Fantasy Baseball: Waiver Wire Pitching Pickups, 5/07/13

If you need help from Tuesday’s starting pitchers from the waiver wire, make sure to check out Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chen who here pitches in the first inning of game two in a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

After slim pickings on Monday’s nine-game slate, Tuesday’s a full buffet of potential pitching pickups for you to grab from the waiver wire bolster your starting pitching depth. Everyone team is in action across the league meaning that there are thirty different pitchers toeing the rubber for the start today. These four are the best options available in over 50% of ESPN leagues based on Tuesday’s matchup and their current form:

Possible Pickups

Wei-Yin Chen-Baltimore Orioles: (15.8%) Chen and the O’s host the Royals Tuesday night in just his second start of the year at home. He beat the Dodgers in his first home start allowing just a run on three hits in six innings. Overall on the season he’s 2-3 with a 3.50 ERA. He struggled his last time out, but did have a season-high six strikeouts. The start before his last was probably his best of the year as he went eight shutout innings against Oakland allowing just two hits. He’ll look to return to form as he takes on Ervin Santana Tuesday night. There’s definitely some risk, but I like Chen’s upside as he takes the mound in Baltimore.

Feb. 20, 2013; Surprise, AZ, USA: Texas Rangers pitcher Justin Grimm poses for a portrait during photo day at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Grimm-Texas Rangers: (28.3%) The Rangers rookie pitchers have helped their team and their fantasy owners get off to good starts to the season. Tuesday Grimm faces the Brewers at Miller Park as he faces off with fellow-rookie Wily Peralta. Grimm has 24 strikeouts on the season in 23.2 innings, so he’s the top option if you’re searching for strikeouts. His other contributions have also been solid as he takes the mound Tuesday with a 2-1 record to go with a 2.28 ERA. He suffered his first defeat of the year his last time out but should be able to bounce back against the Brew-Crew tonight.

Zach McAllister-Cleveland Indians: (0.8%) McAllister and the Tribe host Oakland Tuesday night as they look to continue their winning ways. He’ll be oppose by Tommy Milone who has lost his last three starts and comes in (3-3, 3.69 ERA). McAllister picked up the win his last time out holding the Phillies to five hits and two runs in seven innings. He hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in any start this season on his way to a 2-3 record and a 3.30 ERA. If Cleveland can continue to hit and McAllister keeps pitching the way he has been, you can expect the wins to start coming his way. He is a fly ball pitcher so as the summer heats up home runs become a concern, but he’s worth a look for a one-time plug-and-play option.

Eric Stults-San Diego Padres: (0.7%) Stults is a matchup play as the Padres host the Marlins at spacious Petco Park. Stults has been up-and-down this year but did hold the Cubs to just two runs in 6.2 innings his last time out earning a no-decision. Stults numbers aren’t great, but facing Miami makes him a plausible stop-gap for Tuesday.

Past Performance

Here’s how the last seven days picks have done: