Pitching Waiver Report – June 18

With the holiday weekend, Jason and I took the week off from the podcast. I didn’t want to leave you empty-handed, though, so here’s a little guide to this week’s pitching waiver wire.

TWO-START ARMS

Shallow (ranked):

• Brad Peacock – at OAK, at SEA
• Brandon McCarthy – v. NYM, v. COL
• Zack Wheeler – at LAD, at SF
• Ariel Miranda – v. DET, v. HOU

Peacock has a 37% K rate in five starts. He’s only gone 5+ IP once, but I’m still starting him in a lot of leagues. McCarthy has quietly been really strong this year, especially since coming off the DL with a 1.91 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 28.3 IP spanning five starts. Wheeler was obliterated his last time out (1.7 IP/8 ER) which raised his ERA a full run to 4.48, but he’d run off quality starts in five of six before that. Miranda has been more good than bad this year, but his bad starts are punishing (8 ER, 6 ER) and this is a pair of tough opponents.

Deep:

• Jordan Zimmermann – at SEA, at SD
• Francisco Liriano – at TEX, at KC
• Zach Davies – v. PIT, at ATL
• Edinson Volquez – v. WAS, v. CHC
• Derek Holland – at MIN, v. OAK
• Matt Moore – at ATL, v. NYM
• Jeremy Hellickson – v. STL, at ARI

Zimmermann has found his stuff a bit (2.25 ERA, 1.20 WHIP in 20 IP) and the setup is enticing, especially with a trip to Petco Park on the weekend. Liriano has been solid since coming off the DL with a 3.71 ERA and 19 Ks in 17 IP. Volquez followed up the no-hitter with seven scoreless, but then got hit a bit against Oakland. This is a really tough slate, even with both at home. I’m completely done with Moore.

Super-Deep:

• Mike Montgomery – v. SD, at MIA
• Francis Martes – at OAK, at SEA
• Scott Feldman – at TB, at WAS
• Jason Hammel – v. BOS, v. TOR
• German Marquez – v. ARI, at LAD
• Matt Garza – v. PIT, at ATL
• Chris Tillman – v. CLE, at TB
• Clayton Richard – at CHC, v. DET
• Josh Tomlin – at BAL, v. MIN
• Sam Gaviglio – v. DET, v. HOU

Montgomery is ramping up since jumping into the rotation and should be ready for some longer outings in this two-start setup. He threw 88 pitches his last time out and gets a great schedule. Martes has to hit the road twice, but he’s well-equipped with a high-powered offense and strong bullpen. He made it through five strong with seven strikeouts his last time out, too. The current run scoring environment makes Feldman viable. Hammel has four quality starts in his last five. Richard has been halfway decent this year, but I can’t start him against those two clubs.

OTHER ARMS

• Jon Gray – might need rehab start or two, but pick him up now in shallower leagues before the price jumps
• Jacob Faria – really impressive arm with a deceptive 91-93 mph fastball and deep secondary arsenal
• Zach Godley – another big outing this weekend in Philly (5.7 IP, 1 ER, 8 K)
• Kenta Maeda – back in the rotation with a big start on Sunday, but seems to work best in 4-5 IP outings so wins could be a challenge
• Tyson Ross – thoracic outlet syndrome returns can be rough early on, but this pitching climate makes an arm Ross very enticing because of his previous heights
• Matt Strahm – still building his pitch count, but kind of an AL version of Mike Montgomery
• James Shields – could see Feldman-like usefulness for Shields in deeper leagues
• Homer Bailey – just started his rehab assignment, but I need to see something in the MLB before jumping back on board
• Brandon Finnegan – also out on rehab, though I’d be more inclined to scoop and stash him before he gets back to the majors