Andrew Suarez (SP, SF) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 27% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Prior to his latest start against the Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants 25-year-old starting pitcher Andrew Suarez had been on a pretty impressive roll. In his five starts prior to July 15th (where he gave up four earned runs over just five innings pitched), the young lefthander allowed just one earned run four times and only two earned runs in the other outing. He also racked up 27 strikeouts against just eight walks across 31 innings pitched, essentially shutting down the Cubs, Rockies (at Coors Field), Diamondbacks, Padres, and Marlins when he was on the mound. Suarez has a 3-6 record for the season, accompanied by a 3.94 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. However, his strand rate (70.7%) and BABIP (.316) are due for positive regression, and his 3.56 FIP suggests that his ERA and chances at notching wins should improve.

Suarez has nice strikeout upside (8.29 K/9), doesn't walk hitters much (2.12 BB/9), and doesn't allow many homers (1.0 HR/9). Additionally, he is an extreme groundball pitcher in a flyball era in the MLB, sitting at an impressive 2.05 GB/FB ratio.  Suarez also has a very nice track record in the minor leagues, where he maintained a sub-4.00 ERA and flashed his strikeout potential over four seasons. Steamer projections paint a favorable rest-of-season outlook for Andrew Suarez, predicting that he will go 3-2 over eight starts while maintaining his decent strikeout-to-walk ratio, low amount of home runs allowed, and playable ERA (3.70). Scoop up the young gun if you are in need of starting pitching help in 12+ team leagues, as his ERA and strikeout upside are trending up and look to be here to stay.