RADIO
The Midseason Classic is now in the rear-view mirror, meaning that things are starting to get serious out here. With 2 1/2 months left in the fantasy season, those pitchers that we stream, those decisions to start/sit our fringe arms, all really start to take on more weight.
Without further ado, here is the latest install of the SP Waiver Wire for your consumption, though do note we haven't had nearly as many games (and new data) come in since last week thanks to the All Star Break.
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Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Targets
Matt Moore (TB, SP) – 39% Owned – Moore has four straight quality starts now (six QS in his last seven outings), and even though he’s only struck out eight in his last 19 innings this is certainly worth noting. His next start is a great matchup @OAK, which should be much easier compared to facing teams like Baltimore and Boston.
Hector Santiago (LAA, SP) – 32% Owned – He’s won three straight, with five of his last six starts resulting in a QS for owners. His latest victim was the Chicago White Sox, who he has always dominated, with a notable bonus here being that this was his first start of the 2016 season in which he didn’t walk a batter. He has a 1.88 ERA in those last six outings, but also owns a 3.70 FIP, 5.05 xFIP, 4.54 SIERA so don’t think too much of this stretch. Still, a hot streak needs to be respected, which he’ll look to continue in a home start against Texas on July 20.
Zach Davies (MIL, SP) – 23% Owned – He’ll be recalled into his usual spot in the big league rotation on July 17 to take on the Reds in Cincinnati.
Andrew Cashner (SD, SP) – 20% Owned – I still don't trust this at all, but the fact remains that since being reactivated he has twirled two solid one-run outings with a clunker sandwiched in between. He'll face the Cardinals on the road on July 20 next, which I'm still not comfortable with (his two good starts came at home, the clunker was on the road).
Eduardo Rodriguez (BOS, SP) – 14% Owned – Still very skeptical despite the seven innings of one-run ball on July 16, partly because it was only one start, but also because it came against a scuffling Yankees squad. That said, his ceiling demands more attention than the average pitcher when it comes to a possible breakout. He faces the Twins at home on July 22 next in a decent matchup for those looking to stream.
Tyler Anderson (COL, SP) – 11% Owned – He takes on the Rays at home next on July 18, as he looks to make it four straight quality starts in what is shaping up to be a very strong rookie campaign.
Mike Foltynewicz (ATL, SP) – 11% Owned – He’s tossed two straight quality starts (@CWS, vs. COL) with a 15:2 K/BB ratio in those starts. Not much to go on, but this is a guy who has strikeout-per-inning stuff and pitches in the NL East (albeit for the Braves). Wins are tough to come by for an Atlanta pitcher, and he faces a tough task at Coors Field on July 21 next, but is worth watching in deeper formats (especially if he conquers Coors).
Nick Tropeano (LAA, SP) – 10% Owned – He hasn't made a start since last week, so we'll just repeat here: He’s posted two useful starts since being recalled, though this latest one against the Orioles on July 9 was his sharpest. The Orioles do have plenty of free-swinging types, which played well into Tropeano’s off-speed stuff as he notched eight Ks in six innings of one-run ball. His 3.12 ERA shouldn’t anchor expectations though, as he’ll need more starts like this where he limits walks and homers to become the type of pitcher that can sustain a ratio like that. Still, the decent ceiling is there for the 25-year-old and deep-league fantasy owners alike. He faces the Rangers on July 18 at home next, not a pretty streaming matchup but it does make for a nice test.
Jorge De La Rosa (COL, SP) – 7% Owned – A regular in this column, De La Rosa has now put together a 4-2 record with a 2.68 ERA in his six starts since rejoining the rotation on June 14. He is very difficult to trust, as his SIERA sits at 5.40 with a 21:17 K/BB ratio in the same span, but this has some deep-league intrigue all the same. He'll take on the Rays at home on July 20 for his next start.
Zach Eflin (PHI, SP) – 7% Owned – I said last week that if Eflin conquered Coors Field then I'd re-evaluate things. Indeed he won, pitching six innings of two-run ball to follow-up his complete game against the Braves on July 5. Here's the thing though, while he's rattled off four straight quality starts, he has only struck out 13 across 27 innings in those outings with a 4.72 SIERA. The Phillies aren't too bankable for wins either, so that means you're strictly playing him for ERA/WHIP relief out of the standard five pitching categories, which is fine, but know what you're doing here. I'd rather have the youngster who could feasibly adjust and grow with raw talent rather than the old vet in De La Rosa, for what it's worth. His next start is slated for July 17 at home against the Mets in a solid matchup.
Kendall Graveman (OAK, SP) – 5% Owned – Graveman has four QS in his last five outings, headlining that stretch with his most recent matchup @HOU where he tossed eight innings of two-run ball. He has regained his strong ground-ball inducing ways, with each of those last five starts registering a 52% GB rate while only allowing one homer in that stretch. He’s prone to streaks, but the 25-year-old will look to keep this good one going against the Astros at home on July 18.
Tyler Skaggs (LAA, SP) – 3% Owned – Skaggs was incredible in his latest rehab start, striking out 14 in seven scoreless innings while his fastball was sitting at around 92 MPH. Reports are circulating that he is a strong candidate to come back to the rotation in August, making the 25-year-old a solid deep-league add as July wears on.
Homer Bailey (CIN, SP) – 2% Owned – Latest reports say Bailey could potentially be activated after his next rehab start (scheduled for July 20), making him a decent deep-league add due to his past performance despite not having pitched in the bigs in 15 months.
Miguel Gonzalez (CWS, SP) – 1% Owned – A staple at the end of this article every week, Gonzalez has sat at 1% owned for as long as I can remember. This comes despite his performing admirably in his 13 starts for the White Sox thus far. This could be true for fantasy owners as well, though it’s clear that no one wants to leave themselves open to a blow-up start. Every week his numbers seem to get better though, as he’s now rattled off three quality starts in a row and owns a 3.18 ERA in his 11 starts against non-Toronto opponents. That’s worth serious consideration folks. He draws a road start against Seattle on July 20 for his next start.
