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Deep League Waiver Wire: Week 21

Welcome to another edition of the deep league waiver wire watch looking forward to Week 21. Today we will look at six players: two relievers, two starters, and two position players who all seem to mirror each others' situations.

All could provide a huge spark for fantasy owners searching for roster additions 20,000 fantasy baseball leagues under the sea. To start off, we look for a starting pitcher in an unusual place. All ownership rates are from Fleaflicker.

Editor’s Note: For other waiver wire options, check out RotoBaller’s fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups list. It's updated every single day. Our awesome writers bring you analysis on hot or emerging NL and AL-Only options, and also all other fantasy formats. 

 

Deeper League Waiver Wire Analysis

Chris Rusin (SP, COL) - 2% owned

Colorado would seem to be the last place you would look for a starting pitcher unless his name is Gray, but Rusin has been making a compelling and consistent case for himself. So far in 2015, he has been serviceable with a 3.99 ERA, 1.506 WHIP, 4.11 FIP, expected Coors Field figure of 1.1 HR/9, and an encouraging 2.3 BB/9. Rusin seems to be a grand fit for play in Colorado as he keeps the ball out of the thin air with a 1.13 GB/FB ratio and a 1.81 GO/FO ratio, which is why Rusin surprisingly performs better in his hitter friendly home park with a 3.13 ERA and a 1.326 WHIP. Lately Rusin has been especially efficient: with three starts in August Rusin has a 1.80 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and has allowed zero HR in 20 IP. When you pitch in Coors Field, homers are a way of life; but if Rusin continues to walk very few batters and keep balls on the ground, he will be a very solid pickup for fantasy baseball managers in deeper leagues.

 

Edwin Jackson (RP, ATL) - 3% owned

Jackson is like the "Fast and the Furious" movies: just when you think he is done for good, he keeps coming back (with mixed results) but America keeps wanting more because he is just too interesting. He was released by the Cubs despite having a solid 2015 so far with a 2.97 ERA, 2.65 FIP, 1.26 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9, 7.3 K/9, and has allowed zero HR in 33 and one-third IP. Since being picked up by the Braves; Jackson has a 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, a -0.32 FIP, and 15.4 K/9 in two and one-third IP. It might be a limited sample size, but it is more than encouraging from a guy who has found quite a home in the bullpen this season. Atlanta's bullpen is far from dominant so if Jackson continues pitching this well guys like Ross Detweiler, David Aardsma, and Arodys Vizcaino won't stand in Edwin Jackson's way of compiling holds and saves. If that happens, Jackson is a must own for fantasy baseball managers in deeper leagues.

 

Stephen Piscotty (1B/OF, STL) - 5% owned

Piscotty may be the first name on a short list of prospects whose debut and performance has been overshadowed by that of higher profile young guns. This season in 85 AB Piscotty has 11 R, 11 RBI, nine doubles, a triple, one HR, a .341 BA, and a .880 OPS. Piscotty is effective against both arms a pitcher is allowed to use, with a .776 OPS against RHP and a 1.092 OPS against LHP. He has also given the Cardinal fans what they purchased a ticket for by producing a 1.052 OPS at home. For how many AB he has received, Piscotty has impressive run and RBI totals; and when a guy is hitting .341 with a .880 OPS and has found high end effectiveness at home and against both sides of a pitcher's shoulders, the runs and RBI are bound to continue and harvest hearty rewards for fantasy baseball managers in deep leagues.

 

Pat Venditte (RP, OAK) - 0% owned

Speaking of both arms a pitcher can use... Venditte can tell you a thing or two (I dare you baseball fans to attempt to not get happy tingles all over at the sheer coolness of him being a switch pitcher). Venditte is a minor league veteran to say the least. Since 2008 in the minors Venditte has a 2.39 ERA, 1.067 WHIP, 10.0 K/9, 0.5 HR/9, and 2.5 BB/9 in 429 and one-third IP. In 2015 in the majors Venditte has a highly impressive 1.23 ERA and 0.545 WHIP in seven and one-third IP. Venditte neutralizes batters with a 1.25 GB/FB ratio and uses the platoon advantage to great success, limiting RHB to a .067 BA and LHB to a .125 BA. The current closer in Oakland, Edward Mujica, has been struggling this season with a 5.25 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. Also in the Oakland bullpen is Evan Scribner with a 3.79 ERA and 1.01 WHIP, and Drew Pomeranz with a 3.72 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. There is certainly no gigantic roadblock in Venditte's path to becoming the A's closer, especially if he keeps pitching as well as he has been. If there is one thing we know about Oakland: they do what they think will work the best, whether it is an orthodox decision or not. If they make the unorthodox decision, Venditte becomes a valuable asset for fantasy baseball managers in deep leagues.

