We’re just two weeks into the season, and fantasy managers have already had to scour the waiver wire to replace a few of their injured stars. Hopefully, most will return without much delay, but for those already scrambling, look for this next group of producers to help fill your needs.
In this week’s chapter of Category Analysis, there are a few quality fits for all league types. Shallow league managers should focus more on the players hovering around 50%, while fantasy enthusiasts of the deeper kind should target those still available in 80-90% of leagues. There should be something for everybody, so let’s get to it!
I’ve opened it up a bit this week, featuring players rostered in less than 60% of Yahoo Leagues instead of the usual 50. The majority of guys featured in the first two articles were better for deeper leagues, so this week, we’re showing some love to our shallow league fanatics.
All players are separated into categories where they are most likely to benefit you the most. Many will contribute across multiple categories, but their main contributions should come under the title in which they are listed.
Without further ado, here are this week’s Waiver Wire Targets based on Category.
- Weekly Waiver Wire Advice
- Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
- Dynasty Fantasy Baseball Trade Value Chart
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Week 3 Waiver Wire Targets Based on Category
Home Runs
With all the injuries to the Giants’ position players, Davis has become the everyday cleanup hitter. The well-traveled veteran has always been an intriguing bat but has never really had the chance to prove himself as a regular starter. Well, so far, so good. Over the last 10 days, Davis started nine games and raked, going 13-35 (.371) with four home runs and 13 RBIs. He’s hit third or fourth in the lineup for every game this week and has been the Giants’ best hitter over that stretch.
With two more long balls in the books since Friday, Davis looks to be a man on a mission, eager to drop the platoon tag from his name. He doesn’t have the most favorable schedule coming up, but the Giants’ corner infielder has just been too good to ignore. He deserves attention in all fantasy formats.
Franchy Cordero (OF, 1B – NYY): 36%
Cordero has earned everyday playing time recently with his onslaught at the dish. The 29-year-old lefty has crushed four home runs over his last seven games. He’s got a nice home stand coming up, and with the short porch in right at Yankee Stadium, it’s not a bad idea to ride the hot streak.
RBI
Josh Bell (1B – CLE): 54%
Was the Guardians slugger dropped in your league? If so, he may be worth a look now that he’s starting to come around. After a dismal first couple of weeks, the ex-National is showing signs of life, collecting six hits over his last 16 at-bats.
He’s also got a plethora of easy matchups on deck, including series with the Tigers, Rockies, and Red Sox. If he doesn’t feast on the softer schedule, then you could consider dropping him again, but I get the feeling he is still adjusting to the role of designated hitter.
Last season for Washington, Bell was one of the most feared hitters in the National League and produced like a top 50 fantasy player. He was also playing first base nearly every day. Once traded to San Diego, he rarely saw action in the field anymore, and suddenly his offensive production tanked. Similar results have come to fruition this season as Bell has been regulated to mostly DH duty where he has struggled. It could just be a coincidence, but if you ask most players who are used to playing in the field, they’ll tell you that being active every inning helps keep them in the game and leads to better at-bats.
I have a feeling Bell just needs a little more time to figure it out. He teed off on his old team on Friday, going 2-for-4 with a home run. He’s also been playing more first base recently, getting onto the field in three of the last six contests. With a few plush matchups on the horizon, now is the time to roll the dice on Bell again. He still hits in the middle of the order and should be a solid source of RBIs for at least the next few weeks.
Runs
Edouard Julien (2B – MIN): 13%
Julien is a left-handed hitting 23-year-old who was an on-base machine in the Minor Leagues. His OBP miraculously hovered around .430 over the three years he spent on the farm. Now a part of the Big League club, Julien is already leading off against RHP. He scored two runs over his first three games and worked a walk in his debut. He’s not the greatest hitter but he does possess decent pop and is capable of reaching the seats as he did in just his second Major League game. Batting atop the order with such a keen eye at the plate, Julien makes for a fine target for runs scored.
Batting Average
Hays has been on a tear for the Orioles lately, gathering 11 hits and 11 runs over the last six days. He’s either hit leadoff, fifth, or sixth in the order and now has Washington and Detroit on tap. He’s always been a fringe-type player in fantasy leagues, but he could be on the verge of a true breakout now in his age-27 season.
There’s a strong chance the former third-rounder continues his hot streak, considering he’s always been a streaky hitter and the favorable matchups coming up. Look for Hays to continue to cook at the dish for this week, making him an excellent waiver addition to helping in multiple categories.
Stolen Bases
Jon Berti (2B, SS, 3B, OF – MIA): 47%
Is there any more obvious pickup than Jon Berti for steals? The annual question for Berti is always playing time. Every season begins with Berti looking like a player without a home. On paper, he lines up as a player who’s going to spend most of his time on the bench, or possibly on the weak side of a platoon. But before we know it, he’s thrust into an everyday role, and he’s stealing bases left and right.
Berti looked great at shortstop on Friday night and has now hit atop the order in the last two games. He has racked up four steals over the last week and is someone who should be targeted in all roto leagues.
Wins
While other pitchers were tinkering with their mechanics in Arizona or Florida, Kyle Freeland was being battle-tested on the National stage, pitching for the US in the World Baseball Classic. That version of a preseason seems to have done wonders for Mr. Freeland, as he’s looked exceptionally sharp over his first three outings. Even with two of his three games coming at home (Coors Field), the Rockies’ left-hander was able to limit opposing offenses (including the Padres and the Cardinals) to a total of just two runs.
Freeland went through a pitch-selection overhaul in the offseason. He abandoned his cutter for a curveball and is throwing his slider and sinker more often while reducing his 4-seamer. The results have been exemplary other than a couple of solo shots given up against the heavy-hitting Cardinals. His ground ball rate has reduced heavily, but the good news is his line drives allowed have dropped to below 15%. Without the shift, getting ground balls isn’t as important as it used to be, and as long as he’s limiting to hard contact, good things should continue to happen. With Freeland’s new repertoire, he’s already secured two wins while producing an exquisite ERA (0.96)
I understand the hesitation to add Freeland, as he’s proven to be fool’s gold before. But this time around, the good results are coming because of an actual change rather than just dumb luck. He’s a two-start pitcher this week with the Pirates up first. Take a gamble on Freeland this week and see if his new arsenal can keep the good times rolling.
Strikeouts
I don’t often recommend relief pitchers to help boost strikeouts, but what the Phillies left-hander is doing deserves discussion. Over 6.1 innings pitched, Alvarado’s already struck out an outlandish 16 batters. His K% is comical at 70%, and judging by the umpire cam showed during one of his outings, it’s a wonder how anyone can put the ball in play against him. His sinker dives hard and away from right-handed hitters at a cool 100 miles per hour. The ball looks like a cannon fired it, and it’s been nearly unhittable. As if that wasn’t enough, he pairs it with a 94-mile-per-hour cutter that breaks in on the hands (on righties) which is also filthy.
Alvarado was excellent last season as well, striking out 14.29/9 and registering a heavy ground ball rate. The book is still out on who the true closer is in Philadelphia, but even if he doesn’t get you saves, the strikeouts are worth the price of admission.
ERA
Graham Ashcraft (SP – CIN): 59%
The Reds have a nice duo at the top of the rotation but Ashcraft deserves some recognition as well. The hard-throwing righty features a pair of high-velocity fastballs – one that cuts and one that sinks. The two offerings don’t often miss bats, but they do usually avoid the barrel. He’s also been throwing his slider much more often this season which has helped increase his whiff rate and greatly boost his soft contact rate.
Over three starts, including one in Atlanta, Ashcraft has allowed just five earned runs over 19 innings – good for a 2.37 ERA. He struck out 17 batters and has qualified for a quality start in every outing. He’s scheduled to face off with Pittsburgh again on the 20th and deserves a roster spot in most leagues.
WHIP
Johan Oviedo (SP, RP – PIT): 9%
Oviedo isn’t a household name, but he could well be on his way after his latest two outings. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound righty averages 97 mph on his fastball and nearly 90 mph on his slider. It’s his fall-off-the-table curveball, however, that does the dirty work. The Cuban defector has thrown his hook 64 times, and only once has a batter successfully recorded a hit off of it. That pitch, along with his four others (he throws a changeup and an occasional sinker), has led to a solid 9.33 K/9 and 1.20 WHIP.
Oviedo’s history suggests he could struggle with walks, but so far, his command has been solid. He’s allowed just five base on balls over 18.1 innings. His batted-ball profile is also impressive. Over three starts, the 25-year-old has limited opposing hitters to just a 13% line drive rate, a 20% hard-hit rate, and a 3.7 barrel percentage.
His strong performance has led to relevance in fantasy leagues and is someone those in deeper leagues should look to target. He also qualifies at relief pitcher for those in point leagues looking to get the most bang for their buck.
Saves
The Angels don’t have an official closer, but they’re winning and should offer a nice amount of saves. Without a clear stopper, Phil Nevin has played the matchups, but Quijada already leads the team with two. He also has three holds, but as long as he keeps putting up zeros, management may decide he’s best kept for the ninth inning.
So far, the Venezuelan southpaw has allowed just two baserunners over five innings without allowing a run. He’s only K’d four, but nobody’s complaining after he cruised through his latest outing, wrapping up the victory on just seven pitches.
Quijada’s not the most exciting player out there, but he could be a nice source for saves. Now is the time to claim him because if he earns the next one for the Halos, he’s going to be much more expensive (for those in FAAB). Add Quijada wherever you’re desperate for saves.
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Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.