Rick Porcello (SP, DET) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All AL-Only & Most 12-Team Mixed Leagues

ANALYSIS: It may be surprising to many, especially to those that view Rick Porcello as a prime prospect that never fully delivered on the potential shown during his 2009 rookie season, that the Tigers’ right-hander has reached double-digit wins while turning in north of 160 innings in each of the past five years. Overall, the 2007 first-round draft choice has totaled 61 wins over 149 big league starts. However, those victories have come in spite of very lackluster marks in ERA (4.51) and WHIP (1.39). An important aspect to keep in mind regarding Porcello, his entire MLB resume to this point has come before the age of 25. He made significant strides in 2013, posting career-bests in K/9, K/BB and WHIP in spite of the fact that his end-of-season stats were heavily skewed by three putrid performances. Taking away two efforts versus the Angels and another against the Red Sox, Porcello’s 2013 campaign displays results more in line with the typical No. 4 or 5 fantasy hurler. Across those other 26 starts from last summer, he put up a 13-5 record supported by a 3.37 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 162.2 innings; numbers that certainly play very well in most formats. If you are in an AL-Only league, or deeper mixed league, feel free to pickup Porcello off the waiver wire as he is only 36% owned currently.