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Week 4 Waiver Wire - Starting Pitchers

Nick Mariano's starting pitcher (SP) fantasy baseball waiver wire adds. Pickups and starting pitcher sleepers for Week 4 of the 2017 MLB season.

It’s been quite the wild ride through the first three weeks of the 2017 season. While we don’t want to be overreacting here, it’s never a bad time to check up on the waiver wire and see which under-owned arms might be available to help your squad.

For our purposes, we’re going to use Yahoo ownership levels and try to cut things off around 35%. Data accurate as of April 25.

Let's get to it.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Targets

Robert Gsellman - (NYM, SP): 26% owned

Gsellman will be skipped in the rotation after his start on April 25 was rained out, which was done in order to keep Noah Syndergaard on schedule. That means Gsellman may make a bullpen appearance, so set your roster accordingly if you do or don’t want accidental bullpen stats from the starter. Since last week’s post, he went out and dominated the Phillies over seven strong innings, but couldn’t get a win with his first quality start of 2017.

He now has a lovely 10.19 K/9 with a 3.48 FIP, 3.02 xFIP and 3.10 SIERA, though his 7.5 percent swinging-strike rate really doesn’t point to a K-heavy arm. It was 9.1 percent last season when he posted an 8.46 K/9, for a small reference point. He’ll likely face the Nationals in Washington in his next start.

Hector Santiago - (MIN, SP): 22% owned

Santiago improved to 2-1 after a six-strikeout quality start against the Tigers at home on April 21, as the southpaw now sports a 2.19 ERA and 0.97 WHIP through four outings in 2017. His 4.16 SIERA is nearly double the ERA, of course, but his 10.1 percent swinging-strike rate is a career-high mark and he’s always been a low-BABIP arm. His .247 mark comes after respective rates of .252 and .260 in his last two seasons. His control will be the X-factor, as his current four percent walk rate is way down from 10.1 percent last season. Keep an eye on that when he goes to Texas to face the Rangers on April 26.

Miguel Gonzalez - (CWS, SP): 18% owned

Gonzalez was an above-average arm last season, posting a 3.73 ERA and 1.24 WHIP that were mostly just separated from extraordinary levels by a couple of terrible outings. There’s certainly something to be said for consistency and a guy who can avoid the bombshell start, but he’s picked up right where he left off this season with more of those above-average trips to the hill.

While we all know the 2.00 ERA and 1.07 WHIP are over his head, the 3.29 FIP is a fan of his being more aggressive in the zone. The percentage of pitches in the zone for Gonzalez went from 41.7 percent to 44.7 percent last season, and is currently 45.4 percent in 2017. He’ll look to remain strong in Detroit against the Tigers on April 30.

Zack Wheeler - (NYM, SP): 21% owned

Wheeler’s 5.40 ERA may be holding him back from being truly recognized as a potential breakout arm this season, but despite an innings cap looming he has shown signs of being plenty useful in 2017. Not only does he have 21 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings (who doesn’t like a strikeout per inning?) but his FIP (3.75), xFIP (3.59) and SIERA (3.48) all point to mid-threes arm who has pitched better than the results indicate. If his ERA was currently even just 3.90, how high would ownership be?

Dan Straily - (MIA, SP): 16% owned

Straily kicked in the doors to the waiver-wire conversation by following up his 5 1/3-inning no-hit bid on April 16 with 14 strikeouts against the free-swinging Padres on April 22. He won’t face the Pads every time, but this is an arm that now has a 3.25 ERA and an 8.62 K/9 dating back to 2016’s All-Star break. The 1.71 HR/9 rate in that span is rough, but even just getting that down to his career 1.39 mark would make a difference. He’s been more than just a short-term splash is the point here.

Patrick Corbin - (ARI, SP): 13% owned

Corbin still has a bloated 1.45 WHIP, but brought his ERA down to 3.10 after allowing only two runs over seven solid innings alongside nine strikeouts against the Padres at home on Tuesday. He’s now 2-3 on the season, but the southpaw has now posted back-to-back quality starts with at least eight Ks -- it’s just both of those came against San Diego. He’ll face the Rockies in a tougher home matchup on April 30 next, so this is just a more general awareness-raiser rather than “pick him up and start him right now” blurb. His 3.67 FIP, 4.04 xFIP and 4.08 SIERA like what he’s doing, though, for the record.

Charlie Morton - (HOU, SP): 10% owned

Morton hasn’t exactly delivered on that preseason buzz with a 4.29 ERA and gaudy 1.57 WHIP, but he does have 19 strikeouts in 21 innings and is fighting through a career-worst .353 BABIP to become valuable for fantasy owners again. He gets to face Oakland next, where he’ll look to show why he has a 3.15 FIP, 3.92 xFIP and 3.97 SIERA alongside the solid strikeouts.

Jesse Hahn - (OAK, SP): 7% owned

Hahn appears to have rebounded from an ugly 2016 campaign (6.02 ERA, 1.64 WHIP) and recaptured his old form from ’14 and ’15 as he currently has a sparking 2.05 ERA that houses a 2.94 FIP within it. His Tuesday start yielded eight innings of shutout ball in which he only allowed one hit and two walks with six strikeouts, making him a big pickup.

