Danny Salazar (SP, CLE) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately in All Leagues

OWNED IN: 20% of Fleaflicker Leagues

ANALYSIS: After a disappointing 2014 season, Danny Salazar was brushed aside by a lot of fantasy owners at the start of 2015. Part of that was because he started in the minors, but the other part was because he had broken so many hearts last year. Well, if you stayed faithful to the right-handed flamethrower, you lucked out. For those of you that still have a chance, pick up Salazar immediately!

We knew Salazar had good stuff coming into last year, but his struggle to limit the big innings turned a lot of people away. He has always had a high BABIP (.343 in 20 games last year), but his high strikeout rate gives him huge upside. It seems like the offseason and short time in the minors this year has improved his strikeout ability even more, as he has an absurd 21 strikeouts in 13 innings so far (11 coming against the Detroit Tigers).

Salazar should definitely be owned in all leagues, due to his awesome ability to miss bats. However, you should be aware that he is very prone to huge innings. With relatively high line-drive rates (24.6% for his career), Salazar has to rely on his defense an awful lot when he’s not striking guys out. You should certainly pick-up the young Indians pitcher if he’s still available, but just be aware that he’s going to go through some ups and downs in 2015.