With the seventh week of the 2024 fantasy baseball season approaching, we’re still in the early stretches. This past week saw the debut of star prospect Paul Skenes, who struck out seven in his first MLB start and looked like an ace in the making. For those who missed out on Skenes — provided he was available — here are five pitchers to consider targeting on the waiver wire for Week 7 of the 2024 fantasy baseball season.
Taj Bradley
We’ll start our Week 7 pitchers list with Taj Bradley, who made his season debut on May 10 after spending the first month on the IL with a pectoral strain. Bradley shut down the Yankees on the 10th, as he struck out seven and gave up just one run over six innings.
Bradley piled up strikeouts during his rookie season last year when he struck out 129 over 104.2 IP. Unfortunately, too many mistakes in the zone led to poor batted ball metrics. Still, Bradley possesses a strong arsenal, highlighted by a hard fastball that touched 99 MPH in his last start and an above-average splitter. The 23-year-old is a solid option in mixed leagues.
Trevor Megill
With Devin Williams on the IL, Abner Uribe, Joel Payamps, and Trevor Megill have all gotten save opportunities for Milwaukee this season. Uribe was demoted to Triple-A after walking 12 over 14.1 IP, while Payamps hasn’t been as sharp this season. Megill, however, has emerged as the arm to own.
The 30-year-old, who’s become a two-pitch pitcher with a devastating knuckle-curve and a high-90s fastball, owns a sparkling 0.93 ERA on the season and notched three May saves for Milwaukee as of May 11. As of right now, Megill’s the arm to own out of the Brewers bullpen.
Frankie Montas
Speaking of players on the IL, Frankie Montas spent two weeks on the injured list with a forearm contusion. The Reds righty returned on May 7 and performed well, as Montas struck out seven against the D-Backs and gave up just one earned run.
Montas had a rocky middle of April when he gave up eight combined earned runs in starts against the Brewers and Mariners. He still sports a high 1.30 WHIP but his ability to generate weak contact and whiffs with his splitter, a premier pitch, makes Montas a tantalizing option.
James Paxton
Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow have been stars in the Dodgers rotation but James Paxton‘s quietly putting together a solid 2024 of his own. Paxton walked into Petco Park this past weekend with a 4-0 record and 3.06 ERA and lowered the latter to 2.58 after six shutout innings on May 11 against the Padres. It marked the fifth time in seven starts that Paxton went five or more innings and allowed two or fewer runs.
Yes, the strikeout numbers are low. Over 38. 1 IP, Paxton only has 22 strikeouts, as he’s leaned more on his four-seamer and is using his secondary stuff carefully. Nonetheless, the results are strong and given that Paxton’s on a good Dodgers team, he should be a good option provided he stays healthy.
Randy Vasquez
We’ll finish our Week 7 pitchers list with Padres starter Randy Vasquez. Vasquez only has three starts on the year in the Majors, as the 25-year-old started 2024 in Triple-A. The San Diego right did, however, have arguably his best 2024 MLB start on May 7, when he struck out six over 4.1 IP against the Cubs.
Vasquez, acquired in the Juan Soto trade, will get the Rockies on May 13, a good spot starter option.