Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 26

This is it, folks. One last week and we'll arrive at the conclusion of the 2019 baseball season. Odds are if you're still reading this, you're in the hunt for a championship - or at least finishing on the podium and/or in the money. Hopefully this feature has been of assistance. A reminder before we... Read More

Joe Musgrove (SP, PIT) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 36% of leagues ANALYSIS: It seems right about every time you think you can start trusting Pirates pitcher Joe Musgrove, is right about the time that he gives up about eight runs, as he did in a loss against the Mets on August 4. But Musgrove has been... Read More

Homer Bailey (SP, OAK) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 30% of leagues ANALYSIS: Ok, don't say anything too loudly lest you jinx it but Homer Bailey has been pretty good for about a month now. In his six starts since August 14, Bailey has gone 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 0.97 WHIP over 36 innings with 34... Read More

Alex Young (SP, ARI) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 37% of leagues ANALYSIS: Arizona Diamondbacks rookie Alex Young is coming off of the worst start of his young career, giving up a grand slam to Juan Lagares and six runs (one earned) in less than three innings in a loss to the New York Mets last Thursday.... Read More

Sandy Alcantara (SP, MIA) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 37% of leagues ANALYSIS: Only three pitchers in baseball have thrown two shutouts in 2019; Shane Bieber, Lucas Giolito...and Sandy Alcantara of the cellar-dwelling Miami Marlins. With a record of 5-13, it's obviously been a bumpy year for the 24-year-old right-hander and he now has a 3.93 ERA in... Read More

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 25

Two weeks. That's all that separates us from the end of the 2019 season. It feels like we only just got started. Alas, all good things must come to an end. Hopefully this season has qualified as such for you - and if this feature played a role in making it so, even better. A... Read More

Digging Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 24

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the injured list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Digging Deeper: NL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 24

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the injured list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 24

With just three weeks remaining in the 2019 season, the stakes are at their highest. There is precious little room for error as we barrel toward the conclusion of the year. That's true regardless of format; head-to-head owners have to navigate their league's postseason, while rotisserie players must make every move count as they scratch... Read More

Dinelson Lamet (SP, SDP) - Week 24 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 34% of leagues ANALYSIS: Coming off of a 10 K performance against the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres pitcher Dinelson Lamet didn't exactly blow the doors off anyone in his last start, losing to the Colorado Rockies 3-2. But Lamet wasn't exactly bad, allowing one earned run in... Read More

Digging Deeper: NL-Only Waiver Report for Week 23

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the injured list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Digging Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 23

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the injured list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 23

This is it, folks. We've officially crossed the rubicon into September. Almost all head-to-head leagues have commenced postseason play, and rotisserie owners are scrambling for any edge they can find as we rapidly approach the end of the 2019 season. Pitching has been a trouble spot for many owners this season. Hopefully, this column has... Read More

Digging Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 22

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the injured list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Digging Deeper: NL-Only Waiver Report for Week 22

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the injured list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Joe Jimenez (RP, DET) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 32% of leagues ANALYSIS: The Tigers are terrible, but bad teams still get save opportunities (unless they're the Orioles, perhaps). Joe Jimenez has assumed the closer role after Detroit shipped Shane Greene to Atlanta at the trade deadline, and done well thus far. The hard-throwing righty has converted four... Read More

Adrian Houser (SP, MIL) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 32% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Adrian Houser has been extremely effective since rejoining the Brewers' rotation in late July. He's allowed exactly one earned run in four of his five starts during this recent stretch and has earned two wins. The Brewers' rotation has been shaky at... Read More

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 22

Just over a month remains of the 2019 season. Playoffs have already begun in some fantasy baseball leagues, but most of us are still fighting for position regardless of scoring format. Pitching has been a bugbear for many owners in 2019. Hopefully, this column has helped you navigate the waters thus far and will continue... Read More

Dinelson Lamet (SP, SDP) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 35% of leagues ANALYSIS: If players on the waiver wire continue to perform well, their ownership naturally rises and eventually reaching a point of inflection, wherein a player transitions from a streamer to a keeper. It's the savvy fantasy player that pounces before that point, saving themselves the heartbreak... Read More

Vince Velasquez (SP, PHI) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 30% of leagues ANALYSIS: Philadelphia pitcher Vince Velasquez - who occasionally moonlights as a human gas-can - was a lot easier to recommend before his last start, a 2.2 inning bonfire against the Marlins. Even though Miami had a .285 wOBA and .663 wOBA against right-handers that were... Read More

Digging Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 21

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the injured list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Digging Deeper: NL-Only Waiver Report for Week 21

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the injured list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Vince Velasquez (SP/RP, PHI) - Week 21 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 21% of leagues ANALYSIS: It hasn't turned into the push for the postseason that the Philadelphia Phillies were probably hoping for, but Vince Velasquez has been back as a full fledged member of the rotation, and he has been rather effective of late despite the up-and-down (though heavily... Read More

Ivan Nova (SP, CHW) - Week 21 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 22% of leagues ANALYSIS: Following an unsightly 8.42 ERA, 1.75 WHIP showing for the month of April, there wasn't really any place to go for Ivan Nova but up. That is exactly where he headed too, and his performance on the mound for the Chicago White Sox got... Read More

Dillon Peters (SP/RP, LAA) - Week 21 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 7% of leagues ANALYSIS: While his humdrum showing at Triple-A in 2019 didn't necessarily warrant a major league promotion, the Los Angeles Angels found themselves in need of a starting pitcher, and Dillon Peters has been a pleasant surprise in response. He has a 3.38 ERA and 1.26... Read More

