Rotoworld’s brand-new Pickups of the Day column is designed to help fantasy managers uncover a handful of widely-available targets over the course of the season. It could be a breakout candidate, a prospect stash, an injury replacement, a pitcher with a favorable matchup or week, a player who is due some better luck, or any other number of scenarios. If there’s value to be found on the waiver wire, we will find it and bring it your way. Today’s edition delves into an almost universally-available starting pitcher who could develop into a season-long contributor and an outfielder whose Statcast page is glowing red to start the season.
PICKUPS OF THE DAY
Griffin Canning, SP, Angels
Available in 97 percent of Yahoo leagues
Even those in deeper leagues can take advantage of today’s recommendation, as Griffin Canning is only rostered in three percent of Yahoo leagues. Persistent back issues cost him the second half of the 2021 season – and all of the 2022 campaign – while a groin issue cost him the first few weeks of the 2023 season as well.
He’s healthy now though, and that’s all that really matters. The 26-year-old hurler looked sharp on Wednesday – in his first start since July 2, 2021 – giving up just two runs on five hits over five innings in a no-decision against the Nationals. Canning racked up four strikeouts in that outing and didn’t walk a batter.
If you look deeper, he generated 15 swings and misses on just 69 pitches in that start – six of those on his slider – while registering an elite CSW of 36 percent. His velocity was also back to where it was when we saw him in 2021 – averaging 93.7 mph with his heater compared to 93.5 mph in 2021 – and 92.8 mph during the truncated 2020 season.
Still just 26-years-old, the right-hander has always shown the ability to miss bats at the big league level, but has always struggled with his command – with a 218/81 K/BB ratio across 214 1/3 innings in his big league career.
He’s certainly worth a look as a streaming option against the Yankees in New York on Wednesday night and then draws a premium matchup against the Athletics at home his next time out on Tuesday. As long as he remains healthy, there’s a good chance that he’s a mixed-league viable starter for the duration of the season – and he can be scooped up off of the waiver wire for nothing in most leagues right now.
Brent Rooker, OF, Athletics
Available in 76 percent of Yahoo leagues
Now here’s a player that has gotten off to a very intriguing start – so much so that I personally overspent in FAAB to make sure that I landed him in all of my leagues over the weekend.
Rooker has always flashed his power potential. That was on full display again in the minor leagues during the 2022 campaign – where he slashed .289/.395/.649 with 28 homers, 87 RBI and five stolen bases in just 81 games at the Triple-A level. What he has also always shown, is a propensity to strike out – with a career 29.8% strikeout rate in the big leagues.
It’s because of that strikeout rate, that Rooker has never really been able to land a full-time opportunity – despite his massive power potential. That is, until now. The Athletics are extremely short on talent and long on opportunity this season, and Rooker has seized an everyday role there in the middle of their lineup. All he has done so far is slash .324/.381/.676 with four homers and 11 RBI in 42 plate appearances. Perhaps even more important, is that he has posted a respectable 7/4 K/BB ratio.
If you take a glance at Rooker’s Statcast page, it burns a very bright red. He ranks in the 93rd percentile in terms of average exit velocity, the 94th percentile in barrel rate and the 98th percentile in expected batting average. When you combine a boatload of hard contact with everyday playing time and a premium lineup spot (even on a bad offense), you have all the makings of a strong fantasy league contributor. At a minimum, you should add him now and ride the wave while he’s hot, and then you can always cut bait if he starts to cool off or if his strikeout rate reverts to his career norms.
Rooker did exit Tuesday night’s game with an apparent hamstring injury, so be sure to check his status heading into Wednesday’s game just to be on the safe side. The Athletics are calling his removal precautionary and Rooker is hopeful that he’ll be able to play on Wednesday.
