That’s right fantasy owners, we’re halfway done with the 2024 fantasy baseball season. And with a new week approaching, now’s a good time to start looking for potential reinforcements. Here’s a look at our list of pitchers to target on the waiver wire as Week 14 of the 2024 fantasy baseball season approaches.
David Festa
The Twins promoted highly-touted prospect David Festa this past week and his first start was…interesting. Festa, a top-five pitcher in the PCL in strikeouts before his promotion, had just a 14% Whiff% rate in his MLB debut against the Diamondbacks and struck out just two. And, he gave up five runs over five innings. Still, the Seton Hall product got his first MLB win
There were some mistakes, including a middle-middle changeup in the fourth that resulted in a Ketel Marte home run. However, the young righty has very good stuff, including a booming four-seamer with carry that we pointed out this past week before his debut. Festa’s a name who can have value in both AL-only and mixed leagues,
Lance Lynn
At the halfway point of the season and with many pitchers injured, those in competitive leagues may need to look towards unlikely pitchers to get through the coming weeks. Lance Lynn is one such name. The 37-year-old hasn’t pitched badly this season, despite declining whiff (24.3% in 2024, 28.7% in 2023) and chase numbers. Lynn’s given up less hard contact compared to 2023 — a +6% jump, to be exact — and his fastball’s been getting results, as has his seldom-used slurve. Both pitches have sub-.220 averages.
Lynn is projected to start against the Nationals next weekend, after the Cardinals righty faces the Reds on June 30. He’s struck out at least five batters in his last four outings.
Andre Pallante
Lynn isn’t the only Cardinal to be on our Week 14 list of fantasy baseball pitchers to target. Andre Pallante, a former fourth-round pick, is gaining momentum at the MLB level. Largely a reliever in 2022 and 2023, Pallante’s received a long look in the rotation in recent weeks and has pitched well. The 25-year-old, in four of his six starts, has given up one or fewer runs. In his most recent start, Pallante threw 5.1 scoreless frames against the Reds on June 28 and netted his fourth win of the season.
Pallante is not a strikeout pitcher; the UC Irvine product is a high ground-ball pitcher (97th percentile in the Majors) and doesn’t get many whiffs. What Pallante does have is two breaking balls with above-average vertical movement per Statcast, as well as two fastballs (four-seamer and sinker) that have been mystifying hitters. Pallante’s four-seamer gets ground balls, while his sinker is inducing a lot of pop-ups.
David Peterson
For those looking for someone who’s pitching twice this week, David Peterson is an option. Peterson has come back strong since returning from a torn labrum in his left hip and his last two starts have arguably been his best. The 28-year-old struck out six on June 17 against the Rangers and eight on the 25th against the Yankees.
Peterson’s projected to get two starts this coming week, on July 1 against the Nationals and next weekend against the Pirates.
Cade Povich
We’ll end our Week 14 pitcher waiver wire target list with Cade Povich. To this point, the Orioles starter has made the most of his opportunities. After Povich got rocked in his MLB debut against the Blue Jays, Povich’s thrown at least five innings in three of his last four. He pitched well (3, 2 ER over 5 IP) against the Rangers on the 29th.
He’s got plenty of weapons to work with, including a sharp cutter that works well against right-handed pitchers. And on a strong Baltimore team, he should have opportunities to pick up wins.