In just a month, baseball’s regular season will be over. More importantly, the fantasy baseball season will be over. This is the definition of crunch time. What you do right now defines you as a person. Will you be that team that fizzles out down the stretch? Or will you finish by skyrocketing upwards faster than ...

Well, let’s get into the good stuff:

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Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Targets

Alex Reyes (STL, SP) – 38% Owned – Reyes was much sharper in his second Major League start, in which he handled the Reds in Cincinnati with six strong innings of two-run ball. He also struck out seven and only issued two free passes, which is extremely encouraging after he walked four in his first start. It would be fantastic if he could do this in every start down the stretch to instill some serious faith in his control heading into 2017. He’ll face the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Sept. 7 next.

Brandon Finnegan (CIN, SP) – 36% Owned – Finnegan’s last three starts have seen him allow only four measly runs across 19 innings. He’s been busy in those innings too, racking up 29 strikeouts alongside only four walks. This is the upside that the Reds have been hoping to see come to fruition, and this is the upside that dynasty leaguers were stashing him for. There’s little to hate here, as he gets a nice matchup against the Mets at home on Sept. 6 next.

Jose De Leon (LAD, SP) – 29% Owned – This figure may very well exceed 40% by the time this is published, but it’s worth mentioning him all the same. De Leon finally got the call and will be starting on Sept. 4 against the Padres in a solid home matchup. He’s been dominant in the Minors this year with a 163-to-37 K/BB ratio in only 114 1/3 innings. If he sticks around then he should draw a road date with Miami next. You chase this kind of upside.

Kendall Graveman (OAK, SP) – 28% Owned – Eight of Graveman’s last 10 starts have resulted in a quality start, and while many of you are likely benching him for this matchup against the Red Sox on Sept. 4, a home date with the Mariners will follow. Oakland is a lovely, spacious place to pitch, especially for a ground-ball specialist like Graveman. If he dominates Boston then this figure should exceed 40% next week.

Blake Snell (TB, SP) – 27% Owned – Snell just dominated Toronto in a much-needed bounceback start on Sept. 3, throwing six innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts and only four baserunners. He’s got a great talent if he can only be consistent with his control. He’ll look to take this momentum into a road start in the Bronx against the Yankees on Sept. 8.

Tyler Anderson (COL, SP) – 19% Owned – Anderson laughed in the face of the Coors Field haters on Aug. 31, as he posted 6 1/3 scoreless frames against the Dodgers with five strikeouts. A 53.4% ground-ball rate helps him keep a lid on opponents, but grounders do lead to higher BABIPs (his is .303). His plus-control helps keep a second lid on things (2.22 BB/9). He’ll have another chance to prove himself against the Giants at home on Sept. 6. There’s always a certain degree of risk involved when tangling with Colorado, but he appears to be the most well-rounded and consistent arm in their rotation right now.

Luke Weaver (STL, SP) – 19% Owned – We told you the Brewers were strikeout-happy. His latest start came against them, and the 23-year-old simply delivered with 10 strikeouts. If we omit his rough debut, the rookie has a 23-to-4 K/BB ratio in 17 innings alongside a 3.71 ERA and beautiful 2.87 SIERA. Yes, it’s a small sample size against three questionable offenses (PHI, OAK, MIL). He’ll face the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Sept. 6 for his next start before a rematch against those pesky Brewers.

Alex Cobb (TB, SP) – 14% Owned – Cobb’s debut had “be afraid” written all over it, as it was his first game-action in the Major Leagues since last season and it came against a very powerful Toronto lineup. So what did he do? He struck out seven of them across five innings of two-run ball with a WHIP of 1.00. Not bad at all. He’ll tangle with the Yankees next in New York on Sept. 8, and while it’s still risky to rely on a potentially rusty arm, his upside has already shown itself.

Seth Lugo (NYM, SP) – 13% Owned – Lugo has a 2.31 ERA and 0.99 WHIP over his last 30 days, which has included going 2-1 with a 2.55 ERA in three starts. Don’t expect an ERA in the mid-twos moving forward (his SIERA is 4.22), but there is at least some healthy momentum here. Facing the Nationals on Sept. 4 isn’t ideal, but then he gets to face the Braves in Atlanta later on in the week (he lines up to face the Twins at home after that).

Mike Foltynewicz (ATL, SP) – 11% Owned – Folty is now 4-0 over his last six starts, in which he’s posted a 3.72 ERA and solid 1.16 WHIP alongside 30 strikeouts. That’ll do. One can’t necessarily rely on his offense to score runs, nor his bullpen to hold a lead, but Folty himself is performing well. He’ll face the Nationals in D.C. on Sept. 7 next. This isn’t a dream matchup, but things rarely align cleanly when you hover down near the 10% mark.

Sean Manaea (OAK, SP) – 9% Owned – Yes, it’s really a shame that his back locked up and forced him out of what was turning into a dominant start on Aug. 29 against Houston. He had made it through 3 1/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts before exiting the game. There’s no guarantee that he’ll make his next scheduled start against the Angels on Sept. 5, but if he does that is one helluva matchup.

Luis Perdomo (SD, SP/RP) – 4% Owned – Perdomo did struggle a bit in his latest start against the Dodgers, allowing five earned runs on nine hits (two homers), but at least he struck out five and walked none. When disaster strikes, looking at one’s K/BB ratio can either provide a terrifying signal, or a hopeful one. There’s also the little fact that he won his previous two starts with only one earned run in 16 innings. He’ll face the Rockies at home next on Sept. 8.

Andrew Triggs (OAK, SP/RP) – 4% Owned – Gosh dang Oakland pitchers and their backs. If one only considers Triggs’ season-long numbers then they might be turned off by the 4.31 ERA, but consider the 3.20 FIP, 3.30 xFIP and 3.29 SIERA underneath it all. Then there’s the fact that if you tighten that window to the last 30 days, Triggs has a 2.92 ERA and 0.77 WHIP with 24 Ks in 24 2/3 innings. He’ll take on the Angels next on Sept. 7 at home if he is healthy enough to make the start. This is reading eerily similar to Manaea’s note, but the fact remains that their upside in these home matchups, coupled with their respective strong performances lately, make the juice worth the squeeze.

Robert Gsellman (NYM, SP) – 4% Owned – He danced around a ton of danger on Sept. 3 against the Nationals, but there’s something to be said for composure under pressure and pitching with runners in scoring position. Those who are looking forward a bit should eye the youngster, as the 23-year-old will lock horns with the Braves next in a road start on Sept. 9.

John Gant (ATL, SP) – 1% Owned – Gant has strikeout-per-inning stuff (9.16 K/9), a serviceable (albeit uninspiring) 2.82 BB/9 and gets to face the Mets next. While we covered how pitching for the Braves has its drawbacks in the Foltynewicz blurb, it obviously applies for Gant as well. The 24-year-old will look to end the season strong, but this is a guy who posted a stellar 1.99 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in seven Double-A starts down the stretch last season.

Adam Morgan (PHI, SP) – 0% Owned – Desperate are we? Alright well, how about a guy who has turned in two quality starts over his last three outings, with the most recent start being a two-run effort over 6 2/3 innings against a strong Nationals lineup? Morgan has actually been pretty solid except for his penchant for surrendering homers, but facing a Marlins lineup that is without Giancarlo Stanton and potentially Marcell Ozuna may help him out.

 

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