If you need starting pitching help, Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy is still on the waiver wire in many leagues. In this post you can five options to consider for Friday. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

After a slow day Thursday, the MLB is back in full-swing Friday with 15 games scheduled. With every team in action Friday night, there are plenty of pitching pickup options. Here are five to consider if you need help from the waiver wire for Firday:

Possible Pickups

Brandon McCarthy-Arizona Diamondbacks: (40.9% owned) Facing the Phillies, Marlins, and Padres in three in a row can definitely help your confidence and your ERA. McCarthy had given up three runs or more in every start of the season before his last two against the Phils and Fish. In those two starts, McCarthy has not allowed a run in 17 innings while allowing just 10 hits and two walks and striking out ten. McCarthy now gets the Padres as he looks to continue his recent run of success. His long-term chances of keeping this up may be  dubious, but he’s worth having while he’s rolling.

May 19, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman (30) pitches in the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Tillman-Baltimore Orioles: (24,4%) Tillman has been solid allowing three runs or less in each of his last six starts while throwing at least six innings in each start. During that time he’s 3-1 after taking a loss his last time out against the Rays. Friday he’ll face the Blue Jays as he goes against Chad Jenkins. He faced the Jays once this year going 6 2/3 and allowing just four hits and a run earning a no-decision.

John Lackey-Boston Red Sox: (8.8%) Lackey had been a little snake-bitten until his last start pitching well but falling victim to bad luck. He finally got a win  in Minnesota pitching well against the Twins allowing just one unearned run on one hit while striking out five and moving to 2-3. He isn’t throwing tons of pitches and the Indians at Fenway aren’t the best matchup ever. However, if you need some innings, Lackey is worth a look since he’s been very solid for the Sox this season. His only ugly start since returning from the DL was mostly as a result of a infield double that his infielders lost in the Tropicana roof.

Jason Vargas-Los Angeles Angels: (22.2%) Vargas hasn’t been consistent in his first year with the Angels but has been much better lately. In three of his last four outings he’s allowed two runs or less and gone at least seven innings. All three of those starts have been at home, but he’ll be on the road Friday night against the Royals. He was effective when he faced them in LA allowing two runs on five hits and going seven innings for the win. Hopefully, he can have another solid outing Friday at Kauffman Stadium.

May 18, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Tyler Chatwood (32) delivers a pitch during the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Chatwood-Colorado Rockies: (0.1%) Chatwood gets the start for Colorado as they travel to San Francisco. He allowed just a run in 5 2/3 in his last start against the Giants which came at Coors Field on May 18. He walked four and allowed seven hits, so he’ll need to cut down on base-runners if he wants to continue to succeed. He has been good this year when asked to start going 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA.

Past Performance

Here’s the way my picks have gone the last seven days:

Even with a limited schedule, fantasy baseball owners in need of starting pitching can find help on the Waiver Wire. One option is Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Rick Porcello (21). Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Well, it’s here baseball fans–the dreaded night where baseball hits a lull. The MLB only has five games on the slate for Thursday. The Cubs and Pirates play in the afternoon, and then there are four AL games at night. Obviously, the starting pitching pickup options are a little thin, but that doesn’t mean there’s none. In fact, there are three options worth considering who are scheduled to toe the rubber. As always, our pickup options are owned in less than half of ESPN leagues and are solid options although there’s always an element or risk. Here’s the two picks to check for Thursday:

Possible Pickups

Rick Porcello-Detroit Tigers: (4.4% owned in ESPN leagues) Porcello owners can be forgiven if they are still stinging from his 2/3 inning-9 run outing against the Angels in LA. However, in his four starts since then he is 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA. He’s made it at least 5 2/3 in every start  since then and hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs. He also has picked up his strikeout numbers since that disaster striking out 24 in those four starts in 25 innings. On Thursday, he’ll face the offensively struggling Twins at Comerica Park. He should be able to help you through this day with limited options as the best widely available scheduled starter.

Jeanmar Gomez-Pittsburgh Pirates: (1.6%) Gomez has been effective as a starter for the Bucs even though he has been unable to pitch deep into games. In his four starts, the Pirates are 4-0 and Gomez is 1-0 with a 2.89 ER and has 12 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings. He hasn’t been able to reach the sixth yet, but has a nice matchup against the Cubs at PNC Park on Thursday. He should be good for a solid start against Chicago and could even get the win if the Pirates provide him run support.

Mar 9, 2012; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (75) pitches during the game against the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park. The Orioles defeated the Red Sox 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Gausman-Baltimore Orioles: (0.0%) Gausman gets the callup less than a year after the O’s drafted him out of LSU. He’ll start in Toronto against Brandon Morrow for his MLB debut. He’s ranked between 25-40 by both Baseball America and MLB.com in their prospect rankings and is expected to have success on the MLB level. Whether he’s ready is questionable and hard to predict, but he’s worth a flier as he tries to provide a jolt to the Orioles injury-riddled rotation.

Past Performance

Here’s how things have gone the last week: