Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week 11

I’m going a little pitching heavy this week, but here are five players to add off the waiver wire in your fantasy baseball league.

5. CC Sabathia, SP, New York Yankees

Over his last five starts (32.1 innings), Sabathia has a 1.11 ERA, a 31:6 K/BB ratio and five wins (if wins matter to you). In fact, other than a three-start stretch where he allowed 18 runs over 15 innings he has allowed three runs or less in eight of his other nine starts.

Just how sustainable Sabathia’s recent surge is has to be a big question, with a .262 BABIP against over those five outings. But he’s not walking many batters (2.9 BB/9 this season), and his next scheduled start is against a Los Angeles Angels lineup that will be without Mike Trout. So for at least one more outing, Sabathia should be able party likes it’s 2009-2012.
ESPN Ownership: 52.4%

4. Edinson Volquez, SP, Miami Marlins

Over his last three starts, including a no-hitter on June 3, Volquez has allowed one run and six hits over 22 innings with 22 strikeouts and six walks. Going back a bit further, he has gone at least six innings in six straight starts while allowing three runs or less five times in that span.

Control has always held Volquez back, and that’s no different so far this year (4.6 BB/9). But he seems to have found something lately, and he’ll get a rare second start this season against the Oakland Athletics in interleague for his next turn in the rotation. Back on May 24 Volquez went six innings on the road against Oakland, allowing three runs with two strikeouts and two walks. That is the textbook definition of a quality start, and Volquez is in line to do better in his upcoming outing.

An epically bad start always seems to be just around the corner for Volquez. But fantasy owners should try to capitalize on his recent upswing, and speculate it is sustainable to some degree.
ESPN Ownership: 30.7%

3. Mallex Smith, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

Smith was recently called up from Triple-A to replace Kevin Kiermaier, who will be out 6-8 weeks with a fractured hip. Smith promptly hit a home run and stole three bases in his first game Friday night, and entering Sunday he was 5-for-11 with four runs scored in his first three games back in the big leagues after Saturday’s doubleheader. In 34 total at-bats with the Rays this year, Smith is hitting .324 with seven stolen bases (seven attempts).

In 72 games with the Atlanta Braves in 2016, Smith had 16 stolen bases (on 24 attempts). That alone gives him fantasy appeal, and with an every day spot in the lineup virtually assured for a while there’s an opportunity in front of Smith if he can stay healthy and get on base at a reasonable clip.

The key for Smith will be maintaining a prime spot in Tampa Bay’s lineup while Kiermaier is out. He has hit leadoff twice and eighth once over three games, so as long as that is the overall trend mixed league owners will have an asset.
ESPN Ownership: 7.8%

2. Matt Albers, RP, Washington Nationals

Koda Glover appeared to have taken the reigns as the Nationals’ closer, but a blown save on Saturday followed by a disabled list stint due to a back issue he didn’t tell the team about has a change coming again. Shawn Kelley had his opportunity to close earlier in the season, so Albers may now get an extended chance.

Albers has two saves himself so far this year, with a 29:4 K/BB ratio a 1.08 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP over 25 innings. With a bullpen that has struggled overall, manager Dusty Baker has one way to go with the ninth inning right now.

Albers may not close for long, if the Nationals trade for a closer soon or he catches whatever inflated ERA epidemic his bullpen mates have not been able to keep at bay consistently. But anyone in in line to tally saves for a good team is worth adding in all leagues.
ESPN Ownership: 3.2%

1. Felipe Rivero, RP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle finally removed Tony Watson from the closer role this past week, in favor of a possible committee featuring Rivero and Juan Nicasio. But Rivero got the first save opportunity on Saturday, with three strikeouts over 1.1 innings after Nicasio got into a jam in the eighth inning.

Rivero is having a fantastic season thus far, with an 0.56 ERA, a 0.71 WHIP, 13 holds, 37 strikeouts and just six walks over 32.1 innings pitched.

Hurdle may play matchups in the ninth inning until further notice, with left Rivero and righty Nicasio. That makes both worth a look in mixed leagues, and Nicasio is also widely available (8.5 percent owned in ESPN leagues). But I’m leaning toward Rivero as the better addition right now.
ESPN Ownership: 27.7%

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