Jonathan Loaisiga (SP, NYY) - Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: The latest in the crop of rookie pitchers to make a quick impact in the Majors, and with a good team around him, Jonathan Loaisiga looks to be a reliable fantasy option moving forward.  Before jumping into the good news, some context is needed. First, Loaisiga might not have much of a shelf-life this season due to a relatively low inning cap over his career.  His highest innings total was 68.1 in rookie ball. The innings cap means he has perhaps 30-40 more innings then he gets shut down. Second, even with a good showing, this spot should go to Masahiro Tanaka when he comes back from injuries.  Still, he makes for an interesting short-term pick-up but owners should keep this in mind before relying on Loaisiga for a stretch run.

Even if he only makes six or so more starts, the value is there with 11.57 K/9 to support a 1.93 ERA.  The team context means that the two wins in three starts are no fluke, and should continue. Even if he has an off game, the team can score five around him to line him up for the win.  His xFIP sit at 2.70 so even if the ERA jumps a bit, the underlying numbers still support a good run of form. If he stays in the rotation, this should be a high earner of wins and Ks, and if the Yankees are smart, this could be 2018’s Chad Green.  Either way, it's a good look for fantasy owners searching for pitching help.