Kevin Gausman (SP, BAL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Most Mixed Leagues

OWNED IN: 52% Fleaflicker

ANALYSIS: Kevin Gausman made his third rehab start on Wednesday, and is expected to rejoin the Orioles’ rotation early next week after missing the first three weeks with a shoulder injury. Gausman was solid in 2014, with a 3.57 ERA in 113.1 innings pitched, but that number jumped to 4.25 in 2015. However, his strikeout rate improved from 18.5% to 21.9%, his walk rate dipped from 8.0% to 6.2%, and his batting average against dropped from .254 to .248. Really, all of his peripherals indicated a large step forward, except for his home run to fly ball ratio, which catapulted to 13.4% from just 5.8% in 2014.

Gausman is just 25 and was not long ago one of the top prospects in all of baseball. If he can stay healthy and keep some fly balls from leaving the park, he can be in for a breakout season. He is worth adding just all but the shallowest of mixed leagues.