Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitchers Report (Week 24): Waiver Wire Pickups, Streamers, Injury Updates & More
Rich Schultz/Getty Images. Pictured: Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suarez.
The Chicago White Sox have dealt with a myriad of injuries to their offense, but the recent rash of injuries/forced rest with Injured List stints will test the rotation and bullpen in a different way.
The pitching staff carried the offense through lean stretches this season and have been rewarded with a 20.9 pitching WAR, which is tops in baseball. The White Sox are one of three pitching staffs where their ERA is within 0.10 of the FIP and xFIP. The other two are Toronto and Atlanta, so it's no surprise they're fighting for or holding a playoff spot.
Chicago has the AL Central locked down, but for the next stretch of games prior to the playoffs the offense needs to continue to shine and repay the pitchers for their league-leading production.
Waiver Wire/Streamers
Ranger Suarez — Philadelphia Phillies
Yahoo: 64%, ESPN: 28%
The southpaw went from a closer candidate to a trusted starting pitcher for the Phillies. Suarez transitioned from reliever to opener and now starter, logging qualifying starts in four consecutive outings. That includes only five earned runs over 23 2/3 innings and zero home runs.
Tarik Skubal — Detroit Tigers
Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 40%
Skubal was roughed up at home against Oakland last week, but is lined up for two starts: on the road Monday at Pittsburgh and home against Tampa Bay. Pittsburgh has struggled at home against lefties in 2021, and while Tampa Bay has a 101 Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) in road games against southpaws since August 1, its season wRC+ is 81. I like Skubal as an under-the-radar, two-win pitcher this week.
Antonio Senzatela — Colorado Rockies
Yahoo: 13%, ESPN: 14%
Senzatela has logged five quality starts in a row against the Dodgers, Braves, Cubs, Padres and Astros. He also has just one start that went fewer than six innings since July 1. It's OK to have confidence in Senzatela at home against the Giants this week. San Francisco has a solid road offense, but the 26-year old has a respectable 3.89 home ERA and .399 slugging percentage against.
Bailey Ober — Minnesota Twins
Yahoo: 17%, ESPN: 13%
The upside with Ober is hasn't allowed four earned runs in a start since July 20. The downside is he has one win over that span is on a bad team. Despite being the cellar dweller in the A.L. Central, the Twins are 28-32 in divisional games. Ober gets two starts against Cleveland and Kansas City.
Injuries
Clayton Kershaw will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday. He has been out since July 3.
The Dodgers will also be looking to get Tony Gonsolin back soon. He began a rehab assignment September 4.
Jacob deGrom is still approximately 10 days away from throwing a bullpen session.
Austin Gomber was placed on the 10-day IL and will be transferred to the 60-day IL with a stress fracture in his lower back.
Keegan Thompson was placed on the 10-day IL with shoulder inflammation.
Jack Flaherty could return to the Cardinals in a relief role to finish the season.
Lucas Giolito landed on the 10-day IL with a right hamstring strain. He is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday.
Two-Start Pitchers
This is a projected list. Starts are subject to change and not all starters have been named.
Trevor Williams (NYM) — at WSH, vs NYY
Carlos Carrasco (NYM) — at MIA, vs NYY
Patrick Corbin (WSH) — vs NYM, at PIT
Jameson Taillon and Gerrit Cole (NYY) — vs TOR, at NYM
Tarik Skubal (DET) — at PIT, vs TB
Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola (PHI) — at MIL, vs COL
Brandon Woodruff (MIL) — vs PHI, at CLE
Sonny Gray (CIN) — at CHC, at STL
Kyle Freeland (COL) — vs SF, at PHI
Miles Mikolas and J.A. Happ (STL) — vs LAD, vs CIN
Bailey Ober and Jon Gant (MIN) — at CLE, vs KC
A.J. Alexy (TEX) — at LAA, at OAK
Jaime Barria (LAA) — vs TEX, at HOU
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