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Chris Zolli recommends NL SP Joey Lucchesi as a fantasy baseball waiver wire pickup and add in Week 21 of the 2018 season.
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues
OWNED IN: 28% of leagues
ANALYSIS: San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi was a popular waiver add in April, but a month-long stint on the disabled list led to him being cast aside by many fantasy owners. Since then, it has been a roller coaster ride owning Lucchesi; this is when the roller coaster is at the top though. Fresh off of throwing six scoreless innings against the Phillies (two hits, six strikeouts), here we are suggesting the 25-year-old.
Since the beginning of July, the lefty is 2-3 with a 3.82 ERA in 30 2/3, but has pitched into the sixth inning in each of the last two starts and has 33 strikeouts in that time span. His ground ball rate is also up to a respectable 46.5% and he has only walked 2.35 batters per nine, walking one batter or fewer in four of his six starts.
Lucchesi needs to be picked up quickly, as he will start against the Diamondbacks in San Diego on Friday night. A start at Coors Field against the Rockies on August 23 is not the best for fantasy owners, but his run of play may make him worth the risk. His solid run of play makes him an addition in all leagues, even if it means you need to bench him for the Coors start.
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