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Everyone, relish the moment. Based on request, you're being gifted with a rare Part Two of our SP waiver wire analysis with some additional names to consider.
As always we'll have options in both shallow and deeper fantasy baseball leagues, so everyone can take something from the article. Let's get to it.
Editor’s Note: 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.
Starting Pitchers - Shallow Leagues
Mike Bolsinger (LAD, SP)
OWNED IN: 45% of Yahoo leagues
BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ team leagues
Bolsinger has been fantastic for a pitching-deprived Dodgers team, winning his last three outings while compiling a 0.71 ERA, and 0.79 WHIP with a 22/6 K/BB ratio. He's currently the 23rd ranked SP in Yahoo leagues, ahead of the likes of Madison Bumgarner, Michael Pineda, and David Price.
Will he maintain this success? I don't see it happening; his LOB rate is an absurd 96.9% while his BABIP is .210. I smell regression, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't give him a whirl while he's hot. If I owned Bolsinger I'd be looking to sell high, but he should still be rostered in shallow mixed leagues.
Chase Anderson (ARI, SP)
OWNED IN: 22% of Yahoo leagues
BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ team leagues
I've written about Anderson in this piece here so I'm not going to delve into the details too much. I just feel the need to reiterate to fantasy owners to grab him while his ownership is way too low. The two runs he gave up in his last outing at St. Louis were the most he allowed in the month of May. I am concerned about his ability to handle a full-season workload but those are issues for another day. Grab him now and enjoy the ride, or trade while the stove is hot. Either way you can't lose.
Starting Pitchers - Deeper Leagues
Lance McCullers (HOU, SP)
OWNED IN: 22% of Yahoo leagues
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ team leagues
McCullers, 21, was thrown into the fire by Astros management and he's done quite well. He got up to 100 pitches in his win at Detroit while completing six innings with two runs, six hits, no walks, and six strikeouts. It also included this nifty triple play.
McCullers has three pitches in his arsenal and relies heavily on his fastball/curve combo. McCullers carried a K/9 rate over 10 throughout his minor league career so he should be reliable for multiple category production, but my concern is hitters catching onto his pitches since he's so limited. I'm buying McCullers in deep leagues but I consider him more of a streaming option in shallow leagues.
Mike Wright (BAL, SP)
OWNED IN: 16% of Yahoo leagues
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ team leagues
This one is more of a risky pick since his rotation spot isn't locked in by means, but the potential is obvious and worth looking into. Wright, the 7th overall prospect in the Orioles organization according to MLB.com, has been fantastic his first two turns, completing seven innings with no runs in each performance. Check out his performance at Miami.
He's currently slated to start the second game of the CWS/BAL doubleheader Thursday with Bud Norris that day as well. It'll be interested to see how things shake out in Baltimore as this is a contending squad that can't afford to be too patient with the rotation. I'm willing to grab Wright for his start on Thursday and await word from Showalter in regards to the rotation. Just be ready to drop him if the news isn't in his favor.
Other Pitchers Previously Highlighted to Consider
Noah Syndergaard (NYM, SP / 64%) ; Ubaldo Jimenez (BAL, SP / 63%) ; Tim Lincecum (SF, SP / 57%) ;James Paxton (SEA, SP / 55%) ; Mike Leake (CIN, SP / 48%) ; Tanner Roark (WAS, SP,RP / 42%) ; Jesse Chavez (OAK, SP / 36%) ; Jimmy Nelson (SP, MIL / 27%) ; Roenis Elias (SP, SEA / 11%) ; Tsuyoshi Wada (SP, CHC / 9%)
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