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Welcome, RotoBallers, to our pitcher waiver wire pickups for Week 9 (May 20 to May 26) in points leagues. This list will contain a bunch of different starting pitchers whom fantasy managers should target for their matchups in Week 9. For the sake of this article, we are only going to mention pitchers who are rostered in 50% or less of Yahoo leagues and 40% or less of ESPN leagues.
Something to keep in mind when reading this is that every league is different, so not every pitcher on this list will be available. That's why we have broken up this article into three different sections (best choices, next choices, and deeper choices).
So, without further ado, let's dive in and take a look at the best pitcher waiver wire pickups heading into Week 9. These pitchers listed below will not only have appeal in fantasy this upcoming week, but they could be a long-term option for fantasy managers as well.
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Fantasy Baseball Points League Waiver Wire - Best Choices
Dean Kremer, Baltimore Orioles
Yahoo: 45%; ESPN 30%
This might be the last time Baltimore Orioles pitcher Dean Kremer falls on this list. His rostership continues to climb, and he deserves to be on more fantasy teams moving forward. The right-hander currently owns a 3.72 ERA and 47 strikeouts across 46 innings pitched in 2024.
Dean Kremer was a strikeout dude today, registering 10 in 5.2 IP
His deep pitch mix secured a handful of whiffs and plenty of called strikes. He stumbled in the 6th following a few walks and a HR pic.twitter.com/0IQrq5C6Uu
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) May 12, 2024
Kremer has been one of the biggest surprises for the Orioles rotation this year, and he has done his job in almost every outing. The 28-year-old has given up three runs or less in seven of his eight starts in 2024 while also pitching into the sixth inning in all seven of those outings. The right-hander has also posted solid strikeout numbers over his last few starts -- striking out 10 batters in two of his past four appearances.
Kremer might get overlooked sometimes in Baltimore's rotation with Corbin Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez, and Kyle Bradish all ahead of him on the depth chart. However, the five-year starter has emerged as a valuable rotation arm for the Orioles this season. With a start against the Chicago White Sox in Week 9, the right-hander should be picked up and started in fantasy in most cases.
Erick Fedde, Chicago White Sox
Yahoo: 43%; ESPN 34%
It is quite surprising to see Chicago White Sox pitcher Erick Fedde still rostered in under 45% of Yahoo leagues. He has been exceptional on the mound for the White Sox this season, especially as of late. Fedde has given up two runs or less in five of his past six starts while allowing zero runs in three of those outings.
In his most recent start against the Washington Nationals, the right-hander threw seven scoreless innings and allowed just three hits with six strikeouts. That outing came after Fedde threw six shutout innings against the Cleveland Guardians on May 9. Those two performances lowered his season ERA to 2.60, which is tied for the eighth fewest in the American League.
Erick Fedde has been an excellent find and signing by GM Chris Getz. With a 2-yr deal, he’s an extremely attractive trade candidate for every contending team.
Ranks Top 10 in AL in wins, ERA & IP.
A key at top of #WhiteSox rotation, but a piece that could get a return too.
— Ryan McGuffey (@RyanMcGuffey) May 15, 2024
It makes very little sense why Fedde is still available in more than 55% of Yahoo leagues. Maybe it's because he plays for the White Sox and had a 5.41 ERA in his first six MLB seasons with the Nationals. However, things are different this time around following his season in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in 2023, where he had a 2.00 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 30 starts.
Taj Bradley, Tampa Bay Rays
Yahoo: 43%; ESPN 14%
In his first major league season in 2023, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Taj Bradley endured his fair share of struggles. He finished his rookie campaign with a 5.59 ERA across 23 appearances. Nonetheless, things appear to be different for Bradley in Year 2.
Despite missing the beginning of the season with a right pectoral strain, the right-hander has looked sharp on the mound since making his debut on May 10. In his first start against the New York Yankees, Bradley tossed six innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts. Then he followed that up by allowing just two runs across five innings with six strikeouts against the Boston Red Sox.
It's a small sample size, but there's a good chance the 23-year-old is in line for a breakout season in 2024. Don't forget, this is a pitcher who was ranked No. 20 by MLB Pipeline heading into the 2023 season. With a two-start week also on the horizon against the Red Sox and Kansas City Royals in Week 9, Bradley is worth an add in most formats.
