Finding a back-end starting pitcher on the waiver wire for this week will be difficult. However, if fantasy baseball owners are in desperate need for an extra option this week, Miami Marlins pitcher Tom Koehler would be the best play.
Koehler is 6-4 this season with a 3.66 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. Those aren’t numbers that will inspire many fantasy baseball owners to rush to the waiver wire.
However, Koehler has shown this season he can limit earned runs. During his last two starts, he’s surrendered two and one earned runs respectively. He has 10 strikeouts in his last 14 innings, compared to two walks.
The biggest problem with Koehler has been his lack of pitching prowess on the road. He owns a 2-3 record with a 6.21 ERA on the road, and his start Friday happens to be at the Chicago Cubs.
As mentioned earlier, it’s slim pickings this week on the waiver wire. Despite issues on the road, Koehler has allowed two or less earned runs in seven of his last 10 starts.
That’s a quality number when looking for assistance in the ERA category. And the Cubs are batting .254 this month, ranking them 16th in Major League Baseball, so Koehler isn’t squaring off against one of the hotter hitting teams in MLB.
