DFS Betting: The Three Pitchers to Add After a Slew of Aces go Down

We are a month into the 2024 MLB season and have seen a slew of injuries to the some of the league’s top pitchers. Spencer Strider, Shane Bieber, Eury Perez, and Brandon Woodruff highlight the list of pitchers that won’t play for the rest of the season, though many more are set to miss significant time.

These pitching injuries mean that MLB daily fantasy sports players will need to dig deep to find replacement. Below, we’ll share three pitchers our USA legal betting experts are adding to their fantasy rosters this week, giving you everything you need to upgrade your roster.

While he is a rookie, Jared Jones has looked like an ace over his first few starts of the season. The 22-year-old has made five starts, going 2-2 with a 2.79 ERA. After a decent debut against the Marlins, Jones has registered quality starters in three of his next four starts. The lone exception came against the Mets when he was pulled after pitching five scoreless innings.

Jones is a great add if you need help with ERA and strikeouts. The Pirates are limiting the rookie’s pitch count, but he is still owning a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 9.8. He can also help in leagues that include WHIP, as his currently stands at 0.83.

The biggest drawback to adding Jones is that he may not get many wins. The Pirates started hot but have fallen back to Earth. While that will limit his contribution in that category, his other stats make him well worth an add.

Suarez price has risen drastically, but he is well worth the add if your team is in search of an ace. The 28-year-old is in the midst of his best season, going 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA and 0.70 WHIP. Those numbers are incredible, as is Suarez’s current 22 inning scoreless streak. You read that right, the lefty has not allowed a run in three straight starts, making him the hottest pitcher in baseball.

The biggest question here is when the veteran will cool off. Suarez has been a solid start for the Phillies the last two seasons but hasn’t been anywhere close to the level he’s at now. While that signals a regression is coming, we think he still ends up being one of the top starters in the league by the season’s end.

The Cubs spent a lot of money to lure Shota Imanaga across the Pacific, but it has paid off in a big way. The 30-year-old has looked incredible in his first season in the MLB. He is 3-0 with a 0.84 ERA and 0.75 WHIP across four starts this season. That includes an impressive outing against the Dodgers, where he held them scoreless on two hits and zero walks.

There are a few reasons we believe Imanaga is undervalued. First, he has walked just two batters this season, showing he is in control of his arsenal of pitching. Second, he is brand new to the MLB, meaning it will take time for lineups to adjust to his elite stuff. Lastly, Imanaga plays for a Cubs’ team with a great offense, setting the table for a lot of wins.

While some believe teams will figure out Imanaga, we haven’t seen anything to suggest that will happen any time soon. Add Imanaga now before his price goes even higher.