Masahiro Tanaka has been a flat-out beast this year. The Japanese import is tied for first in wins (12) and Complete Games (3). He is also seventh in strikeouts (135) and eighth in earned run average (2.51), sixth in WHIP (1.01) and tenth in innings pitched (129.1). Oh and those are Major League Baseball rankings, not American League rankings.
Chances are that when Tanaka went down with an elbow injury, like the New York Yankees, you lost an ace too. The 25-year-old has a partial tear in his ulnar collateral ligament and normally Tommy John surgery is the next step. Team doctors are reportedly trying a new medical technique to rehab the ligament, but don’t bank on it if you’re a fantasy owner.
Tanaka has been a top-10 pitcher all season long and while you won’t find one of those on the waiver wire, here are some names to lookout for that might help lessen the sting.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers
Dillon Gee, NYM (the first choice)
The Mets’ right-hander recently came off the disabled list himself and looked sharp against the Atlanta Braves on July 9 with seven strong innings with just one earned run. The reason why Gee is on this short list is simple, he was performing well before his DL stint and he performed well upon his return. Gee is currently sporting a 4-1 record with a 2.56 ERA and he’s won four of his last six starts with only six earned runs in his last 40 innings pitched. Those are very good numbers for a guy who is being picked up quickly in most mixed leagues.
Charlie Morton, Pit (Mr. Steady)
Pittsburgh’s Charlie Morton is the type of pitcher that every pitching staff needs. He goes out and gives his team an opportunity to win more often than not. While he always hasn’t been his sharpest this year (5-9 record), he only has a 3.26 ERA. His WHIP (1.19) and his ability to eat up innings (119) have also been impressive too. Expect his win total to catch up to the rest of his good stats as the Pirates start making a push for the playoffs in the 2nd half of the season and possibly acquire a hired bat or two.
Shane Greene, NYY (the deep-league flyer)
If you’re the kind of fantasy owner who likes to swing for the fences, then this is your guy. The Yankees’ Greene will likely be a high-risk, high reward type of pitcher going forward after getting off to a hot start in the Bigs. In two starts since reaching the Show in April, the 25-year-old is 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA and opposing batters are only hitting .167. Those are really good numbers considering he didn’t boast stellar numbers in the minors.
Greene pitched 7 1/3 innings while fanning nine (Orioles) and not allowing a run his last time out and he figures to remain in the rotation after the All-Star break. That’s all the good news. Bad news is that sooner rather than later major league hitters will have a scouting report on him. You combine that with the fact that he pitches in the historically tough AL east and…..well you can see where I’m going with this. High risk, high reward.
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Additional photo credit: Shinya Suzuki
