X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

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 draft 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




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Lauri Markkanen

Back on Saturday Night
Keyonte George

Available Versus Golden State
PJ Hall

Starting Again on Saturday Night
Joel Embiid

Upgraded to Available on Saturday
Karl-Anthony Towns

Returning on Saturday Night
George Kittle

Officially Active for Week 18
Ricky Pearsall

Inactive for Saturday's Game
Joel Kiviranta

Misses Road Trip
Gavin Brindley

Out Saturday
Casey DeSmith

Granted Leave of Absence
Tanner Jeannot

Remains Absent Saturday
Trevor Moore

Won't Play Saturday Night
Shayne Gostisbehere

Set to Return Saturday
William Nylander

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Wan'Dale Robinson

Giants Place Wan'Dale Robinson on Injured Reserve
Breece Hall

Ruled Out, Ending His Season
CFB

DJ Lagway Expected To Visit Florida State
Kyle Tucker

Blue Jays "Remain the Favorite" to Sign Kyle Tucker
Jalen Suggs

to Undergo Further Testing on Knee Injury
Devin Vassell

to Miss "More Than a Few Games"
Davante Adams

Unlikely to Play in Regular-Season Finale
Jusuf Nurkić

Jusuf Nurkic Dealing with Toe Injury Ahead of Saturday
Lauri Markkanen

Could Miss Second Straight Game
Keyonte George

Could Miss Another Game with Illness
Bam Adebayo

Likely Available Saturday vs. Minnesota
Joel Embiid

Expected to Suit Up Saturday vs. Knicks
Draymond Green

Set to Return Saturday After Rest Day
Cason Wallace

Exits Early with Knee Contusion
Maxime Raynaud

Leaves Game with Apparent Knee Injury
Josh Hart

to Miss at Least Another Week
Ace Bailey

to Miss Another Game Saturday vs. Warriors
Ivica Zubac

Cleared to Play Saturday vs. Celtics
Jake DeBrusk

Records Season-High Three Points Friday
Danila Yurov

Scores Twice in Friday's Win
Alexis Lafrenière

Alexis Lafreniere Sets Up Three Goals in Winter Classic Win
Mika Zibanejad

Produces Historic Winter Classic Performance
Mackenzie Blackwood

Placed on Injured Reserve
Seth Jones

Sustains Upper-Body Injury in Winter Classic Loss
Linus Karlsson

Celebrates New Contract With Goal
Franz Wagner

Expected to Return "Within the Next Week"
T.J. Watt

Cleared to Play in Week 18
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Available Versus Charlotte
Karl-Anthony Towns

Out on Friday Night
Trevor Moore

Likely to Return Saturday
John Klingberg

Doubtful to Play Saturday
Isiah Pacheco

Could be Rested Against Raiders
Radko Gudas

on Track to Return Friday
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Officially Questionable for Week 18
Brayden McNabb

Considered Week-to-Week
De'Von Achane

Doubtful to Face the Patriots
Zach Werenski

Ready to Return Saturday
Ilya Sorokin

Comes Off Injured Reserve
Bo Horvat

Ruled Out for at Least One Week
Aaron Jones Sr.

Won't Play in Week 18
Omarion Hampton

Ruled Out for Week 18
Dallas Goedert

Ruled Out With Knee Injury
J.J. McCarthy

Will Start in Week 18
Javonte Williams

Ruled Out for Sunday
Alvin Kamara

Will Remain Out in Week 18
Davante Adams

Questionable to Play in Week 18
Kyren Williams

Questionable to Play in Week 18
Kyle Pitts Sr.

Questionable for Sunday
Drake London

Questionable for Season Finale
Harold Fannin Jr.

Ruled Out in Week 18
Harold Fannin Jr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 18
CFB

Joey Aguilar Undergoes Surgery to Remove Tumor on Friday
CFB

Texas the "Team to Beat" for Transfer Running Back Isaac Brown
CFB

Rocco Becht to Follow Matt Campbell to Penn State?
CFB

Texas Targeting Cam Coleman in Transfer Portal
CFB

Former Texas Running Back CJ Baxter Visiting Kentucky
CFB

Beau Pribula Visiting Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech
Bo Bichette

Yankees Showing Interest in Bo Bichette
Houston Astros

Astros Sign Tatsuya Imai to Three-Year Deal
CFB

Lane Kiffin Interested in Sam Leavitt, Brendan Sorsby at LSU
CFB

Deuce Knight Officially Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Kewan Lacy Expected to Be Full-Go Against Georgia
CFB

Chip Kelly Named Northwestern Offensive Coordinator
CFB

Penn State Working to Hire D'Anton Lynn as Next Defensive Coordinator
CFB

Omar Cooper Expected to be Full-Go for Rose Bowl
CFB

Marcus Freeman Staying with Notre Dame for 2026 Season
CFB

Star Wideout Cam Coleman Entering Transfer Portal

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP