There are plenty of options to pick up off the waiver wire this week, especially if you like to play both sides of a match up. Remember, all these guys are owned in less than 50% of leagues, so you have a good opportunity to use them if you need a bit of pop in the rotation to secure victory in your H2H leagues.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Jake Arrieta CHC @ SD Eric Stults

Eric Stults SD vs CHC Jake Arrieta

Jarred Cosart HOU @ SEA Brandon Maurer

Jorge de la Rosa COL vs SF Tim Hudson

Josh Tomlin CLE @ BAL Chris Tillman

I know the Cubs are not a favorite team to harvest for fantasy players, but you have to admire how well their pitchers have been performing. Arrieta hasn't pitched deep into any of his three starts, but does sport a valuable 2.70 ERA on the season. I also like the fact that he is pitching in Petco this start. Thus, I also like Stults on the other side. He has been successful by limiting walks, and has tossed two QS while going 1-1. Cosart had thrown four consecutive QS until his last outing against the White Sox, but even there he brought home a victory. His K/BB ratio isn't screaming "Pick me up," but overall he limits the damage done against him and that might be just what the doctor ordered on Thursday. De la Rosa is working on five game win streak, and like others on this list, the strikeout numbers are great, but it is difficult to argue with the results he provides. He has not allowed more than three earned runs in his last six starts. Tomlin threw his third consecutive QS against the difficult to handle Oakland Athletics, and has shown excellent control since joining the Cleveland rotation. Limited walks and hits makes for a good pitcher to own going forward, not just for a streaming start.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Robbie Erlin SD vs CHC Edwin Jackson

Gavin Floyd ATL vs COL Jordan Lyles

Charlie Morton PIT vs WAS Jordan Zimmermann

Bud Norris BAL vs CLE Justin Masterson

Erlin only lasted five innings in his most recent start, but it was enough to rack up his third win on the season. He has more K potential than most of the streaming options here, and pitching at home against the Cubs should prove to be a tasty situation for his owners. Like most Padre pitchers, the stats are better when he is indulging in home cooking. Floyd has looked good in his two starts for Atlanta, although he did take the loss by allowing three earned runs to San Francisco in his most recent start. He gets to face the Rockies at Turner Field, and while the Colorado offense is formidable, his 13:2 K/BB ratio in his two starts stands out and makes me want to employ his services this week. Morton is a better pitcher at home, and he has been hurt by unearned runs this season. He has only allowed six earned runs in his past four starts, but has an 0-3 record to show for it. He is unlucky, to say the least, and perhaps facing the banged up Nationals at PNC Park will get him on the plus side finally. Norris is not the strikeout artist he once was, but he has been a solid addition to the Oriole rotation overall. He has pitched well his past few starts but wins are proving elusive of late. He does sport a 3.58 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP with a 33:14 K/BB ratio, so there is value there if you need it.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Jaime Garcia StL @ CIN Tony Cingrani

Roberto Hernandez PHI vs LAD Dan Haren

Juan Nicasio COL @ ATL Mike Minor

Matt Shoemaker LAA vs KC Jason Vargas

The Cardinals immediately added Garcia to their rotation after activating him from the DL. I trust the St. Louis approach to pitching, and even without a 2014 track record, I would add him and see how he pitches. The venue isn't my favorite, but the Cincy squad doesn't frighten me with their limited offensive production this season. Hernandez is rejoining the Philly rotation, and while he has struggled on and off this season, he does provide some strikeout potential, and while I don't necessarily like the match up, if you are desperate for a SP, he's there for the taking. Nicasio has been a beneficiary of the powerful Colorado hitters, and facing a less than overwhelming Brave team that ranks last in offensive production in the majors he has a nice match up here. Do not plan on good strikeout totals, but also expect him to limit the damage while he deals from the mound. Shoemaker fared well in his first start, taking the place of Hector Santiago, picking up the win on three hit, one walk ball over five innings. His opponent continues to struggle offensively, and I like the fact he is pitching at home, too.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Bronson Arroyo ARI @ NYM Rafael Montero

Jake Odorizzi TB vs BOS Felix Doubront

Only a couple of opportunities present themselves on Sunday. Arroyo has been superb for the Diamondbacks, putting up a 0.39 ERA and a 17:4 K/BB ratio in his last three starts. He has been a top 40 SP in the H2H format over the past couple of seasons, and while he struggled early on, he has caught fire of late. Remember that in April, he was just coming off a spring training back injury and that had a lot to do with his early season struggles. Odorizzi's start is not guaranteed, as he could lose his rotation spot to Alex Cobb. He has pitched 11 innings in his last two starts without giving up an earned run, with 18 Ks in those two appearances and only 4 walks. If he retains his rotation spot, I really like his match up since Doubront pitches like he is throwing batting practice lately, so a win would not be a surprise.

Should you have questions regarding fantasy baseball, especially starting pitching, you can reach me at ia@fantasyalarm.com to continue the discussion.