Jeff Locke (SP, PIT) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in deeper leagues, stream at home.

OWNED IN: 9% of fleaflicker leagues.

ANALYSIS: As shown by his All-Star season back in 2013, Jeff Locke is kind of like the Jay Bruce of pitching when it comes to streakiness. However, with streak producers; when they are hot, they are really hot. In total this season Locke has a 4.15 ERA, an encouragingly indicative .365 FIP, and is only allowing 0.6 HR/9. Locke also has a slightly unlucky BABIP of .319 considering the fact that his LD% isn't bad. Locke is especially good at home with a 2.90 ERA and a 1.262 WHIP, while his poor away ERA of 6.57 can be in part attributed to a very high away BABIP of .361, as Locke doesn't give up many HR.

Locke has steadily heated up from the mound in the last couple of months. Locke had a June ERA of 2.96 but a high WHIP of 1.463 that can be in large part attributed to a June BABIP of .326. So far in July Locke has had a relatively normal BABIP of .271 and has lowered his WHIP to a solid 1.066 with a 2.84 ERA. The motif throughout all of these numbers is that Locke is producing well, and when he isn't, it can largely be bad luck to blame. Fantasy baseball managers in deep leagues should trust in Locke's isolated pitching and recently lowered BABIP and add him to their rosters, or at least stream Locke in Pittsburgh for his consistent home performances.