Griffin Canning (SP, LAA) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues

OWNED IN: 34% of leagues

ANALYSIS: After exiting Spring Training in early March with an elbow injury, Griffin Canning's 2020 season was written off with surgery the expectation. However, the Los Angeles Angels rookie received a platelet-rich plasma injection among other ongoing treatments and has now made two starts for the Angels, looking good in both. His first start against Oakland was better than his line of three earned runs in 4.2 IP suggests as he struck out seven in the process. On Saturday night, Canning went six innings against the Astros, giving up just one run and striking out five.

His fastball averaged 93.9 MPH last year and is currently averaging 92.3 MPH  in 2020 but it's still early days and it hasn't impacted him so far as his Whiff Rate (36%) is in the 92nd percentile among pitchers this year. Canning should put up good strikeout numbers and will help in the pitching ratios (ERA and WHIP). There are clear problems with the Angels bullpen so you can expect some of his potential wins to be blown late in games but the big question mark of his elbow holding up looks to have been answered so far. Long-term, who knows, but for now Canning looks healthy and should be rostered in all leagues.