Steven Wright (SP/RP, BOS) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 22% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Red Sox starting pitcher Steven Wright is a bit of a lone ranger in today's MLB landscape - he is the only active pitcher still fooling professional hitters throwing a pitch that averages just 74.2 MPH.  That pitch, of course, is the famous knuckleball. Wright is throwing the knuckleball 84.9% of the time in 2018, and to say that the pitch is currently "on" is just a bit of an understatement. He has thrown a whopping 16 consecutive scoreless innings (across one start and multiple relief outings), allowing just six hits and amassing 14 K's during that span. On the season overall, Wright features a sparkling 1.57 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a ridiculous 0.4 HR/9 rate. Additionally, his 87% strand rate and 18.2% hard contact allowed rate are elite numbers that would be career highs for the six-year veteran.

He made his first start of the year on June 5th, and will toe the rubber for his second start on June 11th against the lowly White Sox. With Drew Pomeranz having struggled mightily (1-3 across eight starts, 6.81 ERA, 1.84 WHIP, 1.7 HR/9, 5.11 BB/9) even before being placed on the DL, expect Steven Wright to take hold of this opportunity to win a back-end rotation spot pitching for one of the best offenses in the MLB. He's a recommended pickup in 12+ team leagues, and he's definitely worth a speculative add in 10-team leagues as his upside is very high given the circumstances. Grab him before he undoubtedly shuts down the White Sox and the rest of the fantasy world takes notice.