Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitchers Report (Week 8): Waiver Wire Pickups, Streamers, Injury Updates & More
Mitchell Layton/Getty Images. Pictured: Nick Pivetta.
It is sweating weather officially in the Midwest where I live. It means zero to you the reader, but it does mean baseballs will begin to fly in ballparks across MLB. With six no-hitters officially in the books for 2021, the modern era record of seven is likely to fall, but the change in weather may prevent it from happening sooner than later.
Waiver Wire Adds/Streamers
Nick Pivetta – Boston Red Sox
Yahoo: 51%, ESPN: 66%
The walks have been controlled some as he finds the strike zone (down two walks per nine since the end of April). His low BABIP and career-best 0.57 Home Runs Per 9 will correct as the weather warms, but Pivetta is attached to an offense with the third best Offensive WAR in baseball.
Nate Eovaldi – Boston Red Sox
Yahoo: 68%, ESPN: 71%
Eovaldi has better stuff than his teammate but has the tendency to be effectively wild. He earned his first win of May on the 22nd and allowed his first home run of 2021 in the same game. Again, roster pitchers attached to strong offenses.
Domingo German – New York Yankees
Yahoo: 68%, ESPN: 69%
His strikeout rate is down from his last season in 2019, but so are his walks. The 28-year old is pitching some of his best baseball in his career and has not had a game with a WHIP over 1.00 since April 22.
Robbie Ray – Toronto Blue Jays
Yahoo: 56%, ESPN: 63%
Ray is doing something that has evaded him for majority of his career – throwing pitches for strikes. He has career highs in pitches thrown in the strike zone, first-pitch strikes, and Swinging Strike Percentage. Ray also has career-bests in Win Probability Added and Clutch. He is not rostered in enough leagues.
Adbert Alzolay – Chicago Cubs
Yahoo: 29%, ESPN: 26%
Alzolay has pitched incrementally better each game this season and has been the Cubs’ most consistent pitcher. Home runs and a low BABIP remain concerns, but the Cubs have a chance to win the NL Central and are one of the offenses that have the most to gain with warmer weather hitting Chicago.
Spencer Turnbull – Detroit Tigers
Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 26%
No-hitter aside, Turnbull has pitched only slightly better than his peripherals expect him too. He is not a dominant strikeout pitcher and is attached to an awful team but is more than acceptable as a streamer.
Injuries
An update on Danny Duffy’s injury could be made this week after an MRI ruled out any serious concerns.
Taijuan Walker was placed on the 10-day IL with left side tightness.
Huascar Ynoa will miss a couple months after breaking his hand punching the Braves dugout.
Kohei Arihara is expected to miss at least 12 weeks because of right shoulder surgery to remove an aneurysm. His season could be over.
Scott Kazmir has replaced Logan Webb in the Giants rotation. Webb was placed on the 10-day IL with a shoulder strain that is not believed to be serious.
Miles Mikolas was removed from his first start in nearly 18 months May 22 with right forearm tightness. He underwent an MRI with results pending.
Athletics SP Mike Fiers was transferred to the 60-day IL.
Wade Miley landed on the 10-day IL with a left foot sprain.
Vince Velazquez was scratched from his most recent start with numbness in his pitching hand. Velazquez is not concerned that it will be a long-term injury. Phillies manager Joe Girardi said Velazquez will undergo tests to determine the severity of the numbness.
Michael Wacha (hamstring) was activated from the IL May 23 and will start for Tampa Bay.
Jacob deGrom is expected to make his next start the week of May 24.
Nationals pitcher Erick Fedde landed in COVID-19 protocols after testing positive for the virus. He had been vaccinated and is asymptomatic.
Two-Start Pitchers
This is a projected list. Starts are subject to change and not all starters have been named.
Ross Stripling (TOR) – vs TB, at CLE
Zach Eflin (PHI) – at MIA, vs TB
Sam Hentges and Adam Civale (CLE) – at DET, vs TOR
Spencer Turnbull and Tarik Skubal (DET) – vs CLE, vs NYY
Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes (MIL) – vs SD, at WSH
Lance Lynn and Lucas Giolito (CHW) – vs STL, vs BAL
Yusei Kikuchi (SEA) – at OAK, vs TEX
Sandy Alcantara (MIA) – vs PHI, at BOS
Tyler Mahle (CIN) – at WSH, at CHC
Andrew Heaney (LAA) – vs TEX, at OAK
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