Mike Montgomery (SP, CHC) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 16% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Mike Montgomery only has 25 strikeouts in 43 innings thus far, which may leave you looking elsewhere for SP options. However, a 3.56 ERA and 1.16 WHIP are very solid, particularly on a team like the Cubs that will help with wins.

The southpaw has always been good at inducing low-quality contact and has a career .268 BABIP for this reason, but his 28.5% soft-contact rate is on another level right now. Not only that, but his 10% swinging-strike rate implies more whiff potential than his shaky 14.2% strikeout rate.

He may be out of the rotation once Yu Darvish returns (if he returns, let’s be real), but the Cubs are doubtful to boot Montgomery from the rotation with Tyler Chatwood looking to break walk records. He is a good player to grab in deeper leagues, even if the strikeouts will not come easily.