Luke Weaver (SP, STL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Mixed Leagues, NL-Only Leagues

OWNED IN: 19% Fleaflicker

ANALYSIS: With Michael Wacha landing on the disabled list, Cardinals No. 2 prospect Luke Weaver has been summoned to take the mound for his debut on Saturday against the Cubs. The 22-year-old has moved remarkably fast through the ranks, reaching the Majors just 26 months after being drafted 27th overall by the Cards in 2014.

Weaver posted a 1.40 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP with 88 K in 77 IP in Double-A, and needed just one outing in Triple-A — six scoreless innings with just four baserunners — to earn the jump to the big leagues.

He has two above-average pitches — a mid-90s fastball and a sinking changeup — and while he has struggled to develop his breaking pitches, he makes up for hit with great command. He walked just 12 batters in 83 innings in the minors this season.

Fantasy owners might want to keep Weaver on the bench for his match-up with the red-hot Cubs, but if he performs well — or at least doesn’t get absolutely shelled — he can be used in deep mixed leagues the rest of the way.