Aaron Harang (SP, PHI) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues.

OWNED IN: 19% of Fleaflicker Leagues

ANALYSIS: Not all pitching comes in the form of force or finesse. Aaron Harang packs a little bit of both. During his 14-year baseball odyssey, he has brought the element of stability to every team for which he has played. Harang is the type of pitcher that will eat innings and keep a team in the game most times he toes the rubber. Every staff needs a player who can provide a reliable, no-nonsense approach every five days and Harang provides that year in, year out.

He won't wow you in the K category, as he has only thrown over 150 K in a season 3 times. Harang's first start of 2015 was as wow-worthy as any other start in the MLB thus far. His first outing this year brought 8 K against the loaded Red Sox lineup. This will probably not be the norm but is nevertheless impressive. His second start vs. the Mets (6 IP, 1K, 1 ER, 6 baserunners) was more indicative of what we can expect: mixed results. His 7.3 K/9 average is still a stat to keep an eye on when it pertains to his level of production.

However, with a career WHIP of 1.35 and ERA over 4, Harang is nowhere near unflappable. This should be in the back of your mind on a game-by-game basis. But Harang has never had the tendency to give up tons of long balls. His career 1.1 HR/9 means he's relatively safe fantasy owners.

Most teams have pitchers that are basically streaming options needed to give them positive stats during the season. Harang can provide modest K and low BB totals along with several quality starts. If you can stomach his inflated WHIP and ERA, along with limited win opportunities with a pathetic roster in Philadelphia, he can be a viable option to hold onto.