There's no replacement for a high-end hurler, of course, but if you're looking to stream pitchers, then you've come to the right place. Scott White has 10 recommendations for the upcoming scoring period, all rostered in less than 80 percent of CBS Sports leagues. Most likely, they're the best you'll find off the waiver wire.
- Week 8: Sleeper hitters | Two-start pitchers
All information is up to date as of Sunday evening.
Sleeper pitchers for Week 8 (May 15-21)
Gray has come about his 2.96 ERA in less-than-dominant fashion, but with matchups this week against the Marlins and Tigers, the two lowest-scoring offenses, you might as well sit back and enjoy the ride.
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Gray seemed to find his slider two starts ago, enjoying a big velocity jump and a season high in swinging strikes, and the velocity remained up in his latest start against the Athletics. As such, you'll want him active for a home start against the Rockies.
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Dunning has had no problem taking on a starter's workload after beginning the year in relief and is still sporting a 1.72 ERA. The lack of strikeouts suggests regression is coming, but he's worth a try in a two-start week, especially since one of the matchups is the Rockies at home.
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After an impressive major-league debut Friday in which he performed up to the standards of the game's best pitching prospect, Perez makes for an easy call against the Nationals this week.
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Heaney's slider hadn't been nearly as effective last year, at least not until a dominant outing at the Athletics on Sunday. It was his fourth quality start in five (officially speaking), so we'll give him the benefit of the doubt with the Rockies coming to town.
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This may be the first ever sleeper pitcher lined up for just one start against the Dodgers, but with the way scoring has tended to snowball this year, no matchup is particularly safe. Better to go with a pitcher you can trust, and Ober's track record in scattered major-league chances speaks for itself.
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The matchups at Toronto and at Cincinnati present some danger for a pitcher vulnerable to hard contact, but with the way German has been missing bats this year, he's probably worth running out there for virtually any two-start week.
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Varland may be vulnerable to the long ball, but he's shown a knack for missing bats so far in his major-league career. He's a good bet to go six innings if he's able to limit the damage, so while there's some risk in starting him at the Angels this week, you could do a lot worse, too.
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Lugo has been pretty steady for the Padres so far, limiting walks and keeping the ball on the ground. His one matchup this week (Royals) is favorable enough, and his relief pitcher eligibility is an added bonus in points leagues.
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Michael Wacha has put up a couple crooked stat lines this year, which makes him a risky play in a two-start week. He's coming off back-to-back quality starts, though, allowing a combined five hits between them, so if volume is your thing, you may deem him to be worth that risk.
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