FAAB Week 12: Circling The Pitcher Pool Drain

Well, the starting pitcher injury hammer has come to slam itself on all of our fantasy rosters. Our player pools out there lost pitchers all across the spectrum from aces (Corbin Burnes, Pablo Lopez) to midrotation stalwarts (Ryan Weathers) to hot up-and-comers (Jackson Jobe) to guys we were stashing to help down the stretch (Shane Bieber) to closers (Justin Martinez).

On top of all the injuries, I was already calling out a few weeks ago that the pitching options were thin because everyone has access to the likes of Stuff+ or other metrics that allow us to know the best pitchers. Plus, streaming options are far more limited than they have been previous to 2025. You can’t stream pitchers at the Oakland Coliseum or Tropicana Field and instead are subject to those matchups coming in Triple-A bandboxes. You also can’t count on streaming away pitchers at Detroit, New York, Seattle, or St. Louis, which are all pitcher parks but feature home teams with much improved offenses.

So what to do?

First, listen to this week’s Cards & Categories pod for a discussion on how Jeremy and I are planning to attack the thinning of our player pools (and you know, maybe catch the card collecting bug as you hunt down the Darren Baker parallel featured in that post).

Next, here are a few tools and strategies I would suggest:

• Obviously, read this column weekly, duh. I’m focused on short term options while keeping an eye on those minor leaguers pushing towards the major-league precipice. The Starting Pitcher Quick Hits below are peppered with the finest one-week starts I can find, although, uh, it ain’t always pretty.
• Subscribe to Razzball and get access to our world renown Streamonator tool. Rudy has that thing humming like a finely tuned machine that can help pluck out the best options every three days.
• Start stashing great minor league arms if you have extra roster space. Jacob Misiorowski and Bubba Chandler are likely already stashed but start leveraging Prospect Savant to find guys that are looking MLB ready.
• Do value the quality starting pitching you have now pretty highly. Finding replacements isn’t going to be easy, so be picky about trade offers and know that your leaguemates are likely taking similar trade stances. Look at the plethora of bats available to pick up and stream… it’s much easier to find a new bat to plug in than a pitcher right now.
• Get creative with relievers to fill in the gaps. I usually have a smattering of the best relievers for ratios and save speculations included in the Quick Hits below.
• Know you will make mistakes if being aggressive with pitching moves. Yes, an eight earned run outing over a few innings hurts, but it’s a long season (we aren’t even half way done!) where that will smooth out. In addition, I bet the team in your league with Pablo Lopez was doing well in ERA and WHIP. Well, they will start coming back to the pack now that they’ll have to rely on the likes of the guys below to fill that lineup gap.

Alright, good luck out there this weekend Razzballers. On to the pickup suggestions!

The stats and roster rates below are updated as of noon central time on 6/13.

As always, if you want advice on specific roster decisions you might have, feel free to leave a comment. You can also find me on BlueSky (@mcouill7.bsky.social).

CATCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Alejandro Kirk (TOR, 46% CBS Rostership) – Last year, Kirk was a sexy pick to anchor catcher positions across all league formats but flopped with just five homers and 23 runs while cycling in and out of the lineup. However, by the end of 2024, the Toronto backstop had settled into a 94 wRC+, putting a pin in reaching the next level. The breakout is happening now in 2025, as he’s already matched his 2024 long ball total while posting a bonkers .325/.367/.440 (129 wRC+) line. Plus, look at this little tidbit courtesy of our local fantasy master lothario – yep, that’s some pretty elite territory for HardHit rates which pairs amazingly with Kirk’s 10.1% K-rate. (5-7% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Gabriel Moreno (ARI, 44% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Ryan Jeffers (MIN, 41% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Kyle Teel (CHW, 35% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Francisco Alvarez (NYM, 35% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Jonah Heim (TEX, 21% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Edgar Quero (CHW, 9% CBS Rostership) – Don’t fret about Kyle Teel’s recent arrival on the Southside, there are plenty of at-bats to go around between him and Quero given the dearth of options at catcher, first base, and DH for the White Sox. Quero’s switch-hitting ways should garner him plenty of playing time especially given that he’s hitting .346 (9-for-26) so far in June. (1-3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Henry Davis (PIT, 8% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Danny Jansen (TBR, 5% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

INFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Christian Moore (2B, LAA, 24% CBS Rostership) – It’s rather surprising that the quick-to-promote Angels were able to hold their horses long enough to let Moore rack up 238 plate appearances across Triple- and Double-A this season. The 2024 first round pick has mashed to the tune of a .279/.374/.422 slash line (123 wRC+) with five slams and eight legs. He’ll immediately take over for Scott “career 72 wRC+” Kingery at the keystone and eventually overtake the broken Luis Rengifo (tear) on the infield when Yoan Moncada returns. Look for Moore to be a .250-ish bat with a solid chance at double-digit homers and steals rest of way. (5% FAAB)

Ryan McMahon (3B, COL, 44% CBS Rostership) – The Ryan McMahon on again, off again sit/start decision is back on this week with a seven game slate. Four road games in DC (a hitter’s park, assuming the city is still standing after this weekend) and three contests in Coors Field make the 30-year-old a prime pickup once again. (3-5% FAAB)

Willi Castro (2B/3B/SS/OF, MIN, 43% CBS Rostership) – Roster salves don’t get better than Castro, who can cover up any position except for first. Since returning from the IL on May 5, the Minnesota utility man has slashed .316/.407/.531 (166 wRC+) with five homers over 113 plate appearances while cementing himself in the middle of the order. Castro has consistently been rolling around the Quick Hits section because his versatility is useful in every league, but he got the bump up to the prime large blurb this week thanks to the Twins’ trip to Cincinnati for three games to open next week. (3-5% FAAB)

Bryce Eldridge (1B, SFG, 23% CBS Rostership) – Just like Nick Kurtz and Jac Caglianone before him, it’s time to start stashing Eldridge if you have a reserve spot to spare. The 20-year-old was recently promoted to Triple-A and while he’s fanned at a 35.3% clip through his first 34 plate appearances, he’s already popped a pair of taters. Before his promotion, Eldridge was slashing .280/.350/.512 (148 wRC+) at Double-A with a manageable 27.9% K-rate. His 2025 ceiling is lower than either Kurtz or Caglianone because of his youth and home ballpark, but at this point it’s a matter of when, not if, for Eldridge overtaking Dom Smith at the cold corner in San Francisco. (1-3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Zach McKinstry (3B/SS/OF, DET, 48% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Nolan Schanuel (1B, LAA, 42% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Ronny Mauricio (2B/3B, NYM, 37% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Jeff McNeil (2B/OF, NYM, 32% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Carlos Santana (1B, CLE, 31% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Nate Lowe (1B, WSN, 48% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Chase Meidroth (2B/SS, CHW, 37% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Connor Norby (3B, MIA, 33% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Hyeseong Kim (2B/SS/OF, LAD, 30% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Ty France (1B, MIN, 25% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Gabriel Arias (2B/3B/SS, CLE, 24% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Otto Lopez (2B/SS, MIA, 18% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Thairo Estrada (2B, COL, 17% CBS Rostership) & Ryan Ritter (SS, COL, 8% CBS Rostership) & Tyler Freeman (2B/OF, COL, 6% CBS Rostership) – This trio of shmucks are all drawing regular playing time in the Colorado lineup, and you know that once you saw McMahon pop up above, more Rox were slated for this piece thanks to the seven-game week in hitter’s parks. All three of these guys make solid MI options with a little pop and a little speed to stream this upcoming week and holster for all Coors Field contests. (3-5% FAAB each)

QUICK HITS: Abraham Toro (1B/3B, BOS, 20% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Brooks Lee (2B/3B/SS, MIN, 19% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B, PIT, 15% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Eric Wagaman (1B/3B/OF, MIA, 10% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Otto Kemp (3B, PHI, 9% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Luis Urias (2B/3B, ATH, 5% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Lenyn Sosa (1B/2B/3B, CHW, 4% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Casey Schmitt (1B/2B/3B, SFG, 1% CBS Rostership) – I’m old enough to remember the 2023 blistering start Schmitt had after debuting with a .325 batting average, 12 runs, and 16 RBI in his first 22 games. It got so out of hand, Schmitt’s roster level went beyond the pale of my analysis for this piece (50% on CBS). Now relegated to a fill-in role, Schmitt will take over the hot corner in San Fran while Matt Chapman is felled with a hand injury. Look for the 26-year-old Schmitt to swing a league average-ish bat with a .240-250 average while getting full playing time (the gold that keeps you sane in Only Leagues). (3-5% FAAB)

