The New York Mets and fantasy baseball managers received a huge blow when the MRI results of ace starting pitcher Max Scherzer returned with some bad news. Scherzer, who exited Wednesday night's start against the St. Louis Cardinals in the sixth inning with an apparent injury, will now be sidelined for six-to-eight weeks with an oblique issue.
Let's be clear. There's no replacing Scherzer, who was likely many fantasy baseball managers' first or second pitcher off the board and the ace of their staffs. However, there are certain ways managers can stay afloat during the absence of a key player.
The best way to do this- especially in category or roto formats- is to take the ‘Moneyball' approach. There's no Scherzer out there on the waiver wire for fantasy managers, though savvy gamers can attempt to recreate the best parts of the Mets ace by strategically nabbing players off of waivers. Sort of like a fantasy baseball Frankenstein.
Considering the pickings are likely slim in many leagues, managers will have to settle for one aspect of Scherzer's game- whether it's his league-leading five wins, 59 strikeouts, or 2.54 ERA- and look to find a player on the wire who excels in that one area.
To aid managers in their time of need after the Scherzer injury, here are three waiver wire options to replace the Mets ace.
3 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Options To Replace Max Scherzer
3. JT Brubaker
A Pittsburgh Pirates starter? And one who is 0-4 with a 5.50 ERA no less? Really? Yes really. Brubaker has quietly been one of the better strikeout artists in the league this season, as he has posted a 26.5 percent K rate and is currently tied for 17th in the majors in total strikeouts.
The Pirates righty relies on five pitches- a sinker, slider, fastball, curveball and changeup. That wide array of pitches is what fantasy baseball managers like to see, as Brubaker possesses plenty of different options to throw at hitters.
He's been living a bit dangerously with his slider, as he has already given up two homers with the pitch, though the offering has been downright nasty, as he owns a 50.5 percent whiff rate with the slider. Opposing hitters own a .204 batting average against it- and it just so happens to be Brubaker's go-to putaway pitch.
Brubaker's ERA estimators- 3.59 xERA and 3.87 SIERA- look a lot better on the eyes than his actual 5.50 mark. The Pirates righty won't pick up very many wins and there is risk in both the ERA and WHIP departments. However, rostered in just 4 percent of Yahoo leagues, Brubaker is a widely available cure to the strikeout problem afflicting Scherzer's fantasy baseball managers.
2. Bailey Ober
Great, another injured guy! Fret not, fantasy gamers! Bailey Ober, who was just on the 10-day injured list with a groin injury, just made what is expected to be his final rehab start for the Minnesota Twins' Triple-A affiliate. Ober fanned seven batters in five innings, though he did surrender five runs.
The 6-8 right-hander has good strikeout stuff- he posted a 25.3 percent K rate as a rookie last year, though his calling card is his pinpoint control. Scherzer managers looking to replace the Mets ace's outstanding WHIP should look no further than the Twins towering starter, who owned just a 6.0 percent walk rate before the injury.
The man is flat-out allergic to walks thanks to a strong ability to pound the strike zone, particularly with his fastball. Provided he's good to go after this rehab start, Ober makes for a logical replacement of Scherzer in the WHIP category.
1. Cristian Javier
This one comes with a disclaimer. Javier is rostered in just a tick over 50 percent of Yahoo leagues, though his roster percentage has been dramatically dropping recently after his latest disastrous start.
That means there's a chance he's available in some leagues for Scherzer managers. If he is, they need to pounce, as Javier has multiple areas where he provides fantasy value.
The young Astros righty owns an outstanding 29.1 percent strikeout rate and has already won two games pitching behind the mighty Houston lineup. That means that Javier has the potential to rack up wins for fantasy baseball managers.
The Astros have had a tendency to move the 25-year-old from the bullpen to the rotation and back again. However, the unfortunate injury to Jake Odorizzi could mean that Javier sticks in the rotation.
Max Scherzer's best two aspects are his strikeout and win totals. By picking up Javier where he's available, managers can replicate the Mets ace's two best features.
Follow Us
Subscribe