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Fantasy Baseball Week Two Waiver Wire: Starting Pitchers

Nick Mariano's starting pitcher (SP) fantasy baseball waiver wire adds. Pickups and starting pitcher sleepers for Week 2 of the 2017 MLB season.

It’s been quite the wild ride through what we'll call roughly the first 10 games of the 2017 season.

While we don’t want to be overreacting here, it’s never a bad time to check up on the waiver wire and see which under-owned arms might be available to help your squad.

For our purposes, we’re going to use Yahoo ownership levels and try to cut things off around 35%. Data accurate as of April 13.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball draft tools and resources:

Editor's Note: Our friends at Fantrax have even more fantasy baseball advice columns and videos to help improve your teams. Be sure to also check them out!

 

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Targets

Mike Leake – (STL, SP): 30% owned

Leake has had a snappy start to 2017 with a 0.60 ERA and 0.73 WHIP in 15 frames. His 1.45 FIP, 2.70 xFIP and 2.73 SIERA are fans as well -- just don’t go thinking you’ve found the next Dallas Keuchel breakout. His 13-to-1 K:BB ratio is incredible and the age-29 Cardinal does indeed possess superb control (career 2.16 BB/9) but those strikeouts will stumble. His current 6.1 percent swinging-strike rate would be a career-low mark, so it doesn’t really jive with what would be a career-best 7.8 K/9. A 3.70 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP and maybe a 7.5 K/9 is doable, though, if you’re into that.

Chris Tillman - (BAL, SP): 24% owned

Just a friendly reminder that he’s likely going to pitch in a rehab start at Double-A on April 17. Perhaps those of you in deeper leagues will want to scoop him before that on the off chance he dazzles and the buzz drives up the speculative price.

Zack Wheeler - (NYM, SP): 20% owned

Wheeler was done dirty by his bullpen in his latest start, as Hansel Robles came in with two outs and the bases loaded only to serve up a grand slam and drive up Wheeler’s earned-run count from zero to three. We won’t just let Wheeler off the hook for putting ducks on the pond in the first place, but that line could’ve looked much cleaner. He has 9.00 K/9 stuff and is showing healthy control thus far, so he could at least be a solid mixed-league asset for as long as he remains healthy.

Brandon McCarthy - (LAD, SP): 17% owned

Speaking of health, McCarthy hasn’t been able to get over the 40-inning hump since 2014. He also just hasn’t been all that good since then either, as it really hurts when a pitcher can’t truly hit their stride and consistently get work on the mound due to injury. Now, the six-foot-seven righty has a tidy 1.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP to go with two wins in his first two starts of 2017. While his .226 BABIP will undoubtedly rise, this is an arm capable of supreme command and that gets to pitch for a strong NL team -- making him an intriguing fantasy option by default.

Andrew Triggs - (OAK, SP/RP): 14% owned

This is a bit more cautionary. I know Triggs has gotten off to a scoreless start with a 2-0 record, but he only has four strikeouts and is rocking an untenable .205 BABIP and 91.7 percent strand rate underneath the surface. Now his Ks will rise, though his K/9 did go from 9.68 to 7.71 when he transitioned from the ‘pen to the rotation last season. Triggs may make for a fine stream in his supremely friendly home park, but it'll likely be unwise to look to him for much more than that.

Eduardo Rodriguez - (BOS, SP): 14% owned

Rodriguez displayed his usual inconsistency on April 13 against the Pirates, dancing around four hits and four walks to only allow two earned runs. The beautiful part -- the part we’ve really been chasing -- is the eight strikeouts in his 5 1/3 innings. He has the tools to touch a 10.00 K/9, but he may never be able to tie it all together. That’d be a shame, but it’s still early in 2017 after his fantastic second half in 2016 so we’ll see how he fares in his next start at Toronto on April 18.

