Young Starters Among Best Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets For Week 8

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 15: Starting pitcher Jared Jones #37 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning at Coors Field on June 15, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

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There have been a bevy of injuries to starting pitchers. Some big names dealing with injuries right now include Tarik Skubal (elbow), Garrett Crochect (shoulder) and Brandon Woodruff (shoulder). Let’s go to the waiver wire for reinforcements and highlight five players to consider adding heading into Week 8 who are still available in the majority of Yahoo leagues.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets For Week 8

Jared Jones, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates (34% rostered)

If you need immediate starting pitching help for your fantasy team, Jones can’t provide it as he is currently on the IL. However, he is nearing a return after throwing 54 pitches in a rehab outing at Triple-A on Wednesday. He could be back by the end of the month, making him someone to add now if you have a roster spot to play with. The last time we saw him healthy was in 2024 when he finished with a 3.98 xERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 26.2% strikeout rate over 22 starts with the Pirates.

Sean Burke, SP, Chicago White Sox (33% rostered)

Burke was plagued by two issues last season as he finished with a 4.93 xERA and a 1.44 WHIP. He was wild, posting a 10.6% walk rate. He also allowed 1.5 HR/9. He has made significant improvements in both areas this season, recording a 5.1% walk rate and allowing 0.7 HR/9 through seven outings. Those improvements have left him with a 3.36 xERA and a 1.01 WHIP. Also encouraging is his 4.3% barrel rate allowed, which is six percentage points lower than last season. He is worth adding in 12-team and deeper leagues.

Logan Henderson, SP Milwaukee Brewers (27% rostered)

Henderson has entered the Brewers rotation with Woodruff sidelined. He had a 0.99 WHIP over five starts with the Brewers last season and has a 0.88 WHIP over his two appearances this year. He misses a ton of bats, posting 44 strikeouts in 33 1/3 career innings. Even when Woodruff returns, Henderson could stick in the Brewers rotation with Brandon Sproat having a 5.87 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP across his seven outings.

Tony Santillan, RP, Cincinnati Reds (26% rostered)

Reds closer Emilio Pagan suffered a scary hamstring injury on Tuesday that has landed him on the injured list. He is expected to be out 4-to-8 weeks, leaving a hole in the ninth inning for Cincinnati. One of the prime save candidates while he is out is Santillan, who had seven saves last season. His career 10.7% walk rate means that it might not always be smooth sailing for him, but he helps limit the damage with his 27.2% strikeout rate. For those who need saves, add Santillan now.

Spencer Jones, OF, New York Yankees (23% rostered)

Jasson Dominguez had been filling in for the injured Giancarlo Stanton (calf) before he crashed into the wall making a catch on Thursday. Not only did the team check him for a concussion, but he suffered an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder that is expected to keep him out for at least a couple of weeks. With that news, the Yankees will reportedly call up Jones from the minors. While Jones strikes out a lot, he is worth adding in most fantasy formats because of his combination of power and speed. Last season, he had 35 home runs and 29 stolen bases in the minors. Through 33 games at Triple-A this year, he has 11 home runs and seven steals.

Takeaway

Jones, Henderson, and Burke are three starting pitchers to target on the waiver wire right now. Santillan can help with saves, while Jones is worth taking a chance on for those who need a hitter. Be sure to check back throughout the season as we provide the top waiver wire options to help you win your fantasy baseball league.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com