Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 13

We're just about at the halfway point of the 2019 regular season. Feels like just yesterday we were touting the rebound potential of Yu Darvish and mocking any poor suckers willing to run it back with Lucas Giolito again, doesn't it?

Being right in the thick of things as we are, this is possibly the most challenging time of year to be seeking help on the waiver wire. Fortunately, you've come to the right place for assistance.

A reminder before we begin: This column focuses on players who are below 50% owned in Yahoo leagues, and standard 5x5 scoring. Your mileage may vary, in terms of availability or league settings. Using that cutoff point for ownership rate, however, these are your starting pitcher waiver wire targets and adds for Week 13 of the 2019 fantasy baseball season.

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Pickups for Shallow Leagues

Griffin Canning (SP, LAA) — 43% Owned

I can't hector y'all this week about picking up Pablo Lopez since he's on the injured list with a shoulder strain (though if you have a spare IL slot, by all means). Instead, I'll go to bat once again for this column's other most common fixture. He's still a bit short of the qualifying threshold, but Canning's 19.3 K-BB% would rank inside the top 20 starters, and his 15% swinging strike rate would trail only Max Scherzer, Gerrit Cole, and Justin Verlander. Vulnerability to the long ball has inflated his ERA a bit, but a 3.88 mark isn't awful, and his 1.02 WHIP is elite.

Framber Valdez (SP, HOU) — 37% Owned

Valdez predictably struggled on the road against a Yankees lineup that is finally at full strength, but the rookie remains an intriguing fantasy asset. His extreme ground ball tendencies help counteract occasional bouts of wildness, and he misses enough bats to post respectable strikeout totals. With an elite team behind him, the 25-year-old is a solid bet for a W on most nights. He'll draw a favorable start against the Pirates at home next.

Anibal Sanchez (SP, WAS) — 34% Owned

Sanchez didn't blow anyone's doors off on Saturday, allowing four runs in a no-decision against the Braves. But Atlanta boasts a top-10 offense, and the veteran still managed to strike out six batters and only allow seven to reach base in his six innings of work. It was also the first time he had allowed more than two runs in over a month, a run that has helped bring his ratios back within the realm of respectability.

Trevor Richards (SP, MIA) — 29% Owned

Richards has allowed one run or fewer in five of his last six outings. ERA estimators are skeptical as to whether he can maintain his current 3.54 mark, mostly because he is a bit too liberal with free passes (3.83 BB/9). The 26-year-old also has only three victories this year thanks to a lack of run support. Still, he's shown enough improvement with his fastball to keep his fantastic changeup in business.

Pickups for Deeper Leagues

Adbert Alzolay (SP, CHC) — 25% Owned

The latest shiny new toy for fantasy owners, basically no one had heard of Alzolay until his performance on Thursday. The rookie earned a victory in a piggyback start with Tyler Chatwood, throwing four hitless innings before allowing a solo shot and a walk to conclude his night. With Kyle Hendricks nursing an injured shoulder, the Cubs have indicated they'll use a six-man rotation that includes Alzolay.

Tanner Roark (SP, CIN) — 21% Owned

Weird but true: Roark has better career ratios (3.58 ERA, 1.22 WHIP) than Patrick Corbin, Chris Archer, or Sonny Gray. While most of his success came in 2014 and 2016 with the Nationals, he's been quietly effective this year with the Reds. The veteran is running a 3.47 ERA with a career-best strikeout rate (9.1 K/9), and has done a good job of keeping the ball in the yard despite pitching half of his games in Cincinnati's bandbox.

For Your Radar

Logan Allen (SP, SD) — 7% Owned

Allen made his major league debut last week with a tough assignment against the Brewers. The 22-year-old seemed unfazed, firing seven shutout innings and earning the victory. He projects as more of a back-end starter, but is a large (6'3", 200) lefty with three quality offerings and an old-fashioned bulldog mentality on the mound. He also gets the Orioles next time out, which is nice.

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