As we enter Week 14 of the 2025 MLB season, fantasy baseball managers are urged to capitalize on emerging starting pitchers available on the waiver wire. Eury Perez of the Miami Marlins is highlighted for his potential upside despite inconsistent performances, making him a speculative but promising pick. Boston's Lucas Giolito, having turned around his season in June, appears primed to contribute significantly, especially with his recent run of quality starts.

Noah Cameron from the Kansas City Royals and Landen Roupp of the San Francisco Giants are also recommended, with Roupp's excellent performance against the White Sox demonstrating his viability as a streaming option. Eduardo Rodriguez of the Arizona Diamondbacks shows promise as well, with recent outings indicating his return to form.

In deeper leagues, Ryne Nelson of the Diamondbacks and Edward Cabrera from the Marlins are considered valuable for their ability to log innings effectively. Jacob Lopez from the Athletics has emerged as a surprising option, showcasing solid strikeout potential. Emmet Sheehan, despite not being on the current Dodgers roster, is expected to return soon and should be added before his talent becomes widely recognized.

Mound Musings focuses on the excitement of baseball's Draft Combine, spotlighting standout pitchers for fantasy leagues. Kade Anderson, a left-handed talent from LSU, boasts an impressive record of 11-1 and 170 strikeouts, showcasing his skills in the College World Series. Tennessee's Liam Doyle, known as the 'Madman', led collegiate baseball with an astounding K/9 ratio of 15.43. Tyler Bremner from UC Santa Barbara is a versatile pitcher with a lethal change-up, while high school star Seth Hernandez has 100 mph potential. With poor fielding impacting pitching stats, it's critical for fantasy managers to monitor match-ups closely.

Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. is showing promising signs in his recovery from a right foot sprain sustained in June. After throwing a successful bullpen session, McCullers expressed optimism about his progress, stating, "everything is trending in the right direction." He completed 35 pitches, indicating he is ready for fielding drills, which are scheduled for Thursday.

McCullers, who hasn't pitched since June 10, is hopeful that he won't require a minor-league rehab assignment. Instead, he mentioned that facing live hitters in batting practice could be a feasible next step. His return is crucial for the Astros as he has previously battled injuries but managed a 4.91 ERA over seven starts this season.

Today's MLB slate presents a range of strikeout options as we analyze pitchers and their matchups. Zack Wheeler, who has excelled with a 32.9% strikeout rate against a Houston lineup that ranks 10th in strikeouts, stands out. Meanwhile, MacKenzie Gore faces the San Diego Padres, another tough opponent, but boasts a 32.3% K rate. Notably, Jacob deGrom, with a 25.7% strikeout rate, is up against the Baltimore Orioles, who rank 27th. A three-leg strikeout parlay featuring Jacob Misiorowski, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Jacob deGrom is suggested at +160 odds.

Analyzing the matchups further highlights that while high-strikeout pitchers like Wheeler and Gore are appealing, targeting weaker offenses could yield better results. The betting strategy emphasizes smart selections based on each pitcher's recent performance and their opponents' strikeout tendencies.

Chase Burns made a remarkable MLB debut on Tuesday night as a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, facing the New York Yankees. Although he didn’t secure a win, he made history by striking out the first five batters he faced, including three former MVPs. Burns opened with an impressive strikeout of Trent Grisham and followed it with strikeouts of Ben Rice and Aaron Judge, showcasing a fastball hitting up to 100 mph. By the end of the fourth inning, Burns had recorded eight strikeouts, marking a notable start for the Reds’ top prospect.

Despite allowing three earned runs on six hits, his performance was praised for its potential and skill. Burns exhibited a strong pitching arsenal with a mix of fastballs, sliders, and changeups, maintaining control throughout the game. As the Reds look to build their future around such talent, fans and fantasy players alike will be eager to see how Burns develops in the MLB.