2024 Fantasy Baseball: Pitchers to Target on the Waiver Wire (Week 1)

The start of the 2024 MLB season came on March 20 in Seoul, South Korea — but the action heats up on March 28. As a new fantasy baseball season is about to get going in earnest, it’s time to take a look at waiver wire targets. Here’s a look at our fantasy baseball waiver wire pitchers for Week 1 of the 2024 season.

Griffin Jax

We begin our waiver wire target look with a vulture save candidate. With Twins closer Jhoan Duran out to start 2024 with an oblique injury, it’s time for Griffin Jax to take on a larger role. The 29-year-old figures to be in a prime position to get saves for Minnesota in the early parts of 2024 after he spent much of last year setting up for Duran.

Jax struck out 68 over 65.1 IP and ranked above average in chase and GB% rates, thanks to his splitter and sinker, respectively. He did have his moments in the second half where things went awry. However, he was as a whole quite effective.

Tyler Kinley

The Rockies’ closer situation is a tough one to pin down. Right-hander Justin Lawrence has the stuff to be an effective closer — both in the short and long-term — in Colorado, thanks to the all-important two-seamer and slider. However, Tyler Kinley got save chances late last year after Lawrence was removed from the role — and Kinley had the better spring.

Opposing batters hit just .160 off Kinley this spring, while Lawrence conceded a 1.92 WHIP and .343 opponent’s batting average. Both came into the spring as potential candidates for the job but Kinley seems to have the edge right now. However, things can change at any time.

Luis Gil

Remember the name Luis Gil? The 25-year-old former top prospect put up electric numbers in 2021, when he struck out 38 over his first 29.1 IP in 2021. However, the Yankee right-hander threw just four innings in the Majors a year later before he underwent Tommy John surgery.

Gil began his return back last year and now he’s set to be a part of the Yankees rotation after he won the fifth spot in the team’s rotation. The Yankee rookie’s got a power fastball that sat in the upper-90s this spring, along with a changeup and electric slider. That stuff alone makes Gil an intriguing talent.

Ranger Suarez

Spring Training performances are not the be-all and end-all. However, Ranger Suarez‘s spring performance is worth mentioning. Suarez threw 15 scoreless innings this spring for the Phillies and struck out 16 during Grapefruit League action.

The 28-year-old did well as a starter in 2023, as he averaged nearly a strikeout per inning and limited hard contact. Unfortunately for Suarez, the lefty couldn’t get rewarded in the win column. But given that the Phillies are expected to be strong contenders in 2024, Suarez has a good shot of getting at least more than four wins.

Gavin Stone

We end our 2024 Week 1 fantasy baseball waiver wire pitchers target list with Dodgers starter Gavin Stone. We mentioned Stone as a potential replacement for Gerrit Cole a few weeks ago, after he dominated this spring. The 25-year-old struck out nine over 9.2 IP and gave up just one earned run, earning him the fifth spot in the Dodgers rotation.

With Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler out to start 2024, Stone has a good opportunity after he struggled in the Majors at times last season. He’s got the stuff, including a plus changeup, to be an effective starter. Now, it’s a matter of putting it together.