2023 MLB Fantasy: Five Pitchers to Target on the Waiver Wire (Week 14)

It’s the final week of the 2023 MLB regular season before the All-Star Game. A new week brings new opportunity and new names to watch in fantasy baseball. Here’s a look at five pitchers to keep an eye on, starting with a unheralded name in Cleveland.

Aaron Civale

Guardians RHP Aaron Civale has been a pitcher I’ve liked for years, dating back to 2020. Much of the reason why is because while he doesn’t possess overpowering stuff, he can give hitters a bunch of different looks and can induce weak contact. The 28-year-old didn’t have a great 2022, but he’s doing just fine this season.

Civale threw six strong innings against the Cubs on July 2 to lower his ERA to 2.96 after eight starts. The Northeastern hasn’t missed as many bats as compared to last season, but he can log quality innings and he’s done just that in 2023.

Michael Lorenzen

Last week, our pick for a “vulture” win was Mariners SP Bryan Woo. Woo pitched very well on June 27, but the Seattle pen could not hold on against the Nationals. This week, our attention turns to a 2023 All-Star in Tigers hurler Michael Lorenzen.

Lorenzen is set to start on July 6 against the Oakland Athletics. The A’s can be a pesky team, but it’s still a nice matchup for those in need of a cheap win this week.

Hunter Harvey

Nationals reliever Kyle Finnegan put up shaky results in late May and early June, and that opened up the ninth inning for Hunter Harvey. The 28-year-old netted five saves since June 21, including two during the Nats’ recent three-game set against the Phillies. On the season, Harvey is 3-3 with a 3.16 ERA, eight saves, and a 41:12 K:BB ratio over 37 innings.

Formerly a top prospect in the Orioles system, the son of former All-Star Bryan Harvey has followed in his father’s footsteps and turned into a powerhouse of a reliever. The younger Harvey possesses a blistering upper-90s fastball, a splitter with a 39.0% Whiff% rate, a slider, and a curveball. All four pitches can get outs.

Emmet Sheehan

Dodgers right-hander Emmet Sheehan has been an incredible story in recent weeks. After a rash of injuries to Los Angeles’ rotation, the Dodgers summoned the 23-year-old to the Majors and he has been solid. Through his first three starts, Sheehan is 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA, a 0.82 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts over 17 innings. None of those outings were easy, as the Boston College product faced the Giants and Astros at home, and the Rockies in Coors Field.

Hitters have had a tough time squaring up his fastball, as indicated by a .121 opponent’s batting average. Between a good heater with life, as well as two good secondary offerings in a changeup and slider, the New York boy can be a valuable weapon in fantasy moving forward.

Tarik Skubal

It’s been nearly a year since Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal started in the Majors, but he’s set to come back this week. The 26-year-old is finished with his rehab from flexor tendon surgery and will get the nod on July 4 against the Oakland Athletics.

Skubal posted the best season of his three-year career in 2022, when he recorded a 3.52 ERA and struck out 117 over 117.2 IP. A good lefty that possesses great command and good stuff, Skubal’s a name that virtually anyone with an open slot should consider.