Dixon’s Picks: Waiver Wire Additions for the Week of April 29

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Welcome back to Dixon’s Picks!

This week is a little unusual in that there aren’t many great waiver wire additions with two favorable matchups. I’ll generally look for three waiver wire guys going twice that week, totaling six starts. This week, finding six starts from three guys was a little more difficult, so we’re going to have to go outside of the box for six good matchups from waiver wire guys. Still, we will get to six. Let’s get to it.

Jose Quintana, Chicago White Sox — Probable Starts: Tuesday at Texas Rangers, Sunday at Kansas City Royals

Two weeks in a row for Jose Quintana making Dixon’s Picks. Some bad weather kept him from two starts last week, but he should be good this week.

It’s not that either of these opponents are bad. The Rangers are a Top-10 offense in pretty much every category, while the Royals have plenty of talent in the order. But Quintana is throwing the ball really well right now and as I said last week, Quintana’s very good when he’s hot. Right now, he’s hot. Look at his numbers since a rough outing in his first start of the year:

He’ll keep it going this week. It probably won’t be that strong, but I fully expect two quality starts.

Quintana’s Projections for the Week

—BONUS PICKS—

Again, this week is a little different. We realistically can’t predict two good outings from any more waiver wire guys, but we can look at a couple single start guys. Let’s do it.

Andrew Cashner, San Diego Padres — Probable Start: Wednesday at Chicago Cubs

A rough-hitting Chicago Cubs lineup isn’t the only reason that Andrew Cashner makes this list, though it helps. It also helps that after starting the year in the San Diego bullpen, Cashner has turned in two good outings against the Giants, picking up a win in his last start, allowing one run over six innings.

All of that is good but realize that with a Wednesday outing will also put Cashner in position to start twice next week — against the Marlins and Rays.

Throw all of that together, and you’re looking at a pretty good pitcher to pick up. If he stays in the San Diego rotation, he’ll still get Petco Park (if you’ve watched a game there this year, you know it’s still a pitcher’s yard). So, you might consider picking him up long term, but he should be a good addition for the next two weeks. Chances are pretty good you’ll be seeing his name in next week’s Dixon’s Picks.

Cashner’s Projections for the Week

Jorge De La Rosa, Colorado Rockies — Probable Start: Tuesday at Los Angeles Dodgers

There are a lot of good hitters in the Dodgers lineup but right now, they’re just not clicking. Similarly, I wouldn’t exactly tell you that I’m President of the Jorge De La Rosa fan club, but he’s getting it done right now. It also helps that this start is at pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium and not Coors Field which is, well, decidedly not pitcher friendly.

De La Rosa has been on a role. His overall ERA/WHIP of 2.86/1.16 is solid, but take a look at what he’s done since a rough performance in his first game.

He’s been a little fortunate in that only one of those outings has been at Coors Field but as we established, this one isn’t at Coors Field either. Looking forward to the rest of the season, I am not high on any Rockies’ pitchers. But for one start in Los Angeles, give him a go.

De La Rosa’s Projections for the Week

Jeremy Hefner, New York Mets — Probable Start: Tuesday at Miami Marlins

Other than Giancarlo Stanton, there is nobody in the Miami batting order who bats where they should bat on even an average MLB team.

Hefner’s been a bit up-and-down this year, but makes this list for two reason, beyond that he’s simply facing a bad offense in a pitcher-friendly park.

1. His last outing, which came against the Dodgers, was solid. He didn’t pick up a win, but went seven innings, allowing one earned run, three walks, three hits, and four strikeouts. 
2. His previous outing against the Marlins was strong. In it, he went six innings, allowed one run, allowed five hits, two walks, and struck out three.

So, he’s not only facing a bad team, but one he’s done well against this year, and is coming off of a good outing. When you’re streaming, you have to look beyond the numbers, especially early in the year, and find the right matchups. Jeremy Hefner is in in right matchup on Tuesday.

Hefner’s Projections for the Week

David Phelps, New York Yankees — Probable Start: Wednesday vs. Houston Astros

The Marlins and Astros are in the same boat. They’ll be here a lot this year because of one simple question. What is the worst that can happen? With the Marlins, you have to worry about Stanton running into one. While the likes Chris Carter and Carlos Pena can do that for the Astros, they are much easier to pitch to.

David Phelps has some rough numbers this year, mostly because he’s been throwing out of the bullpen. It’s hard to judge any pitcher’s numbers for the first month, or even two of the season, but that’s especially true with relievers.

Wednesday’s outing should bring his numbers down, though. The Astros are just a bad team, and they strike out a lot. An awful lot. That’s going to work well for Phelps, as he’s recorded more than 11 strikeouts per nine innings on the young year. As is usually the case with young guys, especially those going from reliever to start, I don’t expect a long outing. But when he’s out there, Phelps should put up some rock solid numbers.

Phelps’ Projections for the Week