Luis Gil and Sean Manaea Among Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers Worth Adding at the All-Star Break

After checking out some fantasy baseball waiver wire hitting options, I have some fantasy pitchers to possibly add.

Also, be sure to check out the FantasySP expert picks on the first half of the MLB season.

Check out the top fantasy baseball waiver wire options everyday on FantasySP. 

Should You Add Luis Gil?

Gil is rostered in 57% of fantasy leagues.

He hasn't pitched all season because of a lat injury, but Gil is getting close to returning. Gil made a rehab start in Double-A on Sunday, striking out six over 3 1/3 innings.

That was just his first rehab start, so he's likely to still make a couple more before being activated on the big league roster. Gil is coming off a strong 2024 season, so that's why he's owned in as many leagues as he is.

Gil made 29 starts last season, going 15-7 in those contests. He had a 3.50 earned run average over 151 2/3 innings, while striking out 171 batters. Gil allowed 60 runs (59 earned) on 104 hits and 77 walks.

His ERA was strong, as were his hits allowed and strikeout marks. Gil walked far too many batters, but he still was a positive fantasy asset for many.

The Yankees are desperate for starting rotation help, so when Gil is deemed ready to go, he'll rejoin the rotation. He might have his innings monitored a bit as he ramps things up, but his high strikeout potential still gives him a strong fantasy ceiling.

It makes sense to add Gil in deeper leagues right now, but I'd be cautious of doing the same in standard leagues, unless you can put him on the IR. I still think it's going to be a couple weeks until we see him in the big leagues, and it's not a great idea to stash him for that long, especially if you need fantasy starting pitcher help now.

As he nears a return is when I'd start adding him in some standard leagues. If you aren't comfortable starting him right away, then stashing him for a MLB start or two makes some sense. We'll help you keep tabs on Gil as he nears a return.

Should You Add Eury Perez?

Perez is up to 74.84% rostered.

Perez has been good in his seven starts so far this season. He missed the early portion of the season with an injury he suffered in 2023.

Perez is 3-2 with a 3.18 ERA over 34 innings this season. He's allowed 12 runs on 20 hits and 11 walks, while striking out 35 batters.

He's worked at least five innings in each of his past three starts. Perez has allowed one run on six hits and a walk over that three-game stretch, while striking out 21 batters.

Perez appears back to his rookie-year numbers he was posting in 2023. He was one of the better fantasy pitchers in the game when he went down with an injury, and he's getting back to that level now.

I'm really surprised to see his own percentage where it is. I think he should be rostered in nearly every league already. If he's available to add in your league, I'd find a way to make that transaction happen. 

Perez has a solid floor and really high ceiling with each start, even though his chances for wins aren't the best on a bad Marlins' team. Add him and reap the benefits in the second half of the season.

Should You Add Sean Manaea?

Manaea is owned in 63% of leagues right now.

Manaea made his season debut on Sunday, tossing 3 1/3 innings in relief. He allowed a run on five hits and no walks, while striking out seven batters. Manaea ended up taking the loss, but the big thing was getting him in a big league game, and he looked pretty strong in it.

He's expected to move into the rotation after the All-Star break, and that will get his own percentage on the rise in a big way. Manaea is coming off a 2024 season in which he posted a 3.47 ERA over 32 starts with the Mets. He struck out 184 batters over 181 2/3 innings.

Manaea is another big-time fantasy asset who could be picked up for free right now. He's not quite a must-add pitcher in my book, but he's close.

He should already be rostered in all deeper leagues, and he should really be picked up in most standard leagues too. Manaea could be a massive addition to any fantasy team for the latter portion of the season.

Should You Add Janson Junk?

Junk is now rostered in 34% of leagues.

Junk continued to excel in favorable matchups of late. He tossed seven scoreless innings against the Orioles on Saturday. Junk allowed five hits and no walks, while striking out a pair.

He allowed an unearned run over six innings against the Reds before that, and surrendered two runs over six frames against the Twins before that. He has allowed 12 hits and two walks over that stretch, while striking out 12.

Junk is on the rise, especially in deeper leagues, but he's also put himself on the streaming map in standard leagues for the time being.

I'd add Junk in some more deeper leagues right now. Depending on who he faces to start the second half of the season, he could see his own percentage jump up or decrease a bit. A favorable matchup probably means a good amount of standard league streaming starts for Junk.

He might be on a bad team, but again, he's pitching well enough to still be relevant in fantasy baseball leagues. We'll see if Junk can keep things rolling after the break and maybe become a standard league keeper for a bit.

Should You Add Brayan Bello?

Bello is up to 67.5% owned.

Bello is another pitcher who is red hot going into the All-Star break, although he's done it for much longer than Junk.

He hasn't allowed over three runs in any of his past six starts. Bello is 4-2 with a 2.06 ERA over that stretch. He's allowed 11 runs (nine earned) on 27 hits and nine walks, while striking out 33 batters.

Bello tossed a complete game against the Rockies in that six game-stretch, but has covered at least six innings in four of the other five outings. He is still walking a few too many guys, but Bello has been able to work out of trouble. Bello has at least five punchouts in four of those six starts.

The All-Star break is a chance for Bello to rest up a bit, but it also could slow his roll a bit. It's hard to deny he's a good fantasy asset right now.

Overall, Bello has a 3.14 ERA over 91 2/3 innings this season. He's 6-3 over 16 appearances, and has allowed 37 runs (32 earned) on 83 hits and 34 walks, while striking out 70.

He's got a career 4.17 ERA, so some regression after the break is likely coming. His WHIP is down, but so are his strikeouts from past seasons. If he's able to bounce back with the Ks, a regression in WHIP and ERA could still make Bello a solid fantasy asset.

In deeper leagues, now is a time to possibly sell high on Bello. In standard leagues, fantasy owners should be contemplating adding Bello. He's not a must-add pitcher, but for owners lacking a good group of starting pitchers, rolling the dice on Bello is a pretty good option.

We'll see if Bello regresses and becomes just a standard league option in the second half, or keeps rolling and becomes a bigger keeper option in standard setups.