Those proactive on the waiver wire and grabbing Paul Skenes & Luis Gil benefitted greatly this past week. Timely waiver wire pickups can make a massive difference in fantasy, so which players could be capable of doing the same in the future? Here are our best waiver wire pitching targets for Week 8 of the 2024 fantasy baseball season.
Jalen Beeks
We start our Week 8 fantasy baseball waiver wire target list with a reliever in Jalen Beeks. Beeks, available in about 86% of Yahoo! leagues, notched saves on back-to-back days last week but he’s yet to net one since May 13. Still, Beeks has four saves in May and appears to be ahead of Justin Lawrence for the closer’s role in Colorado.
The Rockies aren’t going to be winners on most nights in 2024 but saves can still be had. Beeks doesn’t have plus stuff, although he can overwhelm hitters with his changeup and mid-90s fastball that plays up thanks to good extension.
Robert Gasser
Brewers lefty Robert Gasser has fit in nicely thus far in Milwaukee. Gasser netted victories in his first two starts and posted a strong 0.82 ERA. Yes, Gasser only has six strikeouts over 11 innings. However, the lefty has induced chases at an above-average clip (31.9%) thus far and he’s getting plenty of weak contact.
As we noted when Gasser was initially called up, the lefty’s got an impressive arsenal, including an above-average sweeper, two-seamer, and a four-seamer that looks like it’s rising thanks to his delivery.
Dean Kremer
Yes, Dean Kremer yielded mixed results on May 12 against the Diamondbacks. Kremer gave up four walks and three earned runs against Arizona. Yet, Kremer struck out 10 Diamondbacks, the second time the 28-year-old’s done that this season. As a whole, Kremer owns a respectable 3.72 ERA with 47 strikeouts over 46 frames.
Kremer gets plenty of whiffs off his rising fastball and can work hitters with an eclectic arsenal that includes a sinker, cutter, and splitter. On a good Orioles team, fantasy players shouldn’t bail on Kremer.
Alek Manoah
Don’t look now but Alek Manoah, who struggled mightily last season, is now one of the hottest starters in the game. Manoah struck out seven over seven scoreless frames on May 19, the second straight start in which the righty didn’t allow an earned run. On the season, the 26-year-old owns a 3.00 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 18 innings.
Manoah declared in the spring that he was in great shape; to this point, the results have indicated he is very much. Per Statcast, his velocity is up a full MPH from 2023 and he’s getting more movement on his slider, both good signs.
Jeffrey Springs
We’ll end our list with Jeffrey Springs. Springs dominated early last season with Tampa, as the lefty posted a 0.56 ERA and struck out 24 over 16 innings. Unfortunately for Springs, Tommy John surgery ended his 2023 campaign prematurely.
On the road back, Springs will make his first rehab start on May 20 in the Florida Complex League. The 31-year-old is still likely a month away but those with room may want to plan accordingly.