Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Shaw Provides Potential after Strong Return to Cubs Lineup

Find out why now is the time to add Ezequiel Tovar.

You know why we don’t do victory laps after just a few starts? Because we don’t want to look dumb.

“Robbie Ray” became a popular breakout pick with his spotless spring performance before the season, and then he totally fell on his face to open the season. Ray had a 2.93 ERA through his first three starts but with just 13 strikeouts in 15.1 innings and 10 walks. And then he was tagged for four runs over four innings with four more walks in his fourth start and it looked like Ray was going to prove to be a big-time spring overreaction.

Or not.

Ray went punch for punch with Kris Bubic in a pitcher’s duel Monday to lower his season ERA to 2.70, and he’s been basically untouchable for the past month. Since that four-run outing on April 16, Ray has 40 strikeouts to 12 walks over 37.1 innings of work, and he’s really had everything working for him. On Monday, Ray had at least three whiffs on his four-seamer, slider, and changeup, and while his curveball wasn’t missing bats, he did generate five batted balls with an average exit velocity of just 85.9 mph.

It’s a legit four-pitch mix for Ray now, with all four generating plenty of whiffs and plenty of soft contact lately. There will almost certainly be stretches in the future where the command wavers – you’ll still see it with the curveball and changeup, especially at times – and he’ll frustrate us, but it’s hard to find many flaws with Ray right now. He’s healthy, he’s showing off the deepest arsenal of his career and doesn’t have any obvious red flags in his profile.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say this is the best version of Ray we’ve ever seen – the man won a Cy Young Award, after all. But he looks excellent right now, and it sure seems like the Ray believers this spring are being rewarded.

Here’s what else you need to know from Monday’s games, beginning with the return of a top prospect to the majors:

Tuesday’s Top Waiver-Wire Targets

• Matt Shaw, 3B, Cubs (52%) – I love a top prospect who falters in their first taste of the majors and subsequently comes at a huge discount the next time we see them. It’s working out nicely with Jackson Holliday so far this season, and I’m betting it’ll work out for Shaw, who was recalled from Triple-A Monday and was back in the Cubs lineup at third base, going 2 for 4 with an RBI. Shaw looked downright timid in his first stint in the majors after earning an Opening Day job. He was certainly more passive than selective.

• Ezequiel Tovar, SS, Rockies (61%) – I was surprised by how far Tovar’s roster rate fell during his injury. He homered for the second straight game Monday, so now’s the time to add him.

• Austin Hays, OF, Reds (57%) – Hays is still too under-rostered, hitting an impressive .330/.375/.602 this season.

• Jesus Sanchez, OF, Marlins (12%) – Hitting his first homer in nearly a month, Sanchez is trending up the lineup and could be a useful streaming option.

• Eury Perez, SP, Marlins (58%) – Approaching the end of his rehab assignment, Perez is one of the most talented young pitchers in the game.