Charlie Morton - (HOU, SP): 12% owned

The preseason Morton hype yacht has taken on water after two uninspiring starts to open the season (4.09 ERA, 1.45 WHIP with 10 Ks in 11 IP). We’re seeing the healthy putaway stuff that we wanted so badly, though his usual ~60% grounder rate hasn’t stabilized yet (44.1 percent) so this writer has hope. If nothing else, his next start comes in pitcher-friendly Oakland against the A’s on April 16 -- making him a prime streaming candidate.

Adam Conley - (MIA, SP): 11% owned

Conley has his flashes of brilliance, though his penchant for iffy control can really hamstring what can be rather unhittable stuff. The 26-year-old southpaw had 12 starts with only one walk last season, but also 11 of three or more -- including a lovely seven-BB affair on May 22. While Conley did just come into the 16th inning of a long Mets-Marlins affair and serve up the game-winning homer to Travis d'Arnaud, he still should be an intriguing arm when, you know, he's actually pitching as he's accustomed to as a starter.

Wily Peralta - (MIL, SP): 8% owned

Peralta’s early 2.45 ERA (2.17 FIP, 3.45 xFIP, 3.57 SIERA) and 1.18 WHIP might surprise those who are accustomed to the mid-to-high fours ERA of the past couple of seasons. It was performances like that which led to his midseason demotion in 2016, but what he did after being recalled on Aug. 9 is worth noting. He turned in a 2.92 ERA (3.75 FIP, 3.59 xFIP) in 61 2/3 innings with a useful 51-to-16 K:BB ratio. This makes the current run more viable, and means you might want to pay attention.

Jimmy Nelson - (MIL, SP): 8% owned

Nelson, another Milwaukee pitcher checking in at 8% owned, has now spun two quality starts to open 2017, with his latest being a seven-inning gem in which he scattered five hits and walked none against five strikeouts with only one run crossing the plate. Now, I was firmly against Nelson over the last two seasons considering his step back in the sabermetrics (4.92 SIERA in 2016) but right now his 2.68 FIP and 3.48 xFIP are behind him. While his .235 BABIP and 94.3 percent strand rate will likely settle around .290 and 72 percent, respectively, he may very well have figured something out here. If nothing else, perhaps his walk rate will come down to a manageable sub-3.00 mark throughout the season and make him a trustworthy streamer.

Matthew Boyd - (DET, SP): 4% owned

Boyd has had two starts this season -- one way too bad for his talent and one way too good. His first outing was tanked by a .400 BABIP and four walks in only 2 1/3 innings, while his second outing got everyone’s no-hitter alerts buzzing as he took a no-no into the sixth inning. That creates quite the range, but his abilities are closer to no-hitter Boyd than bombed-on Boyd. From his recall on July 9 on, Boyd allowed three or fewer earned runs in 10 consecutive starts. The potential for a blowup will loom, but this is a nice arm to be bouncing around in the bargain bin.

Jordan Montgomery - (NYY, SP): 0% owned

Montgomery should get another start after striking out 7 Rays in 4 2/3 innings of work in his first career MLB start. This came after his first Minor League start of 2017 saw him rack up eight whiffs in five scoreless innings. The young lefty posted a robust 2.13 ERA between Double- and Triple-A in 2016, with 134 Ks in 139 1/3 innings. Don’t look to him for more than one turn, but it’s set to come on April 17 at home against the White Sox.

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Adds




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Aaron Holiday

is Moving into Starting Five
Aaron Gordon

is Available on Sunday
Christian Braun

is Downgraded to Out
Jamal Murray

is Unavailable on Sunday
Omarion Hampton

Active for Wild-Card Round Against Patriots
Kristaps Porzingis

Won't Play on Sunday
Kevin Porter Jr.

is Available to Play on Sunday
Christian Braun

Downgraded to Questionable on Sunday
Tyler Herro

to Suit Up on Sunday
Norman Powell

Ruled Out for Sunday's Game
Victor Wembanyama

Cleared for Sunday
George Kittle

Ruled Out After Non-Contact Achilles Injury
Cole Perfetti

Contributes Two Assists in Sunday's Win
Carl Grundstrom

Misses Sunday's Practice
Jrue Holiday

Cleared to Suit Up Versus New York
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Request Interview With Ejiro Evero
Josh Hart

