Best Fantasy Baseball Pitching Waiver Wire Targets for Thursday

Let's open Thursday by taking a look at some fantasy baseball waiver wire options. We will check out pitching options here.

Check back in a bit for a waiver wire article on hitters.

Fantasy baseball waiver wire options can be found all season on FantasySP!

Colin Rea - Chicago Cubs

Rea has risen 4.55% today and sits at 23.76% overall.

Rea will make a start against the Pirates on Thursday evening. That's a pretty good matchup on paper, so Rea is on the rise before he throws his first pitch.

He has appeared in 11 games so far, making eight starts. Rea is 4-3 and also has a save. Across 54 innings pitched, he's allowed 30 runs (29 earned) for a 4.83 earned run average - he's given up 57 hits and 17 walks, while striking out 44 batters.

Rea is a so-so fantasy asset with below-average strikeout work and numbers overall. The matchup is solid enough to try him in some deeper leagues still. I wouldn't start him in all deeper leagues, or any standard leagues, even on a day of not much MLB action - he's just not worth it.

Jack Flaherty - Detroit Tigers

Flaherty is up 2.84% today and is at 40.92% overall.

He will be making a start against the Angels on Thursday afternoon. That's a pretty favorable matchup on paper.

Flaherty has struggled over his 11 starts so far this season. The Tigers are 2-11 in games he starts, and Flaherty has an 0-6 record and 5.94 ERA. Over 47 innings, he's allowed 39 runs (31 earned) on 49 hits and 29 walks, while striking out 55 batters.

Flaherty has struggled this season, so even in a good matchup, he's not a great fantasy option. Only try Flaherty in some deeper leagues today - and again, I wouldn't be starting him in all deeper leagues or any standard ones.

Grayson Rodriguez - Los Angeles Angels

Rodriguez is rostered in 21% of fantasy leagues as he prepares for another start.

Rodriguez is the other half of the pitching matchup in the Angels, Tigers game. He has a solid matchup against the struggling Tigers.

He's made just two starts after a late start to his season. Rodriguez is 1-1 but has allowed 11 runs in just 9 1/3 innings. He allowed seven runs over 3 2/3 innings in his first outing before giving up four runs over 5 2/3 innings in the second start.

Rodriguez is another deep-league option too for today. He isn't worth the risk in any standard leagues, or even all deeper leagues. 

Kendry Rojas - Minnesota Twins

Rojas is owned in just 1% of leagues as he prepares to make a start for Minnesota on Thursday.

He will be starting against the White Sox on Thursday afternoon. Chicago isn't as good of a matchup as it's been the past few seasons, but on a short day of MLB action, they are worth targeting a bit.

Rojas has made one start and has five career MLB appearances under his belt. His one start lasted just four innings, and he's topped out at 60 pitches, so his outlook is capped a bit. Rojas has a 1.26 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 14 1/3 innings, so there's a little intrigue with him at least.

Again though, I only want to try Rojas in deeper fantasy leagues today, and really deep leagues at that. Don't force any pitchers into your starting lineup just because options are limited today.

Kyle Finnegan - Detroit Tigers

Finnegan is a reliever for the Tigers. He's rostered in 13% of leagues right now.

He has just one save on the season, and that came back on April 30. Finnegan has a 1.82 ERA over 24 appearances, which is why he is owned in as many leagues as he is.

Finnegan has a 1-0 record, with the one save, three blown saves and six holds. He has pitched 24 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on 21 hits and 19 walks, while striking out 15 batters.

He's been a fantasy asset in the past, but that was when he was a closer. His WHIP is high, so even though he's a high-leverage reliever, his fantasy value is lacking a bit this season. He's worth tracking in case Kenley Jansen is moved or gets injured, but as a setup man right now, Finnegan is just a deep-league fantasy asset.

David Sandlin - Minnesota Twins

Sandlin made his MLB debut on Wednesday and pitched really well. He's up to 8% right now, and that will increase by the end of today.

He got the win after working six stellar innings against Minnesota. Sandlin allowed a leadoff home run on the second pitch that he threw, then got the next 18 batters he faced out.

Sandlin didn't allow any more hits, and did not walk a batter over his outing. He struck out four batters along the way.

He is the team's No. 18 prospect, so there wasn't a ton of hype surrounding him for his debut. His performance definitely turned heads though. Should he stick in the rotation, he could be a fantasy asset in time, and he's worth adding in some deeper leagues today. Be ready to add him for his next start, and going forward if he keeps delivering good results.