Injuries have hit left and right over the weeks, depleting both MLB teams and options for fantasy baseball players. So, which pitchers could be options for those who need an arm or two? Here’s a look at our picks for fantasy baseball pitchers to target on the waiver wire for Week 12 in 2024.
Miles Mikolas
Our Week 12 fantasy baseball waiver wire target list for 2024 doesn’t key in on high-strikeout pitchers. Rather, we’re taking a look at hurlers who’ve got it done differently. Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas isn’t a strikeout pitcher but he’s been effective in that category this month. Mikolas struck out five over 6.1 strong innings on June 16 to get his fifth win of the season. Through three June starts, Mikolas owns a 1.40 ERA and 0.57 WHIP.
Mikolas has played a key role for the Cardinals, who exited Chicago in the second NL Wild Card spot. No, don’t expect Mikolas to be a dominant fantasy pitcher like he was in 2018. But, there’s value there with his emphasis on movement and changing speeds.
Mitchell Parker
It hasn’t been pretty at times but Nationals starter Mitchell Parker has been an interesting fantasy prospect. Parker earned his fifth win of 2024 on June 16 against the Marlins, as he allowed just one run over six innings and lowered his ERA to 3.06. The 24-year-old doesn’t strike out many batters (50 over 67.2 IP). Yet, Parker does induce chases at an above-average rate and has been effective at changing speeds with his fastball and splitter (40.5% Whiff%).
Parker is projected to face the Nationals this upcoming weekend.
James Paxton
The Dodgers will need to lean more on their existing depth with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the IL with triceps tightness. James Paxton rebounded nicely after a tough outing in Pittsburgh two weeks ago, as he conceded just one run against the Rangers on June 11 and notched his sixth win of 2024. No, the strikeouts (35 over 59.2 IP) have not been there. However, the veteran lefty’s been a good source of wins and owns a decent ERA of 3.92.
Paxton’s next start will be on June 17 against the Rockies in Coors Field.
Colin Rea
Entering play on June 16, Colin Rea sat in the top 10 of the Majors (min. 15 IP) in ERA (1.64) from May 25 through June 15. So what did Rea do to follow up that stretch on the 16th? Rea gave up two earned runs over six innings and struck out six en route to his sixth win of 2024. The veteran starter lowered his ERA to 3.29.
Rea’s sweeper has been virtually unhittable this season, as he’s kept out of the zone, and as a result, opposing hitters are hitting just .073 off it. But in addition to his sweeper, Rea’s done an excellent job of changing eye angles with his four-seamer, sinker, and cutter. The 33-year-old has used each of those pitches at least 15% of the time in 2024.
Ryne Stanek
Suddenly, Ryne Stanek has emerged as a reliever to watch. From May 25 through June 15, Stanek notched five saves for the Mariners, tied for sixth in the Majors. The Mariners righty was tied with Trevor Megill, Carlos Estevez, Pete Fairbanks, Clay Holmes, Jhoan Duran, and Craig Kimbrel, all must-own relievers. He’s also struck out 13 over 11 frames in that span.
Andres Munoz sustained a back injury in early June but has been in high-leverage situations since returning on June 9. However, Munoz has yet to record a save since May 31.