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To help you dominate all of your 2018 fantasy baseball leagues, below are some 2018 fantasy baseball starting pitcher (SP) sleepers & waiver wire pickups to consider adding to your fantasy baseball teams. Be sure to also use our other lineup resources and tools shown in the icons below.
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2018 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire by MLB Position
ALL - C - 1B - 2B - SS - 3B - OF - SP - RP
Derek Holland (SP, SF) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 17% of leagues ANALYSIS: San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Derek Holland continues to turn back the clock to his All-Star days with the Rangers. The end result did not look good, but Holland had notched a quality start before his bullpen shattered it into itty-bitty pieces during his last start against Pittsburgh. After logging a strikeout to open the seventh inning, he was suddenly at 105 pitches after a walk and single, which would eventually lead to Francisco Cervelli launching a...continue reading
Jalen Beeks (TB - SP) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 1% of leagues ANALYSIS: Do not let the seasonal line fool you (12.79 ERA in 6 1/3 innings), Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jalen Beeks is another name that has been quite effective in Rays threads thus far. Tampa Bay scooped the southpaw from Boston after he stunk up his MLB debut against Detroit, but he has now strung three strong appearances together. Tuesday night saw him enter in relief after Hunter Wood opened against the Yankees, with Beeks setting...continue reading
John Gant (STL - SP) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 4% of leagues ANALYSIS: St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher John Gant helped himself with a homer off of Gio Gonzalez on Tuesday night to fuel his second straight victory, as the Cardinals continued to kick the Nationals while they are down. The righty is not more than a streamer thanks to a mediocre 65-to-31 strikeout-to-walk ratio -- he just cannot overwhelm opponents -- but those who streamed him against the Marlins and Nationals know that he is a good...continue reading
Zach Davies (MIL - SP) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 6% of leagues ANALYSIS: We do not know whether Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Zach Davies will be returning to a slot in the starting rotation, but those in deep waters may want to jump ahead of that potential news given Milwaukee’s strong team environment (namely, the offense and the bullpen). Davies has not had a strong rehab campaign thus far (12 strikeouts, eight walks, 10 earned in 14 2/3 IP), but his window is up on Aug. 25, so the...continue reading
Edwin Jackson (OAK - SP) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 24% of leagues ANALYSIS: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Edwin Jackson has proudly won three straight games without allowing an earned run, most recently going 7 ⅓ innings against the Angels. Absolutely no one is buying the 2.48 ERA and 1.03 WHIP at face value, but his career-low .224 BABIP and high 80% strand rate do not jive with an elevated 23.5% line-drive rate. There are other reasons to believe in Jackson, namely the lower walk totals (7.9% would be his lowest...continue reading
Matt Boyd (SP, DET) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 21% of leagues ANALYSIS: Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matt Boyd is a top-50 overall player per Yahoo’s 5x5 system over the last month, which has come by way of a 2.37 ERA/0.89 WHIP and three wins. He has managed to increase his fastball velocity from an early average of 89-90 mph to above 92 mph in August, yet his breaking pitches have stayed roughly the same. His splits are noticeable, with a 2.80 home ERA (4.93 xFIP) and 5.60 road ERA...continue reading
German Marquez (COL - SP) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 27% of leagues ANALYSIS: Colorado Rockies starting pitcher German Marquez entered Tuesday night’s start against Houston with a 2.95 SIERA over the last 30 days -- good for eighth-best out of 83 qualified SPs. His 2.49 xFIP over that span makes him one of just six to skirt under the 2.50 mark out of 114 SPs with >20 IP. Justin Verlander tops that list, and guess what? Marquez just beat him and the defending world champs on Tuesday...continue reading
Touki Toussaint (ATL - SP) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 8% of leagues ANALYSIS: Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Touki Toussaint had a great major-league debut against the Miami Marlins earlier this week. The rookie coasted through six innings and could have gone longer had his spot in the order not come up with runners in scoring position. He picked apart the Marlins and featured all of his four-pitch arsenal by throwing 25 curves, 21 four-seamers, 20 splitters and 16 sinkers. He only mustered four strikeouts and six whiffs overall, which is...continue reading
Tyler Glasnow (SP/RP, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 27% of leagues ANALYSIS: The Tampa Bay Rays clearly had a plan for Tyler Glasnow and boy, has he executed it. Big G’s first appearance was a typical three-inning open, but the last effort saw him toss 79 pitches over five innings. Okay, now we have got more than just strikeouts and ratios here, but we are still waiting for Glasnow to pitch long enough to earn a win Of course, combining for 12 IP, 3 ER, 3 BB, 20 K...continue reading
Blaine Hardy (SP, DET) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 3% of leagues ANALYSIS: Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Blaine Hardy is more of a dart throw as, obviously, the talent level drops when you get below the 25-percent-owned line in fantasy baseball. Hardy was hit hard in his last outing, allowing five earned runs in five innings against the Angels in Los Angeles, only striking out three batters. A poor outing last time out aside, he has also dealt some decent performances.
