Cristian Javier (SP, HOU) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 16% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Despite having only 11 innings experience in Triple-A, Cristian Javier got the call-up to start for the Houston Astros against the LA Dodgers on Wednesday and promptly excelled in his chance. Javier went 5.2 IP and gave up just one earned run while striking out eight of the batters he faced. Although he seems to have come out of nowhere, Javier is ranked as the Astros sixth-best prospect on MLB Pipeline and has very good Minor League numbers having put up a 2.22 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 377 IP.

Last year saw Javier progress from High-A to Triple-A and compile a 1.74 ERA across all levels with an absurd 170 strikeouts in 113.2 IP. Last year's innings pitched was a career-high and the lack of much experience above Double-A is a slight concern but he proved on Wednesday to have the stuff to succeed at this level. His success is in large part to his deception and varying velocity on his fastball which may be found out by Major League hitters after a few starts. But in such a short season, Javier might only have another 8 starts and his strikeout numbers alone make him worth adding in 12-team leagues.