While his 3.99 xFIP doesn’t like him as much, he has posted HR/9 marks of 0.49 and 0.47 in ’14 and ’15, respectively, so I’d buy the FIP over xFIP here (current 0.35 HR/9). His 4.15 SIERA likely doesn’t buy the .205 BABIP (totally fair), but his respective rates in those two previous seasons were .270 and .273. He has the command to create his own luck and be of use to fantasy owners here.

Trevor Cahill - (SD, SP/RP): 4% owned

In case you missed it, Cahill regained his formed out of the bullpen for the Cubbies last season with a 2.74 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 66 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings (one spot start). While his peripherals weren’t strong, his grounder-heavy arsenal was perfect for a historically great defense behind him. The Padres can’t provide him the same caliber of glove behind him so I expect his .233 BABIP to rise beyond his ’16 mark of .246, but he’s made up for that by pitching better.

His 3.35 FIP, 2.90 xFIP and 3.03 SIERA are all better than his 3.44 ERA and his 14.8 percent swinging-strike rate points to a guy who should keep his strikeout-per-inning stuff from last season when that rate stood at 11 percent. The wins may not flow in, but why he’s owned in fewer leagues than Clayton Richards boggles my mind.

Jesse Chavez - (LAA, SP/RP): 2% owned

Chavez was misused out of the bullpen in 2016 and had a rough season as a result (4.43 ERA, 1.33 WHIP), but has posted a 3.13 ERA as a starter thus far in 2017 with a .238/.312/.398 triple slash against. He’s not getting lucky and needs to work on inducing poorer contact, but I guarantee if his ERA was a full run lower (aka, if he didn’t need to pitch out of the ‘pen in an extra-inning game) alongside the 8.63 K/9 then his ownership would be at least five percent or so.

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Adds


Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Could Return as Bucks Face Bulls
Brandon Williams

Appears Unlikely to Play vs. Sacramento
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Questionable Saturday Against Cavaliers
Mike Conley

May Miss Saturday's Game Against Nets
De'Aaron Fox

Appears on Injury Report for Saturday
Josh Hart

Sidelined Against Hawks Due to Ankle Injury
Anthony Davis

Questionable With Adductor Soreness Saturday
Kris Murray

Will Play Against the Clippers
Robert Williams III

Available on Friday Night
Austin Reaves

Facing Multiweek Absence With Calf Issue
Anthony Edwards

Listed as Questionable Against Brooklyn
Keegan Murray

Out at Least One Week With Calf Strain
Jock Landale

to Miss Bucks Game With Calf Issue
Jordan Poole

Cleared to Play Friday vs. Suns
Joel Embiid

Set to Suit Up Against Bulls
George Kittle

Questionable to Face the Bears in Week 17
Cedric Coward

Active On Friday Against Milwaukee
Ja Morant

Available On Friday Night Against Milwaukee
Maxx Crosby

Done for the Season
VJ Edgecombe

Available on Friday
Dominick Barlow

Will Suit Up Against Chicago
Collin Murray-Boyles

Good to Go Versus Washington
Scottie Barnes

Upgraded to Available Against Washington
Calvin Austin III

Ruled Out with Hamstring Injury for Week 17
Harold Fannin Jr.

Expected to Play on Sunday
Jordan Love

Ruled Out with Concussion for Saturday's Contest
George Kittle

"Likely a Game-Time Decision" on Sunday Night
A.J. Brown

Returns to Practice on Friday
Josh Allen

Trending Toward Playing Vs. Philly
CFB

Michigan Targeting Kyle Whittingham as Next Head Coach
CFB

Texas Leading Rusher Quintrevion Wisner Set to Transfer
George Kittle

Remains Sidelined During Thursday's Practice
Malik Willis

Carrying Questionable Tag for Week 17 Tilt
Jordan Love

Questionable for Saturday's Contest
Lamar Jackson

Listed as Doubtful for Week 17
Amon-Ra St. Brown

to Suit Up on Christmas Day
Rome Odunze

"Increasing Unlikely to Play" in Week 17
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Carries Questionable Tag on Thursday
David Montgomery

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
David Montgomery

Questionable to Play With Illness
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Questionable, Expected to Play on Thursday
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Place Rashee Rice on Injured Reserve
T.J. Hockenson

Ruled Out for Week 17
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Josh Johnson

to Start at QB on Thursday Against Dallas
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Connor McDavid

Finishes Battle of Alberta With Five Assists
Karel Vejmelka

Battling Upper-Body Injury
Alexandre Texier

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Bruins
Alexander Nikishin

Dealing With Apparent Ankle Injury
Denver Barkey

Exits Early Tuesday
Travis Sanheim

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Tuesday
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
Viktor Arvidsson

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Ryan Leonard

Available Tuesday
Tom Wilson

in Danger of Missing First Game of the Season
Phillip Danault

Makes Second Canadiens Debut Tuesday
Collin Graf

Available Against Golden Knights
Jack Eichel

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Vince Dunn

Won't Play Tuesday
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach
Timothy Liljegren

to Miss Second Straight Game Tuesday
Will Smith

Out Week-to-Week
Jaccob Slavin

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Seth Jarvis

Considered Week-to-Week
Darren Raddysh

Totals Three Points in Monday's Win
Mason Marchment

Scores Twice Monday
Vince Dunn

Injured in Monday's Win
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox

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