Hardy has allowed one run, or less,
...continue readingTyler Glasnow (SP/RP, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 16% of leagues ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow looked liked the guy that the Rays traded for on Tuesday night. Glasnow’s second start for Tampa Bay yielded nine strikeouts over four innings of one-run ball, allowing just two baserunners before being lifted. His two “openings” for Tampa combine for a line of 7 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 14 K. Sure, facing the Orioles is as easy as the AL East is going to get for a...continue reading
Touki Toussaint (ATL - SP) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 1% of leagues ANALYSIS: Those unfamiliar with the embarrassingly-rich stable of young Braves arms are learning a lot in 2018. There are rumblings of prospect Touki Toussaint getting a spot start with Max Fried hitting the 10-day DL, and even the most distant rumblings mean you need to pay attention with a talent like Touki. The 22-year-old tore through Double-A with a 2.93 ERA/1.19 WHIP and 107 strikeouts in 86 IP before a promotion to Triple-A, where he has posted...continue reading
Pablo Lopez (SP, MIA) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 1% of leagues ANALYSIS: Miami Marlins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez is basically unowned, so get your hands on Lopez now, before it is too late. Lopez has allowed two earned runs, or less, in three of the last four appearances and struck out at least five batters in four of the past five starts.
Lopez will make two starts this week, both on the road, facing both the Braves and the Nationals. Atlanta is first on the docket
...continue readingHeath Fillmyer (SP, KC) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 0% of leagues ANALYSIS: Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Heath Fillmyer is available in almost every league, but should be on your fantasy radar. Fillmyer was filthy against the Cubs in his last appearance, earning his first MLB win. He pitched seven scoreless innings against the Cubs and, while only striking out three batters, showed that he is worthy of a look in deeper leagues
Fillmyer is a two start pitcher this week, facing the Blue Jays in Kansas
...continue readingDerek Holland (SP, SFG) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 18% of leagues ANALYSIS: Despite earning the victory, Derek Holland didn't pitch particularly well on Friday against the Pirates. That, however, was the first time he had allowed more than three runs since May 30, or more than two since July 1. The veteran southpaw has had a quietly solid season, striking out a batter per inning and posting playable ratios (3.97 ERA, 1.28 WHIP). Though he spent most of July shuffling between the Giants' rotation and bullpen, Holland should get regular turns...continue reading
Nick Pivetta (SP, PHI) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 42% of leagues ANALYSIS: A 4.51 ERA is admittedly unimpressive, but it's worth pointing out that over 20 percent of the runs Nick Pivetta has allowed this season came in two blow-ups covering just 2 2/3 innings. His ERA outside of those poor outings is a much more palatable 3.62, and considering that only nine qualified starters boast a higher strikeout rate, Pivetta ought to be more widely owned than he is at the moment. He's not without some risk - and even recommending...continue reading
Jake Odorizzi (SP, MIN) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 40% of leagues ANALYSIS: Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi has had a boom-or-bust type of season. On a start-to-start basis, fantasy owners. He has allowed two earned runs, or less, in six of the last 10 starts, but he has also allowed four earned runs, or more in the other four appearances. Even the strikeouts are inconsistent; he has struck out five batters, or more, in six out of 10 starts and punched out three batters, or less, in...continue reading
Nick Pivetta (SP, PHI) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 42% of leagues ANALYSIS: Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Nick Pivetta is easily one of the better streamers of the week. He has punched out at least six batters in five consecutive appearances and allowed two earned runs, or less, in back-to-back starts. Pivetta also has a 31.4% K-BB% over the last 30 days, which is the 2nd best in baseball. Pivetta has a 4.20 ERA in the same time period, but also has a 60.6% strand rate, 1.07 WHIP, and .348...continue reading
Trevor Cahill (SP/RP, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 20% of leagues ANALYSIS: Embattled starting pitcher Trevor Cahill is having a very solid year in 2018, bouncing back from a rough 2017 season in which he finished with a 4.93 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, and an eye-popping 1.71 HR/9. The 30-year-old is now playing in his 10th season and in his second stint with the Oakland Athletics, where he played his first three years at the MLB level. Most of Cahill's statistics this year are great, and it is now officially...continue reading
Matt Boyd (SP, DET) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 18% of leagues ANALYSIS: Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matt Boyd is only 6-10 this season, posting a 4.33 ERA that is a bit below average, but there are a lot of reasons to own Boyd. First off, he has 8.14 strikeouts per nine this season and has 35 strikeouts in his last 34 1/3 innings. Secondly, he has also walked just five batters in that same time span (since the beginning of July) and has allowed less than five hits in...continue reading
