Jack Flaherty and Reynaldo Lopez top Week 18 fantasy pitching sleepers
CBS Sports analyst Scott White highlighted 10 under-rostered pitchers for the July 20-26 fantasy baseball scoring period.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
Jack Flaherty and Reynaldo Lopez are back in the fantasy baseball bargain bin, and CBS Sports analyst Scott White says both have Week 18 paths to help managers hunting for pitching.
White’s list covers the July 20-26 scoring period, but with a catch: it is aimed only at leagues that begin a fresh matchup Monday after treating the first post-All-Star break weekend as its own period. Leagues that folded Thursday through Sunday into an 11-day matchup are outside the scope of his recommendations.
White limited the picks to pitchers rostered in fewer than 80% of CBS Sports leagues, with roster rates current as of late Sunday.
The headline arms
Emmet Sheehan sits right at the edge of the cutoff at 79% rostered, and White has him first despite noting that the Dodgers right-hander’s outings have been shorter and more uneven than his swing-and-miss ability might suggest. Sheehan is lined up for road starts against Philadelphia and the Mets.
Flaherty, rostered in 60% of CBS Sports leagues, draws the Cubs on the road and the Royals at home for Detroit. White wrote that Flaherty has looked sharp in three starts since coming back from an ankle injury and pointed to a broader seven-start stretch in which he has posted a 2.55 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 11.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
Lopez is available in more leagues at 47% rostered. White said the Braves pitcher, back in Atlanta’s rotation, has pushed his average fastball velocity back toward the level he showed during his strong 2024 season. Lopez gets two starts, against San Diego and Baltimore, though White noted he has not yet worked past five innings since returning to a starting role.
The full sleeper list
Emmet Sheehan, Dodgers: 79% rostered, at Phillies and at Mets. White likes the matchups for a pitcher with bat-missing upside.
Jack Flaherty, Tigers: 60% rostered, at Cubs and vs. Royals. His recent run includes a 2.55 ERA across his past seven turns, according to White.
Ian Seymour, Rays: 79% rostered, at Blue Jays. White still backs him after a rough Boston outing, citing Toronto’s bottom-five rank in runs scored.
Reynaldo Lopez, Braves: 47% rostered, vs. Padres and at Orioles. White sees renewed velocity and two starts as the appeal.
Michael McGreevy, Cardinals: 68% rostered, at Angels. White said McGreevy has seven quality starts in his past eight outings and 13 overall.
Shane Baz, Orioles: 74% rostered, at Red Sox and vs. Braves. White called him more useful than overpowering, with two chances to deliver.
Andrew Abbott, Reds: 73% rostered, at Mariners and at Cardinals. White flagged the walks but said points-league managers can consider him for two solid matchups.
Kyle Leahy, Cardinals: 36% rostered, at Angels and vs. Reds. White said the opponent strikeout tendencies help offset the risk.
Luinder Avila, Royals: 7% rostered, vs. Giants and at Tigers. White cited two bottom-10 offenses and Avila’s 48% ground-ball rate.
Brandon Young, Orioles: 51% rostered, vs. Braves. White noted the matchup has become riskier, but Young’s recent seven strong innings against Houston kept him on the list.
White’s advice comes with the usual streamer warning baked in: several of these arms are matchup plays, and the two-start options carry extra volume along with extra ways to get nicked.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.