The 2023 MLB Trade Deadline has past, and that means new faces in new places. It also means a reshuffle of teams’ closer situations and renewed opportunities for teams that are set to miss out on the MLB Playoffs this season. Now that the madness of the Trade Deadline is complete, here’s a look at five pitchers to consider in fantasy this week.
Related: 2023 MLB Fantasy: Five Hitters to Target on the Waiver Wire (Week 18)
Steven Matz
Cardinals left-hander Steven Matz did not find success in his first year with St. Louis, nor early in 2023. But after Matz returned to the rotation after a stint in the pen last month, the 32-year-old’s been much more effective. Matz’s 2.06 ERA from July 5-August 5 was ninth-best among the 152 pitchers that threw at least 15 innings in that span, and he struck out 35 over 35 frames.
Matz’s next scheduled start is set for August 12 against the Kansas City Royals.
Wade Miley
Brewers left-hander Wade Miley was rather effective in his first start back from the IL. Against the Nationals on August 2, Miley struck out five and yielded just four hits in an abbreviated four-inning outing against the Nationals. That outing lowered Miley’s ERA on the season to 3.01.
Miley’s set to face the Rockies on August 8. The Rockies offense ranks in the bottom half of the league in wOBA (.312), and Colorado’s team OPS of .683 against left-handers is fifth-worst in the Majors (h/t Fangraphs).
Gregory Santos
The White Sox didn’t pay much to get Gregory Santos — only minor leaguer Kade McClure — last December after the Giants DFA’d the hard-throwing righty. Now with Chicago, Santos has flourished. The 23-year-old’s sinker/slider combo has wreaked havoc on opposing hitters, as he’s struck out 52 over 52.1 IP and owns a strong 2.75 ERA.
With Kendall Graveman and Keynan Middleton out of the picture, and Liam Hendriks out for all of 2023 — and likely 2024 — Santos is set to get save opportunities. Santos is on the bereavement list as of this writing. But when he returns, expect the White Sox flamethrower to be Chicago’s primary option for saves.
Chase Silseth
Angels right-hander Chase Silseth has been up and down since his first MLB outing back in May of 2022. The 23-year-old worked mostly in relief this season, but Silseth pitched in the rotation since he was recalled from Salt Lake (AAA) in mid-July — and he’s been effective. Silseth struck out 10 on July 19 against the Yankees, then limited the Braves to one run over five innings on July 31.
In his most recent start, Silseth struck out 12 over seven strong innings against the Mariners on August 6. If he can continue to throw like he has in recent weeks, the 23-year-old has the chance to be a nice late-year find for fantasy owners.
Clarke Schmidt
The Yankees rotation has come unglued in recent weeks, thanks to the struggles of Carlos Rodón and Luis Severino, and Domingo German now on the restricted list. Luckily for the Yankees, New York received quality innings this season from Clarke Schmidt — a name we’ve had on our waiver wire target list in the past. Since May 1, Schmidt is 7-3 with a 3.61 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 71 strikeouts over 84.2 IP.
Schmidt’s set to face Touki Toussaint and the White Sox on August 8.
