Fantasy Baseball: Waiver Wire Pitching Pickups, 5/17/13

If you need a starting pitching boost from the waiver wire for Friday, it may be time to trust Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. In this photo, he pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Friday’s a full night of Major League Baseball with 14 games taking place under the lights. The only afternoon game is in Chicago where the Mets face the Cubs. Neither of the starters in that game is a pickup option, but there are four starters who are available in over 50% of ESPN leagues that can help your fantasy baseball team if your in the market for a starting pitching boost. Here’s my picks for Friday:

Possible Pickups

Ubaldo Jimenez-Cleveland Indians: (12.3%) When Jimenez is good he’s been excellent. In his last three starts he’s allowed a total of three earned runs and won all three improving to 3-3 on the year. His ERA and WHIP numbers are still very scary though due to his early season starts where he allowed 18 runs in three starts to the Astros, Red Sox, and Yankees. Jimenez is still high-risk, but is starting to show consistency that makes him an option. He starts at home against the Mariners Friday night and is opposed by Brandon Maurer who is 2-5 with a 5.97 ERA. Everything lines up favorably, but Jimenez still makes many fantasy owners cringe because he’s burned them in the past.

Jorge De La Rosa-Colorado Rockies: (8.9%) De La Rosa hasn’t allowed a run in his last two starts giving up just five hits in thirteen innings against the potent offenses of the Cardinals and Yankees. He’s actually had four shutout starts this season while he’s given up three or more runs three times. Friday he takes on the Giants in Coors which isn’t an ideal matchup, but he’s still been good enough recently to take a shot on.

Kevin Slowey-Miami Marlins: (30.4%) Slowey got knocked around in his last start but had a 1.81 ERA coming into the outing. He allowed five runs to LA which was the first time he allowed more than three in a start. In five of his eight starts he’s allowed zero or one run. Miami hosts the D-backs on Friday, and a win is probably too much to expect, but I do think he’ll have a solid bounceback outing.

Jeanmar Gomez-Pittsburgh Pirates: (1.0%) Gomez has been relatively successful in his two previous starts after spending most of the season in the bullpen. He allowed one run to the Mets in five innings his last time out and no runs to the Mariners in five his start prior to that. Friday he and Pittsburgh host the Astros so Gomez could be in line for a win and could be even more of a help if he gets deeper into the game.

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