Jacob Faria (SP, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: Jacob Faria has continued to strike hitters out at the Major league level after posting ridiculous strikeout numbers in the minor leagues. Faria has now made three starts with the Rays, going 3-0 with a 1.37 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and a very tidy 22:4 K:BB ratio in 19 2/3 innings. Faria is only the fifth pitcher since 1914 to go six or more innings, allow one or fewer runs and earn a win in his first three outings. The 23-year-old has done enough to earn himself a spot in the rotation, at least as long as Matt Andriese is out with a back injury.

The question of course is how productive will Faria continue to be, and that is hard to answer. A rookie starting pitcher will assuredly go through some rough patches, and pitching in the AL East tends to accentuate those rough patches, making Faria a boom-or-bust candidate going forward. In deeper leagues Faria should be scooped up if he has not been already. In shallower formats he represents a great streaming option, especially for owners who need strikeouts. However, if he continues to pitch well he may not be available much longer, so owners who stream him may run the risk of him getting picked up for good by someone else. It is best to strike first on a guy like Faria, just know that he will have some rough games as he navigates through his first MLB stint.