X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 1

Kyle Bishop's fantasy baseball starting pitchers who are potential waiver wire pickups for Week 1. Consider adding and streaming these free agent pitchers.

After an offseason that somehow felt even more interminable than usual, the 2019 season is underway. Teams have only played two or three games at this point (Athletics and Mariners notwithstanding), so you certainly shouldn't be looking to do anything drastic yet. No matter how scared you might be about Chris Sale's velocity, pushing the panic button after one start is a great way to torpedo your season before it even gets going.

That said, it's perfectly fine to already be tinkering around the edges and considering what's available on the waiver wire versus what you've currently got at the back end of your roster. This mindset is good because in case the headline didn't give it away, we're about to discuss some of the best starting pitcher options 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 1 of the 2019 fantasy baseball season.

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

 

Starting Pitcher (SP) Waiver Wire Options

Joe Musgrove (SP, PIT) — 47% Owned

Musgrove won't take the hill for the first time in 2019 until Monday when he'll face the Cardinals at home. A tough matchup with which to start one's season, but maybe not much worse than the Reds on the road (which he would have drawn if not for Saturday's rainout). His command is stellar, he just needs to get a few more whiffs. The good news is that the tools are there to do so - both his slider and changeup induce swinging strikes at impressive rates. Musgrove will need to rely more heavily on those offerings to take the next step.

Matt Boyd (SP, DET) — 39% Owned

Allowing three runs in five innings while taking a loss? Not terribly exciting. Striking out 10 batters in those five innings while maintaining the increased velocity he showed late last season and in the spring? Significantly more exciting. Boyd got a career-best 20 swinging strikes in the game. While the Vladito-less Blue Jays aren't the most intimidating opponent, that's still an impressive figure. He'll face a much stiffer test against the Yankees in New York on Wednesday; if the whiffs carry over, this could be the beginning of a breakout.

Domingo German (SP, NYY) — 19% Owned

German has been my most common waiver wire pickup in the early going. He'll make his season debut on Monday against the hapless Orioles. The 25-year-old has electric stuff, as evidenced by the fact that he had above-average swinging strike rates on all four of his offerings last year. Even his worst pitch by results (his changeup) induced a whiff 20 percent of the time. If he can do just a bit better job of limiting the long ball, German has a good chance of reaching his considerable ceiling. There may not be a spot for him when every Yankees starter is healthy, but pretty much every one of those guys is arguably above the median for injury risk.

Michael Pineda (SP, MIN) — 17% Owned

Remember him? Judging by his ownership rate, the answer might be no for some fantasy owners. Tommy John surgery ended Pineda's 2017 season early, and then he ripped up his knee while on a rehab assignment in the minors last season. He's finally healthy and locked into a spot in the Twins' rotation this season, though, and looked good this spring. The 30-year-old's blend of high strikeout and low walk totals has long made him a potential monster, but a checkered health history and vulnerability to home runs have kept him from reaching the mountaintop. Getting out of Yankee Stadium, where he allowed 1.6 HR/9 versus 0.9 everywhere else, should at least help with the latter.

Pablo Lopez (SP, MIA) — 8% Owned

Lopez can miss bats with his curve or change, but he relies most heavily on a sinker that he can spot effectively near the edge of the zone. Under optimal conditions, this results in a high chase rate on the pitch, which in turn yields a large number of harmless ground balls. In his first start of the year against the Rockies on Saturday, Lopez generated 19 whiffs and 12 called strikes on his 88 pitches. He couldn't get out of the sixth inning, but the 23-year-old has a lot to recommend him and most fantasy owners don't seem to have caught on yet.

 

Three More For Your Radar

Zach Eflin (SP, PHI) — 23% Owned

I've already covered why you should consider Eflin for the back end of your fantasy rotation. Hot take: He outperforms teammate and fantasy darling Nick Pivetta this season.

Jakob Junis (SP, KC) — 17% Owned

Cruised through his first five innings on Saturday before getting touched up for a three-run bomb by Jose Abreu. Happens to the best of us.

Matt Shoemaker (SP, TOR) — 10% Owned

Dominated the Tigers in his Blue Jays debut on Friday and draws the Orioles next. Never too early to stream, friends.

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Travis Etienne Jr.

Needs to Bounce Back in 2025
Wan'Dale Robinson

Wants More Downfield Opportunities this Season
Quinshon Judkins

Arrested on Saturday for Battery and Domestic Violence
Terry McLaurin

Could be a Holdout at Training Camp
Roger McCreary

a Candidate for a Contract Extension?
Max Fried

Exits Start With Blister
Mike Evans

Buccaneers Could Have Difficult Time Retaining Mike Evans
Charles Cross

Could Sign Extension Before Training Camp
Xavier Restrepo

One to Watch Going into Training Camp
Calvin Ridley

Appears Re-Energized
Mark Andrews

Still a Key Piece in Ravens Offense
Ndamukong Suh

Officially Announces his Retirement
Jaylen Waddle

Motivated After Disappointing Season
Tre Harris

Still Unsigned
Hunter Dobbins

to Miss Rest of Season With Torn ACL
Nolan Arenado

Held Out of Lineup on Saturday
Alexandre Sarr

Plays Well in Summer League Loss to Phoenix
Yang Hansen

Looks Good on Friday Night
Carlos Correa

Sitting on Saturday
Austin Riley

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Nolan Arenado

Exits Friday's Contest With Sprained Finger
Jake Burger

Expects to Play on Saturday
Erik Karlsson

Open to Move Away From Pittsburgh
Zach Hyman

Hopes to be Ready for Start of Next Season
SJ

Jeff Skinner Joins Sharks on One-Year Contract
Wyatt Langford

Records Four-Hit Night
Cal Raleigh

Homers Twice, Drives in Five
Cody Bellinger

Swats Three Homers in Victory
Jake Burger

Leaves With Quad Discomfort on Friday
Carlos Correa

Exits Game With Mild Ankle Sprain
Edward Cabrera

Dealing with Posterior Elbow Discomfort
Austin Riley

Leaves Game Early on Friday With Abdominal Tightness
Kon Knueppel

Struggles in Summer League Win
Rafael Devers

Dealing With Back Inflammation
Walter Clayton Jr.

Plays Well on Friday Night
Cody Williams

Scores 21 Points in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Leads the Way on Friday Night
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Returning on Friday
Sauce Gardner

Wants to be Highest-Paid Cornerback
Rhamondre Stevenson

Heading into an Important Season
Minnesota Vikings

Josh Metellus, Vikings Have Mutual Interest in Extension
Tua Tagovailoa

2025 Could be Tua Tagovailoa's Last Season in Miami
Rashawn Slater

has "Full Confidence" a Deal Will Get Done
Byron Buxton

Returns on Friday
Isaiah Jackson

Signs Three-Year Extension
Jake Meyers

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Calf Strain
Brandon Lowe

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Oblique Tightness
Kodai Senga

Reinstated to Start on Friday
Alex Bregman

Officially Activated and Starting on Friday
Marvin Bagley III

Joining the Wizards
Herbert Jones

Signing Extension with Pelicans
Jacob Toppin

Returning to Hawks
Chicago Bears

Bears Extend General Manager Ryan Poles
Dalton Knecht

Avoids Serious Injury
MarShawn Lloyd

in a "Much Better Spot" Heading Into Training Camp
Javon Small

Signs Two-Way Deal
Dustin Hopkins

Browns Still Counting on Dustin Hopkins
Ryan Reaves

Traded to Sharks
Vladislav Kolyachonok

Moves to Dallas
Matt Dumba

Lands in Pittsburgh
Mackie Samoskevich

Re-Signs with Panthers on One-Year Deal
Josh Manson

Inks Two-Year Extension with Avalanche
EDM

Isaac Howard Signs Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract With Oilers
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Jordan McLaughlin

Spurs Re-Sign Jordan McLaughlin to One-Year Deal
Dylan Harper

Out Thursday, Expected to Play Saturday
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF