How amazing is it that Emmet Sheehan now qualifies for this list? His outings have tended to be short and more erratic than you’d expect for as good a bat-misser as he is, but he has the sort of choice matchups this week that might allow him to deliver on his upside.
DET
Detroit
• #9
•
Age: 30
Jack Flaherty has looked good in three starts since returning from an ankle injury, but he had regained his bat-missing powers well before then, putting together a 2.55 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 11.0 K/9 in his past seven turns. The first of his two matchups this week is pretty risky, but the Royals still make for a nice one.
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TB
Tampa Bay
• #61
•
Age: 27
A poor outing at the Red Sox over the weekend has put Ian Seymour back on shaky ground in Fantasy, but I’d still recommend him against a Blue Jays lineup that ranks in the bottom five in runs scored. Despite his modest velocity readings, he’s had no shortage of missed bats since joining the Rays rotation, as was also true in the minors.
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ATL
Atlanta
• #40
•
Age: 32
Now back in the starting rotation, Reynaldo Lopez seems to be reinvigorated, getting his average fastball velocity up to where it was during his impressive 2024 season. He has yet to go beyond five innings but has built up his pitch count enough that it should be possible. Either way, he’ll get two bites at the apple this week, including one against the worst offense in baseball.
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STL
St. Louis
• #36
•
Age: 26
Michael McGreevy has emerged as a quality start machine this year, having delivered seven in his past eight outings and 13 overall. His biggest shortcoming is that he doesn’t get strikeouts, but that could change this week with him facing the most strikeout-prone lineup in baseball.
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BAL
Baltimore
• #34
•
Age: 27
Shane Baz has been more serviceable than dominant this year, and you definitely need to pick your spots with him in Fantasy. The Red Sox and Braves lineups were both struggling before the break, but they’ve been hot to start the second half. Still, there are two chances at a quality outing here.
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CIN
Cincinnati
• #41
•
Age: 27
Andrew Abbott seems like he’s barely been keeping it together this year, with the walks in particular climbing to an unacceptable range. But he remains enough of a quality start candidate for points leaguers to give him a go with his two solid matchups this week.
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STL
St. Louis
• #62
•
Age: 29
Kyle Leahy wouldn’t seem to have much going for him, judging by the contact quality and strikeout-to-walk ratio, but he’s been a steady enough performer for you to hold your breath and give him a go in a two-start week. It helps that his opponents are two of the three most strikeout-prone.
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KC
Kansas City
• #58
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Age: 24
Going deeper with this one, but it makes sense with two bottom-10 offenses on the schedule. Luinder Avila has been limited to five innings at a time, and with a strikeout-to-walk ratio that’s downright nauseating, but he’s managed to limit damage thanks in large part to a 48 percent ground ball rate.
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BAL
Baltimore
• #63
•
Age: 27
This recommendation looks more dangerous than it did going into the weekend, what with the Braves offense beginning to show its upside again, but Brandon Young had a strong weekend showing himself, adding a little juice to his already impressive slider to deliver seven strong innings against the Astros. Recognizing that the 10th sleeper pitcher is rarely more than a desperation play, I feel appropriately comfortable recommending him still.
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