We are officially one month into the MLB season, and it’s safe to say starting pitching has been very difficult to navigate so far. The league ERA is currently at 4.30 through this first month of the season as compared to 3.96 in 2022. If you had a stud that blew up this week (Julio Urias, Shohei Ohtani, Dylan Cease), don’t panic. Regression seems to be making the rounds.
In the meantime, it can’t hurt to have some extra arms on your bench. Those who lost Robbie Ray will also want to grab some of the young talent that’s widely available. I’ve listed four pitchers that could be of interest below.
But first, if you need some bats, here are three I really like that should be a priority on the waiver wire:
Hitters
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Joey Gallo, OF/1B (MIN)
If you missed the moon shot vs. the Yankees on Monday, here it is just for fun:
Joey Gallo leaves the yard in no-doubt fashion. pic.twitter.com/2BsDUGwPc5
— MLB (@MLB) April 25, 2023
Yeah, Joey Gallo is back. After a minor stint on the IR, Gallo has six hits and seven RBIs across the eight games since his return. On the season, Gallo is hitting .240 with seven homers and 14 RBIs across only 42 at-bats. If you need a power bat, look no further. The lefty who qualifies at both infield and outfield, is available in 85% of ESPN fantasy leagues.
Connor Joe, OF/1B (PIT)
Joe has been on a hot streak for the Pirates, most recently coming through with a two-run jack vs. the Dodgers in a 6-2 upset victory for the Bucs on Thursday. On the season, Joe is now hitting .304 with three homers and 10 RBIs. What’s most intriguing is his quality of contact. Joe’s contact rate is in the 91st percentile of the league and his strikeout rate is in the 99th percentile. He hits the ball hard and he doesn't strike out. Sounds like a guy I’d like on my team.
Mauricio Dubon, 2B/SS/OF (HOU)
Dubon has taken his job replacing Jose Altuve and run with it. The new leadoff hitter for Houston is on a 20-game hit-streak, solidifying his place as an Astros starter even after Michael Brantley and Altuve return in the coming weeks. What’s even better? Dubon qualifies all over the diamond. You can play him anywhere in the middle infield or outfield. On the season, he is hitting .330 with 18 runs scored. Those 18 runs scored are tied with Aaron Judge, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, and Pete Alonso. It may not last all season, but he’s certainly worth rostering right now.
Pitchers
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Logan Allen, SP (CLE)
A pair of Cleveland pitchers make the list this week, and we are prioritizing Allen because we know he gets a second start this weekend vs. Boston. The lefty had an impressive season debut for the Guardians this week, striking out eight Marlins with the only run allowed a solo homer to Jon Berti. His fastball, though only averaging 92 mph, generated an impressive nine whiffs for a total of 17 in all. The Guardians are one of the best organizations for developing pitchers, and we could be seeing the next wave.
Tanner Bibee, SP (CLE)
Tanner Bibee struck out eight Rockies and allowed only a single run in his major-league debut on Wednesday. Bibee has a 97-mph fastball in his four-pitch arsenal that kept hitters guessing -- and guessing incorrectly. The number five prospect for Cleveland will at least be around to travel with the team for the next series with the Red Sox. Even if he gets sent down because the Guardians aren’t ready to give up yet on Zach Plesac, you have to imagine it won’t be long before he gets another call.
Yennier Cano, RP (BAL)
Cano tied a franchise record for consecutive outs recorded to begin a season on Wednesday. The 29-year-old reliever has struck out nine of the 20 batters he’s faced and has yet to issue a walk or a hit this year. Sure, it’s only been nine innings, and he won’t get you a lot of saves because he’s generally a long reliever, but if you are in a holds league, it doesn’t get much better than this. He’s logged four holds and one save this year, with flawless ratios.
Brandon Pfaadt, SP (ARI)
Surely the Diamondbacks will have to give their top prospect a call sooner than later after releasing Madison Bumgarner and optioning Drey Jameson. Zach Davies is still on the IR and Arizona can go with a four-man rotation for only so long. In the meantime, Pfaadt has continued to hold his own after a strong spring training, allowing only one run across 11⅔ innings while also striking out 13.
