Drew Smyly (SP, PHI) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

Nicklaus Gaut profiles Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Drew Smyly as a waiver wire pickup or add target for Week 19 of the 2019 fantasy baseball season as Smyly no longer looks washed up in his two starts with Philadelphia.

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Leagues

OWNED IN: 9% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Yes, that Drew Smyly. The same Drew Smyly that was released by the Texas Rangers after he made 13 appearances (eight starts), going 1-5 with an 8.42 ERA and 5.96 BB/9; not to mention 19 home runs in his 51 innings pitched. After being let go on June 26, Smyly bounced briefly to Milwaukee's farm system before exercising his release option and subsequentially signing with Philadelphia. It may have not moved any needles in the fantasy community then, but after two excellent starts with his new club, Smyly officially deserves to be back on your fantasy radar.

In those two starts, Smyly is 1-o with a 0.67 ERA and 0.85 WHIP, as well as 13 strikeouts in his 13 innings pitched. The strikeouts come as no surprise, as Smyly has always been capable of getting his punchouts in the middle of giving up home runs, but the almost 30% use of his cutter was surprising, seeing Smyly had only once used it more than 20% while with the Rangers earlier in the season.

At home in his last start, Smyly shutout San Francisco for six innings on his way to picking up his first win since May 24. He'll face those same Giants on the road this week, giving Smyly a massive stadium boost as Oracle Park in one of the league's best pitcher's park. Pick up as a speculative add in deeper leagues but with this juicy matchup, Smyly may be worth a stream in all formats.