San Diego Padres Colin Rea: Deep Waiver Wire Add

May 5, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Colin Rea (29) pitches against the New York Mets during the first inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
May 5, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Colin Rea (29) pitches against the New York Mets during the first inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Colin Rea has stepped in and offered the San Diego Padres a consistent backend of the rotation arm. With his success at Petco, as well as his next two starts coming at home, should fantasy owners take a look at him off the waiver wire?

The San Diego Padres may not be in contention this season, but they do have their fair share of fantasy producers. Owning Padres hitters can often be a tough task as Petco Park caps most power numbers, but one thing that has not changed, is that fantasy owners can find value in Padres pitching.

San Diego’s staff may not be headlined by any high upside arms, as James Shields is their de facto ace, yet as we have seen with the likes of Drew Pomeranz, value pitchers can surface. Bringing us to, Colin Rea.

Rea was a 12th round pick for the Padres out of Indiana State University in 2011, and has slowly made his accent to the big leagues after a solid minor league career. Rea’s ceiling may be a SP4 or SP5, but his success at Petco this season, should have fantasy owners interested in his services.

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His ERA at Petco is 3.32 this season, while his ERA on the road is 5.06. His road ERA ballooned by a five-run performance in Colorado earlier this season and a four-run performance against the Cubs his last time out, as between those starts, he has only surrendered two runs in a start in Los Angeles and allowed one run in Philly.

Colin Rea made fantasy news recently after stifling the Mets for only one run, over eight innings while striking out five on May 5th. Shutting down a solid offensive like the Mets, shows that even though his stuff may lack the upside fantasy owners look for, he can still get batters out.

Fantasy owners should be looking to add him as his next starts are at home versus the Dodgers, who he fared well against in April, and the Giants. Rea does struggle at times with allowing base runners as his 1.43 WHIP is worrisome, but he also pitches to contact which can either be the cause or helps him get out of jams.

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Colin Rea’s arsenal largely consists of a mid-90s sinker, a high-80s cutter and a curve. This is clearly the repertoire of a pitchers who wants to elicit ground balls, which is why he can thrive at Petco. Fantasy owners should be looking to at least stream Rea for his next two starts, with the hope that he can level out on the road, thus making him a solid backend fantasy arm.