Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Report (Week 17): Waiver Wire Pickups, Streamers, Injury Updates & More
Adam Hunger/Getty Images. Pictured: Jacob deGrom.
Jacob deGromexperienced forearm tightness during a side session Friday and will miss his July 19 start and possibly more. This is big on multiple levels. First, deGrom is the heavy National League Cy Young favorite and is a realistic NL MVP candidate. Check your books to see if there are lines up for both, but numbers may have fluctuated to the point there are not any good values.
The other way deGrom’s injury affects baseball is fantasy. He has been an anchor in the Mets rotation, and his injury weakens it. The Mets are in a bad division but need deGrom to matter, beyond winning the division. This injury is one of many issues MLB has faced as the second half of the season gets going. Hopefully the injury is another in a string of short-term issues with no long-term ramifications.
Waiver Wire Adds/Streams
Chris Flexen – Seattle Mariners
Yahoo: 50%, ESPN: 56%
The veteran has been among the bigger surprises for the Mariners and has been excellent pitching at home. He has a 1.76 ERA in 61 1/3 innings pitched in Seattle compared to 5.76 on the road. Flexen also has a .305 slugging percentage against and an 18.6% strikeout rate at home. Not bad for a junk baller. His lone start this week is at home against the Oakland Athletics.
Cole Irvin – Oakland Athletics
Yahoo: 42%, ESPN: 44%
Irvin gets the Mariners in his start this week. Seattle has the worst wRC+ and strikeout rate at home against right-handed pitching.
Austin Gomber – Colorado Rockies
Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 35%
Prior to landing on the IL with forearm tightness, Gomber had won four of his last six starts and had not allowed more than two runs in a start since May 7. He began a rehab assignment July 16 and is a sneaky pickup.
Jon Gray – Colorado Rockies
Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 36%
The longtime Rocky is on the trading block and could be a second-half boon for fantasy teams in wins leagues. His strikeouts are down and his walks are up, but his hits allowed have been impressive. His 1.22 WHIP is down in large part because of Gray’s 70 hits in 86 innings pitched. That is great for a pitcher who could be a fourth starter on a playoff contender.
Kwang Hyun Kim – St. Louis Cardinals
Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 33%
The Cardinals are not going anywhere in 2021, but what Kim has done for the majority of the season has helped St. Louis from bottoming out. Kim had lost five of six starts between May and June but is currently on a four-game winning streak. He will have a difficult start in Cincinnati this week but has a 2.97 road ERA. Kim has allowed three of 37 hits in road games to leave the yard.
Injuries
Corey Klubercould throw a bullpen session on or around July 23. He has been out since May 26 with a rotator cuff strain.
Stephen Strasburghad another setback as he tries to return from nerve irritation. He threw on flat ground July 16 and 17.
Ryan Weathers was placed on the 10-day IL with a right ankle fracture. It is allegedly a small part of the ankle that was fractured and Weathers could return before the end of July.
Pablo Lopez was placed on the 10-day IL with a right rotator cuff strain.
Antonio Senzatela was placed on the COVID-19 injured list July 16. It does not indicate that Senzatela has the virus but he did have viral symptoms.
Ian Anderson was placed on the 10-day IL with right shoulder inflammation. Touki Toussaint was activated from the 60-day IL and appears set to take Anderson’s spot in the rotation.
Two-Start Pitchers
This is a projected list. Starts are subject to change and not all starters have been named.
Lance Lynn (CHW) – vs MIN, at MIL
Griffin Jax and Jose Berrios (MIN) – at CHW, vs LAA
Tyler Rogers (MIA) – at WSH, vs SD
Nick Pivetta and Garrett Richards(BOS) – at TOR, vs NYY
Ross Stripling and Alex Manoah(TOR) – vs BOS, at NYM
Vladimir Gutierrez(CIN) – vs NYM, vs STL
Spenser Watkins(BAL) – at TB, vs WSH
Kyle Gibson and Dane Dunning(TEX) – at DET, at HOU
Juan Carlos Mejia(CLE) – at HOU, vs TB
Marco Gonzales(SEA) – at COL, vs OAK
Luis Garcia(HOU) – vs CLE, vs TEX
Shohei Ohtani(LAA) – at OAK, at MIN
It is realistic Ohtani only makes the first start this week.
Chase De Jong (PIT) – at ARI, at SF
Aaron Nola (PHI) – at NYY, vs ATL
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