Welcome to The Stash List, Pitcher Edition!
The Stash List will highlight the top-10 starting pitcher prospects who are most likely to make an impact this season.
Effective in-season management will propel your team into contention, and understanding the outlook and ETA for some of baseball’s top prospects will give you an advantage over your league mates. As managers, we are looking forward to reaping the rewards of our offseason research and draft strategies, but for most of us, the fun is only just beginning.
Previous Week’s Stash List: The Stash List, Pitcher Edition: Week 12
Ground Rules
- The Stash List is for your redraft leagues and does not consider impact beyond 2022
- Only current minor league players who are expected to make an impact this season are included
- Upside, proximity, health, and opportunity are all weighed for each player
- The focus is on 12-team leagues with standard categories
- Rankings and ownership percentages will be updated weekly
- Stats shown are through July 1 (generally, the most recent three appearances and season total)
Top 10 SP Prospects to Stash
1. Brayan Bello, RHP, BOS – ETA July
Bello had a stellar week, taking home the win in both of his matchups and his third straight overall. In his two outings, Bello posted a 1.64 ERA over 11.0 innings, with 15 strikeouts and six walks. His numbers on the year are a video game 34.4% strikeout rate, 10.0% walk rate, and 63.5% groundball rate over eight Triple-A appearances.
Bello has become a priority stash in redraft leagues in short order. His early success in Triple-A and the fact that he’s already on the 40-man roster make him a perfect option to fill the next void in Boston.
The Red Sox are in a brutal stretch of games starting this weekend that includes 14 of 17 games against the Yankees and Rays heading into the All-Star break. Purely speculating, but the second half kicks off with a ten-game homestand that looks much more appealing for Bello’s MLB debut. Stash him wherever you can.
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No. 4 @RedSox prospect Brayan Bello whiffs eight batters for the fourth time in six appearances for the @WooSox: pic.twitter.com/YJaw724rbO
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 2, 2022
2. Max Meyer, RHP, MIA – ETA July
Meyer made his second start since returning from a stint on the injured list with ulnar nerve irritation (elbow). He worked 70 pitches (60% strike rate) into the fourth inning, allowing just two runs while striking out four. Meyer is very clearly on a pitch count limitation but did extend further than his first outing (53 pitches) and will continue to get stretched back out before being considered for a second-half promotion.
It’s worth monitoring, but trade rumors are starting to swirl for the fourth-place Marlins, and it’s quite possible a pitcher (Lopez or Cabrera) could be on the move. If a deal happens, Meyer will probably slide up the short list of pitchers ready for a spot in the rotation. We aren’t at must-stash again just yet, but it’s coming.
3. Kyle Muller, LHP, ATL – ETA July
Muller had a lights-out June, posting a 1.87 ERA over 33.2 innings, with 43 strikeouts and six walks. Command has been the biggest hurdle to Muller taking that next step (career walk rate of 14.9%), but following his May start in Atlanta, he’s posted a superb 7.8% walk rate.
One the year, the lefty now has a 2.99 ERA, 31.6% strikeout rate, and 8.0% walk rate over 13 starts in Triple-A. Right now, Muller is red hot and may be in line to join the Braves next week.
Over his last eight starts, Ian Anderson has a 6.69 ERA, allowing 30 earned runs and a pedestrian 12.1 K-BB%. On Thursday, he allowed seven earned runs over just two innings against the Phillies and is clearly on the hot seat. If there’s an opportunity for Muller, it’s to slide into Anderson’s spot while he sorts out his issues.
Anderson currently lines up to pitch Tuesday, so if Muller is going to get an opportunity, expect the Braves to do some reshuffling in the coming days. Stash Muller now if you want to be ahead of the rush this week.
4. Hunter Brown, RHP, HOU – ETA July
Brown had his second straight scoreless outing on Thursday, one of his best games of the season. He worked 93 pitches (64 strikes) over six innings and racked up seven strikeouts with only one walk.
He’s alternated starts and relief appearances here in June as the organization appears to be preparing him for a hybrid role upon his call-up. On the year, he has a 33.8% strikeout rate, 11.0% walk rate, and 52.4% ground ball rate.
He’s a name to know right now, but he’s not on the 40-man roster, and there is no clear path to a rotation opportunity with the Astros. Either way, it’s very likely we see Brown in Houston by the second half, just with a highly uncertain role and impact for fantasy.
Hunter Brown punctuating his sixth scoreless inning of work with back-to-back punchies. He's got seven of them this evening! #DieselDay ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/lf8yA544t2
— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) July 1, 2022
5. Ryan Pepiot, RHP, LAD – ETA July
Pepiot had a tough outing this week against El Paso, working just four innings, allowing two runs while striking out six. The tough part was due to his three walks and four hit batters. Command issues continue to be what holds Pepiot back from reaching that next level. Over 12 Triple-A appearances, Pepiot has a 1.94 ERA, 33.0% strikeout rate, and 10.9% walk rate.
