Jake Arrieta (SP, CHC) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately

ANALYSIS:  As you’re reading this right now, someone else in your league is signing Arrieta to a fantasy contract for the rest of the season and unfortunately you’ve missed the boat.  If by some miracle he is still available, pick him up now, immediately if not sooner!  Arrieta is on pace to set career marks in ERA, K, BB/9 innings, WHIP, well you get the picture.  His 26.7% K rate places him 12^th among all pitchers with at least 50 IP, sandwiched between Johnny Cueto and Madison Bumgarner, two of the league’s elites.  So what’s different this year compared to mediocre years in Baltimore?  Arrieta started experimenting with a cutter last year and nearly perfected it in the off-season.  His cutter is among the most valuable pitches of any starter in the Big Leagues as he is locating it in the lower portion of the zone and forces a ton of ground balls, a small amount of fly balls and an ever smaller amount of home runs.  However, Orioles fans will insist it’s because he grew a beard and nothing else.  Pick him up now!