Fantasy Baseball: Waiver Wire Pitching Pickups, 4/27/13

Saturday’s probable pitchers include some interesting players available on the waiver wire who can help your fantasy team finish the week strong.  22, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Felix Doubront (22) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

If you’re looking for starting pitching help from the waiver wire for this weekend, Saturday offers some nice possibilities. These four pitchers are off to good starts and have solid matchups Saturday and could pay off as you lockdown your pitching wins for the week:

Possible Pickups

Felix Doubront-Boston Red Sox: (7.7%) Doubront has been piling up strikeouts with 15 in his last two starts and 21 in 16 2/3 on the season. His ERA isn’t great at 4.32 and he’s given up at least two earned runs in every start, but Saturday he’ll face the Astros who struggle to score and strike out a lot. He’ll be opposed by Brad Peacock who is just 1-2 with a 7.50 ERA. The Red Sox have been playing well at home and should continue to enjoy their visit from Houston as Doubront has a good chance to have his best start of the season.

Apr 16, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Travis Wood delivers a pitch against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

Travis Wood-Chicago Cubs: (13.9%) Wood has pitched at least six innings in each of his four starts this season and has allowed two earned runs or fewer in every start. The Cubs bullpen and lineup haven’t been able to convert those quality starts to wins so he comes in just 1-1 even with a 1.04 WHIP and a 2.08 ERA. Opponents are hitting just .191 against him on the season which should translate to fantasy production as he takes on the weak-hitting Marlins on Saturday. He’ll be opposed by Alex Sanabia who has been inconsistent this season but has had a pair of wins. Getting a W from any Cubs pitcher is a tricky proposition, but Wood should at least have a solid start and help you on Saturday.

Jeremy Guthrie-Kansas City Royals: (28.6%) The Royals host Cleveland on Saturday as Guthrie looks to improve to 3-0. He’s received no decisions for his last two starts and comes in with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. The Tribe has had their offensive outbursts, but have struggled at times as well. Guthrie did win his only home start this season and will be opposed by Ubaldo Jimenez who has been crushed in his last three starts and enter Saturday’s game with a 10.06 ERA and a 0-2 record. Guthrie has a great shot at a win and should help with ERA and WHIP although his strikeout numbers have been inconsistent.

April 12, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Mike Leake (44) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Leake-Cincinnati Reds: (4.5%) Leake would be at the top of this list if he was in a better matchup but he takes on the Nats in Washington which does carry a pretty big risk factor. Leake has had two great starts in his last two outings shutting out the Philies and holding the Cubs to just two runs while lasting seven innings in each start. He did struggle early in the season and gave up four runs on six hits to the Nats in a no decision early this season, but has been pitching well lately and I think he’ll be ok against the struggling Nationals’ lineup.

Past Performance

Here’s a quick look at home my picks from the past week have done: