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.
Previous Week’s Stash List: The Stash List, Pitcher Edition: Week 17
Ground Rules
- The Stash List is for your redraft leagues and does not consider impact beyond 2022
- Only current minor league players (<50 MLB innings pitched) 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 August 5 (generally, the most recent three appearances and season total)
Top 10 SP Prospects to Stash
1. Ryan Pepiot, RHP, LAD – ETA August
Pepiot has bounced back and forth between Triple-A Oklahoma City and Los Angeles this season, but he’s one to watch as we get down the stretch. He’s posted back-to-back gem’s against Sugar Land and looks ready for another shot at the big league rotation. His command week-to-week is still inconsistent, but since June 1, Pepiot has fired a 2.66 ERA over 44.0 innings pitched with 51 strikeouts and 19 walks.
Quick update on the state of the Dodgers rotation: Dustin May is currently rehabbing in his return from Tommy John surgery and is expected back in the near future, Walker Buehler is on the injured list with an elbow strain but is hopeful for a late-season return, Mitch White was traded to the Blue Jays this week, and Clayton Kershaw was placed on the IL on Friday with a lower back strain.
All of the above could spell an opportunity for Pepiot to slide into the rotation as soon as this weekend and, considering how thin the starting pitching waiver wire likely is in your redraft leagues, Pepiot is worth a speculative add just due to the high likelihood he gets a handful of starts down the stretch. The rest of this list is very uncertain whether they will be called up at all.
2. DL Hall, LHP, BAL – ETA August
Hall has now posted back-to-back duds, allowing 12 runs over his last 4.2 innings pitched, which included five walks and four home runs. His inconsistent command is the only thing keeping him in the minors right now, but it’s a major hurdle. With each passing week, it’s becoming less and less likely that Hall can make a significant impact this season from a fantasy perspective.
Despite the tough outing, Hall remains the top arm to stash in redraft leagues. His proximity and upside are unmatched by others on this list. However, the jury is still out as to what Hall’s role will be with the Orioles when he does get called up. He’s worth stashing across all redraft leagues in anticipation of his call-up.
3. Cade Cavalli, RHP, WAS – ETA September
No injuries to report this week for Cavalli for once. What is worth noting is that since June 1, he’s posted a 2.50 ERA over 39.2 innings pitched with 44 strikeouts and 13 walks, and he won Rochester’s player of the month for July.
Following the Juan Soto trade, (and, really, even prior to it) the Nationals were in no place to compete this year, and thus in no rush to get Cavalli to the Majors. However, considering their youth movement now, it’s not out of the question that the club looks to get Cavalli some big league experience before the year is out. He has tremendous upside but his call-up is highly speculative.
4. Kyle Muller, LHP, ATL – ETA September
Muller has been one of the hottest pitchers in the minors over the last few months and looked poised to join the Braves rotation here in the second half. Unfortunately, he’s dealing with a broken bone in his non-throwing hand that was caused by a comebacker that hit him during practice.
Muller remains one to stash for now, but it looks likely he’ll be missing some time and the added uncertainty around his health could drop him off fantasy radars for the rest of the season. Stay tuned on Muller, but don’t expect him to be called up anytime soon.
5. Hunter Brown, RHP, HOU – ETA August
Brown has been on a hot streak over the month of July, working a 2.89 ERA over 18.2 innings with 23 strikeouts and 8 walks. He made starts in just two games though, picking up multi-inning relief appearances in the other two. Barring injury at the big league level, it continues to appear likely the Astros are grooming Brown for a reliever role upon his call-up.
He’d be much higher on this list if an opportunity to start were to arise, but for now, he’s just a name to know down the stretch. Brown is not on the 40-man roster and, due to highly uncertain timing and role upon promotion, he’s probably not worth stashing.
