Rubby De La Rosa (SP, ARZ) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues.

OWNED IN: 15% of Fleaflicker Leagues

ANALYSIS: The talent and the arsenal have always been there for Rubby De La Rosa and the warm fresh air of Phoenix seems to have brought out all of the best he has to offer.

De La Rosa has compiled a 4.50 ERA to go along with a 1.20 WHIP and 42 K in 44 IP. Those stats are inflated by two bad starts where he gave up 11 of the 23 runs he has given up on the year. The biggest concern for De La Rosa coming into 2015 was his control and the large number of free passes he would issue. His first pitch strike %, which is heavily tied to walks, is at a career high of 63.2% (MLB average is 60.6%), an excellent mark. His whiff rate is also at a career best 10.7% (MLB average for SP is around 8.5%). His improved approach has led to a fantastic 3.5:1 K/BB ratio and has kept the Dbacks in most games he has pitched in.

He is still very susceptible to giving up the long ball with 7 already hitting the bleacher seats and that will continue in Chase field. Five of the seven HR De La Rosa has given up have come against lefties who are batting an alarming .304 off him on the season. This is his biggest cause for concern. He has been dominant vs righties this year holding them to a paltry .193 BA.

De La Rosa still has a lot to prove to become a complete pitcher but thus far he has been a welcome addition to the desert. The bottom line is that it is hard to find starting pitchers with high K and low BB totals who have not already been scooped up. At only 15% owned De La Rosa has been overlooked due to the fact that the Diamondbacks aren't winning a lot these days. Don't be mistaken with the team's apparent lack of success. Instead of searching for diamonds, go get a "Rubby in the rough" and add him to your roster.