With the home stretch quickly approaching and less than two months left in the regular season, identifying impact fantasy contributors becomes even more critical. This latest edition of the Rotoworld Fantasy Baseball Waiver column identifies three pitchers, including a pair of intriguing pitching prospects, who are poised to make an impact for fantasy managers in the coming weeks.
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Hayden Birdsong, SP, Gigantes
Available on 51 percent of Yahoo! leagues
On the heels of a pair of dominant performances against the Rockies, split between Coors Field and Oracle Park, Birdsong draws the starting assignment for Tuesday’s matchup against the rebuilding Nationals in yet another extremely favorable matchup. The 22-year-old rookie right-hander has posted a stellar 2.97 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 38/15 K/BB ratio in 30 1/3 innings (six starts) since getting a shot in the majors in late June. Control remains a work in progress, but so far he has demonstrated an ability to consistently miss bats at the highest level, with a 30% strikeout rate. That powerful swing-and-miss, combined with some favorable potential matchups against the Tigers, Braves, Athletics and White Sox, has Birdsong primed to make a real fantasy impact in the coming weeks. At the very least, he’s worthy of a tentative roster spot in all fantasy formats as a viable streaming option when the Giants make him run the ball.
David Festa, SP, twins
Available on 91 percent of Yahoo! leagues
We covered Festa extensively in this space last week, but his latest performance on Monday night against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, where he racked up nine strikeouts and scattered four baserunners in five shutout innings, earned him another mention as a valuable addition to managers. of fantasy, even in shallow mixed leagues. The fact that Minnesota didn’t go out and bolster its starting pitching mix at the trade deadline speaks volumes about its confidence in the top 24-year-old pitcher’s ability to maintain a rotation role in the final weeks of the year in the midst of a push. in the playoffs. According to Statcast data, he gets a ton of extension, which allows his stuff to work, and he’s put together three straight strong starts since last month’s All-Star break, allowing two earned runs or fewer during that span. , after a couple of difficulties. ways to open your career. He’s not working deep into games right now, but he’s still missing a ton of bats and is worthy of a speculative roster spot in all fantasy formats when he faces the Guardians and Rangers in his next two games.
Tyler Mahle, SP, Rangers
Available on 84% of Yahoo! leagues
Mahle will make his season debut Tuesday night against the Astros after wrapping up his long rehabilitation process from Tommy John surgery last year with a series of minor league rehab starts. The 29-year-old right-hander has always shown the ability to consistently miss bats, which gives him immediate fantasy relevance. Not an easy landing spot early on, but Mahle is a valuable addition for fantasy managers even in shallow mixed leagues based on his career history. We’re not sure how things will look immediately, but he posted an 18/4 K/BB ratio in 18 innings (six starts) on his recent minor league rehab assignment. We’re not predicting upper-echelon ratings or stratospheric strikeout totals, but Mahle projects as an immediate impact contributor for fantasy managers with very few question marks, which is important this time of year.
