If you’re into streaming pitchers or simply have a hole to fill in your lineup, Scott White has 10 recommendations for the upcoming scoring period, all rostered in less than 80 percent of CBS Sports leagues. They’re no substitute for some of the universally rostered pitchers, of course, but these are the best you’ll be able to do off the waiver wire.
- Week 17: Sleeper hitters | Two-start pitchers
All information is up to date as of Sunday evening.
Sleeper pitchers for Week 17 (July 25-31)
 SEA Seattle • #68 • Age: 24 Of Kirby’s two matchups this week, the one against the Rangers is at least halfway decent. The Astros not so much, but he’s of the caliber of pitcher you should be looking to use whenever he’s in line for two starts. |
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 CIN Cincinnati • #21 • Age: 22 Greene’s inconsistencies as a rookie are well documented, but the Marlins offense was in a dire state heading into the All-Star break. As long as he’s throwing strikes, he should be able to deal damage. |
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 TB Tampa Bay • #59 • Age: 29 Springs will be making only his second start back from a leg injury, which brings with it workload concerns, but he still offers big bat-missing appeal and will be facing a middling offense that’s vulnerable to left-handers in particular. |
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 HOU Houston • #17 • Age: 32 The Astros won’t go six-man forever, which means Odorizzi is pitching for his job. His next start will be his third straight against the Athletics, but you can’t ask for a much better matchup. Add a second start against the Mariners, and he should be in business this week. |
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CIN Cincinnati • #40 • Age: 24
Lodolo has been pretty shaky in three starts since returning from a strained back, but the talent is still evident, making him worth a gamble with matchups as favorable as the Marlins and Orioles. The Marlins are just horrendous against left-handed pitchers. |
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SEA Seattle • #77 • Age: 28 Flexen’s success doesn’t make a lot of sense, but we’re in Year 2 of that now. With a 2.88 ERA in his past 10 starts, he’s worth considering any time he’s in line for two starts, even if the matchups are iffy. |
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 SF San Francisco • #38 • Age: 34 The season stat line is still underwhelming, but Cobb has a 3.00 ERA in five July starts and a 2.98 xFIP overall. His splitter could give an inexperienced Cubs lineup fits this week. |
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SF San Francisco • #57 • Age: 31 It took half the season, but Wood has finally begun to pitch up to his peripherals, allowing a total of three earned runs in four July starts. He has an inviting matchup against a strikeout-prone Cubs lineup this week. |
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 PHI Philadelphia • #55 • Age: 26 The ERA and WHIP clearly aren’t where we wanted them to be, but Suarez threw five shutout innings in his first start back from a back injury last time out. He’s usable at least in points leagues in a two-start week, especially since one of those matchups is against the Pirates. |
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 CLE Cleveland • #34 • Age: 27 A strong June raised Plesac’s roster rate so that he barely qualifies as a sleeper anymore, but he’s looked vulnerable again in July. His matchups against the Red Sox and Rays are nothing special, but if you’re intent on maximizing volume, you could do worse than him. |
KVSP