Finding quality pitching on the fantasy baseball waiver wire gets more difficult as the season progresses.
By this point in the year, fantasy managers aren’t looking for perfect pitchers. They’re searching for arms showing signs of improvement, pitchers settling into larger roles, or upside plays worth stashing before the rest of the league notices.
In a recent FantasyPros discussion, Joey P and The Welsh highlighted four pitchers who fit those descriptions. Whether you’re chasing saves, streaming starters, or looking for a high-upside stash, these names deserve consideration.
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4 Fantasy Baseball Pitchers to Add Before the Waiver Wire Gets Competitive
Garrett Whitlock (RP – BOS)
Garrett Whitlock has quietly become one of the more interesting relief options available in fantasy leagues.
Joey P pointed out that Boston has begun leaning on Whitlock more heavily in high-leverage situations, and the results have followed. Over his recent stretch, Whitlock has piled up strikeouts while posting excellent ratios, giving fantasy managers value even before factoring in potential saves.
The biggest appeal is flexibility.
Even if he doesn’t permanently lock down the closer role, Whitlock has shown the ability to contribute with strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP while pitching meaningful innings late in games.
For managers looking to strengthen their bullpen without paying premium prices, Whitlock offers both stability and upside.
Zebby Matthews (SP – MIN)
Few pitchers discussed generated more enthusiasm than Zebby Matthews.
The Welsh acknowledged that Matthews’ season has featured its share of inconsistency, but he believes the underlying trends are becoming increasingly encouraging.
The biggest development has been the strikeout surge.
Matthews has begun missing bats at a much higher rate while continuing to attack the strike zone aggressively. According to the discussion, improvements in both command and pitch execution have helped him work deeper into games during recent outings.
Rather than focusing on the uneven season-long numbers, The Welsh emphasized Matthews’ recent progress and growing confidence on the mound.
For fantasy managers willing to bet on continued development, Matthews represents one of the more intriguing upside additions currently available.
Dean Kremer (SP – BAL)
Dean Kremer isn’t the flashiest waiver wire target.
That’s part of the appeal.
Joey P described Kremer as a dependable streaming option who continues to provide useful innings without attracting much attention in fantasy leagues.
His value comes from consistency.
Recent starts have featured improved command, limited walks, and enough strikeout production to remain fantasy relevant. While Kremer may not carry ace-level upside, he has shown an ability to keep his team in games while avoiding the disastrous outings that often hurt fantasy rotations.
Managers searching for reliable depth rather than lottery-ticket upside could do far worse than adding Kremer.
Kumar Rocker (SP – TEX)
Among the four pitchers discussed, Kumar Rocker offers the highest ceiling.
He also carries the most uncertainty.
The Welsh emphasized that Rocker’s long-term upside remains undeniable, but fantasy managers should understand that development isn’t always linear.
Recent outings have shown flashes of the overpowering arsenal that made him one of baseball’s most intriguing young arms. His ability to generate strikeouts remains the foundation of his fantasy appeal.
The discussion also acknowledged that command and efficiency continue to fluctuate, which is typical for a young pitcher still refining his craft at the major league level.
Rather than expecting immediate ace production, The Welsh encouraged fantasy managers to view Rocker as a high-upside stash capable of becoming much more valuable as the season progresses.
In leagues where strikeout upside is worth chasing, few waiver options offer a ceiling as high as Rocker.
Target Skills, Not Just Results
One theme connected all four recommendations.
The analysts focused on skills that could translate into future fantasy value rather than simply chasing recent box scores.
Whitlock is earning more meaningful bullpen opportunities.
Matthews is missing more bats.
Kremer continues providing stable innings.
Rocker possesses elite strikeout potential if his command continues improving.
Those are the types of trends fantasy managers should be looking for before the rest of the league catches on.
Fantasy Baseball Takeaways
- Garrett Whitlock (RP – BOS) is providing strong ratios and strikeout production while earning more high-leverage opportunities.
- Zebby Matthews (SP – MIN) has shown encouraging improvement in both strikeout rate and overall command.
- Dean Kremer (SP – BAL) offers dependable streaming value thanks to improved consistency and solid recent outings.
- Kumar Rocker (SP – TEX) carries the highest long-term upside thanks to his swing-and-miss arsenal, even if short-term inconsistency remains.
- Whitlock is a strong addition for managers seeking bullpen help beyond saves.
- Matthews profiles as one of the more appealing upside starters on the waiver wire.
- Kremer offers stability for fantasy managers needing reliable rotation depth.
- Rocker is the ideal speculative add for managers chasing strikeout upside.
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