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Welcome back to our top starting pitcher fantasy baseball prospects to stash for Week 19 of the 2024 MLB season. Today, we'll be taking a look at top MLB pitching prospects, including Zebby Matthews, David Festa, and Jackson Jobe.
Several of the sport's top pitching prospects who have been a recurring member of this column, such as Spencer Schwellenbach, Max Meyer, and Drew Thorpe, have settled in the majors and are no longer "stash" options.
As the baseball season progresses, top prospects can have the opportunity to replace an injured player and immediately become valuable in fantasy. Below are five pitching prospects worth stashing in redraft leagues in Week 19. One of these players recently made their major league debut, and a few are nearing the call to the big leagues.
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Top Fantasy Baseball Prospect Stashes
River Ryan - Los Angeles Dodgers (Currently In The Majors, 20% rostered)
River Ryan of the Los Angeles Dodgers will lead off for the final time in this week’s column. Ryan made his second major league start on Sunday and dominated, pitching 5 ⅔ innings of one-run ball against the red-hot Houston Astros. He allowed just two hits and three free passes while striking out eight.
River Ryan, Painted 84mph Curveball. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/g3ELSZtHqQ
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 28, 2024
In his first start, the 25-year-old logged 5 ⅓ innings of one-run ball and gave up zero earned runs against the San Francisco Giants.
The sample size may be small, but the right-hander currently has a 0% barrel rate and an 11.8% hard-hit rate, which are incredible metrics. Even though Ryan is right around the 20% roster mark, act quickly and secure a potential league-winning arm this week.
He has proven himself ready for the major league level, and next week, he will no longer be seen as a "stash."
DJ Herz - Washington Nationals (Currently In The Majors, 5% rostered)
The Washington southpaw returned to the major leagues last week and tossed 5 ⅔ innings against the San Diego Padres. He struck out four while allowing five hits and two free passes.
In his most recent start on Sunday, July 28, the 23-year-old showcased his upside strikeout potential with eight punchouts against the St. Louis Cardinals. He allowed just two runs with three hits and a walk.
The former eighth-round pick had a small stint in the majors earlier this season and flexed his potential to provide high swing-and-miss numbers. He currently has a 29.9% whiff rate and 27.8% K rate, which place him in the top 83rd percentile among all pitchers in booth statistics.
Through his nine starts this season, he has struck out at least eight batters in three of them and eclipsed the double-digit mark in two of them. Herz could inflate your pitching ratios but will produce elite strikeout numbers along the way.
David Festa - Minnesota Twins (Currently In The Majors, 3% rostered)
Festa made his major league debut earlier this season and struggled, posting a 10.80 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, and a 1:8 BB:K ratio across two starts.
However, the Seton Hall product rejoined the big league roster on July 24 to serve as a bulk relief option against the high-flying Phillies and performed exceptionally well. He tossed 4 ⅓ frames of one-run ball with just four hits and two walks and struck out seven.
David Festa with the best performance of his @MLB career thus far🌟
4.1 IP / 4 H / 1 R / 2 BB / 7 K
His seven strikeouts is his major league career high 📈@Twins | #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/BkMBwfJxXv
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) July 24, 2024
In his latest start on July 30, Festa tossed five innings of two-run ball against the red-hot Mets. He struck out six and allowed just three hits. This was another significant step in the right direction as he continues to get accustomed to big league hitting.
At Triple-A this season, Festa has flashed strong strikeout production, with 89 in 60 innings of work. While his first two big league appearances may not have gone well, the right-hander may have turned the corner and is worth keeping on your roster for the time being.
The Twins still have an open spot in their rotation with Chris Paddack (forearm) on the 15-day IL, and Festa could be the current front-runner for the job.
Zebby Matthews - Minnesota Twins (Currently At Triple-A, 1% rostered)
Speaking of Minnesota, there is another budding star in its system who could claim that final rotation spot.
Zebby Matthews made my column last week. He recently earned a promotion to Triple-A St. Paul and looked quite well in his debut, tossing five innings, allowing just two runs and four hits, and striking out six.
In his most recent start on Saturday, July 27, the Western Carolina product ran into some trouble. He logged just four innings, allowing four runs and nine hits while striking out only four.
I am willing to give Matthews the benefit of the doubt, as this was only his second look at the top level of the minor leagues. Earlier this season at High-A and Double-A, the right-hander held a minuscule 1.85 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, and near-perfect 6:91 BB:K ratio across 78 frames.
If Festa cannot maintain the momentum from his previous outing, Matthews will likely earn the fifth spot in the rotation.
Jackson Jobe - Detroit Tigers (Currently At Double-A, 10% rostered)
Rounding out this list is arguably the top pitching prospect in baseball. Jackson Jobe, the former third overall selection in the 2021 MLB Draft, has been tearing up Double-A this season and is on the verge of reaching not only Triple-A but the major leagues as well.
Fastball. Changeup. Breaking ball.
MLB's No. 1 pitching prospect Jackson Jobe (@tigers) has his whole arsenal working through 4 hitless frames for the Double-A @erie_seawolves.
Watch the rest FREE: https://t.co/6or1LHB03G pic.twitter.com/6S94YnCTNW
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 20, 2024
Through 38 ⅓ total innings at Double-A Erie, the right-hander has held a dominant 1.41 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a 21:50 BB:K ratio. In his most recent start on Friday, July 26, Jobe struck out five batters across 5 ⅔ innings of work and allowed just one run. The 21-year-old has not allowed more than one run since June 18.
The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Tigers right-handed starter Jack Flaherty on Tuesday, which opens a spot in the rotation for Jobe. While Jobe will not get the call right away, he could be only a few weeks away now.
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