Max Muncy (2B/3B/SS, ATH, 6% CBS Rostership) – That Rockies schedule next week I keep harping on is certainly juicy, but the A’s have seven games at home while Sacramento is slated for a week with temps in the 90’s (I don’t know what that is in Celsius – sorry international readers, I’m just a dumb American!). That makes all Athletics except for totally-not-fake Willie MacIver, the current backstop while Shea Langeliers is down with an oblique injury, viable (peep Luis Urias above in the Quick Hits too). Muncy, just like the Dodgers’ version, has been on fire lately, hitting .276 with three homers and a steal across seven games since his recall on June 4. The former first round pick is playing every day at third and could be a behemoth this summer if he can replicate something akin to his 11.8% barrel rate from Triple-A at the big leagues. (9% FAAB)

OUTFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Jordan Beck (COL, 46% CBS Rostership) – Laugh at the fool in your league that let Beck reach the wire again (even if it is yourself) with that seven-game week at Washington and at Colorado I keep hammering home. What is Beck even doing on any wires out there period though? The dude is on pace for a 20/20 season with a decent batting average and needs to be rostered everywhere. (7-9% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Jo Adell (LAA, 40% CBS Rostership, 3-5% FAAB), Parker Meadows (DET, 42% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Evan Carter (TEX, 48% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Cam Smith (3B/OF, HOU, 48% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Trevor Larnach (MIN, 47% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Matt Wallner (MIN, 38% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Jesus Sanchez (MIA, 31% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Lane Thomas (CLE, 30% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Jake Meyers (HOU, 28% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Pavin Smith (1B/OF, ARI, 23% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Alek Thomas (ARI, 6% CBS Rostership) – For the love of god, Arizona, please let Thomas continue to get this run at full playing time. The outfielder is slashing .355/.375/.581 (166 wRC+) in 32 June plate appearances so far thanks to his ability to get comfortable. Thomas has easily overtaken Tim Tawa as the D-backs centerfielder of choice with the team getting a sneaky great week for its bats with three games in Colorado to wrap next week (it’s why I still have Pavin Smith love in the Quick hits above). (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Andrew Benintendi (CHW, 19% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Jake Fraley (CIN, 8% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Jake Mangum (TBR, 18% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Dane Myers (MIA, 13% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Luke Raley (1B/OF, SEA, 1% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Mike Tauchman (CHW, 9% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Brandon Marsh (PHI, 9% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Denzel Clarke (ATH, 9% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Andrew McCutchen (PIT, 6% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Alex Call (WSN, 4% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Mickey Moniak (COL, 3% CBS Rostership) – The Rockies have a great week for hitters. The Rockies have a great week for hitters. The Rockies have a great week for hitters. The Rockies have a great week for hitters. The Rockies have a great week for hitters. Have I pounded it home yet? (3% FAAB)

Will Robertson (TOR, 0% CBS Rostership) – The outfield continues to be a black hole for the Blue Jays with Daulton Varsho and Nathan Lukes’ injuries opening the path for the 27-year-old Robertson to get a crack in the lineup. In his second go at Triple-A, the former Creighton Blue Jay has been a monster at Buffalo, mashing 12 homers and producing a .288/.408/.583 (160 wRC+) slash line. Robertson’s current Blue Jay overlords clearly tweaked his plate approach as he’s cut his K-rate to 24.1% (down from 31.3% in 2024) while walking at a 16.8% clip. The Savant page for Robertson supports the great work he’s done – it’s a matter of whether he can make enough contact for it to all work at the big leagues. If it does, envision a Matt Wallner-like player, for which the bid seems kind of low here. But I’m also mixing in the risk of Robertson quickly returning to Buffalo while also recognizing a 27-year-old rookie isn’t likely to garner a whole lot of attention in those AL-Only leagues. Save some of those FAAB bucks for the war of attrition pitching has rounded into. (3% FAAB)

STARTING PITCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Bailey Falter (PIT, 31% CBS Rostership) – Falter has nonchalantly put together a brilliant run since the beginning of May, working to a 1.61 ERA and 0.96 WHIP to warrant rosterability in all leagues given today’s pitching landscape. The wins will be hard to come by with the Pirates and the Ks will be lacking (he punched out only 24 over those 44.2 frames), but with a solid two-start week at Detroit and home against Texas, Falter becomes the best path to filling in for those starting pitcher injuries plaguing us all. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Michael Soroka (WSN, 31% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Mitchell Parker (WSN, 32% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Sawyer Gipson-Long (DET, 22% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Adrian Houser (CHW, 20% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Emmet Sheehan (LAD, 13% CBS Rostership) – Sheehan is completely dominating Triple-A in his rehab from a 2023 TJ surgery with an absurd 42.6% K-BB rate over 11.1 innings. The right-hander is featuring a four-pitch mix anchored by a 96-mph heater. He probably needs another outing or two before joining the LA rotation, but Sheehan looks like a significant injured SP stash right now and will be a hot commodity this weekend and next. (3-5% FAAB)

