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Week 13 Waiver Wire - Starting Pitchers

Nick Mariano's starting pitcher (SP) fantasy baseball waiver wire targets and adds. Free agent pickups and starting pitcher sleepers for Week 13 of the 2018 MLB season.

Holy guacamole, Batman, we’re almost halfway through the season! I hope those of you that could scoop Freddy Peralta and Shane Bieber after last week’s notes didn’t hesitate. We're back to name names, 10 in fact, and I hope we can satisfy those in shallower formats as well as the multitude who make me feel guilty over each player being owned already.

If you want to chat more about additional arms/bats/whatever, you can find me on Twitter @NMariano53 and ask any follow-up questions.

We're using Yahoo ownership levels and cutting things off around 30% this week. Here are my starting pitcher waiver wire targets for Week 13.

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

 

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Targets

Ivan Nova (PIT - SP): 29% owned

Nova was battered over five May starts before hitting the DL, allowing 20 earned runs over just 23 ⅔ innings, but has risen from the ashes in June. Across 19 ⅔ IP, the 31-year-old righty has allowed two runs on 12 hits and five walks with 19 K's over his three starts. Never underestimate the power of getting a mental break from the action, especially when you’re in a funk. Not to mention that Nova’s not the overpowering type and really needs his command to be on point. Well, it’s on point now as he cruises toward a date with the Mets.

Joey Lucchesi (SD - SP): 28% owned

Lucchesi’s ownership continues to slowly decline despite a solid start against the Rangers on Monday. It was just his second start back from the DL as he spun four scoreless frames despite spotty command. He hit 70 pitches early and was promptly lifted, presumably not to tax him fresh off of injury. This should assuage some doubt after he only recorded five outs in his first start back as he heads toward July with a 3.57 ERA, 3.64 xFIP and 3.81 SIERA across 11 starts. I remain impressed and hope you’ll benefit from an impatient owner who just wants to see a clean win and big K’s, but I understand waiting until he throws more than 41-of-70 pitches for strikes.

Jonathan Loaisiga (NYY - SP): 24% owned

Rare is the pitcher who shows immunity to real volatility, and rarer still is the rookie pitcher who can make such a claim. Loaisiga was likely cast aside in several leagues after failing to go four innings on June 20 against Seattle, but he rebounded in a major way by taking a no-hitter into the sixth against Philly on Monday. He turned in a career-high eight strikeouts and now has 18 punchouts in 14 innings and has held opponents scoreless in two of his three starts.

The eight walks are rough but his Minor League profile shows excellent command, so perhaps it’s an intentional effort to work corners more against MLB competition? Regardless, he has a 1.93 ERA, 2.25 FIP, 2.71 xFIP and 3.58 SIERA alongside a 58.1% groundball rate in the (very) early going, so let’s see what else he can do before Masahiro Tanaka returns and likely forces Loaisiga out of the rotation. It’s possible German goes instead, but I doubt it at this point.

Marco Estrada (TOR - SP): 22% owned

Guess what? Estrada did keep it going against the Los Angeles Mike Trouts of Anaheim. Now with four consecutive quality starts under his belt, the soon-to-be 35-year-old righty looks like the arm who befuddled sabermetricians and was an original suppressor of hard contact. His 20.3% hard-hit rate in June is the lowest mark of any qualified starter (there are 91 of them) and the trade rumors are starting to rumble. Two things are immediately concerning, though. One is that his next game is against Houston. The second and bigger issue is that he’s gone on record saying that trade rumors have stressed him before and hurt his sleep cycle, which spiraled his stats into oblivion last season. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen again.

Ervin Santana (MIN - SP): 16% owned

We’ve talked about Santana before and he’s had his rehab stall, but for now...he’s set for an outing at High-A on Saturday. He made it through a live bullpen session on Monday without any issues, so his finger has progressed since last he attempted this. He should be able to squeeze in 2-3 rehab appearances before the All-Star break is up.

Mike Minor (TEX - SP/RP): 8% owned

Minor had some preseason buzz going if he could keep his bullpen gains from 2017 going in Texas’ rotation. It hasn’t been that simple, but the 2009 seventh-overall pick has built up momentum with quality starts against Houston, Colorado and Minnesota in his last three starts for a 2.84 ERA in June. He’s kept the ball in the park his last two starts after giving up at least one in seven straight (10 total), though I hesitate to call that a turnaround. The best news I can give you here is that he owns a 3.94 ERA at home (6.82 ERA on the road) and faces the Padres -- a bottom-three offense -- at home next.

Dereck Rodriguez (SF - SP/RP): 7% owned

Rodriguez’s first appearance in the bigs was an iffy relief spot at Coors Field, but since then he’s posted three quality starts in five outings with a solid 24-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio. I’d be remiss not to say how he’s faced San Diego and Miami twice over his last three trips to the hill, but we’ve often seen favorable matchups go awry. I see the age-26 arm as capable of staying below a 4.00 ERA for you with an assist from spacious AT&T Park.

