We discuss several MLB pitchers who have performed well in the past 30 days of play.
After covering the ups and downs of MLB hitters last weekend, we’ll now cover the same topic with pitchers.
Let’s start with how well the pitching staff has performed over the past 30 days. The last time I wrote an article like this was on June 11th.
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Top Pitcher
The Houston Astros players are players I covered in my July 1st feature, but given their success over the past month, they deserve another round of coverage.
In five starts, he has posted an astounding 5-0 record with a 0.29 ERA, which is one run allowed in 31 innings, and he has struck out 34 batters in that span.
Brown’s percentages have increased significantly over the past month and are currently around 95%, and while he would be a legitimate roster spot in most leagues, it’s also worth noting that his five starts have come against teams with weaker offensive potential, so keep that in mind if you want to acquire him.
In his last five starts for the Tampa Bay Rays, he is 2-1 with a 1.24 ERA and has struck out 40 batters in 29 innings.
Bradley’s own percentages are also trending up — he’s currently at 74% and should be closer to 100% the next time he starts — and Bradley is becoming too valuable to be viewed as a streaming option, so if you acquire him, you’re best off holding onto him — unless his production drops off, of course.
He is 1-0 with the Toronto Blue Jays but has a 1.41 ERA in his last five starts, having struck out 28 batters in 32 innings over that span.
Bassitt struggled early in the season but has been a promising pitcher over the past month-plus. He has a 92% ownership rating in our charts, so there are still a few players who can claim him on waivers. He’s a player to be owned and has been reliable against most recent opponents.
The Milwaukee Brewers’ Myers is a surprise addition to the ERA list, going 4-0 with a 1.44 ERA in his last five starts. During that time, Myers has struck out 24 batters in 31 1/3 innings.
This time a month ago, Myers was virtually unknown in fantasy baseball circles, but he now has an ownership rate above 50%. Though unproven, he’s still a streaming option in standard leagues and will be a popular addition on the waiver wire no matter when he starts, at least until he’s no longer pitching this well.
Both Seattle Mariners pitchers have posted an ERA under 2.00 over the past 30 days.
Gilbert is 2-1 with a 1.51 ERA in five starts, striking out 31 batters in 35 2/3 innings.
Kirby struck out 31 batters in 31 innings and was 3-0 with a 1.74 ERA in five starts.
Gilbert and Kirby are the best fantasy starters in the league, so they will cost you a pretty penny in a trade if you want to acquire them. Their trade value would be very high if you drafted them or acquired them early in the season, but I would prefer to hold onto both of them rather than try to sell them high. They continue to perform well and there is no reason to expect them to stop anytime soon.
With the Philadelphia Phillies, he is 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA in his last five starts, including a shutout win, during which he recorded 23 strikeouts in 33 innings.
Sanchez has been an above-average streaming option for much of the season, but after a shutout (and some good pitching last month) his own percentage is over 90. Get Sanchez if you still can, lean on him as long as he’s pitching well, and if you don’t think he can stay in form you may be able to resell him for a nice return.
In his last five starts with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he is 2-0 with a 1.78 ERA, striking out 40 batters in 30 1/3 innings.
Skenes has been great since being promoted, striking out a lot of batters while also allowing very few runs. His trade value is increasing with every start, so if you draft or acquire him during the promotion, you should keep him on your roster because the more starts he gets the better he’ll only get.
The Chicago White Sox product is a player I’ve been telling fantasy owners to sell high on, and he continues to live up to expectations: He’s pitched 31 2/3 innings and struck out 48 batters over the past 30 days. Crochette is 1-1 with a 1.99 ERA in that span.
I am still concerned about Crochet’s future. He is in his first year as a starter and will likely be limited in innings in the second half of the season. I expect some regression at some point, but when that happens his trade value will drop pretty quickly. That’s why I would prioritize trading him now while his value is still very high.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Glasnow has thrown 29 innings and struck out 41 batters over the past 30 days. In five starts, Glasnow is 2-2 with a 3.72 ERA.
Glasnow is another high-value candidate in my eyes. He has never completed a full MLB season and is already nearing his career high in innings pitched. I would sell him now before his value drops any further (he allowed five runs in two starts last month).
With the Cleveland Guardians, he threw 28 1/3 innings over the past month, striking out 40 batters and going 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA in five starts.
Bibby has been one of the biggest surprises in this season’s draft so far. He’s not great at preventing runs, but his high strikeout numbers are definitely a plus in fantasy. If you draft him, I’d recommend sticking with him all the way instead of trying to sell him for too much.
Before we wrap up this article, let’s take a look at some closers.
The St. Louis Cardinals led MLB with 11 saves over the past 30 days, and he was 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 12 innings pitched.
His 1.33 WHIP still isn’t great, but he’s still getting the job done, and while closers don’t have a lot of trade value, he’s arguably the second or third best fantasy closer right now, so if you’re worried his numbers will work against you going forward, now would be the time to move him.
The Milwaukee native ranks second in the league with nine saves over the past month, and he’s posted an impressive 0.73 ERA with nine strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings during that span.
Megill is close to returning so he could lose the closer role, but until then fantasy team owners should own and utilize him, and there is an argument to be made that he is the best fantasy team closer right now despite his low strikeout numbers.
The Los Angeles Angels have not allowed a run in the past 30 days, going 1-0 with 8 saves in 10 games and 10 innings pitched. Estevez has also been fairly strikeout-free, recording just 10 strikeouts in that span.
Estevez is still available in 30+ percent of leagues, so while there aren’t many opportunities for him to be the closer for the Angels, he’s a good option in the short term, and his stellar performance over the past month could also make him a high-seller option for fantasy team owners desperately searching for a closer.
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