Trevor Richards (SP, MIA) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 11% of leagues ANALYSIS: Miami Marlins starting pitcher Trevor Richards may only be 3-7 with a 3.98 ERA this season, but there are reasons to dismiss those numbers and look at him for fantasy purposes. First off, he plays for the Marlins, so his win-loss tally is skewed by the team that he plays for. More importantly, though, is the fact that he has struck out at least six batters in each of his last four starts and has pitched...continue reading
Mike Fiers (SP, OAK) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 24% of leagues ANALYSIS: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Mike Fiers was acquired by the Athletics this week and looks to make an impact for his new team. While his 7-6 record is not much to write home about and his 3.40 ERA is passable (even if his 4.57 FIP is not), he is also moving to a better team in the playoff hunt. Also, sorting specifically by homers on the FantasyPros park factor tool, Comerica Park stands at 13th while Oakland...continue reading
Ryan Borucki (SP, TOR) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 8% of leagues ANALYSIS: Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Ryan Borucki cruised through eight strong innings against the Mariners to notch his first Major League victory on Saturday. This gives him six quality starts in seven career outings, though his next opponent (Boston) was the one non-quality start. After going 6-5 with a 3.27 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 77 Triple-A innings, Borucki is 1-2 with a 2.30 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 43 MLB innings. The wins are not nice,...continue reading
Michael Kopech (SP, CHW) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 11% of leagues ANALYSIS: Chicago White Sox starting pitching prospect Michael Kopech has been dominating of late and has to be getting closer to making his big league debut. Every time we look at his stats, he is improving and his latest turn on Aug. 5 was another solid one. He struck out nine while walking none and giving up two runs on eight hits with two wild pitches across seven innings. Everyone is ready for outfielder Eloy Jimenez and Michael Kopech...continue reading
Brett Kennedy (SD - SP) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 1% of leagues ANALYSIS: Opportunity merits discussion, as the San Diego Padres are calling up Brett Kennedy to make his MLB debut on Wednesday against the Brewers in Milwaukee. While this is not a great matchup at all, the 24-year-old does have a sparkling 10-0 record with a 2.72 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across 16 Triple-A starts. Numbers like that will get the interest of the most skeptical of fantasy owners. The low walk rates around 6-7% are notable, but the 10.2% swinging-strike...continue reading
Mike Fiers (SP, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 22% of leagues ANALYSIS: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Mike Fiers was done dirty by a second-inning liner that drilled his shin and ended his run of five straight quality starts. Point to the lower K counts all you like because you should be adding him for is ratio relief that has landed in one of the best ballparks a homer-prone pitcher can call his own. Sorting specifically by homers on the FantasyPros park factor tool, Comerica Park stands at 13th while...continue reading
Joe Musgrove (SP, PIT) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 26% of leagues ANALYSIS: Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Joe Musgrove has been on a roll of late. Basically, we just locking in seven innings of one- or two-run ball with two strikeouts for Musgrove now. He has done that in three straight outings versus tough match-ups (@CLE and @COL) as well as good ones (vs. NYM). It is hard to get upset at three clear-cut quality starts, but six strikeouts over 21 innings is a dangerous level of “production” that puts a...continue reading
German Marquez (COL, SP) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 26% of leagues ANALYSIS: Colorado Rockies starting pitcher German Marquez has a start today (Wednesday), but there are a lot of reasons to not pick him up until tomorrow. Why? It is at Coors, where he has posted a 6.63 ERA versus a beautiful 3.09 ERA on the road. However, do consider that Pittsburgh is one of eight teams with a collective wOBA under .300 in the last two weeks. Also, Marquez has won his last two home starts with...continue reading
Tanner Roark (SP, WAS) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 45% of leagues ANALYSIS: Through Memorial Day, Tanner Roark looked to be on his way toward continuing his career trend of excelling in even-numbered years. While he was just 2-4, he had produced tidy ratios (3.17 ERA, 0.99 WHIP), a strikeout rate north of 22%, and had logged a quality start eight of the 10 times he'd taken the hill. The remainder of his first half, however, was an abject disaster. Including a random relief appearance on June 3, Roark went...continue reading
Derek Holland (SP, SF) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 14% of leagues ANALYSIS: After a mediocre start to the season through the months of April and May, Derek Holland has been a reliable pitcher out of both the San Francisco rotation and bullpen. Since the start of June, coming into his start yesterday against the Diamondbacks, Holland has compiled a 2.80 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 54 2/3 IP across nine starts and four relief appearances. Several peripheral pitching factors have facilitated Holland's improved performance. For one thing, his walk rate...continue reading