 

Travis Shaw (1B, BOS) - 2% owned

The trade of Mike Napoli to Texas has so far worked out better than most Red Sox fans would dream, and that far out dream has vividly appeared in the form of Travis Shaw smashing every pitch in sight. In a mere 58 AB this season Shaw already has ten RBI, 12 R, and five HR, with a .328 BA, and a .986 OPS. Shaw has produced a solid .761 OPS against RHP and has simply terrorized LHP with a 1.450 OPS. Like Kevin Costner, Shaw has found magic at Fenway Park with a 1.444 OPS at home and in the last seven days has produced three HR, a .381 BA, and 1.266 OPS in 21 AB. Shaw has really found a slugging stroke of late, so if you are a fantasy baseball manager in a deeper league, don't be obtuse and tune in to the Shaw Crank Redemption.

 

Scott Feldman (SP, HOU) - 7% owned

Scott Feldman has had a great second half of the season after returning from injury. So far in the five starts Feldman has had in the season's second half; he has a 2.93 ERA, 1.141 WHIP, and only six walks. These solid performances make Feldman especially valuable considering he plays for a highly productive offensive team that would make him a prime candidate for a tally in the victory column on any given quality start. Feldman limits HR susceptibility with a 0.99 GB/FB ratio and a 1.45 GO/FO ratio, but home run issues are the main reason Feldman tends to excel outside of homer friendly Houston with a 2.78 ERA and 1.081 WHIP away from Minute Maid. With George Springer resuming greater baseball activity with each passing day, the Astro offense isn't far away from becoming the offensive juggernaut it was earlier in the season. Now that Scott Feldman is pitching so well, the looming run support makes him a smart roster addition for fantasy baseball managers in deep leagues.

 

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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Josh Jacobs

Saves Fantasy Performance With Two Touchdowns Against Cardinals
Javonte Williams

Records Second 100-Yard Rushing Game in Week 7
Darren Waller

Suffers Pectoral Strain, Will Undergo MRI
Jake Ferguson

Scores Two TDs Despite Return of Top Dallas Receiver
Rashee Rice

Heavily Involved in Debut, Scores Two Touchdowns Against Raiders
Christian McCaffrey

Carries Niners Offense Again, has First 100-Yard Rushing Game
D'Andre Swift

Goes for Season-High 124 Rushing Yards in Week 7 Win
CeeDee Lamb

Tops 100 Receiving Yards in First Game Back From Injury
Keenan Allen

Turns Back the Clock in Dominant Week 7 Outing
Trey McBride

Explodes for 10 Catches, 74 Yards, Two Touchdowns in Loss
Jayden Daniels

to Undergo MRI on Monday
Kyler Murray

Cardinals Commit to Kyler Murray as Starter When Healthy
Oronde Gadsden

Enjoys Spectacular Showing in Week 7
Justin Herbert

Salvages Big Fantasy Performance in Ugly Loss at Home
Jaxson Dart

Four Touchdowns Not Enough in Loss to Broncos
Jonathan Taylor

Produces Another Three-Touchdown Outing
Bo Nix

Scores Four Touchdowns in Improbable Comeback Win
Toumani Camara

Gets Four-Year Contract Extension from Portland
Shaedon Sharpe

Blazers Agree on a Contract Extension
Jayden Daniels

Won't Return in Week 7
Kevin Durant

Lands Two-Year Contract Extension with Houston
George Springer

Returns to Lineup for Game 6 of ALCS
Domantas Sabonis

to Miss at Least a Few Games, Will be Re-Evaluated in One Week
Jayden Daniels

Questionable to Return in Week 7 Against Cowboys
Spencer Knight

Takes on Ducks Sunday
Shakir Mukhamadullin

Sharks Place Shakir Mukhamadullin on Injured Reserve
Kasperi Kapanen

Exits With Injury Sunday
Jonathan Lekkerimaki

Suffers Injury Sunday
Chris Olave

Scores Twice While Evading Injury
Filip Chytil

Injured on Sunday
Teddy Blueger

Hurt in Sunday's WIn
A.J. Brown

Back on Track With Two Touchdowns Sunday
Jason Dickinson

Remains Out Sunday
CFB

Colorado State Fires Head Coach Jay Norvell After Four Seasons
CFB

Florida Fires Head Coach Billy Napier After Four Years
Nils Lundkvist

Expected to Miss Time
Pierre-Luc Dubois

to Remain Out Sunday
Jacob Bryson

in Concussion Protocol
Niko Mikkola

Hurt in Saturday's Loss
Shayne Gostisbehere

Exits Saturday's Action With Lower-Body Injury
Mark Stone

Suffers Apparent Wrist Injury
Chase Elliott

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William Byron

Seeks First Win at Talladega to Overcome Las Vegas Crash
Chase Briscoe

Likely to Finish Worse Than he Starts
Kyle Larson

Despite No Wins on Drafting Tracks, Kyle Larson is Improving
Tyler Reddick

Despite Winning at Talladega, Tyler Reddick's Drafting Record Is Not So Hot
Ross Chastain

