Reynaldo Lopez (SP, CHW) - Week 26 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 43% of leagues

ANALYSIS: I've spent most of the year warning fantasy owners against relying on Reynaldo Lopez. His early-season success did not reflect his peripherals and it was clear that a correction was imminent. That correction arrived near the end of the first half, as Lopez allowed at least four runs in seven of 11 starts between June 20 and August 19. Since that stretch, however, Lopez has allowed just four runs total in five starts totaling 32 2/3 innings - and the numbers under the hood back up that performance. The 24-year-old has struck out 35 batters in those games, while allowing just nine walks and a single home run. It's true that his 1.10 ERA during this span is partly attributable to good fortune (.228 BABIP, 90.6 LOB%) but those three true outcome numbers are drastic improvements on what he showed in the first four months of the year.

The stats outlined above also don't include his start today against the Cubs. At publication time, his line in that game: 4 IP, 3H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K. He'll finish his season against a Cleveland club likely to be resting starters, and can be still be had on the wire in over half of Yahoo leagues.