Mike Fiers (SP, DET) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 24% of leagues ANALYSIS: Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Mike Fiers only threw two innings in his last appearance, a start on Wednesday against the Reds, snapping a six quality start streak. Spanning from June 27, Fiers was 2-2 in that time period, but had a 2.06 ERA in 39 1/3 innings and walked just eight batters. Fiers is 7-6 with a 3.48 ERA this season, walking just 26 batters in 119 innings. As good as his control has been, Fiers' strikeout...continue reading
Zack Wheeler (SP, NYM) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 38% of leagues ANALYSIS: New York Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler has three quality starts in his last five after throwing six scoreless innings against the Pirates on July 27. While he struck out only three batters in his win over the Padres on July 24 (where he pitched seven innings), but he has struck out seven batters or more in three of his previous four starts. He is only 5-6 this season, but he his 4.11 ERA is supported by a...continue reading
Kyle Gibson (SP, MIN) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 47% of leagues ANALYSIS: Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kyle Gibson is coming off of two tough starts against Boston and Cleveland, but threw six innings against the Indians on July 31, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out six. This gives Gibson five straight starts with five strikeouts and saw him finish July with a 3-2 record and 3.43 ERA. He struck out 39 in July, walking 13 and putting up a solid 43.8% GB rate in 39...continue reading
Carlos Rodon (SP, CHW) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 43% of leagues ANALYSIS: Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Carlos Rodon has thrown just 58 1/3 innings this season, but looks like he is turning the corner as a solid pitcher. He pitched 28 2/3 innings in his four July starts, winning two, and striking out 27 batters while allowing just 15 hits. Rodon has also walked 12 batters, but is now 3-3 with a 3.24 ERA this season. While Rodon is pitching better, walks are still an issue (21 this...continue reading
German Marquez (COL, SP) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 17% of leagues ANALYSIS: Colorado Rockies starting pitcher German Marquez is an anomaly; a good starter for Colorado. Let the Coors Field discount work for you and scoop a free arm that has won four of his last five outings in Marquez. He is now 9-8 on the season after tossing 7 ⅔ solid innings with eight strikeouts and two earned runs against the A’s in Colorado. There is no denying he is a much better play on the road, anyone...continue reading
Joe Musgrove (SP, PIT) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 25% of leagues ANALYSIS: Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Joe Musgrove has been on a bit of a roller coaster this season. Despite bearing the brunt of a 1-0 loss to the Mets on Sunday, fantasy owners should be able to look past the 4-5 record and see the improving 3.63 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. He has pitched at least seven innings in four of his last five turns, giving up just 10 earned across them. The fact that the Pirates...continue reading
Kolby Allard (SP, ATL) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 19% of leagues ANALYSIS: Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kolby Allard fought through shaky weather in his MLB debut against Miami, winding up with five runs allowed (four earned) on nine hits (one homer) and two walks with one strikeout. He threw 81 pitches in all -- 53 fastballs (averaging 89.1 mph), 19 changeups and nine curveballs. While he was able to induce some timely grounders, he looked upset with himself often for missing high with his fastball or low with...continue reading
Michael Kopech (SP, CHW) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 10% of leagues ANALYSIS: There was a lot of buzz early in the 2018 season about Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Michael Kopech being a midseason call-up, but the youngster’s control issues made it rather easy to dissuade prospectors. While it is likely that neither Kopech nor Eloy Jimenez accrues MLB service time in ‘18, Kopech’s recent pitching warrants some hedging stashes in redrafts. Tuesday night saw him go seven innings with eight strikeouts, two earned runs (both solo shots to ...continue reading
Max Fried (SP, ATL) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 8% of leagues ANALYSIS: Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried is back on the menu. The 24-year-old returned to the rotation by striking out seven Dodgers over five crisp innings of one-run ball after missing three weeks due to a blister. His 32 strikeouts in 25 ⅔ innings and being on the Braves in a weak NL East division highlight his potential for his next scheduled start against the Mets. Things are not all rosy -- he has walked at least...continue reading
Tyler Glasnow (SP/RP, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 4% of leagues ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow was acquired in the Chris Archer blockbuster from the Pirates. We do not know how long the Rays plan on letting Glasnow go in his first start for Tampa Bay on Wednesday against the Angels. What we do know is that Glasnow has not shown any real signs of being over his control issues -- he posted a 16-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio in July for Pittsburgh. While reliever...continue reading
