Fantasy Baseball: Waiver Wire Pitching Pickups, 5/02/13

If you’re on the waiver wire looking for starting pitching start your search with Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Kyle Kendrick who here pitches against the New York Mets during the ninth inning of a MLB game at Citi Field. Kendrick threw a three-hit shutout. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Even with a very limited schedule this Thursday, there are three solid options and a high-risk play if you’re looking for starting pitching from the waiver wire. It’s been a rough start to the week for many of these “fringe” pitchers that can be useful in good matchups, but hopefully things turn around as we get through the lightest day on the MLB schedule with just nine games on tap for Thursday.

Here’s the pickups to consider:

Possible Pickups

Kyle Kendrick-Philadelphia Philles: (29.9%) Kendrick and the Phillies return home to take on the Marlins whose offense was struggling before they lost their best bat in Giancarlo Stanton. With Stanton on the DL, Kendrick has a good chance to build on his last there outings in which he’s allowed just two earned runs in 22 innings. His last time out he threw a three-hit shutout at Citi Field against the Mets. He makes a solid add as he faces the fish Thursday.

Apr 27, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Travis Wood (37) throws in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Travis Wood-Chicago Cubs: (22.0%) Wood and the Cubs host the Padres as he squares off with Eric Stults (2-2, 5.67 ERA). In each of his five starts this year, Woods has allowed two earned runs or fewer while completing the sixth inning each time. He may not pile up strikeouts like some starters, but he’s a solid option in a nice matchup against San Diego with is in the bottom third of the league in runs scored.

Justin Grimm-Texas Rangers: (9.4%) Grimm had an extremely impressive outing his last time out striking out four and allowing just five hits in seven scoreless innings in Minnesota to improve to 2-0. He’s allowed only three earned runs in his three starts spanning 17 innings while picking up 15 strikeouts. He’ll be matched up against Chicago and Jake Peavy on Thursday night in Arlington in a decent matchup. Coming into Wednesday’s game, the White Sox rank in the bottom three in the league in runs scored, batting average, and OBP. Grimm should be able to put together another solid outing and hopefully pick up the win if his teammates can keep hitting.

Apr 22, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman (30) pitches in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Tillman-Baltimore Orioles: (0.6%) Tillman is a high-risk option as he pitches in Los Angeles against the Angels, but the Orioles have been piling up runs on their West Coast swing while the Angels continue to struggle. Tillman has allowed two runs or fewer in three of his last four starts and is coming off his first win of the season in which he struck out a season-high seven. His ERA is still 4.73 and he’s giving up hits as evidenced by his 1.61 WHIP, but he’s been much better lately and could get a win and some K’s if you can tolerate the risk. He’s being opposed by Joe Blanton who has been a disaster for the Angels, so a win is a good possibility.

Past Performance

The last two days have been ugly… Hopefully May brings some better results