The Major League Baseball season is rolling along as we are nearing the halfway point. Most fantasy owners are constantly looking at ways to improve their club and we have some quality arms to help boost your pitching staff. Take a look at some of the top hurlers on the waiver wire.
Pitchers on the waiver wire
Jake Arrieta, ChC SP
It takes some players a little longer to reach their potential and for Arrieta, that might be an understatement. The 28-year-old righty came up in the Baltimore Orioles system and showed tons of promise at times while struggling the majority of his time in orange and black.
Arrieta got traded to the Cubs during last season and he has pitched well every since. He is 7-3 with a .284 earned run average in 18 starts with Chicago and has allowed just two earned runs over his past four outings. It really seems like he has figured it out and fantasy owners need to run to the waiver wire if they want to cash in.
Mark Melancon, Pit RP
The Pirates’ closer job is now Melancon’s after Jason Grilli gave up homeruns in consecutive outings this past week. Manager Clint Hurdle is reportedly calling the move ‘temporary’ as he expects Grilli to return to the ninth-inning role at some point.
For now, the fantasy value shifts to Melancon, who already has 10 saves this season filling in for an injured Grilli awhile back. Melancon owns a 1.89 ERA in just over 33 innings and he is a very consistent. Owners in need of saves should add him immediately.
Henderson Alvarez, Mia SP
The Marlins have been surprisingly good this season and Alvarez has done his part in helping the cause. The Venezuelan has a sparkling 2.56 ERA and a 3-3 record with all of his wins coming on complete game shutouts.
Fantasy owners are starting to catch on and Henderson may already be picked up in your league for good reason. What he lacks in strikeouts, he makes up with control as evidenced by a 1.8 walks per nine innings ratio this season.
Clay Buchholz, Bos SP
The right-hander is due back from the DL sometime next week after pitching in his final rehab start on Thursday. Buchholz was awful before he missed time with a hyperextended knee and a 7.02 ERA in 10 starts.
Fantasy owners shouldn’t expect him to dominate right away as he knocks off some of the rust. Buchholz was excellent last season (started 9-0 with a 1.71 EARA) before shoulder weakness sidelined him for three months. He certainly has the ability to be a top-notch pitcher and he should get close to that form in his return, but temper the expectations initially.
Kyle Gibson, Min SP
The Minnesota Twins have to be enjoying what Gibson has done recently with three straight scoreless outing each lasting seven frames. He has given up just nine hits over the past 21 innings pitched. The former first-round pick (22nd overall) in 2009 is starting to live up to expectations as his ERA is down to 3.25 and a record that stands at 6-5.
In 14 starts this season, Gibson has allowed one or fewer runs in nine outings. Hitters get mowed down with ease when Gibson is on his game and expect him to be sharp more times than not the rest of the way. Fantasy owners won’t get many strikeouts from the 26-year-old, but that’s okay if he’s not allowing many runs and hits.
Danny Duffy, KC SP
Here is another young arm that is making an impact in the American League Central with a 2.80 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 61 innings pitched. Duffy, age 25, has earned a spot in the Royals’ rotation and his 4-6 mark isn’t an accurate reflection of how well he has pitched. The southpaw will continue to get better as the season goes on, but Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers will oppose him the next time out. Owners in deeper leagues could surely benefit from his services.
I will be coming out with more fantasy baseball waiver wire articles soon, so make sure to come back.
