Welcome to Week 21. If you've been following along with this series all season, you know the drill. If not, this article is to help you uncover starting pitcher options that may have been overlooked in your league or dropped after a poor start.

As always, included are options for both shallow and deeper leagues. I also add my list of pitchers discussed previously at the end of the article with ownership levels to boot. Make sure to check them out, and grab any that are still out there.

To read about even more waiver wire options for starting pitchers, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily. And don’t forget to check out our Starting Pitcher Matchups & Streaming Tool for expert guidance during the week too, including what pitchers to start/sit for seasonal and DFS leagues.

 

Starting Pitchers Waiver Wire - Shallow Leagues

Kris Medlen (KC, SP)

OWNED IN: 25% of Fleaflicker Leagues

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12 + leagues / Stream Worthy

As I predicted, Medlen has found his way back into the rotation after replacing Jeremy Guthrie for Kansas City. Medlen has a 2.51 ERA in seven relief appearances this year, but it needs to be noted that all of those runs were in his first appearance (3.1 IP, 4 ER). Since then it's been 11.0 scoreless innings with a 10/5 K/BB ratio.  In case you need a refresher, Medlen was a top 25 SP in fantasy from 2012 to 2013, including being arguably the best SP in baseball for the 2012 stretch run. Two Tommy John surgeries altered his career, but he's finally found his way back into a starting role.

The Royals are likely to be very cautious with Medlen, considering his health record and the Royals 13 game lead in the AL Central. But pitchers of Medlen's caliber and track record aren't usually lying around the waiver wire. He's in line for a two-start week (vs BAL, @ TB). The Orioles matchup is bothersome, and the Royals likely won't let him go past 80-90 pitches. Tampa has been a bottom five team vs RHP. This represents an excellent streaming opportunity. Expect that ownership level to rise in the coming week.

 

Wade Miley (BOS, SP)

OWNED IN: 29% of Fleaflicker Leagues

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14 + leagues / Stream Worthy

One week after I discussed a player I was frightened of (Garza), it's only fitting I feature another play that makes my stomach turn. Jokes aside, Wade Miley has earned our attention.

In the month of August, Miley has put together a 3.33 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over 27 innings against some formidable competition (vs TB, @ DET, vs SEA, vs KC). He's allowed two or fewer runs in five of his past seven outings. Safe to say those other two starts were not roto-friendly.

The peripherals have supported the idea that he's not getting lucky, but I'm not ready to hitch my ride to this wagon just yet. These numbers are fairly close to Miley's career statistics, which is an average pitcher playing in a tough AL East. This seems like more of a stream watch to me.

His next outing is a matchup at Chicago (A), a team that pummeled Miley earlier this year (5.2 IP, 7 ER). But the White Sox also have a .655 OPS vs LHP (14th in AL) and  are struggling in the past week. I approve of running Miley out there. As for his weekend start vs NYY, you're on your own.

 

Starting Pitchers Waiver Wire - Deeper Leagues

Jerad Eickhoff (PHI, SP)

OWNED IN: 4% of Fleaflicker Leagues

BALLER MOVE: Add in NL-Only / Stream Worthy

I wanted to include Eickhoff in last week's article but considering you couldn't even add him for his debut in most leagues, I decided to hold off. We ended missing out on an excellent debut - six scoreless innings with a 5/1 K/BB ratio and a win against Miami.

Eickhoff came over in the Cole Hamels trade and carries an impressive minor league track record. He had a 3.85 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with a 126/39 K/BB ratio over 133.1 minor league innings this year. His control has always been a plus while his K/9 ratio is respectable (~8.0 K/9). He has three fastballs but relies primarily on the four-seam and mixes in a slider and change as well.

There's some value here for deeper league formats, in particular NL-Only leagues. He's lined up for two straight outings vs the Mets, a team that has struggled this year vs RHP, followed by an outing at Boston. If you're starving for pitching, he's worth scooping up for the Mets appearances and then reevaluating his performance before he visits Fenway. He's a name to keep an eye on for 2016.

 

Tyler Duffey (MIN, SP)

OWNED IN: 2% of Fleaflicker Leagues

BALLER MOVE: Add in AL-Only / Stream Worthy

We're digging deep here, so AL-Only owners listen up. Perhaps owners are scared off by the 4.60 ERA and 1.47 WHIP, but there's more to Duffey than meets the eye.

Duffey debuted at Toronto and allowed five earned runs in just two innings before getting pulled. Not exactly what one would consider a cupcake outing. He's responded well though, allowing just two runs over 13.2 innings with a 15/5 K/BB ratio in two victories.

Duffey put up solid numbers for the Twins minor league organization before the call-up too. In 138 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, Duffey produced a 2.54 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with a 122/30 K/BB ratio.

He relies primarily on his four seam and curve combo while mixing a sinker, change, and cutter. His fastball has been his strongest pitch according to PITCHf/x and has limited hitters to a .188 AVG so far.

He makes for a good play this week at Tampa, a team that has struggled vs RHP in 2015, followed by a home start vs the White Sox next week. In AL-Only leagues, the pickings are likely slim which makes Duffey an enticing play for week 21.

 

Other Pitchers Previously Highlighted to Consider

The noticeable names with questionable ownership levels include Luis Severino, Taylor Jungmann, Erasmo Ramirez, Kyle Hendricks, and Brett Anderson. It's likely at least one of these pitchers is still available in your league and worth a FA add.

In Order of Ownership %

Noah Syndergaard (NYM, SP / 84% ; down 1%)
Jaime Garcia (STL, SP / 74% ; up 5%)
Taijuan Walker (SEA, SP / 62% ; up 1%)
Wei-Yin Chen (BAL, SP / 59% ; up 1%)
Taylor Jungmann (MIL, SP / 57% ; up 6%)
Mike Leake (CIN, SP / 56% ; up 1%)
R.A. Dickey (TOR, SP / 54% ; down 5%)
Luis Severino (NYY, SP / 52% ; up 1%)
Chris Tillman (BAL, SP / 50% ; up 3%)
Yovani Gallardo (TEX, SP / 46% ; down 2%)
Erasmo Ramirez (TB, SP / 37% ; up 8%)
Carlos Rodon (CHW, SP / 33%)
Jonathan Niese (NYM, SP / 28% ; no change)
Eduardo Rodriguez (BOS, SP / 25% ; up 1%)
Kyle Hendricks (CHC, SP / 24% ; down 1%)
Aaron Nola (PHI, SP / 20% ; down 2%)
Brett Anderson (LAD, SP / 19% ; down 3%)
Mike Montgomery (SEA, SP / 14% ; down 4%)
Jake Peavy (SF, SP / 12% ; down 2%)
Tom Koehler (MIA, SP / 10% ; down 2%)

 

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