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 from last week: Mike Clevinger, Dinelson Lamet.
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10. Blake Snell (TB): 5.5% owned
We’re starting this week off with a player that is as much of a lottery ticket as you’ll find. Snell has wrestled with his command in the big leagues but hinted at much better days with a minor league track record indicating that his 5.00+ BB/9 rates in the majors are grossly inflated. We wouldn’t be taking on his massive command risk if there wasn’t a large reward, and with Snell it comes in his strikeout numbers, showcasing a possible 9.00 K/9 arm as his repertoire is filled with pitches that miss bats. It could suddenly click one day for the southpaw, or the day could never come. There’s no reason not to take that flier if there aren’t any pitchers that can help your team on the wire.
9. Zack Wheeler (NYM): 12.8% owned
The numbers on the surface sure aren’t pretty, sporting a 5.01 ERA and 1.51 WHIP with just three wins to his name. However, two starts of seven ER and eight ER have greatly inflated his ERA from a 3.26 mark. Wheeler’s always had strikeout upside (he is holding an 8.36 K/9 this season), though there is work to be done with his mediocre 8.6% whiff rate and this is without mentioning his history of high walk rates (3.99 BB/9 in 2017). Still, with his mid-90s fastball and big hook, there is potential waiting to be tapped and it could come out during his time in the weak NL East during the second half, making Wheeler not the worst starter to tuck away on your roster.
8. Jerad Eickhoff (PHI): 6.0% owned
We expected great things from Eickhoff in 2017 as he boasted a 1.20 WHIP and 20 Quality Starts just a year prior. It hasn’t gone as expected to say the least – a 4.93 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and just four Quality Starts in 14 starts – but it’s well within reason that he can make the adjustments to be a stable arm for your squad. Eickhoff has missed some time with a strained upper back and is expected to return to the rotation after Tuesday’s rehab outing. He hints at an 8.00 K/9 with a 2.00 BB/9 and a 6.0+ IPS (Innings Per Start), which is highly valuable in deeper leagues, so keep an eye out as he makes the return to the hill.
7. Nick Pivetta (PHI): 5.0% owned
Inside the same Phillies staff is Pivetta, who has proven his worth if you’re able to be conservative with his matchups. A trio of starts against the Diamondbacks and Nationals make up 75% of his poor outings, allowing owners to enjoy a 2.60 ERA in his other six outings. Meanwhile, he has a pair of nine and 10 strikeout games already to his name and suddenly you have an arm that can be a strong play as long as he’s not facing a top-tier offense.
6. Luke Weaver (STL): 2.6% owned
The Cardinals called up Weaver to begin the week, but don’t get too excited as he was designated to the bullpen with a full rotation. However, in a season of injuries, it’s well within the realm of possibility that a spot appears in the near future, giving Weaver the chance to take the role and never let go. His Fastball + Changeup approach earned him a sparkling 1.93 ERA across 11 minor league starts in Triple-A this season, with an excellent 9.64 K/9 and 2.09 BB/9 to boot. It’s only a matter of time that Weaver finds time as a starter, the only question is when.
5. Luis Perdomo (SDP): 4.9% owned
Perdomo is making yet another return to this list as he’s the oddly decent floor option on your wire if you’re simply looking for one more arm that won’t kill your ratios every week. His 65.4% groundball rate should help him keep the home runs down moving forward, with a 3.89 xFIP and a rising strikeout rate that could climb over the 20% clip this season. Perdomo is far from exciting, but a sub 4.00 ERA is within his grasp.
4. Homer Bailey (CIN): 1.5% owned
Here we have a trio of pitchers who are investments rather than players to help in the short term. Bailey has had all kinds of difficulty in his first two 2017 starts, allowing 14 ER combined in just 4.2 innings of work. However, we didn’t expect Bailey to be at the top of his game so soon returning from Tommy John Surgery. As he faces an easier schedule ahead, Bailey could be a solid option for your roster to provide some stability. Don’t count him out just yet.
3. Tyson Ross (TEX): 11.5% owned
In Ross’ first four starts into his TOS (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome) recovery, he hasn’t looked quite like his old self. Ross has yet to strikeout six batters in a game, his groundball rate is well below 40%, and his Fastball velocity is down two points from 2015. This is a process, though, and with more time on the hill Ross could get back into form. Remember, that form is a 9.00+ K/9 with an elite groundball rate and ERA hovering around 3.30. If you need a stash, Tyson can still be that man.
2. Vince Velasquez (PHI): 9.4% owned
Back in April, Velasquez was still considered a Top 60 Starter given his impressive heater and solid breaking stuff to match it. He’s been out since May with an elbow strain and looks to need just two more rehab starts before heading back to the rotation. If you’re in need of strikeout upside, Velasquez could be the answer, boasting a career 26.3% strikeout rate, and it’s possible his rising walk rate this year was due to his injury. The waiver wire is full of pitchers with warts and few that carry the upside Velasquez possesses.
1. Luis Castillo (CIN): 5.7% owned
When you’re striking out Nolan Arenado on 100 mph heat then following it up with a Changeup away to earn a whiff from Carlos Gonzalez and a Slider to freeze Trevor Story, you can understand the massive potential in Castillo’s arm. His balanced mechanics keep him from being dramatically wild and will create more starts like his eight strikeouts and one walk performance Monday evening inside Coors. While I’m a little cautious for his next start in Arizona, you need to grab him now before he explodes in the second half.
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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.