Nathan Eovaldi (TB - SP): 6% owned

Eovaldi eviscerated the Nationals with nine strikeouts and just one hit surrendered (with two walks) over six shutout innings. Joke all you want about the state of the Nationals, but this was a stellar performance all the same. The score also means Nasty Nate didn’t surrender a homer after yielding eight of them over his last four outings. He won’t ride a .178 BABIP forever, but he’s issued just five walks in 35 ⅓ IP and his 3.72 xFIP paints him as a useful deep-league arm.

Wilmer Font (TB - SP/RP): 1% owned

Rays manager Kevin Cash named Font as his starter on Thursday against the Astros (yikes) and has a spot in Tampa Bay’s fluid rotation. I actually drafted Font in The Great Fantasy Baseball Invitational and obviously, that didn’t go so well in LA (or Oakland). But since debuting for Tampa on May 30, Font has cobbled together a 1.64 ERA with 17 strikeouts over 22 innings (four “starts”), highlighted by his first victory on Saturday over the Yankees. His 4.11 FIP/4.85 xFIP over that span should be noted, but a weak 12.9% line-drive rate and 15.4% pop-up rate does help generate some luck. He’s started against the Yankees twice, the Mariners and the Blue Jays, so if he conquers the Astros then I’ll really want to dive in on the how’s and why’s.

Edwin Jackson (OAK - SP): 1% owned

Excuse me while I scroll down Jackson’s stats page...ahem...doo-doo-doo...ah, here we go. Pitching for his 13th team, Jackson tossed six innings of one-run ball in his A’s debut against the Tigers. He gave up six hits but walked none, though I wouldn’t get attached to that command given his career 9% walk rate. The Tigers are simply a good matchup for a right-handed pitcher and as a result, E-Jax now has another chance to prove himself on June 30 in a much tougher matchup against the Indians. Even at home, starting him there is ill-advised, but if he shines again then he’ll enter the streaming circle of trust.

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Al Horford

on Track to Return Thursday
Jaden McDaniels

Iffy for Christmas Day
Brandon Williams

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
P.J. Washington

at Risk of Missing Second Straight Game
Klay Thompson

Likely to Play on Christmas Day
Max Christie

Probable for Christmas Day
Ajay Mitchell

Out on Christmas Day
Chet Holmgren

Available on Christmas Day
Lonzo Ball

Available Against Knicks
Evan Mobley

Listed as Questionable for Christmas Tilt
OG Anunoby

Returns to Action Thursday
Jalen Brunson

Available 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
Davante Adams

Could Sit Out Final Two Regular-Season Games
Brock Bowers

Placed on Injured Reserve Due to Lingering Knee Injury
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Expected to Play on Christmas Day Against the Vikings
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
Cam Whitmore

Out Indefinitely With Deep Vein Thrombosis
Corey Kispert

Lasts for 13 Minutes in Comeback Game
Jaxson Hayes

Makes Early Exit Versus Suns
Gary Trent Jr.

Limited to Five Minutes Tuesday
Matas Buzelis

Exits With Leg Injury Tuesday
Keegan Murray

Sustains Calf Injury Tuesday
Cameron Johnson

Scheduled for MRI After Hurting Right Knee
Chet Holmgren

Suffers Facial Injury Tuesday
Caris LeVert

Upgraded to Available Tuesday
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
DK Metcalf

has Two-Game Suspension Upheld
Philip Rivers

to Remain the Starter in Week 17
George Kittle

Dealing With Mid-to-Low Ankle Sprain
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
Deshaun Watson

Will Not be Activated Off PUP List, 2025 Season is Over
J.J. McCarthy

Ruled Out for Week 17
Rome Odunze

Expected to Return This Season
Christian McCaffrey

Another Monster Game for Christian McCaffrey in Week 16
Brock Purdy

Throws for Five Touchdowns in Week 16
TreVeyon Henderson

in Concussion Protocol, Week 17 Status Unclear
George Kittle

Week 17 Availability in Question?
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
Rashee Rice

Still in Concussion Protocol, Estimated as Non-Participant on Monday
J.J. McCarthy

Listed as DNP on Monday Ahead of Week 17
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
DK Metcalf

Suspended for Two Games Following Confrontation with Fan
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
Brandon Lowe

Pirates Acquire Brandon Lowe in Three-Team Trade
Shane Baz

Orioles Acquire Shane Baz From the Rays
CFB

Darian Mensah Returning to Duke Next Season
CFB

Josh Hoover Linked to Indiana in Transfer Portal
CFB

Arch Manning Agrees to Reduced Compensation for 2026 Season
Michael King

Padres Bring Michael King Back on Three-Year Deal

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