Michael Pineda (SP, MIN) - Week 21 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 34% of leagues ANALYSIS: Shssh...Michael Pineda has been quietly good over the past two months. Just don't say it too loud or too often, because anytime people start talking about Pineda being good then it's almost a guarantee he'll shortly be headed back to the injured list for some... Read More

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 21

Time marches on, and with it the 2019 fantasy baseball season. With playoffs looming in head-to-head leagues, rotisserie formats barreling toward crunch time, and trade deadlines either near or already behind us, outmaneuvering your rivals on the waiver wire is of the utmost importance. Good thing you're reading this column, eh? A reminder before we... Read More

Digger Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 20

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Digging Deeper: NL-Only Waiver Report for Week 20

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Anthony DeSclafani (SP, CIN) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 26% of leagues ANALYSIS: To own Anthony DeSclafani is to know the rollercoaster; sometimes he gives up one run and strikes out eight, sometimes he walks four and gives up two home runs. Why? Because "Disco" DeSclafani likes to party, that's why. But also because he sometimes completely... Read More

Drew Smyly (SP, PHI) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 20% of leagues ANALYSIS: It's been quite the long, frustrating road for Drew Smyly as he fell from that status of a promising prospect to a guy just hoping to carve out an MLB career. After an absolutely disastrous 51.1 inning stint with the Texas Rangers to kick... Read More

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 20

Week...20?! That can't be right, but somehow it is. With playoffs looming in head-to-head leagues, rotisserie formats barreling toward crunch time, and trade deadlines either near or already behind us, outmaneuvering your rivals on the waiver wire is of the utmost importance. Good thing you're reading this column. A reminder before we begin: This column... Read More

Cal Quantrill (SP, SD) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 19% of Leagues ANALYSIS: San Diego Padres pitcher Cal Quantrill has delivered in just about every opportunity he's been granted for the team this year. He's been used in a variety of roles, as a traditional starter, as a long reliever following an opener and even as an... Read More

Chris Bassitt (SP, OAK) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 36% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Chris Bassitt has been a solid pitching option just about all season. Over the year, he's 7-5 with a 3.80 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. He's made 19 starts this year and allowed over three earned runs on just three occasions.... Read More

Chase Anderson (SP, MIL) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 32% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS:  That’s five quality starts for Anderson in his last six appearances. He never seems to blow the doors off, but five or six quality innings while giving up just one or two earned runs is very valuable in a points league. Anderson... Read More

Michael Lorenzen (SP/RP, CIN) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 13% of leagues ANALYSIS: There is a lot to say about Cincinnati Reds reliever Michael Lorenzen, as he is a man of many talents. As an asset on offense, "Mikey Biceps" has accumulated three stolen bases and a .273/.333 BA/OBP combo, and on the mound he's been one... Read More

Aaron Civale (SP, CLE) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 28% of leagues ANALYSIS: Former Northeastern Husky Aaron Civale climbed the ranks of the Cleveland Indians farm system with the poise that an organization hopes for when drafting a former college ace, and he has absolutely torn his way through the state of Ohio in 2019. In 72.2... Read More

Digger Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 19

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Digging Deeper: NL-Only Waiver Report for Week 19

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Chase Anderson (SP, MIL) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 26% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chase Anderson is the epitome of an unexciting waiver wire pickup. He goes a shade under six innings in each start, allows about two earned runs and strikes out less than a batter per inning. He had his breakout season two... Read More

Jason Vargas (SP, PHI) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 24% of leagues ANALYSIS: In a very much anticipated move, the New York Mets traded Jason Vargas to the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies at the 2019 trade deadline, and thus far the one-time All-Star has carried his momentum with him to his new city and made the most of... Read More

Anthony DeSclafani (SP, CIN) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 28% of leagues ANALYSIS: 29-year-old former Florida Gator Anthony DeSclafani has been a reliable member of the Cincinnati Reds pitching staff for years, and while he is well on his way to yet another solid year of work from the mound in 2019, he has been particularly on... Read More

Pablo Lopez (SP, MIA) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 13% of leagues ANALYSIS: Pablo Lopez is just 23 years old, and has already given the Miami Marlins plenty of reason to believe in his future (just a few days after dealing 26-year-old rotation mate Trevor Richards to the Rays at the deadline). Though the Cabimas, Venezuela native... Read More

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 19

We're into August - the dog days of summer and the fantasy baseball season alike. The grind of a long season, along with the impending start of football, will siphon off the weak links in your league. That means less competition for waiver wire assets, but it also means that everyone still playing is in... Read More

Cal Quantrill (SP, SDP) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 15% of leagues ANALYSIS: San Diego rookie Cal Quantrill has been on fire recently, allowing only one run over his past three starts, going 2-0 with a 0.53 ERA with a favorable matchup at home against the Rockies on the schedule. Quantrill started his big league career off... Read More

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

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... Read More

Joe Jimenez (RP, DET) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 25% of leagues ANALYSIS: With Shane Greene traded to Atlanta at the deadline, Joe Jimenez is likely to favorite for saves in the Motor City over the balance of 2019. The 24-year-old doesn't have great ratios (4.93 ERA, 1.29 WHIP) but has racked up 59 strikeouts in 42 innings,... Read More

Digger Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 18

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Digging Deeper: NL-Only Waiver Report for Week 18

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Alex Wood (SP, CIN) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 31% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Alex Wood has finally made his long-awaited Cincinnati Reds debut. Wood dealt with back spasms during spring training this year and had recurring effects of the injury throughout his recovery process, keeping him away from action until he began his minor league rehab stint... Read More