.69 ERA and 1.93 FIP in 16.0 IP
He added velocity and has introduced a nasty splitter, aptly named the “American Spork”, inspired by Kodai Senga’s Forkball pic.twitter.com/VOY1jJijtU
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) May 31, 2024
His expected batting average against (.196), expected ERA (3.09), strikeout rate (31.3%), and hard-hit rate (36.1%) also all rank particularly well so far this year. Again, it has only been three games, so there isn’t much to go off of it. However, in those three starts, he has looked like a potential long-term fantasy option.
Points League Waiver Wire - More Options
- Zack Littell- 39% rostered
- Cole Irvin- 39% rostered
- Hunter Brown- 34% rostered
- Robert Gasser- 30% rostered
- Kyle Gibson- 24% rostered
- Bailey Falter- 12% rostered
- Spencer Arrighetti- 5% rostered
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