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Buying Tiny Tim and Young Guns
This week’s edition features another round of quality pitchers to consider for your fantasy rotation. Pickings are getting slimmer but all of these players are available in over 60% of Yahoo leagues so hopefully you can nab a few. 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 updated daily. You can also download our free waiver wire iPhone app.
Shallow Leagues
Noah Syndergaard (NYM, SP)
OWNED IN: 39% of Yahoo leagues
BALLER MOVE: Add in all leagues
The Mets made it official on Friday that Syndergaard will make his debut on Tuesday at Chicago, replacing the injured Dillon Gee in the rotation. Syndergaard was a universal top-10 prospect going into 2015 and has done nothing to dissuade those rankings, compiling a 1.82 ERA and 34/8 K/BB ratio over 29.2 innings in Triple-A Vegas, a traditionally hitter-friendly environment. The Mets have made no guarantees he will remain in the rotation but it’s worth streaming him and hoping he makes their decision difficult with a quality outing. Available in 61% of Yahoo leagues as of this posting, I expect that number to continue to climb and would recommend giving him a chance in all leagues.
Tim Lincecum (SF, SP)
OWNED IN: 39% of Yahoo leagues
BALLER MOVE: Add in 10 + team leagues
It’s been difficult to trust the former ace since Tiny Tim lost the velocity on his fastball in 2012, with his best ERA being 4.37 since then. He somewhat lost his identity as a pitcher and was even relegated to bullpen work by Bruce Bochy. Now Lincecum is off to a terrific start, posting three scoreless starts in six outings while compiling a 2.00 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and a 28/14 K/BB ratio.
There’s reason to believe this start is sustainable. The team was reporting a noticeable improvement in his ability to locate his off speed pitches during Spring Training and he’s increased his usage on the changeup and curveball while cutting back on the fastball. Keeping hitters off guard has resulted in a 54.0% ground ball rate (a career high) while reducing his LD rate to 18.0%, more in line with the Lincecum of old. The concerns are his K/9 rate is never going to reach pre-2012 status again and his 0.25 HR/9 rate is unsustainable. Still, I’m buying Lincecum in all leagues. With him out there in 61% of leagues, it’s likely you can join in too.
Wily Peralta (MIL, SP)
OWNED IN: 39% of Yahoo leagues
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12 + team leagues
Peralta scared off most owners with his inconsistent start to 2015 and saw his ownership rate drop into the 20s. After three consecutive quality starts, I think it’s time owners give him a second chance. Peralta was fantastic his last time out vs a tough LAD lineup, going eight innings allowing two runs with six strikeouts and zero walks. His line drive rate has not changed from 2014 which tells me his .328 BABIP is due for improvement. His WHIP has always been a liability but he’s done a good job so far limiting the free passes (1.85 BB/9). He needs to limit the long balls to reach ten team mixed league status, but he makes for a solid streaming option or a backend SP in deep leagues. He has a two-start week coming up vs CHW and @NYM if you need any further convincing.
Deeper Leagues
Chase Whitley (NYY, SP)
OWNED IN: 15% of Yahoo leagues
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12 + team leagues
Whitley was a popular stream this weekend and didn’t deliver for fantasy players, going 5.2 innings with five runs including three long balls vs Baltimore. Because of this I expect his ownership levels to drop, which only benefits those looking for pitching help. Remember, the Orioles are not an easy matchup. Whitley still owns a 3.06 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 16/3 K/BB ratio over 17 2/3 innings. He has a successful track record in the minors but doesn’t blow hitters away as evident by his career .338 BABIP, which means I can’t recommend him as an immediate add in shallow leagues. I am a big fan of his matchup Thursday at Tampa and think he’s a solid streaming option, but if he performs well I’d try and sell high in deep leagues.
Alex Colome (TB, SP)
OWNED IN: 15% of Yahoo leagues
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12 + team leagues
Colome has been gradually working his way back into the rotation, recording consecutive scoreless outings going five innings a piece. He has yet to eclipse 80 pitches in an outing but he’s also yet to yield a walk with ten strikeouts. The results have been minimal so far but this is a pitcher who has mixed league value and should be available in 85% of leagues. He’s got a two-start week coming up vs NYY and @MIN and makes for a great add if you’ve got the space. If he can reach a full workload without reinjuring himself, he'll become a mixed league fixture in the near future.
Other Pitchers Previously Highlighted to Consider
Mike Leake (CIN, SP / 59%) ; Ubaldo Jimenez (BAL, SP / 53%) ; James Paxton (SEA, SP) / 47% ; Jesse Chavez (OAK, SP / 38%) ; Chase Anderson (ARI, SP / 10%)
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