Brandon Walter (HOU, 5% CBS Rostership) – Another name from the annals of my FAAB columns as the true sickos out there may recall I highlighted him way back in May 2023 when Walter, then in the Red Sox system, was a featured stash. The 28-year-old southpaw has found new life in H-Town as the Astros have re-worked his sinker and slider, pushing the pair of pitches from 94 and 100 Stuff+ ratings, respectively, up to 121 and 115 figures now. So far, he’s worked to a 1.64 ERA, 2.71 FIP and 21.4% K-BB through 11 innings. Along with Ryan Gusto, this marks another solid arm the ‘Stros have materialized out of thin air. Given that Walter had a more significant starting background compared to Gusto, so I like him better. The big question is how many innings the team can squeeze out of Walter after he missed all of 2024 due to a right shoulder injury. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: David Festa (MIN, 18% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Sean Burke (CHW, 17% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Slade Cecconi (CLE, 13% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Davis Martin (CHW, 10% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Hunter Dobbins (BOS, 8% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Logan Allen (CLE, 8% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Mike Burrows (PIT, 7% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Justin Wrobleski (LAD, 4% CBS Rostership) – Wrobleski draws a decent upcoming two-start week against San Diego and Washington at home, which mark his last two chances to make an impression before Sheehan comes for his job. The 24-year-old has been a touch unlucky as a 53.6% LOB rate has overshadowed his ability to generate groundballs. He works with a five-pitch mix featuring three offerings that clock in above average on Stuff+, so he has the makings of a backend starter, which should garner plenty of win chances given his team. (3-5% FAAB)

Cam Schlittler (NYY, 1% CBS Rostership) – After pitching to a 2.38 ERA with a 22.2% K-BB across 53 Double-A innings, Schlittler has opened to a 1.74 ERA with 15 Ks over his first two Triple-A starts. The Yankees rotation has surprisingly stabilized thanks to an out-of-nowhere performance from Ryan Yarbrough while Luis Gil should be returning soon. But if any further injuries hamper the Bronx Bombers, Schlittler looks to be ready for promotion to see if he can rack up a double-digit K/9 at the big leagues the way he has at every minor league stop since the beginning of 2024. (3% FAAB)

RELIEVERS

10/12 Team Adds

Shelby Miller (ARI, 38% CBS Rostership) – Miller is back on the menu, boys, as Justin Martinez’s newest injury, a sprained UCL, will miss the remainder of 2025. AJ Puk was starting to rehab and work his way back from his own balky elbow but hit a speed bump and was shut down (hello Tommy John!). Miller looks to be the Arizona closer for the remainder of the season at this point. (7-9% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Robert Garcia (TEX, 29% CBS Rostership, 3-5% FAAB), Tommy Kahnle (DET, 40% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Jason Adam (SDP, 38% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Lucas Erceg (KCR, 25% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Abner Uribe (MIL, 25% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Bryan Abreu (HOU, 22% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Dylan Lee (ATL, 6% CBS Rostership) – Atlanta has stated they are moving away from Raisel Iglesias as the pure closer. I may be slightly on an island here, but I think Lee makes the most sense to overtake the lion’s share of Braves saves given his success this season (including being better against righties in a small sample size) while Atlanta has Aaron Bummer and Dylan Dodd to serve as lefty relievers in middle relief. Pierce Johnson, in the Quick Hits, would be my number two target if trying to find a few saves before manager Brian Snitker inevitably chooses to go back to Iglesias in a few weeks. (3-5% FAAB)

Calvin Faucher (MIA, 13% CBS Rostership) – Ready to burn more FAAB dollars on the Miami bullpen? Well, here ya go. Faucher looks like the closer for now. (3% FAAB)

Grant Taylor (CHW, 10% CBS Rostership) – Taylor might not be in the closer’s chair, but it seems like only a matter of time thanks to a triple-digit heater that he loves to throw. The Sox didn’t burn a high draft pick on the former LSU Tiger just to use him in middle relief. Get very aggressive on the bid if in a keeper/dynasty league because Taylor could be lined up as the Chicago closer for a good 3-5 years barring injury. (3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Pierce Johnson (ATL, 5% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Griffin Jax (MIN, 17% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Chris Martin (TEX, 17% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Reed Garrett (NYM, 15% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Bryan Baker (BAL, 6% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Phil Maton (STL, 5% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Mark Leiter Jr. (NYY, 5% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Yariel Rodriguez (TOR, 5% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB)