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 features a starting pitcher getting an opportunity in Minnesota and an emerging power/speed combo outfielder in Pittsburgh that have a chance to contribute for fantasy managers moving forward.
Bailey Ober, SP, Twins
Available in 77 percent of Yahoo leagues
With veterans Kenta Maeda (triceps) and Tyler Mahle (elbow) expected to miss at least a few weeks due to injury, Ober will get an opportunity to stick in Minnesota’s starting rotation. The 27-year-old right-hander, who has made 31 starts for the Twins over the prior two years, has allowed just two runs on seven hits with a 10/5 K/BB ratio across 11 1/3 innings (two starts) since making his season debut on April 23. He doesn’t possess stratospheric strikeout upside, but he’s been solid from a run-prevention standpoint and represents a viable back-end rotation stabilizer for fantasy managers. He’s lined up to face the Guardians on Friday in a tasty road matchup before taking on the Padres at home the following week. He’s worthy of a speculative roster spot in all formats until further notice.
Jack Suwinski, OF, Pirates
Available in 47 percent of Yahoo leagues
Suwinski showed flashes of immense power potential, but contact issues limited him to a part-time role last year with the rebuilding Pirates as he finished with a pedestrian .709 OPS to go along with 19 homers and four steals in 372 plate appearances over 106 games. While he’s still striking out at a healthy clip, the 24-year-old burgeoning fantasy star has displayed improved plate skills in the early stages of the 2023 campaign, and appears to be on the verge of a sustained offensive breakthrough. He went 3-for-6 with a homer, five RBI and a stolen base during Saturday’s doubleheader against the Nationals and is batting a sublime .279/.393/.618 with 10 runs scored, six home runs, 18 RBI and five stolen bases across 84 plate appearances. He’s unlikely to contribute much in the batting average department, but he possesses the raw power necessary to easily eclipse the 30-homer plateau in a full-time role and the uptick in stolen bases gives him a chance to blossom into a five-category fantasy contributor. Simply put, he should be rostered in all fantasy formats and time is running out to scoop him up off the waiver wire.
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