There are just three weeks left in both the MLB and fantasy baseball seasons. With little time to make a move in fantasy, it’s a smart idea to target pitchers that have favorable matchups, or rising names that have made a mark in recent weeks. Here’s a look at five pitchers to consider as we enter the middle of September in the 2023 fantasy baseball season.
Related: 2023 Fantasy Baseball: Five Hitters to Target on the Waiver Wire (Week 23)
Michael King
Last week, we indicated to fantasy players that Yankees SP Michael King should be scooped up. Now, this might be the last chance to do so. In his most recent start against the Brewers on September 9, King struck out nine over five innings and gave up just one earned run.
As a starter, King is 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA and a 24:3 K:BB ratio through 18.2 IP. The 28-year-old is likely to get the ball this week against the Boston Red Sox.
Kenta Maeda
Twins starter Kenta Maeda got into a nice groove from mid-July through the middle of August, but that turned fast. Maeda proceeded to have four rough outings in a row, but he got back on the right track this past weekend against the Mets. While he only struck out two batters, the veteran righty gave up just two runs over 5.1 IP to notch his fourth win of the 2023 season.
Maeda is tentatively set to face the White Sox this weekend.
John Means
After a lengthy rehab from Tommy John surgery, Orioles LHP John Means is set to return to the Baltimore rotation this week for a team that looks very different from when he last threw a Major League pitch. Means will get the ball this week for the O’s, just a few days after he threw five innings for Norfolk (AAA) on September 6.
It’ll be interesting to see how many pitches Means — who threw 67 in his final rehab start, but 86 in the outing before — will get against Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals on September 12. The Orioles are currently working with a six-man rotation, in order to limit the innings of the team’s young starters. Whether Means sticks in the rotation or moves to a relief role remains to be seen.
Ryan Pepiot
A couple of weeks ago, we told fantasy players to keep an eye on Ryan Pepiot. Pepiot’s been up and down in recent weeks, but he’s back with Los Angeles after Julio Urias went on administrative leave. In Pepiot’s last start against the Marlins, the former Butler star had a perfect game through 6.2 innings before Josh Bell broke it up.
His strikeout is down as compared to 2022, but Pepiot’s actually missed more bats. And, the 0.86 ERA through 21 innings should make fantasy owners salivate. The righty’s scheduled to face the Padres on September 13.
Bryan Woo
Mariners SP Bryan Woo did not put up strong numbers in last start. On September 4 against the Reds, Woo gave up five earned runs over five and didn’t even record a strikeout. That outing marked the second time in five starts that the young right-hander, who’s struck out 68 over 70 innings this season, didn’t record a punch out.
The good news is that a friendlier matchup at home awaits Woo this week. He’s scheduled to face Patrick Sandoval and the Angels on September 12.
