Tuesday's Top Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers Includes Two Cubs

After checking in on some fantasy baseball waiver wire hitters, let's now look at a new group of pitchers.

We won't cover anyone who appeared in yesterday's waiver article or today's streaming story.

Check out the top fantasy baseball waiver wire options everyday on FantasySP. 

Should You Add Jameson Taillon?

Taillon is the most-added pitcher at the time of publication. He's up 7.3% so far, and now he sits at 70.44% overall.

Taillon was a streaming option on Monday against the Rockies. He delivered a good outing, covering 6 1/3 innings and allowing just one run on four hits and no walks. Taillon allowed a solo homer for the lone run, and he struck out seven batters.

It was one of his better starts of the season, and he's got another favorable matchup ahead against the Reds. Taillon has not faced them this season, but they are a pretty good matchup for a fantasy pitcher so far.

Across 11 starts so far, Taillon has a 4-3 record and 3.86 earned run average. He's allowed 28 runs (27 earned) on 54 hits and 12 walks. Taillon has 51 strikeouts over 63 innings.

He's allowed 11 runs over two starts, but has given up three or less earned runs in the other nine outings. Taillon has covered at least five innings in all but two starts, and has gone at least six innings in seven instances.

Taillon has five or more strikeouts in six of his outings. He's not allowed a walk in four starts, and walked just one in four other starts.

Taillon has been pretty solid this season, and he's set up to continue excelling in his next outing. He definitely should be starting in all deeper leagues against weaker-hitting teams, and he can be streamed in standard leagues for those matchups.

Average hitting opponents are also ones that Taillon can start against. I'd only avoid Taillon in the toughest matchups.

Should You Add Ryne Nelson?

Nelson was added in 5.26% of leagues today, bringing his overall mark to 17.89%.

He also started on Monday, worked 6 2/3 scoreless innings against the Pirates. He allowed four hits, while striking out four and walking none.

The matchup was great, and Nelson took advantage of it. He's been pretty good across 12 appearances and three starts this season.

Nelson is 2-1 with a save and blown save over 38 total innings. He's allowed 16 runs on 29 hits and 11 walks, while striking out 34 batters.

Across his three starts, Nelson is 1-1 and has covered 16 innings. He's allowed just three runs on 10 hits and five walks (with four walks coming in one start). Nelson has eight strikeouts in those outings.

If Nelson makes another start, he'll take on the Nationals next. That's not as favorable a matchup as the Pirates were, but Nelson should excel as a fantasy pitcher in that one too. He hasn't pitched against the Nats yet this season.

With solid numbers overall on the season, Nelson is trending up as a fantasy asset. His uncertain role moving forward is holding him back from being owned in more leagues, but Nelson is at least a streaming option when he's starting.

He can be added and utilized in deeper leagues. Even if he eventually loses his spot in the rotation, he's pitching well enough to keep utilizing in at least a few of those deeper leagues out there.

Nelson will be a good streaming option in deeper leagues for his next start, and some standard league owners might even stream him, especially if the options that day are light. 

Nelson is a player to keep tabs on, in case he continues to excel and locks in a rotation spot for the remainder of the season.

Should You Add Daniel Palencia?

Palencia is rostered in 18% of leagues now. He was under 5% on May 21.

Palencia has been closing games for the Cubs of late. He has all three of his saves on the season in his past three outings.

Palancia has allowed no runs on a hit and no walks in three innings over those saves. He's also struck out three batters.

He blew a save on May 19, but Chicago has stuck with him since. Palancia has an 0-1 record, the three saves and blown save and five holds across 17 appearances so far this season.

Palencia has allowed four runs on nine hits and seven walks for a 1.93 ERA. He's struck out 19 batters over 18 2/3 innings.

The Cubs are definitely a good enough team to give the closer some good fantasy value. The reason Palencia isn't more owned yet is because he just took over the closer role, and isn't a big-name reliever.

Ryan Pressly seems to have lost the closer role for good, and Porter Hodge is out with an injury, so Palencia has been afforded the opportunity. Most expect Hodge to get the saves when he's active again, but Palencia might lock down the role by that time.

Palencia is definitely worth adding in some deeper fantasy leagues. He's a better fantasy asset then a lot of the league's other closers because of the team he's on. Palencia is also pitching well enough to add more value to his name.

If Palencia keeps racking up saves, he might get standard league attention in short order too. He's one to keep a very close eye on.

Should You Add Adrian Houser?

Houser is owned in 4% of leagues right now, but he's worth mentioning because of how he's started his season.

He signed with the White Sox last week and has made two starts since. Houser has tossed 12 scoreless innings, allowing five hits and four walks, while striking out eight.

Houser worked six scoreless frames against the Mariners on the day he was signed. He allowed two hits and three walks, while striking out two batters. Houser then shut down the Mets over six innings. He allowed three hits and one walk, while punching out six.

The start against the Mets should turn heads. They are a good lineup, and if Houser can hold them down, there's some legit fantasy value in him.

He's got a career 4.13 ERA over 106 starts and 154 games in his MLB career, which spans nine years. Houser averages 7.1 strikeouts and 3.6 walks over nine innings, and has a career 1.37 WHIP.

Houser is going to regress, obviously, from his first two starts, but on a bad team, he might have a chance to keep starting games. In the right matchups, Houser has some good streaming value.

His next two probable starts are against the Orioles and Royals, and both of those matchups are solid enough to stream Houser in deeper leagues, at least. I'd add and roster Houser in a few deeper leagues, at least until his numbers fall off.

You might as well take advantage of things while he's excelling though.

Should You Add Stephen Kolek?

Kolek is rostered in 31.11% of leagues after a 2.76% increase today.

He's a streaming option on Tuesday. Kolek will face the Marlins, who are one of the better fantasy matchups for an opposing pitcher. He has not faced Miami this season.

Kolek has made four starts, all in May. He's 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA over 25 1/3 innings. Kolek has allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 24 hits and eight walks, while striking out 21 batters.

Kolek has made starts against the Pirates, Rockies, Mariners and Blue Jays, so it makes sense to see him excelling. His start against the Marlins gives Kolek a chance to keep rolling too.

However, he was unscored upon in his first two starts, and has surrendered eight runs over his past two outings. Kolek has allowed 15 hits and four walks over those starts, covering 11 innings. He does have 10 strikeouts over that span.

I like the matchup, but only would be willing to start Kolek in deeper leagues based on his past couple starts. There's probably some better fantasy streaming options out there, so do your homework before adding Kolek.