Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 7

We're about a quarter of the way through the 2019 season. That means that while there's a lot of time for things to change, outlooks are beginning to come into greater focus.

Do you like what you see? If not, perhaps it's time to call in some reinforcements from the waiver wire. That's precisely what this column is designed to help you do. Whatever the reason - injury, ineffectiveness, speculation - every week in this space we'll discuss some of the best arms on the waiver wire.

As a reminder, 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 6 of the 2019 fantasy baseball season.

• BvP matchups data (Batter vs. Pitcher)
• PvB matchups data (Pitcher vs. Batter)
• Who should I start? Fantasy baseball comparisons
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• Fantasy baseball trade analyzer
• MLB Props finder tool
• Fantasy baseball closer depth charts

Pickups for Shallow Leagues

Brad Peacock (SP, HOU) — 45% Owned

After getting bombed for seven runs and failing to escape the fourth inning in a start against the Twins last week, Peacock bounced back in a big way on Wednesday. It may have been against the Royals, but seven scoreless with 12 strikeouts counts no matter which team is on the other side. Peacock now has a 4.30 ERA and 1.09 WHIP overall and has struck out a batter per inning. Collin McHugh's removal from the rotation should bolster Peacock's standing in same.

Brandon Woodruff (SP, MIL) — 43% Owned

Woodruff's ratios (4.25 ERA, 1.37 WHIP) aren't the greatest, but the 26-year-old has 54 strikeouts against just 12 walks in 42 innings, and he's done a solid job of limiting the long ball. He is giving up some hard-hit balls, but not to the point that we should realistically expect the current .385 BABIP to persist. Woodruff is 5-1 regardless, having won each of his last three starts and allowed only one run to score in all of them. The window to add him may be closing.

Spencer Turnbull (SP, DET) — 43% Owned

Turnbull wasn't at his best on Saturday, but still managed to allow only two runs and strike out six batters in a no-decision against the Twins. He'd allowed just two runs in his previous four starts combined, so it's no surprise that he's carrying a terrific 2.42 ERA. Walks have been a bit of an issue, with four on Saturday contributing to his 3.63 BB/9 overall, but as long as the 26-year-old continues to keep the ball in the park, their effect will be minimized.

Jordan Lyles (SP, PIT) — 35% Owned

Lyles entered his start against the Cardinals on Saturday having struggled over his prior three appearances, with only 11 strikeouts against seven walks. He managed six Ks in as many innings against St. Louis, and allowed just one run and one hit, albeit while walking three batters. Through seven starts, the journeyman boasts a 2.09 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 35 strikeouts in 39 innings. He's definitely overachieving, but should still be a useful arm in most formats going forward.

Griffin Canning (SP, LAA) — 34% Owned

Canning's first two starts have gone reasonably well, as he's fanned 13 batters in 9.2 innings and allowed just two walks and one home run. A poor strand rate explains the discrepancy between his 4.66 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. While you likely can't expect him to regularly work deep into games, the skills here are evident. He'll take on the Orioles in Baltimore today, which should give him good odds for his second win.

Pickups for Deeper Leagues

Kyle Gibson (SP, MIN) — 23% Owned

Gibson got off to a rough start this season, allowing 12 runs and posting a lousy 12/8 K:BB over 15 innings in his first three games. In his last four turns, though, the 31-year-old has pitched 24 innings with excellent ratios (2.25 ERA, 0.83 WHIP) and 28 strikeouts against just three walks. He's earned the victory in three of those four games, and most recently had a season-high 11 Ks against the Blue Jays. Despite the early struggles, Gibson has swinging strike and first-pitch strike rates well above his career averages.

Lucas Giolito (SP, CHW) — 23% Owned

Giolito has yet to come close to meeting the expectations he inspired as a former top prospect, but after a nightmarish 2018 performance he looks like he may be figuring things out. While a couple of early blowups are still impacting his ratios (4.06 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), the 24-year-old has struck out 38 batters in only 31 innings, a huge improvement over his career 6.4 K/9 entering the year. Walks remain an issue and he hasn't yet earned trust against tough matchups, but his next turn against Toronto doesn't fall into that category.

Jonathan Loaisiga (SP, NYY) — 13% Owned

Loaisiga has walked eight batters and allowed two homers in 14 innings, which isn't what you want. But he's also got a 15.2 SwStr%, which would rank eighth among MLB starters if he had enough innings to qualify. The seven ahead of him: Blake Snell, Caleb Smith, Gerrit Cole, Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Luis Castillo, and Jacob deGrom. Pretty nice company to keep. He's got a good draw at home against Baltimore next.

For Your Radar

Jesus Luzardo (SP, OAK) — 17% Owned

Just a reminder that Luzardo is throwing again and should be active (albeit in the minor leagues) by the end of the month. If he performs anywhere close to the level he flashed in spring training, we could easily see him in the majors before the All-Star break. He's an excellent stash if you have the bench space and can afford to be patient.

Felix Pena (SP, LAA) — 4% Owned

Pena has pitched well this season, with a 3.21 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 34 strikeouts in as many innings. He's been used in a follower role in his last three appearances, earning the win in the last two. Pena had trouble pitching deep into games as a traditional starter last year, so it makes sense to use him as the "bulk" guy with an opener.

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