Boy howdy, we’re now into the latter part of July, with little room for enduring or excusing poor performances anymore. August approaches and some of you are racking up streams for the playoff push, some are still looking for stashes, while others look to maximize the efficiency of innings remaining. Either way, we’ve got you covered.

That is to say, some of these guys deserve your attention, and some of them are seeing their ownership shoot up while sporting many warning signs. We’ll try to slip in some unfamiliar names to the series this week.

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Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Targets

Matt Moore (TB, SP) – 38% Owned – We said here last week that he had a great matchup on tap (@OAK) and he delivered, striking out six in a quality start with a sub-one WHIP. He’ll face the Dodgers in LA next on July 27, so the NL aspect might throw him off a bit, but he’s now rattled off five straight quality starts and should be a serious consideration.

Blake Snell (TB, SP) – 35% Owned – Welcome to the party Blake! His last two starts have looked very good, and while the first one came against a pretty weak Angels squad on July 7, he just conquered Coors Field in his latest outing (six scoreless innings, one hit, three BBs, nine Ks and the W). That means we’re paying attention. He’s also receiving attention because his next start is that juicy @OAK one, and if you can’t start him there then you aren’t considering him at all.

Jon Gray (COL, SP) – 34% Owned – I gave y’all a week off from the Gray-train but here we go again. He’s tallied four quality starts in a row now, striking out eight in each of his last three starts and showing the tremendous upside that he possesses. I know, he had back-to-back starts against Atlanta, but a guy still has to produce. His next start is a dangerous one @BAL on July 27, but that is a team that can whiff a lot. He’s a high-risk/high-reward play there.

Lucas Giolito (WAS, SP) – 27% Owned – I’m sure this doesn’t come as news to most of y’all, but Giolito is pitching on Sunday (today) against the Padres at home. While the Padres have looked better this season compared to the past, this is still a plus-matchup for the top prospect. Don’t expect a long-term stay though, as Joe Ross is expected to return soon and Giolito will probably be the odd man out.

Kevin Gausman (BAL, SP) – 25% Owned – Gausman was lights out against a hot Indians squad, posting seven scoreless frames against them with seven strikeouts for the win. He’s looked mighty strong recently, and now holds a 2.36 home ERA versus his 4.94 road ERA. Is that just noise, or a discernable trend? We’ll put it to the test, as his next start comes on the road against the Twins on July 28.

Zach Davies (MIL, SP) – 25% Owned – Davies continues to dazzle, making a strong Cubs lineup look like just another squad on Saturday. The breakout starter has posted a wonderful 51:11 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his last nine starts to go with a 2.35 ERA, so hopefully none of you cut him loose when he was sent down back around the All Star Break. Such is life for a 23-year-old with Minor League options left, but make no mistake, he should be owned in 12-team mixed leagues heading into a home start on July 28 against the Diamondbacks.

James Paxton (SEA, SP) – 19% Owned – Honestly, I thought I wasn’t finding him because his ownership had to have shot up above 40%. Nope, here he is, despite absolutely owning a strong Toronto Blue Jays lineup in Toronto. His 3.19 FIP, 3.52 xFIP and 3.78 SIERA point to a useful pitcher underneath the 4.18 ERA and 1.51 WHIP, as the .374 BABIP will start falling like a rock if he can command the zone as he did against the Jays. He hits the road to take on Pittsburgh on July 27 next.

Robbie Ray (ARI, SP) – 14% Owned – Well, no one can say that the guy doesn’t make for some exciting baseball. He was able to get over the hump of dealing with three unearned runs in the first inning on Saturday to strike out a season-high 10 batters (he gave up three earned later). His strikeout upside is incredible, but the hurler also gets hit very hard when contact is made, leading to a high .362 BABIP on the season. Strikeouts are simply one piece of the puzzle, though it does give him some serious intrigue as a streamer against teams that can really generate the whiffs. He’ll head to Milwaukee to face the Brewers on July 28 next.

Kendall Graveman (OAK, SP) – 12% Owned – Graveman continues to roll, winning four straight and five of his last six starts, with his most recent game being his finest of them all – a complete game, three-run effort against the Rays at home. He’ll take on the Indians in a road start on July 29 next, so that’ll really test his mettle and validity (he’s beaten the Twins, Houston twice and Tampa Bay recently).

Zach Eflin (PHI, SP) – 12% Owned – I don’t particularly trust this, as I’m not thrilled about a pitch-to-contact type with a 4.50 K/9 on a subpar Phillies team, and I also keep on typing “Zac Efron”, so this feels fishy. That said, he’s clearly earned a degree of respect here after tossing his first career complete game shutout, and will look to do it all over again against the Marlins in Miami on July 27.

Jose Berrios (MIN, SP) – 12% Owned – Berrios has struck out nine in his last two Triple-A starts, and if that’s not good enough, he’s also allowed only six runs over his last seven starts! He’s ready for his next run at the bigs, it’s simply a question of when with the Twins. Should Ervin Santana or someone else get traded, that’ll certainly do it, or when they decide to move someone like Ricky Nolasco or Tommy Milone out of the way for their young stud. Either way, it should be very soon.

Tyler Skaggs (LAA, SP) – 9% Owned – Talk about buzz. My tweet from several days ago will suffice here: “Tyler Skaggs' last two Triple-A starts: 12.2 IP, 0 ER on two hits and three walks with 26(!) strikeouts. LAA needs him to be ready. He is.”

Sean Manaea (OAK, SP) – 7% Owned – Over the last 30 days Manaea has a 2.35 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 26 punchouts in 30 2/3 innings. That’s certainly useful, even if his next start is a toughie on the road against the Rangers on July 27. If he can continue to keep the walks down then he can be mighty successful pitching in the spacious confines of Oakland, even if wins will be difficult to come by.

Ivan Nova (NYY, SP) – 4% Owned – Nova just went toe-to-toe with Johnny Cueto (neat rhyme) and actually outlasted him, with both pitching a one-run game, but Nova went seven innings while Cueto went six. Okay, so he isn’t better than Cueto, but Nova has now put together a 3.45 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP and nearly a strikeout per inning in the last 30 days. His next start comes against the Rays on the road on July 29, making for a nice matchup.

Tyler Duffey (MIN, SP) – 4% Owned – Duffey’s last few starts haven’t gone so well, but he does get a home start against the Braves on July 27, so there’s that for desperate deep-league streamers.

Matt Boyd (LAA, SP) – 3% Owned – Boyd had his start on Saturday shortened due to a rain delay, but that doesn’t change that he’s looked very good since being recalled. He has struck out 17 in 15 1/3 innings with a 1.17 ERA and 0.98 WHIP through three starts, and is slated to face the Astros at home next on July 29. Perhaps some Minor League adjustments have paid off in spades for the young pitcher.

Miguel Gonzalez (CWS, SP) – 2% Owned – Gonzalez’s ownership level has finally risen to over 1%!! I might just have to retire this column now. He’s rattled off four quality starts in a row, though his next one is a tall order, with a cross-town matchup as he plays host to the Cubs on July 25. This is not a recommended start, but do note his solid performances to date.

 

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