There's no substitute for a high-end hurler, of course, but if you're looking to stream pitchers, then you've come to the right place. Scott White has 10 recommendations for the upcoming scoring period, all rostered in no more than 75 percent of CBS Sports leagues. Most likely, they're the best you'll find off the waiver wire.
- Week 3: Sleeper hitters | Two-start pitchers
All information is up to date as of Sunday evening.
Sleeper pitchers for Week 3 (April 10-16)
Kenta Maeda looked back to 2020 form in his season debut, leaning as heavily as ever on his slider and splitter even coming off elbow reconstruction surgery. He's a must for two starts even though the second matchup (at the Yankees) is a scary one.
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Anthony DeSclafani was a revelation for the Giants in 2021 and then a mess last year due to an ankle injury. He looked closer to the former in his season debut, and if his second start over the weekend goes just as well, you'll likely want to start him at Detroit.
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Though he failed to secure a job this spring, Bryce Elder once again showed up when it mattered as an injury fill-in Wednesday, throwing six shutout innings against the Cardinals. You couldn't ask for better matchups in his two starts this week, against the Reds and at the Royals.
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Mitch Keller raised eyebrows with a new cutter this spring and then turned in a gem last time out. His matchups this week (vs. HOU, at STL) aren't the best, but if you want a two-start pitcher, Keller has more upside than most of what you'll find on the waiver wire.
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Hayden Wesneski's first start could have gone better, but he still showed improved velocity and still has plenty of buzz from an electric spring performance. He'll face a middle-of-the-road Mariners lineup this week.
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The Giants have been pretty dodgy about who they're starting when, but Sean Manaea looked so good in his first start, with most of his pitches being up 3 mph, that I feel pretty comfortable saying he's not going back to the bullpen. And the Tigers make for a plush matchup.
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This one ultimately comes down to how much you believe in Andrew Heaney, who was one of the best pitchers last year on an inning-per-inning basis but was massacred in his Rangers debut. He gets two shots to get it right this week, and the first is against the Royals.
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Given the pitching environment so far, we're desperate for anyone who can do what Kyle Gibson did last time out, going seven strong. He has a long enough track record that we know he's nothing special, but he's up for two starts, including one against the Athletics.
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Ryne Nelson hasn't had a standout start yet, but he's been respectable enough to hope for more against the majors' lowest-scoring and most strikeout-prone offense so far (i.e., the Marlins).
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Just like Cole Irvin made for a strong play at home when he was with the Athletics, the same should be true now that he's with the Orioles. Camden Yards' deep left field fence should keep most of his fly balls in play. He's going against his old mates in this one, who aren't so great offensively.
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