Week Five Waiver Report

Week Four Results

Jose Fernandez - 5 IP, 6 hits, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 Ks, Loss

Tony Cingrani - 7 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, 0 BB, 9 Ks, ND

Edwin Jackson - 6 IP, 5 hits, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 Ks, ND

Garrett Richards - 7 IP, 9 hits, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 Ks, Loss

Clayton Richard - 1+2/3 IP, 6 hits, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, Loss

Vernon Wells - 5-22, 4 RBI, 4 runs, 1 SB

Devin Mesoraco - 3-13

Juan Francisco - 5-15, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4 runs

Starting Pitchers

1. Kyle Kendrick vs. Miami Marlins (5/2)

2. Phil Hughes vs. Oakland Athletics (5/4)

3. Jose Quintana at Texas Rangers (4/30) at Kansas City Royals (5/5)

4. Julio Teheran vs. Washington Nationals (4/29) vs. New York Mets (5/4)

5. Jose Fernandez vs. New York Mets (4/29), at Philadelphia Phillies (5/4)

6. David Phelps vs. Houston Astros (5/1)

7. Rick Porcello at Houston Astros (5/2)

8. Jeremy Hefner at Miami Marlins (4/30)

9. Zach McAllister vs. Philadelphia Phillies (4/30)

10. Dillon Gee at Miami Marlins (5/1)

11. Edinson Volquez at Chicago Cubs (4/30) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (5/5)

12. Edwin Jackson vs. San Diego Padres (4/30) vs. Cincinnati Reds (5/5)

13. Kevin Slowey vs. New York Mets (4/30) at Philadelphia Phillies (5/5)

Risky Pick: Tyler Chatwood at Los Angeles Dodgers (4/29)

There is an array of waiver wire starting pitching options in Week Five. These 13 arms can basically be separated into four groups: the young guns, the inconsistent and wild, the performers, and the guys with favorable matchups.

The young gun group includes David Phelps, Julio Teheran, Jose Fernandez, and Zach McAllister. Phelps is stepping into the rotation because Ivan Nova went down with a triceps injury. He looked very good in relief on Friday, as he picked up the win and struck out 9 in 4 innings. Teheran started off shaky, but his last start in Colorado was impressive. He takes the bump twice in Week Five. If you play in a league where you set the lineups daily, I would suggest you only start him when he faces the Mets. Fernandez gets two starts in Week Five too. He has struggled in his last two starts, but I am willing to give the youngster one more chance against the Mets and Phillies. McAllister has been pretty solid so far in 2013. His stats won't blow you away (23 IP, 3.52 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 20 Ks), but he seems to have a respectable outing every time he takes the mound.

In the inconsistent and wild group, you can find Edinson Volquez, Edwin Jackson, and Rick Porcello. Volquez and Jackson will face each other on Tuesday and both will get two starts in Week Five. These dudes scare me though because they are both pretty wild. Jackson has walked 4 or more batters in 3 of his 5 starts. Volquez is a little more tamed, as has issued 10 walks in 25 innings this season. Rick Porcello is the inconsistent one in the group. You never really know what you're gonna get with him. He has looked good at times, like in his last start (6+1/3 IP, 3 ER, 5 hits, 5 Ks), but he has also gotten shelled (2/3 IP, 9 ER, 9 hits against LAA). Proceed with caution.

The performers group consists of Jose Quintana, Kyle Kendrick, and Phil Hughes. Since his first start, Quintana has only allowed 2 runs in 18+2/3 innings. He gets two starts in Week Five and the one in Texas worries me a little. Hughes has also looked very good recently. He has had three straight quality starts, going 6 innings or more and giving up only 2 runs in each. Kyle Kendrick threw a complete game shutout against the Mets on Thursday and two starts ago, he tossed 7 scoreless in Cincinnati. Need I say more?

The last group is filled with mediocre pitchers who are facing weak offenses. Hefner and Gee will pitch in Miami. As long as they stay away from Giancarlo Stanton, they should be fine. Kevin Slowey will get two starts in Week Five. One comes at home against the Mets and the other is on the road in Philly. My risky pick for starting pitchers in Week Five is Tyler Chatwood, who gets to pitch away from Coors Field this week and face the Dodgers. Chatwood is one of the most athletic pitchers out there and I am willing to give him a shot.

Hitters

Boston Red Sox - 3 games at Toronto Blue Jays / 3 games at Texas Rangers

New York Yankees - 3 games vs. Houston Astros / 3 games vs. Oakland Athletics

Coors Fields Series - Tampa Bay Rays at Colorado Rockies

Jon Jay

Travis Hafner

Seth Smith

Chris Carter

James Loney

Kelly Johnson

Matt Joyce

The Red Sox play in a couple of favorable parks in Week Five. They will travel to Toronto and Texas. The Yankees get a 6 game home stand against Houston and Oakland. I don't even want to know what they will do to that Houston pitching staff. This week's player list consists of 7 lefties. The Cardinals will face 7 righties this week, so be on the look out for some of their lefty bats, like Jon Jay. Like I said before, the Yankees will face the Astros at home, so grab Hafner and some of their other power bats. Seth Smith and Chris Carter will be visiting Yankee Stadium in Week Five and they should enjoy the short porch in right field. Loney, Johnson, and Joyce will play a series in Colorado this week and they will also face 5 right-handed pitchers.