Jake Junis (SP, KC) - Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: With the placement of recently acquired Trevor Cahill on the disabled list with a shoulder impingement, the Royals need a new rotation piece. Enter Jake Junis, who threw eight innings of one run ball against the Mariners back on August 6. Junis has been up-and-down with the Royals this season, appearing in 10 games (seven starts) and pitching to a 4.70 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. While that certainly is not fantasy material, it is worth noting that Junis has had three quality starts (out of seven) but a few bad outings have really ballooned his season numbers. Junis also boasts a tidy 2.92 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP at Triple-A this year. The 24-year-old has a nice 37:16 K:BB ratio on the year as well, making him an intriguing option in deeper mixed leagues and AL-only formats.

Junis is certainly not a must-add in most fantasy formats, but in deeper leagues where pitching is at a premium, Junis is capable of providing solid strikeout numbers and posting quality starts, particularly if used against weak-hitting opponents. Those in need of some pitching should take a look at the 24-year-old, at least while he is a member of the Royals rotation.