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Welcome back, RotoBallers, to our starting pitcher fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 23 (August 26 - September 1). In this weekly piece, we search for starting pitchers rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo! leagues. With only a few weeks left to go, it's critical to assess what you need off the waiver wire, and then go get it.
This is an interesting piece each week because you never know what you will find in your research. What are we looking at this week on the waiver wire? Well, we have some exciting youngsters like Spencer Arrighetti. We also have some veteran stabilizers in Eduardo Rodriguez and Frankie Montas. We also have some roll-of-the-dice types, like DJ Herz and Valente Bellozo.
Your team context matters here. What do you need? Take a look at these deeper plays and see if you can find what you are looking for. Let's get into it.
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Shallow Leagues
Recommendations for leagues of any size rostered between 30-50% on Yahoo!
Bowden Francis, Toronto Blue Jays (51% rostered)
Ok, so I am cheating a bit here; Francis is rostered in 51% of leagues. Through Friday, he was only rostered in 14% of leagues when I started writing this article. You may say, well you added him because he pitched eight no-hit innings against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday afternoon, but Francis was always going to be on it this weekend.
He's gone at least five innings in four consecutive starts, with at least seven strikeouts in each one. In the last start, he whiffed 12 hitters. Francis may be coming into his own in Toronto, and this could be an addition that puts you over the top. He is relying on his split-finger fastball and slider while using his curveball far less to get better results. See the chart below.
Eduardo Rodriguez, Arizona Diamondbacks (48% rostered)
The veteran is back in Arizona, and getting into shape and pitching well. The move of lefty Jordan Montgomery to the bullpen keeps the fifth spot open for Rodriguez. Keep in mind that Rodriguez has only made three starts so far, but he has won two of them after pitching at least five innings in all three.
He looks like he is stretched out and ready to roll down the stretch for a competitive Diamondbacks squad. Rodriguez can be very effective when healthy, and he could be the guy you need as we head into September this month.
Spencer Arrighetti, Houston Astros (45% rostered)
If you only look at Arrighetti's surface stats, you are missing the point. When adding players, we have to adopt the "what's happening right now" strategy. See below. Arrighetti is getting more strikeouts as the season has gone on, and with that, he is also getting better results.
Since the All-Star break, the rookie has started six games, won two of them, and posted 47 strikeouts in 36 innings, with ratios of 3.44 (ERA) and 1.01 (WHIP). That's good and you need it. Arrighetti should be rostered far more.
Osvaldo Bido, Oakland Athletics (34% rostered)
Bido has been mentioned in the "others to consider" section a couple of times, but he has graduated to "consider" status. Bido is for real after receiving a couple of spot starts earlier in the season. Bido has five wins in seven starts, compiling a 3.24 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts in 50 innings.
He's thrown at least five innings in four consecutive starts, with at least five strikeouts in each one, and earned two wins. Bido's quiet consistency could be exactly what your rotation is lacking. Give him some consideration this weekend as he continues to up his game. Look below if you don't believe me; this is a talented guy with a live arm limiting hard contact.
Cody Bradford, Texas Rangers (33% rostered)
Many players rushed to acquire Bradford earlier in the season when he was having some success. After he missed time due to injury, he was on the waiver wire in most leagues and still is. In his last three starts, Bradford has given the Rangers 18 innings, a win, 17 strikeouts, and a 3.74 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over that time frame. If you are looking for rotation help, Bradford is likely to be a popular addition this weekend.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Deeper Leagues
Recommendations for leagues of any size rostered less than 30% on Yahoo!
Valente Bellozo, Miami Marlins (25% rostered)
Bellozo debuted in this article last month as an "other to consider" option but has graduated into a legitimate starting pitcher for Miami. He has started six games, and has two wins for his efforts, but also has a 2.45 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 27 strikeouts in 33 innings.
Bellozo has good ratios but does not have high strikeout potential; he has garnered four each time in his last three starts. The rookie is worth considering as he limits hard contact and limits walks.
Frankie Montas, Milwaukee Brewers (20% rostered)
Montas has been a great pickup for Milwaukee. Since moving from the Cincinnati Reds to the Brewers, Montas has had four good starts in a row with these numbers: two wins, a 2.57 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts covering 21 innings.
Montas is not his former high-velocity self, but he knows how to pitch and is on a first-place team, which means he could get wins any time he starts. The veteran should be rostered in far more leagues, especially deeper leagues.
Dean Kremer, Baltimore Orioles (18% rostered)
I love Kremer and feel that he's perpetually underrated. He struggled in his first two August starts but has rebounded over his last two, pitching six innings in both, striking out 10, and earning two wins with a 1.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. That plays in any league. You can't always count on strikeouts from Kremer, but mostly worry-free innings are on the radar with him.
DJ Herz, Washington Nationals (11% rostered)
Herz is a great example of the kind of pitcher in this article: he doesn't get wins, and his ratios are a little wonky, but he can get you some much-needed strikeouts many times out. He has at least five strikeouts in four of his last five starts.
Herz has a total of 75 strikeouts in 60 innings. In seven of his last eight outings, he has surrendered two runs or less. This is a guy who can help many fantasy rosters and is currently almost free in most leagues.
Other Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Options
- Keider Montero, Detroit Tigers (10% rostereed)
- Joey Estes, Oakland Athletics (8% rostered)
- Davis Martin, Chicago White Sox (1% rostered)
Happy hunting for starting pitchers this weekend! If you have questions, you can always message me on X @mdrc0508. You can even tell me you hate these picks. Remember that fantasy baseball is supposed to be FUN above everything. Enjoy it!
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