Homer Bailey (SP, KC) - Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 12% of leagues

ANALYSIS: It's been a long road back to legitimacy for Homer Bailey full of disappointing starts and IL stays since the time when he was so good that the Reds thought it wise to commit $105MM towards their former first round pick. He didn't even get off to a good start for 2019, but he has been red-hot for the Kansas City Royals in June with a 2.51 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, just nine allowed walks, and only two allowed home runs in 28.2 IP across five starts. He's held up well through a sturdy 13.0 IP over his last two starts as well with a 0.69 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and a shocking two victories for the bottom-dwelling Royals.

In comparison to his horrid month of May when he allowed 51.5% hard contact and only 10.3% soft contact to opposing batters (good for a .344 opponent BABIP when applied to 25% line drives), Bailey has been forcing batters into 32.9% hard contact and 18.8% soft contact on batted balls this month, while allowing considerably fewer line drives at a 17.6% clip. This, along with a 4.12 FIP and the cushion provided by his K/9 of 8.1, seem to indicate that Homer Bailey's play should be on the upswing. Though it may be a little dangerous to deploy him this afternoon in the homer-friendly (not Homer Bailey friendly) Rogers Centre, he is still a solid streaming option for the strength of his recent outings in which he has found success by suppressing the long ball (Fun Fact: I was at his second no-no in GABP).