Nick Pollack from Pitcher List here for a weekly segment at FantasyPros where I’ll be looking at the deeper options available in your leagues, highlighting my 10 favorite pitchers each week that could quickly return value despite hanging out on your waiver wire. We’ve set the threshold to under 15% owned according to ESPN, leaving a vast majority of leagues to take advantage of these arms that will cost you nothing and possibly return plenty.
Graduated since last week: Tyler Chatwood, Seth Lugo, Zach Davies, Mike Foltynewicz, Edinson Volquez
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10. Jesse Hahn: 10.8% owned
I wouldn’t call myself a fan of Hahn, especially with a 1.9% HR/FB rate across the season that is just waiting to blow up in an owner’s face, but his 2.88 FIP and under 30% hard contact with clear strikeout upside makes him an acceptable gamble when you need the occasional start.
9. Robert Gsellman: 8.2% owned
After a nightmarish start to the season, Gsellman has a 2.16 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 24.7% soft contact rate across his last four starts. There’s still other areas to improve upon (6.28 K/9, 4.24 xFIP) and his opponents were far from strong – Padres, Brewers, Pirates, Braves – but it’s something to consider when diving deep for an acceptable arm for your squad.
8. Mike Montgomery: 4.1% owned
Montgomery may not be a starter for long, though in the short term he could help out your squad as he takes the role of Kyle Hendricks in the Cubs’ rotation. Montgomery has the skill set to eat up innings while providing a decent amount of strikeouts along the way, just don’t get too invested here as we don’t know what will happen when Hendricks is ready to return.
7. German Marquez: 13.2% owned
Marquez has totaled just five ER in five of his last six starts – with a 6 ER effort against the Padres the main blemish since May 10th. Now, he hasn’t faced any strong opponents in that time while hosting only two games at home, but it sends a strong message: Marquez can be of value if you pick your spots wisely. Don’t go throwing Marquez at home against decent offenses, and he can be of service to your squad.
6. Luis Perdomo: 4.1% owned
Perdomo looks to need a little more time before turning into the consistently decent producer for your squad, and while I don’t see him rising to a definitive Top 50 starter, his ability to induce groundballs with an improved Curveball will keep his floor higher than most, while he’ll hint at brilliance occasionally. His sub 5% ownage rate is completely unjust. I blame playing for the relatively unknown Padres.
5. Sean Newcomb: 11.9% owned
Newcomb had a fantastic MLB debut over the weekend as he did his part to keep the Mets’ offense in check, tallying seven strikeouts and just one unearned run in 6.1 innings of work. However, with a repertoire that lacks a strong third pitch, it’s hard to believe in Newcomb’s consistency, making his horrendous walk rates in the minors very believable. As long as your expectation comes with starts including at least three walks, you can take advantage of his weak schedule and Curveball that will keep the strikeouts alive.
4. Tyson Ross: 7.4% owned
It’s been a long road to recovery for Ross, but don’t let time make your forget the massive upside he brings. In 2015, a 9.76 K/9 and 3.26 ERA were supported by a massive 61.5% GB rate and incredibly low 23.7% hard contact allowed. While we can’t expect those same numbers as he returns from Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, we’ll take anything close to it. A 8.50 K/9 with a 3.50 ERA doesn’t seem like too far of a reach for the second half.
3. Jacob Faria 7.1% owned
I don’t expect Faria to be under 15% owned for long as he had an excellent eight-strikeout performance against the Blue Jays on Tuesday evening. Don’t expect him to repeat a one-walk outing often – he showcased poor walk rates at every step in the minors – though the strikeout upside is alive with his Changeup and Slider. It will be plenty of back-and-forth, but he’s still well worthwhile for your 12-teamer.
2. Mike Clevinger: 8.6% owned
It wasn’t expected for Clevinger to stay in the minors for long and he will be returning to Cleveland over the weekend to face the Twins. Clevinger is the type of talent that can be productive plenty more than not, with mid-90s velocity and secondary pitches he trusts deep into counts. I trust him to be more of a stable producer than Faria. Grab him before he’s gone.
1. Joe Biagini: 9.7% owned
Another week has gone by with owners not getting the message that Biagini is well worth your time in 12-teamers. He has all the elements you’d want – great groundball rate, low walks, handful of Ks, and elite contact skills (just 24.7% allowed hard contact!). It will take that one game for people to open their eyes and grab Biagini everywhere before the masses realize the sleeper on their wire.
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Nick Pollack is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Nick, find his work at PitcherList.com and follow him @ThePitcherList.
