Anthony DeSclafani (SP, CIN) - Week 23 Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani is back to showing why fantasy owners waited for him through his injury-riddled 2017 and poor start of 2018. After posting a 5.23 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in eight starts during the first half of the season, DeScalfani has a 3-2 record and 3.35 ERA in the second half. He has pitched at least six innings in each of the last five starts and, while he has allowed four earned runs in each of his last two starts, has also regained his strikeout touch.

A late start to the season (June 5 was his first start) downgraded DeSclafani in the eyes of fantasy owners, but his 23% strikeout rate and 4.6% walk rate in the second half has made him a fantasy find. His BABIP is a bit lucky at .292 and his strand rate is too at 78.8%, but his FIP (3.66) is not far off from his ERA in the second half.

Fantasy owners would buy a quality start with five or six strikeouts every day of the week and that is what Tony Disco has basically been giving us since the All-Star break. There is some reason for concern with him allowing four earned runs in back-to-back starts, but he has shown that he is a solid option as a SP4/5 in deeper leagues.