Dereck Rodriguez (SP, SF) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 28% of leagues ANALYSIS: San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Dereck Rodriguez jumpstarted his second half by holding the A’s to one run over 6 1/3 innings in Oakland, yielding three hits and walking none with five strikeouts. His peripherals do not support his level of success, but clearly, neither do fantasy owners because his ownership level reflects a 4.00 ERAs arm. His FIP is only 3.33 this season, so it is not too far off from his 2.72 ERA, and...continue reading
Carlos Rodon (SP, CHW) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 30% of leagues ANALYSIS: Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Carlos Rodon has thrown just 50 2/3 innings this season, but looks like he is turning the corner as a solid pitcher. He has pitched 15 innings in his last two starts, winning each, and striking out 15 batters while allowing just five hits. Rodon has also walked five batters, but is now 3-3 with a 3.38 ERA this season. While Rodon is pitching better, walks are still an issue (20...continue reading
Ervin Santana (SP, MIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 25% of leagues ANALYSIS: Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Ervin Santana will began his 2018 MLB season on Wednesday against the Blue Jays. He allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings against Toronto, walking one and striking out five in a no-decision. He has yet to show his usual ~93 mph fastball, instead working around 90 mph, but still posted a 22-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 29 rehab innings (seven appearances). Fantasy owners were made more comfortable in his first...continue reading
Yefry Ramirez (SP, BAL) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 1% of leagues ANALYSIS: Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Yefry Ramirez has held down a rotation spot for the Orioles and has pitched well of late. The 24-year-old Ramirez is only 1-3 this season, but has struck out 9.53 batters per nine in 28 1/3 innings this season. He also has a 3.49 ERA and has a solid 41.1% ground ball rate for the Orioles. There are two tough opponents on Ramirez’s docket this week, as he will pitch on the road against the Yankees...continue reading
Derek Holland (SP, SF) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 7% of leagues ANALYSIS: San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Derek Holland has a 69.2% is the contact rate osince June 20. While he has a 3.92 ERA this season, he has a 2.72 ERA since the beginning of June and is striking out 11.05 batters per nine since June 1 as well. A strand rate of 81.8% since 6/1 has led to a drop in ERA. A 29.3% line drive rate and 38.6% hard hit rate are troubling, but, with ...continue reading
Tanner Roark (SP, WAS) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 34% of leagues ANALYSIS: Washington Nationals starting pitcher Tanner Roark was remarkable in his last start: 8 IP, 0 ER, and 11 K (@ MIL). This was a good sign for Roark, who had a .442 BABIP for over the last 30 days coming into the start. He also has a 63.7% strand rate in the same period, showing that he was due for a start like that. A strong 8.31 strikeouts per nine coming into the start was nice...continue reading
Shane Bieber (SP, CLE) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 38% of leagues ANALYSIS: Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber is back into rotation for two turns this week. When we last saw Bieber on the mound, he was rocked by Pittsburgh (1.2 IP, 7 ER, and 2 K). However, prior to that poor performance, he had a stretch where he allowed three earned runs, or less, in four of six outings and struck out at least five batters in six of the last seven outings. Bieber is still 5-2...continue reading
Felix Pena (SP, LAA) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 5% of leagues ANALYSIS: The Angels' rotation has been decimated by injuries this year, which has necessitated them transitioning Felix Pena to a starting role after he spent the last two seasons in the bullpen. That, along with the lack of a reliable third pitch, will keep Pena from being a reliable source of wins or likely anything better than a deep/AL-only asset. Still, there are some things to like in the profile. The 28-year-old makes good and frequent use of...continue reading
Jhoulys Chacin (SP, MIL) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 44% of leagues ANALYSIS: Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin is a tough pitcher to evaluated. Sure, he will pitch a dud every once in awhile, but Chacin can be a reliable streamer, too. Whatever issues that he may have, this is still a pitcher with a 9-3 record and 3.58 ERA.
Chacin is coming off of a strong start, striking out nine batters in 5 2/3 innings in a win against the Nationals, and has not lost since
...continue readingZack Wheeler (SP, NYM) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 29% of leagues ANALYSIS: New York Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler has pitched into the seventh inning in five of his last six starts and has won each of his last two starts. While he struck out only three batters in his win over the Padres (where he pitched seven innings), but he had struck out seven batters or more in four of his previous five starts. He is only 4-6 this season, but he his 4.33 ERA is supported by a...continue reading
