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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

Christian Kirk

Expected to Return in Week 3
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Diego Pavia Seeking Another Year of Eligibility
Tarik Skubal

on Track to Start Thursday
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Kevorian Barnes Questionable Against SMU
Bo Bichette

has Short-Term Knee Injury, Could Return for Postseason
Tosan Evbuomwan

Joins Knicks
NBA

Kai Jones Links Up With EuroLeague Team
Bismack Biyombo

Returns to Spurs
Bones Hyland

Rejoins Timberwolves
Kobe Bufkin

Moves to Brooklyn
Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
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Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
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Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
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Wins His Second UFC Fight
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Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
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Giannis Antetokounmpo

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Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
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Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Aaron Jones Sr.

Injures Hamstring During Sunday Night Football
Darren Waller

Not Expected to Play in Week 3
Garrett Crochet

Punches Out 12 in Win
Cole Ragans

to Return on Wednesday
Jameson Williams

Records Long Touchdown in Week 2, Still Limited to Downfield Role?
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Strikes Out 14 in Win
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Carlos Estevez Exits with Back Tightness
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Joe Burrow

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Davante Adams

Headlines Rams Receiving Corps Sunday
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Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
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Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
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Takes a Seat on Sunday With Head Injury
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Activated, Starting on Sunday
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Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
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Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
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LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
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DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
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Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
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CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
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John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
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Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
Bryan Woo

Records Career-High 13 Strikeouts
Max Muncy

Exits Early on Saturday
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Salvador Perez

Reaches 300 Home Runs, 1,000 RBI
Jose Altuve

Exits Early With Foot Discomfort
Trey Yesavage

Heading to Big Leagues
Will Smith

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

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Kyle Busch

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Ricky Stenhouse Jr

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Michael McDowell

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Chase Elliott

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NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

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Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
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Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
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Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
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Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
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Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
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Dealing With a "Tweak"
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Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

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Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
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CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
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Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
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Diego Lopes

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Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
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Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
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Looks To Return To The Win Column
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Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
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David Sanders Jr. Won't Play Against Georgia
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Dylan Edwards Slated to Return on Friday
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Ryan Williams Expected to Play Against Wisconsin
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Luka Doncic Notches 39 Points in Losing Effort
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Cam Reddish Expected to Move to Europe
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Trey Lyles Joins Real Madrid
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Michael Misa Signs Entry-Level Contract With Sharks
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Nursing an Injury

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