Fantasy Baseball: Waiver Wire Pitching Pickups, 5/3/13

Waiver Wire starting pitching help for the coming weekend is available. Friday’s options include Kansas City Royals pitcher Jeremy Guthrie who here delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Indians during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Friday’s a full night of baseball as weekend series get under way with everyone under the lights except for the Reds and Cubs who meet in a Wrigley matinee. If you’re looking for starting pitching value on the waiver wire, this week has probably been a tough one for you. However, Friday’s got some nice options so don’t give up on waiver wire options as we head into the weekend. Here’s the top options for Friday:

Possible Pickups

Jeremy Guthrie-Kansas City Royals: (31.8% owned in ESPN leagues) Guthrie is a nice option coming off his best start of the year as he faces the White Sox at home. His last time out he shut down the Indians throwing 6 2/3 scoreless innings striking out five and allowing just six hits. The win he picked up moved him to 3-0 with a 3.06 ERA on the season. One of those wins came in his first start of the season against Chicago striking out a season-high nine while allowing a run in six innings. Guthrie is the top option to check out among Friday’s widely available starters.

Apr 22, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Mike Leake throws a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Leake-Cincinnati Reds: (1.5%) Leake and the Reds face Carlos Villanueva and the Cubs at Wrigley this afternoon. While Villanueva has pitched very well, don’t overlook Leake who pitched will against the Cubs two starts ago but struggled in his last outing in Washington. He should be able to bounce back today against a struggling Cubs lineup.

Felix Doubront-Boston Red Sox: (14.7%) Doubront hasn’t dominated but has piled up strikeouts this season. He comes into Friday’s start in Arlington (not a great matchup) with a 4.24 ERA but a 3-0 record and 29 K’s in 23 1/3 innings. If it’s strikeouts you’re after, he’s a great option, but he may hurt your ERA and WHIP if he can’t be more efficient against the Rangers.

Jonathan Pettibone-Philadelphia Phillies: (0.5%) Pettibone has been decent but not spectacular in his two starts in the Major Leagues. In 10.2 innings he’s allowed five earned runs on 13 hits and a pair of walks while striking out 10. He’s in a matchup to excel in on Friday, though, as the Phillies host the Marlins. He’s a risky play, but he’s an option to consider in deep leagues if you need innings and W’s.

Past Performance

Well, winning ugly is better than losing ugly so Wednesday’s motly crew was an improvement after Monday’s crushing performance. The bottom line numbers are still ugly, but here’s how it’s gone the last seven days: