Jack Flaherty (SP, STL) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 42% of leagues

ANALYSIS: St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty was drafted in the first round of the 2014 draft. Even at the bottom part of the first round, Flaherty continues to show that he was drafted too low. He has a minor league record of 32-17 with a 2.74 ERA. He didn’t seem to be truly challenged until he reached the major league club in 2017. He appeared in six pro games that year, starting in five of them. He had an average strikeout rate (21.3%), a slightly less than average walk percentage (10.6), and a humbling 6.33 ERA, but also a 4.41 xFIP. Flaherty did have positive underlying stats. He had a very good first pitch strike (63.8%) and swinging strike rate (13.1%).

2018 has been a year of fulfilling expectation for Flaherty, both in the majors and minors. In three minor league starts, Flaherty has 22 strikeouts in 20 innings and only three walks. He does have one start in the majors this year and allowed one run in five innings while striking out nine batters and one walk.

Flaherty will be called up to replace an injured Adam Wainwright for a start against the Pirates on Saturday. He is a very good streaming option for this start. Even if this is a spot start, Flaherty will be the first player called up for any future injury-replacements this year.