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Mathew Vazin analyzes the top 3 fantasy baseball starting pitchers available in most leagues as waiver wire pickups. These sleeper pitchers can have an impact.
3 Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Sleepers
Jake Peavy - San Francisco Giants
45% Owned in Yahoo, 57% in Fleaflicker
For the most part, Jake Peavy has been a tremendous disappointment this year as he has a 3-13 record with a 4.34 ERA. However, he has slowly gained confidence and pitched very well over his last 3 starts.
During his last 3 outings, Peavy has gone 7 innings in each and given up only 4 earned runs total. In the 21 innings pitched, Peavy has struck out 16 batters and posted a 2-1 record over the span.
Although he picked up the loss in his last outing, Peavy displayed tremendous efficiency as he posted a quality start of 7 innings and 1 earned run. Even though he hasn’t pitched very well this season, the Giants have failed to give him much run support, which has led to numerous losses. If Peavy continues to pitch like he has since August 13th, he should be considered in all formats.
Jerome Williams - Philadelphia Phillies
9% Owned in Yahoo, 3% in Fleaflicker
The Philadelphia Phillies took a gamble by adding Jerome Williams to their rotation and thus far, it has paid off. In 3 starts for the team, Williams has gone 20.1 total innings while allowing only 4 earned runs.
The bullpen coughed up the lead in his first start, which is why he is only 2-0 in the three starts. In each start, he has looked more and more comfortable. During the three outings, Williams has increased his strikeout total and innings pitched following each start.
He was given a difficult task during his first start for the Phillies, since he was thrown out to face the 1st place Los Angeles Angels on the road. He did manage to have a solid start that day in which he allowed 2 earned runs over 5.1 innings. If Williams has another quality start on Saturday versus the strikeout prone Mets, he should be looked at in all formats.
Yusmeiro Petit - San Francisco Giants
3% Owned in Yahoo, 6% in Fleaflicker
Manager Bruce Bochy has had enough with Tim Lincecum’s poor outings and has decided to make a change in the rotation. Yusmeiro Petit will make the start for the Giants on Thursday against the Colorado Rockies at home.
Petit was dominant last year, but struggled this year as a starter. He has however been tremendous out of the bullpen, which is likely why Bochy is making the change.
Over his last 12.1 innings in relief, Petit has not allowed a single hit and has struck out an incredible 16 batters while walking zero. These mind-boggling stats make Petit a must-add in deep pitching leagues immediately, and also make him worth considering in all formats. His efficiency has been tremendous as of late and if it continues as a starter, the Giants may seemingly be a dangerous team down the stretch.
