Taking a look at the fantasy baseball schedule, it is a shock to realize that there are only two more weeks of the regular season left. After that, it’s playoffs time! There are likely many out there who are fighting for their playoff lives. Without question, the right pick-up off waivers will help propel a manager into the postseason. To that end, may I present this Fantasy Playoff Survival Pickups edition?

To begin with, I realize that it has been a while since I have written a waiver pick-up article. To help familiarize my readers to my methods, I must point out that all roster percentages are taken from ESPN. Additionally, the area that I am specifically working from is point, ten team leagues. In this article, I will focus solely on starting pitchers. With all of that out of the way, let’s get into it, shall we?

Kyle Harrison, SP, San Francisco Giants, 28.2% Rostered

Checking in first is Kyle Harrison. Looking at his roster percentage, I realize that he may not be available in many other leagues. Even so, it would be a crime not to bring him up for one specific reason. Looking at the schedule, he faces the White Sox on Monday. Of course, there is no need to go into just how awful Chicago is this season. In fact, they could be the worst team of all time.

As that is the case, I won’t spend any time going into his stats, which have been down of late. Even so, taking on the White Sox clears up a lot of pitching aches and pains. Check the waiver wire. If he is there, add him immediately. If he isn’t, simply move on to the next player.

Javier Assad, SP, Chicago Cubs, 19.0% Rostered

The second pitcher on this Fantasy Playoff Survival Pickups edition is a little more available. That pitcher is Javier Assad. Like Harrison above, his latest numbers aren’t all that newsworthy. In four of this last five starts, he hasn’t been able to even finish five innings. For the season, he is 5-3 in 22 starts with a 3.19 ERA, a 1.370 WHIP, 92 Ks and 49 BBs in 107.1 innings.

Further, Assad has a 132 ERA+, 4.54 FIP, a .242 BA against, a ,280 BAbip, a 19.7 K% and a 10.5 BB%. Those last two stats are right around the league average. I realize nothing above stands out. However, Assad does have an appealing matchup on Tuesday against Detroit at home. The Tigers do not scare anyone on offense, as they rank 25th in team batting. If a manager needs a playoff boost, Assad can provide it at the beginning of the scoring period this week.

Nick Martinez, SP, Cincinnati Reds, 12.9% Rostered

Used in the bullpen and the starting rotation in 2024, Nick Martinez should have fantasy appeal this coming week. On Wednesday, he faces the Blue Jays in Toronto. While they are a better hitting team than the Tigers, it isn’t an extreme improvement. On offense, they check in at number 19. As long as Martinez avoids Vladimir Guerrero, who has been supersonic at the plate of late, he should be fine.

As for Martinez himself, he is 6-5 with a 3.16 ERA, 1.033 WHIP, 75 Ks and 10 BBs in 33 games, including seven starts. Diving deeper, he has a 135 ERA+, 2.99 FIP, .241 BA against, ..286 BAbip with a 20.4 K% and a near invisible 2.7 BB%. In his last start against the Brewers on August 10th, Martinez went seven innings and allowed just one hit, no runs, struck out seven and walked none. Even more impressive, he did it in Milwaukee.

Since then, he made a relief appearance on the 16th against the Royals, going two innings and allowed no runs, no hits, no walks and struck out two. Given the above, fantasy managers should expect a nice fantasy reward from Martinez the next time he takes the mound.

Other Fantasy Starters to Consider

Jonathan Cannon, Chicago White Sox, 2.5% Rostered: Hard to believe that anyone would recommend any player on the White Sox. However, now that Cannon has cleared the New York Yankees, he has a much easier task Monday. He and his teammates travel to San Francisco to take on the Giants. SF has a very nice pitcher’s park and their team’s bats aren’t the most imposing.

In the final analysis, he is a starter available throughout the land that gives a manager a nice boost right at the start of the scoing period. With that in mind, Cannon receives a recommendation on this Fantasy Playoff Survival Pickups edition.

Without question, the Padres’ Martin Perez, would get a higher recommendation if not for his next opponent. That team would be Minnesota, which he will face on Tuesday. The Twins are playing well, and that includes their offense. Even so, Perez has stepped up big time since he was acquired by San Diego.

In three starts covering 18.1 innings, he has only allowed four runs on 11 hits with 21 Ks and three BBs. His problem has been the long ball: four allowed as a Padre. Despite that, his 10.6 roster percentage puts him in play. If you need a boost, look Perez’ way.

One Final Starter Seriously Worth a Look

Without doubt, Michael Lorenzen‘s opponent is a clear reason to recommend him. That team would be the Angels at home on Wednesday. Digging deeper, though, it is clear that he has pitched well enough of late to merit serious consideration. Since coming to the Royals from the Rangers, Lorenzen has made three starts. In 15.2 innings, he has allowed five runs on 13 hits with 10 Ks. For sure, his seven BBs are a concern.

However, that shouldn’t stop managers from adding him from the wire this week. The Angels rank 25th on offense in 2024, 26th on the road. On top of that, they simply aren’t playing well, sliding all the way to last place in the A.L. West. They have lost five out of their last six, all at home. Now they hit the road to KC to face a Royals team that have won four in a row. Seeing as how Lorenzen is only 7.3% rostered, he is a highly recommended waiver addition in all fantasy formats this week.

The Final Word

Thank you for joining me for this Fantasy Playoff Survival Pickups edition! Follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @kevin62wilsea. Please feel free to share this article. Be sure to turn to bellyupsports.com and bellyupfantasysports.com for all the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL happenings and the latest sports news!

I am a co-host of The Sports Stove Fantasy Baseball Show. The show will be live every Sunday at 8 pm Eastern from here to the end of the fantasy baseball season. Don’t miss a single episode! Check out our latest show, dedicated to the top clinched fantasy baseball strategies and more here.