Wandy Rodriguez (SP, TEX) - Waiver Wire Analysis

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OWNED IN: 10% of Fleaflicker Leagues

ANALYSIS: Wandy the Wizard just doesn't want to leave the fantasy landscape. Now 36, Rodriguez put together a solid spring for Atlanta until they surprisingly released him to roll with Eric Stults. Texas was happy to scoop him up on a minor-league deal and he's proven to be a steal, compiling a 3.03 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 49/21 K/BB ratio over 59.1 innings. He's been pitching particularly well of late; since May 21st he owns a 2.30 ERA and 1.15 WHIP, including just three free passes in his last 19.2 innings.

Can Wandy keep this up? I tend to lean on the optimistic side, mainly due to the adjustments he's made. Check out his pitch usage percentages from just last year to now.

Wandy Rodriguez Pitch Usage 2014/2015 (Brooks Baseball)

He's basically dumped the changeup, and good riddance; since 2010 the Pitchf/x value on his changeup has ranged from -1.8 to -8.0. As a veteran pitcher it is imperative to be realistic about your shortcomings and make the adjustments necessary to succeed in the bigs. I think Wandy's done just that. His knuckle-curve has been particularly effective; hitters have been limited to a .173 AVG and .204 SLG vs the pitch since the beginning of May. I'm buying Wandy in deeper leagues hoping owners have been scared off by his poor 2014 and his injury history. Again, worry about injuries later when the player costs nothing to add now.