Fantasy Baseball Points League Waiver Wire - Next Choices
Reese Olson, Detroit Tigers
Yahoo: 38%; ESPN 15%
Since making his MLB debut last season, Detroit Tigers pitcher Reese Olson has been a consistent rotation arm. He ended his rookie campaign with a 1.51 ERA and 35 strikeouts over his last six starts, and that has surely carried over for Olson into 2024. The young starter has just a 2.09 ERA in his first eight starts of the year.
2024 AL ERA Leaders
Seth Lugo (1.66)
Tarik Skubal (2.02)
Jon Gray (2.08)
Reese Olson (2.09)All Leaders: https://t.co/moXSTTYNyO pic.twitter.com/dQekBXETMO
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) May 16, 2024
Olson definitely deserves more love in fantasy as we head into Week 9 and should be rostered in more leagues. He has given up two earned runs or less in seven of eight outings in 2024 while throwing at least six innings in four of those starts. The right-hander is also coming off his best outing of the year. He gave up just three hits with six strikeouts across eight shutout innings against the Miami Marlins on May 14.
The Tigers pitcher is on a nice stretch on the mound and has a 0.69 ERA over his last four starts. Despite not earning a win in any of those starts, don't overlook the right-hander because of it. The wins will come, especially if he continues to pitch like he has. With Olson also lined up for a two-start week against the Royals and Toronto Blue Jays in Week 9, he should be a popular waiver wire add.
Fantasy Baseball Points League Waiver Wire - Deeper Choices
Andrew Heaney, Texas Rangers
Yahoo: 14%; ESPN 10%
If none of the pitchers above are available in your league, look to see if Texas Rangers starter Andrew Heaney is. Heaney's numbers won't wow fantasy managers, but he can get the job done in the right matchup. Over his last three starts, the southpaw has faced the Nationals, A's, and Rockies. In all three outings, he delivered.
Heaney gave up just four earned runs across 18 IP (2.00 ERA) against those three opponents while striking out 17 batters. He has also not issued a walk over the past four starts, so he's a pitcher who will throw strikes. His ERA on the year might not look pleasant (4.39 ERA), but the potential is there for him. The left-hander has gone at least five innings in five straight starts.
Now, it could get dicey for Heaney in Week 9 with a start against the Philadelphia Phillies. However, I'm not necessarily avoiding him because of that. He scored 14 fantasy points in Yahoo leagues against the Atlanta Braves earlier this year and seems to have figured things out since. He'll also have some solid matchups in the coming weeks against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Week 10 and the Detroit Tigers in Week 11.
Jake Irvin, Washington Nationals
Yahoo: 7%; ESPN 4%
Washington Nationals starter Jake Irvin has pitched relatively well this season and could be a solid waiver wire option for those in deeper formats. Irvin has given up just four earned runs over his last three starts, which included five scoreless innings against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 4.
Jake Irvin today
7.0 IP
4 H
2 ER
0 BB
6 K pic.twitter.com/49na86KTgz— optimistic nats fan (@optimistic5518) May 11, 2024
Irvin is an interesting case heading into Week 9 because he has looked solid in most of his starts this season. He has only issued eight walks on the year and limited the Dodgers' potent lineup to just four hits across six shutout innings in an outing on April 17. However, the right-hander has also had some rough starts in 2024. He gave up four earned runs against the Phillies on April 6 and allowed six earned runs in his second start against the Dodgers on April 24.
As a result, Irvin is likely only a start in great matchups. That could be the case, though, in Week 9. The 27-year-old is lined up to face the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday, a matchup that works in his favor. The Twins have scored just six runs over the past four games and are batting a mere .237 at the plate as a team in 2024. That makes the Nationals starter a potential fantasy option this upcoming week.
Fantasy Baseball Points League Waiver Wire - More Options
- Michael Wacha, KC - 31% rostered
- Kyle Gibson, STL - 30% rostered
- Alec Marsh, KC - 20% rostered
- Robert Gasser, MIL - 20% rostered
- JP Sears, OAK - 11% rostered
- Jose Soriano, LAA - 6% rostered
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