Mike Minor (SP, TEX) - Week 23 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 20% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Texas Rangers starting pitcher Mike Minor is 10-7 with a 4.33 ERA this season and has been pitching much better of late. While he does not have the same stellar ratios as last season (2.65 ERA and 1.02 WHIP), he has still registered four quality starts in his last five appearances. His strikeout rate may be down more than 8% from last season (28.7% to 20.3%), but he is still a strong streamer.

Since the beginning of July, the lefty has logged five quality starts in nine with a 4-3 record, 3.81 ERA, and 1.01 WHIP. A .212 BABIP during that time has certainly helped, but Minor has also induced a 23.2% soft hit ball rate. A 47.2% fly ball ratio will continue to get him in trouble, even with a K-BB% near 15 (14.9%).

Minor will start against the Angels in Texas on September 4, which does not look that good on paper, even though it is getting a bit cooler in Texas. Offense is inflated in Dallas, of course, but Minor's good run of play may cancel out his ballpark's negative effects. He is a solid play in deeper formats.