Returning on Sunday Night
Travis Konecny

Hurt at Sunday's Practice
Thatcher Demko

Lands on Injured Reserve
Colin Miller

Injured Versus Devils
Bryan Rust

Remains Out Sunday
Morgan Geekie

Won't Play Sunday
Los Angeles Rams

Mike LaFleur to Interview With Raiders and Cardinals
Aaron Rodgers

Steelers Open to Re-Signing Aaron Rodgers?
Matthew Stafford

X-Rays Come Back Negative
Mark Stone

Extends Goal Streak With Empty-Netter
Nikita Kucherov

Has Four-Point Outing Saturday
David Pastrnak

Records Six Assists in Big Win
Stefan Noesen

to Have Knee Surgery
Carter Hart

Out Week-to-Week
Thatcher Demko

Exits With Injury Saturday
MacKenzie Gore

Yankees Pursuing Trade for MacKenzie Gore
Philip Broberg

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Saturday
Alex Bregman

Cubs Sign Alex Bregman to Five-Year, $175 Millon Contract
Chet Holmgren

Available Sunday
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Suspended for Three Games for Attempting to Strike Another Player
Kristaps Porzingis

May Return Sunday
Zaccharie Risacher

to Miss Second Consecutive Game Sunday
Kevin Porter Jr.

Considered Probable for Sunday
Aaron Gordon

Likely to Play Sunday
Christian Braun

Considered Probable for Sunday
Spencer Jones

May Miss Another Game Sunday
Jamal Murray

Iffy for Sunday's Action
Freddie Freeman

Withdraws from World Baseball Classic
Chandler Stephenson

Jaden Schwartz Replaces Chandler Stephenson in Kraken Lineup
Brandon Saad

Won't Play This Weekend
Shea Theodore

Returns to Golden Knights Lineup Saturday
Jaccob Slavin

Returns Against Kraken
Travis Konecny

Ruled Out Saturday
Brad Marchand

Misses Saturday's Game
Corey Perry

Available Saturday
Max Kepler

Receives 80-Game PED Suspension
CFB

Cam Coleman Visiting Alabama on Friday
Omarion Hampton

Expects to Play Sunday Night
CFB

Eric Singleton Jr. Enters Transfer Portal, Trending to Land at Florida
CFB

NCAA Denies Trinidad Chambliss a Sixth Year of Eligibility
Omarion Hampton

Questionable for Wild-Card Weekend
Kyle Tucker

Mets Remain in Mix for Kyle Tucker
Ketel Marte

Will Remain With Diamondbacks
Rashee Rice

to be Reviewed Under League's Conduct Policy
Daniel Jones

Colts Plan to Re-Sign Daniel Jones
Davante Adams

Off the Injury Report, Will Play Against Carolina
Bo Bichette

Phillies to Meet With Bo Bichette
Rome Odunze

Will Return for Wild-Card Game on Saturday
CFB

DJ Lagway Commits to Baylor
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Fire Head Coach Mike McDaniel
Sam LaPorta

Plans to be Back for Training Camp
Owen Caissie

Shipped to Miami as Centerpiece of Trade
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Officially Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
Rome Odunze

Plans to Play on Saturday
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Finalizing Deal to Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
New York Giants

Giants "All-In" on Hiring John Harbaugh
CFB

Jackson Arnold Signs with UNLV
CFB

Sam Leavitt Scheduled to Visit Tennessee
New York Giants

John Harbaugh Expected to be Favorite to Become New Giants Head Coach
Baltimore Ravens

John Harbaugh Won't Return as Ravens Head Coach
Bo Bichette

Unlikely to Return to Toronto?
Jordan Love

Ready to Start in Wild-Card Game Against Bears
CFB

Jadan Baugh Staying with Florida for Junior Season
Washington Commanders

Commanders "Mutually" Parting Ways With OC Kliff Kingsbury
CFB

Byrum Brown Officially Commits to Auburn
CFB

Austin Simmons Signing with Missouri

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