Poor Qualifying Makes him a Strong DFS Option at Talladega
Chris Buescher

Excellent Crash Avoidance Could Reap Dividends at Talladega
Ty Gibbs

If Ty Gibbs' Team Executes a Better Strategy, he Could Win at Talladega
Daniel Suarez

Hopes for Clutch Talladega Win to Remain in the NASCAR Cup Series
Josh Berry

Might Contend at Talladega
Austin Dillon

Doesn't Lead Enough at Talladega to Contend for Wins
Frederick Gaudreau

to Be Sidelined for 4-6 Weeks
Kaiden Guhle

to Miss 4-6 Weeks
Patrick Kane

Ruled Out for Sunday
Noah Hanifin

Not Ready to Return Saturday
Brandon Montour

Takes Leave of Absence
Joel Kiviranta

Out Indefinitely With Lower-Body Injury
Hampus Lindholm

a Game-Time Call Saturday
Rob Dillingham

Timberwolves Exercise Team Option on Rob Dillingham
Scotty Pippen Jr.

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least 12 Weeks
New York Knicks

Knicks Cut Ties with Garrison Mathews
Dallas Mavericks

Dalano Banton Waived by the Mavericks
Miami Heat

Precious Achiuwa Waived by Miami
Dallas Mavericks

Mavericks Waive Dennis Smith Jr.
Macklin Celebrini

Has Multi-Point Outing Friday
Brendan Donovan

Undergoes Sports Hernia Surgery
George Springer

Exits Game 5 Early After HBP on his Knee
Jackson Chourio

Back in Game 4 Lineup Against Dodgers
Iván Herrera

Ivan Herrera Has Bone Spurs Removed From his Elbow
Brendan Allen

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Reinier de Ridder

Reinier De Ridder A Favorite At UFC Vancouver
Mike Malott

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Kevin Holland

Set For UFC Vancouver Co-Main Event
Aiemann Zahabi

Looks For His Seventh Consecutive Win
Bradley Beal

Set to Make Clippers Debut in Preseason Finale
Marlon Vera

Returns At UFC Vancouver
VJ Edgecombe

Set to Return for Preseason Finale
Jeremy Sochan

Won't Play in Season Opener
Jasmine Jasudavicius

Looks To Extend Her Win Streak
AJ Green

Bucks Agree to Contract Extension
Manon Fiorot

Looks To Bounce Back
Aoriqileng

Aori Aoriqileng Looks To Rebound
Cody Gibson

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Jaylen Brown

Considered Day-to-Day with Hamstring Tightness
Kyle Nelson

Set For Lightweight Bout
Matt Frevola

Set To Open Up UFC Vancouver Main Card
Jaden Ivey

Will Miss Four Weeks After Knee Surgery
Paul George

Expected to Miss Season Opener
Joel Embiid

Set to Make Preseason Debut on Friday
CFB

Curt Cignetti Signs Eight-Year, $11.6 Million Extension With Indiana
Carlos Rodón

Carlos Rodon Unlikely to Be Ready for Opening Day After Elbow Surgery
Anthony Santander

Removed From ALCS Roster With Back Injury
Jackson Chourio

Aggravates Hamstring, Pulled Early in Game 3 of NLCS
Aaron Judge

Will Not Need Elbow Surgery
Anthony Volpe

Won't be Ready for Start of Next Season
Gerrit Cole

Won't be Ready for Opening Day Next Year
Milwaukee Bucks

Chris Livingston Waived by the Bucks
Keegan Murray

Nique Clifford Shines in Keegan Murray's Absence
Cooper Flagg

Continues to Start at Point Guard
CFB

Jermod McCoy Officially Out for Alabama Matchup
CFB

Jam Miller Questionable to Face Tennessee
CFB

Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt Probable For Saturday
Anthony Volpe

Undergoes Left-Shoulder Surgery
CFB

Jayden Gibson No Longer with Oklahoma Program
Emmanuel Clase

to be Banished for Life After Gambling Allegations?
Alex Bregman

Plans to Opt Out of Contract With Red Sox

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