Last one of the year, thanks for reading, watching, and listening alone!
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Emmet Sheehan (9/13 vs. MIA)
Sean Manaea (9/15 vs. BAL)
Christian Scott (9/13 vs. NYY)
Connor Prielipp (9/14 vs. NYY)
Shane Drohan (9/12 vs. CIN)
Jack Flaherty (9/16 vs. TOR)
Andrew Alvarez (9/12 vs. LAA)
Pitcher Targets
Emmett Sheehan, Dodgers (41%): Tip of the cap to Jon who called out Sheehan as a recommended arm after a month in the minors. He struck out 10 in 5.2 innings.
Quinn Mathews, Cardinals (35%): It is a two-start week at home against the Giants and Nationals. If there was ever a week to take a shot at the wild rookie, this is it.
Hagen Smith, White Sox (18%): The 2024 first-rounder struggled in 2025, but has found his footing in limited innings this year. After making 10 relief appearances, Smith started Thursday night but only went two innings. But he extended his scoreless streak to 18 innings to start his MLB career. It’s helped by an unsustainable .143 BABIP. Given his lack of a third pitch, Smith lives off his slider and good fastball movement, he likely will be a bullpen arm eventually, but the White Sox should give him another 3-4 seasons to figure it out.
Jonah Tong (18%): Changeup was awesome in the debut against Miami. It did fall apart eventually for him (4 ER), 16 whiffs and seven strikeouts on 87 pitches - pretty impressive. Gets Baltimore next (on Monday).
Yusei Kikuchi, Angels (17%): Despite throwing six scoreless innings, only picked up 4 percent ownership in the past week. He’s had good finishes to the season before, and this looks like another.
Ryan Johnson, Angels (8%): Another of the Angels’ arms who seems to have figured something out after the pitching staff change. Johnson was part of the typical Angels’ development path in 2025 and jumped to the Majors on opening day without ever throwing a minor league inning. After racking up a 7.36 ERA in 14.2 MLB innings, Johnson spent the rest of the year dominating in High A (1.88 ERA, 10.2 K/9). He started this year poorly as well, and ended up back in the minors. It still wasn’t clicking on his return. But since the pitching coaches changed, he’s allowed nine runs in 38.1 innings (2.11 ERA). Still not a great strikeout pitcher, he has a chance to be an effective rotation arm especially if he can get his changeup to equal his slider and fastball.
Andrew Alvarez (17%): Decent form, matchup with the Angels this weekend.
Corbin Burnes (38%): Gonna be tough to get 5+ innings from him, but maybe it can happen a couple times before the year ends.
Hitter Targets
GOING TO COORS SOON:
Padres
Mariners
GOING TO SACRAMENTO:
Mariners
So add your Mariners bats where they’re available!
Michael Arroyo (10%), Mariners-2B: Great time for the M’s to play him with three lefties on the schedule in Sacramento.
Jakob Marsee, Marlins-OF (42%): Remember last year, this guy probably won some fantasy leagues. Could he do it again?
Cam Smith (39%): .860 OPS, 7 HR, .563 SLG since August. The power tool is showing up. Batting average has been terrible, but he’s one HR away from a 20-10 season.
Kyle Karros, Rockies-3B (29%): Good Jazz Chisholm replacement, Karros is looking at a week at home, where he hits .282/.392/.436 this season.
Victor Mesa (11%): .286/.315/.543 since August 1st with four bombs and four steals. 12 homers, eight steals in 65 games this year. Guy can play!
Jonah Cox (7%): Giants have a bunch of games coming up, and he can steal some bags.
Josue De Paula, Dodgers-OF (11%): One of the top prospects in all of baseball, the 21-year-old is expected to be called up today. After hitting .302/.400/.539 with 26 homers, 101 RBI, 105 runs scored and 31 steals in Double A, he’ll likely see most of his time at DH as he is likely a future first baseman when Freddie Freeman retires.
Leonardo Bernal, Cardinals-C (7%): Keeps on hitting in his MLB debut, and the Cardinals are leaning into that start (.278, 2 HR, 10 RBI) by moving him in the 4th and 5th spots in the lineup.
Thomas Saggese (2%%): 1.280 OPS in September, playing a lot. Very good hitter in the minors, maybe something is coming together in the Majors.
Javier Sanoja (39%): Keeps slappings hits around and stealing some bases.
Last Week’s Waiver Wire Review
Shallow League Hits
Cal Quantrill, Rangers-SP: Continues his run of quality starts over the past seven weeks.
Shallow League Misses
Ethan Salas, Padres-C: Zero-for-12 to start his MLB career, so not looking like a surprising finish to 2026 for the top prospect.
Deep League Hits
Leonardo Bernal, Cardinals-C: Continues to hit the ball well and has been steady in the fourth or fifth spot in the lineup.
Deep League Misses
Ryan Gusto, Marlins-SP: His last effort the Cubs got him for five earned runs in 4.2 innings.