He’s already made his MLB debut and is certainly top of the list to receive the next opportunity in Los Angeles. Stash Pepiot only in deeper leagues where you’re looking for innings, but if he continues his run, he may get another chance sooner than later.
6. DL Hall, LHP, BAL – ETA August
Hall has been on a roller coaster the last couple of weeks. His command issues reared their ugly head as he walked ten batters over two starts against Lehigh Valley, and it was reported that he has been tipping his pitches.
He was back on track Friday night, though, looking like his best self, posting eight strikeouts over four innings and (most importantly) only one walk. Over his eleven starts in Triple-A, he has a 4.68 ERA, 34.7% strikeout rate, and a 15.0% walk rate.
Hall’s stuff is electric, but the inconsistency over the last couple of weeks will cause any fantasy manager to hesitate stashing him in redraft leagues. If he does earn a chance in the Majors, it’s most likely in the second half, and it’s trending towards a multi-inning reliever again.
No. 5 @Orioles prospect DL Hall was 💪 for the @NorfolkTides:
4 IP
1 H
0 R
1 BB
8 KMore: https://t.co/1JBzY66Yku pic.twitter.com/5Q5FrEIWXP
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 2, 2022
7. Ken Waldichuk, LHP, NYY – ETA August
Waldichuk logged an unspectacular outing this week against Buffalo. His pitch count rose quickly (96P/60S), but he still managed to work into the fifth inning, allowing just one run, while striking out seven and walking four. Command has been up and down in June, and he just didn’t have his best stuff on Wednesday.
Over his seven starts in Triple-A, Waldichuk has a 2.62 ERA, 33.3% strikeout rate, and 10.9% walk rate.
The Yankees have a handful of names who could be plugged in here, including Hayden Wesneski and JP Sears (who had a spot start for the Yankees this week). Waldichuk is firmly on the fantasy radar, too, showcasing his potential at each stop along the way. He’s not worth stashing in any redraft leagues at the moment but is a name to know once we get down the stretch.
8. Gavin Stone, RHP, LAD – ETA August
Stone closed out a spectacular June with his longest outing of the year: seven innings with 11 strikeouts and only one walk – an absolute gem. He’s been red hot for a while now and is making a strong case for a promotion. He’s possibly the Dodgers’ top pitching prospect.
Over his eight starts in Double-A, Stone has a 1.47 ERA, 37.3% strikeout rate, 5.9% walk rate, and 50.0% groundball rate. He’s ready for a new challenge.
As impressive as a run that he’s having, an MLB promotion is not likely to be anytime soon. The Dodgers have a lot of options on the 40-man roster that are ahead of Stone in the pecking order. Still, his performance and breakout are worth noting and monitoring.
He’s only worth stashing in the deepest of redraft leagues due to his upside, but if he does get called up, he’s definitely worth a speculative add across most redraft leagues.
9. Cade Cavalli, RHP, WAS – ETA August
Cavalli is getting dangerously close to falling out of the top 10 (again). He had his start skipped last week in an abundance of caution after possibly tweaking something in the prior outing. This week he returned, with reportedly diminished velocity, and logged just three innings, allowed three runs, with five strikeouts and two walks.
On the year, Cavalli has a 5.07 ERA, 23.8% strikeout rate, and 10.5% walk rate. He does not appear close to an MLB debut considering his workload is already being managed in June.
His next start will be telling as to where he is at in terms of health and velocity. Without a step forward, he’ll be off fantasy radars completely for now. Stash only in the deepest of redraft leagues.
10. Mike Burrows, RHP, PIT – ETA August
Burrows was outstanding in Double-A to begin this season. In 12 starts, he had a 2.94 ERA, 69 strikeouts, and only 19 walks over 52.0 innings. He earned a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis in June.
Burrows is now on the cusp of the big leagues with nothing really standing in his way in Pittsburgh. He’s only made three starts and will need to go on a hot run before being considered for a call-up. Burrows is a name to know and not worth stashing in any redraft leagues right now.
Others considered (in no particular order):
Previously debuted, currently in minors: Ethan Small (MIL – AAA), JP Sears (NYY – AAA), Matthew Liberatore (STL – AAA), Caleb Kilian (CHC – AAA), Josh Winder (MIN – AAA)
Yet to make their MLB debut: Tommy Henry (ARI – AAA), Hayden Wesneski (NYY – AAA), Ryne Nelson (ARI – AAA), Brandon Williamson (CIN – AAA), Cole Ragans (TEX – AAA), Peyton Battenfield (CLE – AAA), Logan T. Allen (CLE – AAA), Bobby Miller (LAD – AA), Gordon Graceffo (STL – AA), Jay Groome (BOS – AA)
Photos by Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels, Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Drew Wheeler (@drewisokay on Twitter)