Chris Bassitt (SP, OAK) - Week 17 Waiver Wire Pickups

Andrew Ericksen analyzes Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Chris Bassitt as a waiver wire pickup or add target for Week 17 of the 2019 fantasy baseball season. He's been consistent and reliable just about all season.

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 26% of Leagues

ANALYSIS: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Chris Bassitt has been a quietly consistent and reliable option as a starter just about all season. On the year, he's 7-4 with a 3.96 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with 83 strikeouts and 36 walks over 88.2 innings.

Bassitt rarely goes deep into games. He's only gone six innings or more in five of his 16 starts this year. However, what he lacks in length, he makes up in run limitation. Only twice this year has he allowed more than three earned runs.

The track record of success for Bassitt also dates back to last year, where he quietly had a 3.02 ERA over 47.2 innings. Dating back to last year, he has shown a great ability to maintain a low barrel-rate and exit velocity against. He has a 5.1% barrel rate against this year and an exit velocity against of 86.8.

Starting pitching is so scarce on the waiver wire that anyone who has been as risk-averse and reliable as Bassitt has for such a long sample size should be added in most leagues. His strikeouts aren't great and he isn't likely to contribute many quality starts, but his ERA should give you a boost and he has solid win potential as well. Add him in all NL-only leagues and 12+ team leagues. He can also be added in more shallow leagues if you have a spot to fill.