MLB Week 6 Pitching Waiver Wire: Roster These Two-Start Veterans With Great Matchups

1. Anthony DeSclafani | SP | San Francisco Giants

Although he’s now more likely to not be available in your league than he is to be available, Anthony DeSclafani is still at just a 55.7% ownership clip in ESPN leagues despite his red-hot start to 2021. Keep in mind, if you exclude his rookie year, and a disastrous 2020, DeSclafani has a career 3.89 ERA in over 600 innings of work. His current peripherals are much more in line with his career numbers prior to 2020, which is a promising indication that we should see the better version of DeSclafani moving forward. Be wary, if you stream solely based on matchups, as his upcoming schedule is a bit tougher than you’d like. He will likely face San Diego, Cincinnati, and the Dodgers a few times over the next month or so.

2. Nick Pivetta | SP | Boston Red Sox

There might not be another pitcher that has been added and dropped in fantasy more over the past few years than Nick Pivetta. Perennially a pitcher with “tons of potential,” Pivetta might have possibly found a home in Boston. Dating back to joining the Red Sox in 2020, Pivetta has a 2.55 ERA in 35.2 innings pitched in a Boston uniform. I hesitated adding him though, as his FIP is nearly a run higher than his current season ERA of 2.81, and his WHIP is at 1.247. In addition, his peripheral stats, such as his Average Exit Velocity, Expected wOBA, K%, and B%, indicate that this hot start will soon trend in the wrong direction. I suspect it’ll be a bit before that happens, however, as Pivetta has two juicy matchups lined up for next week. He should pitch at home against Detroit, and then again over the weekend in Baltimore. If he gives you two good starts, it’ll be hard to drop him, especially considering his season stats at that point. Keep in mind, however, his next starts will likely come against the Angels, The Blue Jays, The Braves, and the Astros. Consider rostering him and then trying to trade high.

3. J.A. Happ | SP | Minnesota Twins

I cringe even typing this, but J.A. Happ has pitched well and should have a two-start week with two good matchups coming up. As it stands, he’ll likely pitch at home against Texas and on the road against Detroit. For a pitcher that has a 1.96 ERA and is 2-0 over four starts and 23 innings pitched in 2021, you can’t ask for a much better streaming option than that. I wouldn’t plan to hold on to him much longer than next week, however, as his 4.00 FIP and .154 BABIP indicate he will not be able to sustain his early success. Much like Pivetta though, you can’t ask for a better combination for a streamer than somebody who is pitching well and has two starts against beatable offenses. Roster and look to trade or dump after the good matchups.

4. Ryan Weathers | SP | San Diego Padres

I slotted Weathers into the number four spot on this week’s post and then he promptly left last night’s outing after an inning of work with joint inflammation. However, I decided to leave him on. Prior to this outing, the 21-year-old Weathers dominated the Dodgers in his previous start, as he became the youngest starter to throw five-plus scoreless innings with one hit or fewer as a visitor in Dodger stadium. Not very many pitchers hold the Dodgers to one hit in over five innings of work. While he might not sit atop the Padres top prospect list with the likes of Mackenzie Gore, he’s still their sixth-highest rated prospect. He had previously been making relief appearances, but injuries forced him back into the rotation and manager Jayce Tingler noted that Weathers would remain in the rotation for the time being. Now that being said, he might be missing time himself. If he hits the IL, as I expect San Diego to do considering his age and their depth, consider rostering him and putting him into your IL spot if you have one and it’s available.

5. Taylor Rogers | RP | Minnesota Twins

Last but not least is the only reliever of the week, Taylor Rogers. He’s been a household name in fantasy over the last two seasons, closing games for the Twins. However, the addition of Alexander Colomé punched him down the totem poll and it didn’t take long before fantasy players realized he wasn’t going to be getting very many save chances. Things have changed, however, as Colomé has been nothing short of a disaster for Minnesota. His -2.2 Win Probability Added is the worst in the history of baseball for a reliever’s first nine appearances with a team. Needless to say, Colomé has lost his closing duties for the time being, and in steps Taylor Rogers. Although he had a rough 2020, there are some peripherals to indicate he got rather unlucky. So far in 2021, Rogers looks more like the dominant Taylor Rogers we have seen in years past, as he’s yet to allow an earned run through 9.1 innings of work. Expect the Twins to start playing a little better, starting with handing over save opportunities to their best reliever in Rogers.