Here are The Game Day’s Week 22 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: 2-Start Pitchers, Spot Starters, & Hitter Picks. Use Josh Shepardson’s Week 22 MLB Sleepers to fill out your fantasy baseball lineups with upside plays.
Week 22 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers
Week 22 Fantasy Baseball 2-Start Pitchers To Add From Waiver Wire
Tanner Houck, RHP, Boston Red Sox (27% rostered in Yahoo! fantasy baseball leagues)
- Start 1: vs. Minnesota Twins
- Start 2: at Cleveland Indians
Tanner Houck was optioned to Triple-A after his last start as part of a doubleheader. That won’t preclude him from starting on Tuesday against the last-place Minnesota Twins, however, as he was the 27th man on Boston’s roster. He then sets up for a second start on Sunday at Cleveland.
Houck’s been nothing short of dazzling since making his MLB debut last year, and he’s been on fire as of late. In his last five starts spanning 21 1/3 innings, the 25-year-old righty has recorded a 2.95 ERA, 2.36 xFIP, 1.08 WHIP, and 35.2 K%, per FanGraphs.
- Tanner Houck fantasy baseball tip: Houck has a pair of plus matchups on the docket with both opponents ranking in MLB’s bottom half in wRC+ since the trade deadline. Houck should be rostered and used universally.
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Jordan Montgomery, LHP, New York Yankees (46%)
- Start 1: at Atlanta Braves
- Start 2: at Oakland Athletics
Jordan Montgomery has some challenging matchups this week against a pair of contenders on the road. Based on how well he’s performed this season, however, he’s earned the benefit of the doubt.
In 22 starts this year, the 28-year-old lefty has compiled a 3.77 ERA, 3.95 xFIP, 1.20 WHIP, and 9.1 K/9. He’s also been a model of consistency, allowing four earned runs or fewer in all but one of those outings.
- Jordan Montgomery fantasy baseball tip: Montgomery carries some risk with the schedule this week, but he’s still a viable option in leagues as shallow as 12-team mixers.
Daniel Lynch, LHP, Kansas City Royals (10%)
- Start 1: at Houston Astros
- Start 2: at Seattle Mariners
A cursory glance at Daniel Lynch’s full-season work for the Kansas City Royals doesn’t tell the whole story of a young hurler who’s recently found his footing in the bigs.
The 24-year-old rookie has been excellent over his last five turns, averaging more than six innings per start while fashioning a 3-1 record with a 2.35 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. While he’s unlikely to maintain those numbers over the rest of the season, he’s pitched well despite facing some daunting lineups during that stretch.
- Daniel Lynch fantasy baseball tip: Speaking of challenging matchups, he draws the Houston Astros for his second start in a row. Lynch limited them to just one run over seven innings in his previous start, however, and the Seattle Mariners offer a dreamy second matchup. I like Lynch more in leagues with daily lineup changes and the ability to sit him for his first start, but I still advise using him in 14-team mixers or larger with weekly lineup changes.
Kansas City Royals rookie Daniel Lynch is capable of providing a boost to your fantasy baseball rotation. (Image: USA TODAY)
Week 22 Fantasy Baseball Spot Starters To Add From Waiver Wire
Josiah Gray, RHP, Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins (36%)
Josiah Gray is an exciting rookie who’s pitching at a high level. In four starts since being dealt to the Washington Nationals in the Max Scherzer/Trea Turner trade, Gray boasts a 2.86 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 24.4 K%.
Gray should continue to roll against the last-place Miami Marlins. They’re a strikeout-prone club that’s fanned in 25.2% of their plate appearances against righties this season and 26.8% since the trade deadline.
- Josiah Gray fantasy baseball tip: Gray’s a fantastic option in leagues as shallow as 12-team mixers.
Week 22 MLB Sleeper Hitters To Add From Waiver Wire
Nicky Lopez, 2B/SS, Kansas City Royals (18%)
- 3 Games at Houston Astros
- 4 Games at Seattle Mariners
Nicky Lopez is burning up the basepaths with 10 steals in his last 14 games. He’s also been swinging a hot bat in the second half, hitting .318/.359/.427 with 17 RBIs and 16 runs in 31 games. He’s been moved up to second in Kansas City’s lineup as a result, making the speedy middle infielder an attractive streamer with seven games on the agenda this week.
Jarren Duran, OF, Boston Red Sox (14%)
- 1 Game vs. Texas Rangers
- 3 Games vs. Minnesota Twins
- 3 Games at Cleveland Indians
It hasn’t been smooth sailing for Jarren Duran, who initially struggled after making his MLB debut last month and has recently lost some playing time to Kyle Schwarber. Still, the left-handed-hitting rookie seems to be a decent bet for regular at-bats against righties, and the Red Sox project to face at least five this week.
Durran has flashed some signs of life lately, too, batting .289 with a homer and stolen base in his last 45 plate appearances. Against some middling pitching staffs this week, Duran’s presence in Boston’s high-powered offense makes him an enticing streamer in 14-team mixers or larger leagues.
Want more fantasy baseball advice? Check out our full 2021 fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups list for Week 22.
