Rotoworld’s brand-new Pickups of the Day column is designed to help fantasy managers uncover a handful of widely-available targets over the course of the season. It could be a breakout candidate, a prospect stash, an injury replacement, a pitcher with a favorable matchup or week, a player who is due some better luck, or any other number of scenarios. If there’s value to be found on the waiver wire, we will find it and bring it your way. Today’s edition features a pair of Twins who are widely-available in mixed fantasy leagues at the moment.
Louie Varland SP, Twins
Available in 87 percent of Yahoo leagues
The first-place Twins dropped their third straight game on Tuesday night, but it wasn’t Louie Varland‘s fault. Recently moved into the rotation with Tyler Mahle sidelined due to a right posterior impingement and flexor pronator strain, Varland tossed six innings one one-run ball against the Padres on Tuesday night as part of a 6-1 loss.
Varland allowed just five hits, with the lone run scoring on an RBI single from Matt Carpenter in the fourth inning. The 25-year-old struck out six and walked a pair while totaling 14 whiffs in his 95 pitches. He topped out at 98.5 mph with his fastball and racked up at least two whiffs on all four of his pitchers (four-seamer, cutter, slider, changeup).
The velocity is up across the board from what we saw last year, putting him firmly on the mixed league radar. Varland was notably throwing harder last night than we saw against last week against the White Sox, where he gave up four runs in 4 2/3 innings. He’s increasingly intriguing in fantasy leagues, even with a tough path coming up. He gets the Cubs on Sunday as part of a two-start week.
Alex Kirilloff 1B/OF, Twins
Available in 92 percent of Yahoo leagues
It’s finally Alex Kirilloff‘s time to shine. Well, maybe. Fully recovered from yet another wrist surgery, Kirilloff got the call with the Twins last week, though he’s provided little in the way of fantasy production thus far by going 1-for-5 with four walks in three games. Still, don’t let that stop you from taking a chance on him.
Still just 25 years old, Kirilloff isn’t far removed from being considered one of the top hitting prospects in the game. The minor league numbers are jaw-dropping, including a .316/.435/.605 batting line to go along with three homers during a 10-game stint with Triple-A St. Paul prior to his recent promotion.
Kirilloff flashed some potential as a rookie in 2021 while batting .251/.299/.423 with eight homers over 59 games. The results didn’t quite show it, but his quality of contact placed him in some impressive company. His .295 xBA indicated that he deserved better than we saw. Of course, that didn’t happen last year as his wrist issues arose once again. However, he’s healthy (for now) and has hit fourth and fifth in each of the last two games while starting at first base. As a left-handed hitter, he could at least find himself on the strong side of a platoon. As your resident Alex Kirilloff stan (are the kids still saying that?), I have a feeling he’s going to be scooped up in more leagues very soon.
