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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