The fantasy baseball trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and those who are stocking up for the head-to-head playoffs or seeking a push to the finish line in rotisserie leagues are likely fortifying their rosters with some key components.
Targeting the big names will certainly give your team a strong boost, but you are also going to have to find ways to augment their production with your waiver wire work.
Getting category-specific is imperative as you look to move your way up in the standings, and the best way to do that in pitching is bulking up on strikeouts.
Making improvements in pitching can be extremely difficult, especially in a short time period like the final month of the season.
Boosting your WHIP and ERA takes a while, wins are far too arbitrary to target accurately, and good luck finding a reliable guy for saves at this time of year.
Strikeouts are your last hope for quick movement in pitching, and your waiver wire targets need to produce them.
Likely sitting on your waiver wire and rostered in fewer than 10 percent of leagues on Yahoo and ESPN is 25-year-old Orioles southpaw Cade Povich.
His current 4.98 ERA and 1.44 WHIP leave little to be desired, but over the past two weeks, Povich has posted a 4.32 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP and a whopping 22 strikeouts over just 16 ²/₃ innings.
Though he failed to earn a win over those three appearances, the fact the Orioles have started using an opener in front of him increases his chances to earn one, because he doesn’t need to go five innings.
He only needs to be the pitcher of record when they grab and hold a lead.
The upcoming schedule could be huge for Povich’s value.
He faces the Astros, with their 24.2 percent strikeout rate over the past two weeks; the Red Sox, who are striking out 23.2 percent of the time against lefties; and the Giants, who own a mammoth 27.9 percent strikeout rate against them as well.
If you have some wiggle room in the ERA department, Povich should be able to give you a quick strikeout push for the next several starts.
You also can look to Astros right-hander Spencer Arrighetti.
The 25-year-old was headed for a potential breakout campaign before a fractured thumb in April derailed his entire season.
He posted a 10.61 K/9 last season, and expectations were high as he showed improved command during the spring while maintaining a heavy strikeout rate.
His first few starts since being activated haven’t been great, but you could see improved command in his previous outing.
With starts coming up against the Angels and Orioles— who rank first and fourth in strikeouts against right-handers, respectively — Arrighetti should be able to deliver strong totals for your rotation.
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Your final push toward a fantasy baseball championship needs to be target-specific. Other teams around you in the standings also are making moves to improve their squads and push past you.
Figure out where you can best make your move, and stay focused on the task at hand.
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy baseball news and advice.
