Zac Gallen (SP, MIA) - Week 17 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 27% of Yahoo! leagues

ANALYSIS: 

Gallen is someone who would be 100% owned, if everyone was fully educated. He’s a lot better than most starting pitchers that are owned and is pitching in a ballpark that will protect a rookie like no other. Everyone was waiting to see what would happen in that Dodgers match-up, and he didn’t look bad. He gave up just one earned run over five innings of work, and pitched very careful. He won’t have a match-up as tough for the rest of the season and to see him manage it with rather ease was very comforting.

The only real negative to highlight with Gallen is his command so far, walking 5.43 batters per nine innings. However, with a 1.43 BB/9 in AAA and no real command issues before, I think it’s fair to blame a small sample size and a patient/deadly Dodgers squad. He is on pace with his 10.48 strikeouts per nine, and he’s never allowed over 0.98 HR/9. All signs point to Gallen dominating the league and it’s just going to take some time for him to work out the kinks. Marlins park rates 27th in baseball for power and the division strikes out the second most. Gallen is an easy pickup in all leagues as I have no desire to see him on the roster of a foe.