2025 NFBC 15-Team Waiver Wire (6/8 – Starting Pitchers)

Every Sunday, the free-agent pool has a moving range of value based on each player's success and any injury news. For late updates, I will post them in the notes area on my Substack site.

Note: If I’m in a league with someone, I will be aware of what I've written and pay closer attention to your bids if I believe you may be looking for a similar player in a particular week. At the same time, our free agent spending during the year will have different paths. If I’m aggressive early and a competitor is not, they will have the advantage of buying power as the season progresses, and vice versa. I’ll do my best to list all players of interest, but there will be times when waiver thread lines are backfilled with low-dollar players to ensure an unwanted or injured player is released and replaced.

Starting Pitching

Michael McGreevy, STL (44.0%)

With Matthew Liberatore leaving his last start with a drop in velocity, McGreevy could be the next man up in the Cardinals’ starting rotation. His arm has been sharp over his previous 10 starts at AAA, leading to a 2.29 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 56 strikeouts over 51.0 innings. Earlier in the year, St. Louis gave McGreevy a spot start, and he responded with 5.2 shutout innings with one hit, a walk, and five strikeouts.

Rating: St. Louis called up McGreevy on Sunday to face the Dodgers. His success or failure will influence his bids in the main event this week (four runs, eight hits, and five strikeouts over six innings). In addition, if Matthew Liberatore were to go on the injured list tonight, it would paint a longer potential starting opportunity for McGreevy. Four main event teams ($27, $21, $3, and $1) added him last week. I could this week’s bids sitting between $20 and $50 for fantasy teams looking for added starting pitching depth.

Colton Gordon, HOU (60.0%)

After eight starts at AAA (4-0 with a 2.55 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts over 42.1 innings), the Astros moved Gordon into their starting rotation in mid-May. He allowed between three and four runs in each of his first four games, but home runs (4) and short innings (19.2) were an issue in most matchups. Gordon flashed in his last outings (one run and seven hits over five innings with five strikeouts) while displaying excellent command over his previous four appearances (one walk and 22 strikeouts over 20.1 innings).

His average fastball (91.2 mph) puts him in the crafty pitcher mode while relying on developing a slider, followed by an improved sinker and a changeup.

Fantasy Outlook: Gordon was added to 22 main events last week with a high bid of $46 and a low of $1. Most of his winning bids were between $9 and $17. He faces the Twins at home next week, followed by a road matchup vs. the Athletics. I expect more bids to be above E-class token swings ($20) this waiver period.

Brandon Walter, HOU (2.0%)

Walter was at his best at the lower levels over the minors from 2019 to 2022 (10-7 with a 2.92 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 239 strikeouts over 172.2 innings). He lost his way in 2022 and 2023 between AAA (4.87 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and 95 strikeouts over 101.2 innings) and the majors (16 runs, 39 baserunners, and 16 strikeouts over 23.0 innings), followed by a missed season with a left shoulder injury.

In 2025, batters struggled to make contact against him at AAA (2.08 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts over 47.2 innings), leading to a promotion to Houston’s starting rotation for the second time on Sunday (6/8). He’s allowed two runs and 10 baserunners over 11.0 innings in the majors with 10 strikeouts.

His fastball (91.4 mph) is a liability in terms of velocity, but Walter features three higher-usage off-speed pitches (slider, cutter, and changeup).

Fantasy Outlook: Based on the direction of Ryan Gusto, Walter should get another chance in Houston’s rotation. The Astros also went with six starts over the past week to give Lance McCullers more time in between starts. His low ownership and lack of a clear long-term starting job will put Walter in the flier bidding category this week.

Bryce Elder, ATL (63.0%)

Elder took advantage of AJ Smith-Shawver’s injury this week. He allowed a solo home run to the Giants with two other hits and a career-high 12 strikeouts (where did that come from?). His 2025 AAA resume (8.76 ERA, 1.82 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts over 12.1 innings) suggests an arm to avoid.

Over his last seven starts with the Braves, Elder pitched at an elite level (2.98 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 39 strikeouts over 42.1 innings). His fastball (92.5 mph) is at a career-best level, with a minimum change in usage of his pitches.

Fantasy Outlook: A matchup against the Rockies next week looks favorable. Elder draws the Mets at home the following week. Thirty-five game managers invested in him last week (High – $42 and Low – $1). His highest runner-up bid was $20. Let’s go D-class token bids this week.

Simeon Woods-Richardson, MIN (5.0%)

Over the past week, the Twins lost two starting pitchers (Pablo Lopez and Zebby Matthews), signaling another starting opportunity for Wood-Richarson. He posted a 5.02 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts with 35 strikeouts over 37.2 innings with Minnesota. His arm has been better at AAA (4.24 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts over 17.0 innings), with most of the damage coming in his last outing (five runs, eight baserunners, and three home runs over five innings.

Rating: Main event fantasy managers have used Wood-Richardson as a rotational double-starter with a quick release after a poor showing. He should face Texas at home and Houston on the road this week. Only a desperation dart for minimal cost for the needy wins and strikes out fantasy teams.

David Festa, MIN (47.0%)

In April, Festa pitched well over three games for the Twins (two runs, 17 baserunners, and 15 strikeouts over 13.0 innings), but he failed to make it through five innings in any matchup. His arm was an asset over his next four games at AAA (four runs, 11 hits, two walks, and 26 strikeouts over 20.1 innings), putting Festa in the stash category in deep formats.

Minnesota called him up on June 5th, and he proceeded to have his worst outing of the season (eight runs, eight baserunners, and three home runs over 3.2 innings with six strikeouts). Festa features a mid-90s fastball, supported by a high volume slider and changeup. He added a sinker this season.

Rating: Five main event teams chased Festa around last week, with a high bid of $14 and a low of $4. His poor outing will likely result in a few dollars invested in him this week, but Festa has done enough in 2025 to expect a bounce-back game. He draws the Rangers at home this week, with a chance at double-starts (@CIN and MLW). I’m willing to pay between $20 and $30 this week in leagues where I need another starting pitcher.