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

One starting pitcher available on the waiver wire who can bolster your rotation in fantasy baseball is Colorado Rockies pitcher Jhoulys Chacin who will face the Rays on Sunday at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday, May 5th has the usual packed-afternoon of Major League Baseball games. All 30 MLB teams are scheduled to play which means there’s opportunities available if your looking to bolster your starting rotation and pitching numbers coming into the end of the week. The following four options are all available in over 50% of ESPN leagues and can help you finish the week strong depending on your team needs and league rules.

Possible Pickups

Jhoulyn Chacin-Colorado Rockies: (22.4%) Chacin returns from the DL and faces the Rays at Coors Field. Before going on the DL, Chacin had won three starts in a row and had a 1.46 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. At home, he’s been even better allowing just one run in 13 innings in his two starts at Coors. Any time a players coming straight from the DL, there’s risk involved but Chacin was pitching well and could even be a long-term add if you’re looking for more than just a one-start fill-in.

Apr 25, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Kevin Slowey (45) throws in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Slowey-Miami Marlins: (5.5%) Slowey has been excellent so far this year allowing nine runs in six games starts with a 2.15 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. He makes a solid add as he faces the Phils on Sunday in Philadelphia. He’s matched up with Roy Halladay and his run support has been horrendous. If you need a win, go a different direction, but Slowey has contributed solid starts throughout the first month of the season. He can help your WHIP/ERA and has picked up his strikeout rate as of late.

Wandy Rodriguez-Pittsburgh Pirates: (41.5%) Wandy has been horrendous on the road in his last two starts but has been solid at home where he’ll face the Nationals and their injury-depleted lineup on Sunday. Rodriguez is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA at home with 11 strikeouts in 13.2 innings while on the road he’s 0-1 with an 8.49 ERA. There’s risk based on his last time out agains the Brewers, but I think he’ll bounce back and throw a solid game against Washington. He’ll be opposed by Gio Gonzalez who has been inconsistent in the early going this season as well.

Corey Kluber-Cleveland Indians: (0.2%) Kluber makes his second start of the season after beating the Royals his last time out. He allowed just two runs in seven innings striking out six as the Indians cruised past the Royals. Sunday he gets the start at home against the Twins and Mike Pelfrey (2-3, 7.66 ERA). Kluber makes a good flier option in deep leagues as he and Cleveland’s newly-found offense look to beat their division rivals.

Past Performance