Top-ranked @astros prospect Hunter Brown fanned nine in a dominant relief outing for the @SLSpaceCowboys: https://t.co/O3sB37AeOx pic.twitter.com/o7MU7sCyMC
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 5, 2022
6. Ken Waldichuk, LHP, OAK – ETA September
The Yankees emptied their Triple-A starting pitching depth at the trade deadline this year in search of help at the big league level. Waldichuk was a casualty of the Yankees’ pursuit of Frankie Montas, and will now head to the West Coast along with fellow southpaw JP Sears and Luis Medina. Prior to being traded, over two levels Waldichuk posted a 2.71 ERA, with 116 strikeouts, and 33 walks in 76.1 innings.
Waldichuk was assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas and has yet to make his debut donning the new colors. Waldichuck has big-time stuff and has been rising up prospect lists, but it’s likely he is behind Sears (again) for big league opportunities in the near term. For this reason, he’s looking more like a name to know down the stretch and is not worth stashing outside of the deepest redraft leagues right now.
7. Gavin Stone, RHP, LAD – ETA September
Stone continues to pile up strikeouts in Double-A, now having a 34.0% strikeout rate over 64.1 innings with a 1.40 ERA. Not quite sure why he hasn’t been promoted to Triple-A yet. He’s also making a strong case to be the Dodgers’ top pitching prospect.
The Dodgers have a lot of options on the 40-man roster that are ahead of Stone in the pecking order so he’s only worth stashing in the deepest of redraft formats due to his upside. If and when Stone does get called up, he’s definitely worth a speculative add across most redraft leagues.
8. Hayden Wesneski, RHP, CHC – ETA September
Wesneski has frequented this list throughout the season as he made a name for himself with the Yankees. However, similar to his counterpart above Ken Waldichuk, Wesneski was included in a trade deadline deal to bolster the Yankees bullpen, so he’s on his way to Chicago. Prior to the deal, he posted a 3.51 ERA over 89.2 innings with 83 strikeouts and 28 walks and has been steadily climbing prospect rankings.
A move to Wrigley could accelerate Wesneski’s timeline to promotion as it’s quite possible the rebuilding Cubs will want him to get some big league experience before the end of the year. Wesneski was assigned to Triple-A Iowa and though he hasn’t debuted yet, he figures to slot right into their rotation to compete for the next opening at the big league level. There’s a lot of uncertainty here, so he’s probably not worth stashing outside of deeper redraft leagues.
9. Cody Morris, RHP, CLE – ETA September
Morris made his 2022 Triple-A debut this week, working into the third inning and throwing 48 pitches (67% strike rate) while picking up six strikeouts. He’s missed most of the season thus far with a shoulder injury and you have to figure with health this year he would have already made his MLB debut.
Morris is one of the Guardians’ top pitching prospects, and at 25 years old, the organization is probably itching to see him at the highest level. There has been a bit of a youth movement in Cleveland, and he still needs time to build up, but if you squint hard enough Morris could be a boon to your fantasy rotation in September if he gets the call. However, a lot of things will need to go fall into place for it to happen.
Cody Morris strikes out the side in the top of the first! pic.twitter.com/lW0YmQO0EW
— Columbus Clippers (@CLBClippers) August 3, 2022
10. Taj Bradley, RHP, TBR – ETA September
Bradley is so darn impressive. He was promoted to Triple-A right after the All-Star break and picked up right where he left off. Bradley is only 21 years old and not on the 40-man roster, but he has huge upside and could earn an opportunity down the stretch. The Rays will have a handful of workloads to manage in the latter part of the season, so it’s possible Bradley will receive an opportunity. He’s not worth stashing in any redraft leagues right now.
Others considered (in no particular order):
Previously debuted, currently in minors: Caleb Kilian (CHC – AAA), Ethan Small (MIL -AAA), Chase Silseth (LAA – AA)
Yet to make their MLB debut: Mike Burrows (PIT – AAA), Ryne Nelson (ARI – AAA), Brandon Williamson (CIN – AAA), Logan T. Allen (CLE – AAA), Bobby Miller (LAD – AA), Gordon Graceffo (STL – AA), Jay Groome (SDP – AAA), Peyton Battenfield (CLE – AAA)
Photos by Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels, Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Drew Wheeler (@drewisokay on Twitter)