Felix Pena (SP, LAA) - Waiver Wire Pickups Week 9

May 27, 2019

Nicklaus Gaut profiles Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Felix Pena as a waiver wire pickup or add target for Week 9 of the 2019 fantasy baseball season. Pena has continued seeing success last week and needs to be owned in all formats.

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 8% of All Leagues

ANALYSIS: After back-to-back lackluster outings against Minnesota - both in which he went five innings, with only three K - Felix Pena has been largely forgotten, with ownership plummeting to 8%. That may change this week as Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic confirms that Pena will serve as the primary pitcher behind opener Taylor Cole when the Angels travel to Oakland for a Monday afternoon game;  making Pena a virtual two-start pitcher when added to another likely start over the weekend as the Angels travel to Seattle.

In Oakland, Pena faces an A's team that's been woefully underwhelming against right-handed pitching this year, posting a below-average .308 wOBA to go along with a .161 ISO that is bottom-eight in the league. Throw in pitcher-friendly Oakland Coliseum and you have the makings of a useful stream.

Over the weekend, Pena will either start or once again be the primary pitcher behind an opener, when the Angels travel to Seattle. He'll face a tougher test than in Oakland, as the Mariners boast a .332 wOBA and a .223 ISO against right-handers that is second-best in baseball. However, those numbers are offset by a 24.5% k-rate that is bottom-10, a stadium rated 2nd-worst for hitters over the past 5 years, and a trotting out of universal gas-can, Tommy Milone.

Pena's performance this year has been a series of highs and lows, getting seven or more Ks in three of his appearances; but only three or less in five others.  But by being freely available in most leagues and lining up for two starts against two average offenses, Pena should be added in 14+ team leagues and is worth a look in shallower leagues, as well.