Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 26

This is it, folks. One last week and we'll arrive at the conclusion of the 2019 baseball season.

Odds are if you're still reading this, you're in the hunt for a championship - or at least finishing on the podium and/or in the money. Hopefully this feature has been of assistance.

A reminder before we begin: Our focus is 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 26 of the 2019 fantasy baseball season.

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Pickups for Shallow Leagues

Anthony DeSclafani (SP, CIN) — 49% Owned

Tony Disco turned in his fifth quality start in his last six outings on Saturday, tossing six innings of 1 ER ball against the Mets. In that six-start stretch, the veteran has allowed just nine runs and struck out 35 batters in 38 innings. Though he's rarely been rewarded with run support and has just nine victories as a result, DeSclafani has avoided the health issues that plagued him in previous years and turned in arguably a career season. He draws the Pirates at PNC Park for his last 2019 assignment, which is an extremely favorable matchup.

Adam Wainwright (SP, STL) — 43% Owned

While Wainwright's overall numbers aren't especially impressive, he's quietly been one of the best pitchers in the game in recent weeks. The 38-year-old has allowed a mere one earned run in his last 27 innings of work, notching a win and a quality start in all four of those outings. There aren't many whiffs to be found here - Wainwright has just 14 during this dominant stretch and 144 in 162 innings overall - but you'll get help in wins and ratios. He'll get the Diamondbacks on the road and the Cubs at home to finish things out.

Alex Young (SP, ARI) — 38% Owned

Opposing Wainwright in that Monday night tilt will be Young, whose emergence has been a pleasant surprise for both the Diamondbacks and fantasy owners. His full-season numbers (7-4, 3.27 ERA, 1.16 WHIP in 74 innings) are good, but he's been even better of late. The rookie has allowed only five runs in his last five starts, including a dominant 8 IP, 0 ER, 12 K performance against the Reds. The schedule should allow for Young to make a second start this week against the Padres on the season's final day.

Merrill Kelly (SP, ARI) — 35% Owned

You could also opt to snag Young's teammate. Kelly's had an up-and-down season as evidenced by his pedestrian ratios (4.30 ERA, 1.31 WHIP), but we're definitely in an "up" phase right now. The 30-year-old has turned in quality starts in all four of his September appearances, winning three of them and striking out 28 batters in 27 innings. He'll take the ball on Wednesday at home against St. Louis to close the book on his year.

Pickups for Deeper Leagues

Sandy Alcantara (SP, MIA) — 29% Owned

On trade deadline day, Alcantara was blasted for seven runs and failed to finish the fifth inning against the Twins. Since that rough outing, however, the rookie has pitched quite well. In nine starts across August and September, he's posted tidy ratios (2.93 ERA, 1.03 WHIP) and has struck out at least six hitters in five of his last six games. The 24-year-old is scheduled to face the Mets on Tuesday.

Danny Duffy (SP, KC) — 11% Owned

Duffy hasn't really delivered on the promise of his 2016 breakout - a performance that inspired the Royals to ink him to a five-year, $65 million deal before he hit free agency - but he is finishing 2019 strong. The southpaw has notched quality starts in his last four games, and while the first two came against Baltimore and Miami, the others were at the expense of Houston and Oakland. That makes throwing him for his final start against Atlanta on Tuesday more palatable.

Frankie Montas (SP, OAK) —9% Owned

Montas' suspension for PED use is nearly over, and while he's now ineligible for the postseason as a result, he can still help your fantasy squad. He's rejoining the Athletics on Wednesday, and has been throwing in Arizona to stay in game shape. Assuming he does get a start, it'll come against either the Angels or the Mariners.

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