Waiver Wire Week 12: 10 Widely Available SPs

Each week through the season, I’ll be looking at the collection of starting pitchers owned in under 15% of leagues (consensus Yahoo/ESPN ownership from Fantasy pros) and pointing out the options to consider if you need an extra arm or two at the end of your staff.

It’s been another week of Fantasy Baseball, and the waiver wire has shifted. Let’s highlight my ten favorites, roughly ordered from top to bottom:

Shane Bieber (Cleveland Indians) – The only reason Bieber qualifies is his lack of security inside the Indians rotation. It’s possible he only sticks for one more start – Thursday against the Tigers – as Carlos Carrasco returns from his short DL stint, but the possibility that he gets more starts alone should be enough to grab in most leagues now. And even if it’s just for one start, his control-heavy approach with a good fastball and solid secondary offerings make him a good play for Thursday’s matchup.

Zack Wheeler (New York Mets) – Wheeler’s velocity has spiked dramatically in the past month, touching 96mph consistently – even 97mph! – across starts after coasting at 95mph previously and that should excite you. He’s tallied just 4 ER in three of his last four starts and while a clunker against the Braves may bring hesitation, the upside from Wheeler may very well be the highest on your wire. The secondary stuff needs improvement, though the added velocity may be enough to make Wheeler coast to relevancy through the rest of the year.

Tyler Anderson (Colorado Rockies) – You should feel safe streaming Anderson as he faces weak teams in Coors and average teams on the road. Fortunately for him, he gets to host the Marlins over the weekend and head to Los Angeles for the Dodgers next week. Play it smart and Anderson will reward you as he’s collected 17 Ks and allowed just 6 ER with 3 walks over his last three games.

Tyler Mahle (Cincinnati Reds) – After allowing 4 ER in three straight games, Mahle has since boasted a 1.61 ERA with a 21.% K rate against the Padres, Rockies, Royals, and Tigers. It hasn’t all been pleasant – 1.30 WHIP due to an 11% walk rate – but he has the ability to take advantage of average offenses. Don’t shy away from streaming Mahle when you get the chance.

Nathan Eovaldi (Tampa Bay Rays) – I feel bad for Eovaldi. After a debut start against the Athletics, Eovaldi has been forced to face the Nationals, Mariners, Yankees, and Astros in his last four starters, which have understandably gone poorly. It won’t get better in the short term – Nationals and Astros again – there will be some respite with the Mets and Tigers after. If you’re looking for help past July 1st, Eovaldi can be productive at the end of the staff, just avoid the Top 10 offenses.

Collin McHugh (Houston Astros) – Here’s an interesting play. Despite having injury prone arms including Lance McCullers, Charlie Morton, and Dallas Keuchel in their rotation, McHugh has yet to have a chance to slide into the rotation. He’s having an incredible year out of the pen – 1.13 ERA, 35.0% strikeout rate, 13.1% whiff rate, and just 0.84 WHIP – and it’s only a matter of time before he’ll be called upon to start games. He’ll need to be stretched out for a moment, but I wouldn’t be surprised if August/September showcases a 12-teamer worthy SP option in McHugh.

Nick Kingham (Pittsburgh Pirates) – The moment a rotation spot opens, Kingham will return to the bigs and there is without a doubt that he can make a fantasy impact given the starts. Given the always present injury possibilities mixed with plenty of talk surrounding the Pirates dealing one of their starters (maybe Ivan Nova?), Kingham could be back sooner than later. Not everyone has the luxury to invest in July and August, but if you can, Kingham is the one to grab.

Jimmy Nelson (Milwaukee Brewers) – I feel like we need a celebration when Nelson finally graduates from this weekly piece as he’s been here since the beginning. There isn’t a better DL stash to make, and there has to be at least one league where you have room to take a chance on his stud 2017 performance repeating to some degree in the second half.

Ivan Nova (Pittsburgh Pirates) – He’s far from a sexy option, but a 3.97 SIERA with a 4.7% walk rate allows Nova to battle for a Quality Start each time out, returning 3 ER or fewer in 61% of his starts. There’s clear risk and his 18% strikeout rate leaves plenty to be desired, but at the bottom of the barrell, you’ll take a 4.00 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with a decent chance at a Quality Start.

Marco Estrada (Toronto Blue Jays) – With a tough schedule ahead to close out the first half, Estrada is far from the safest play here. However, he’s made strides with his changeup in his last three starts and he’s not so far removed from stellar 2015 and 2016 campaigns. It’s possible he has corrected the problems that have plagued him over the last year and change, adjustments that could carry through into the second half of the season and turn into a stable arm at the end of a 12-teamer.