Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 13
Which players could be big help for your fantasy baseball team off of the waiver wire this week?
We’ll take a look at a number of guys that should be widely available in fantasy baseball free agent pools. I know folks get irritated when a waiver wire talks about a guy who’s owned in 3/4 of leagues, so I maxed the ownership at 1/3 of all ESPN leagues (could have been any major provider, just happened to be ESPN that gave the numbers quickest for me). We’ll start with a group that have really ticked up their performance as of late:
Justin Bour, 1B, Miami Marlins, 30.2%
Bour rode the bench in 2014 and his looping left-handed swing caught the eye of the Marlins organization, who had selected him from the Chicago Cubs in the 2013 Rule 5 Draft. The Cubs had originally drafted him in the 25th round of the 2009 draft. Bour was handed the lion’s share of plate appearances at first base in 2015, and he responded with 23 home runs and 73 RBI. This year, he’s been consistent in his power, even hitting more against left-handed pitching, and his numbers just continue to rise. On the season, he’s hitting .273 with 14 home runs, 27 runs scored, 43 RBI, and 0 stolen bases. However, he’s been playing great as of late, hitting .340 in June overall, but specifically hitting .429 in the last 7 days with 3 home runs and 9 RBI.
Didi Gregorius, SS, New York Yankees, 18.7%
In a season when a number of elite shortstops have struggled with injuries or under-performance, Gregorius has been steady, hitting .285 with 6 home runs and 27/32 R/RBI. He’s not a burner, as evidenced by 3 stolen bases, but the Yankees are giving him a chance to get in a spot to earn some runs, and he’s picked up his performance even further in June, hitting .333 with 2 home runs, 12 runs, 14 RBI, and a steal.
Jake Peavy, RHP, San Francisco Giants, 20.2%
Peavy started off the season absolutely terribly. It was rough, to say the least. Since getting skipped in the rotation, Peavy has seemingly come back and been a new pitcher. He still has a 4-6 record on the season with 63 strikeouts and a 5.22/1.42 ERA/WHIP. However, when you look just at the month of June, he’s 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and he’s struck out 20 hitters. The crazy thing is that he just as easily could have another 2-3 wins as well but just hasn’t gotten the support.
Next: Back From Injury
A.J. Griffin, LHP, Texas Rangers, 19.5%
Griffin was a surprising performer at the beginning of the season for the Rangers, coming out of the gate with a 3-0 record, a 3.08 ERA and 1.13 WHIP and 34 strikeouts before he ended up on the DL in early May. He made his return this weekend, and his first start, while shortened due to pitch count (and perhaps some over-protection) was very solid as he went 4 1/3 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 4 hits and a walk, striking out 6. With the recent rash of injuries in the Rangers rotation, Griffin should have a spot every five days without worry as long as he can stay healthy.
Anthony DeSclafani, RHP, Cincinnati Reds, 21.9%
Honestly, this might be my pitching pick up of the week (mainly because one of the guys I’m writing about later I have on a number of teams already!). DeSclafani was essentially a better version of Mike Leake before getting hurt, and he’s now returned to the rotation, and it seems that he’s picking up steam with every start. His numbers are up to 2-0 with a 1.52 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP with 15 strikeouts in 23.2 innings. That WHIP is also blown up due to one really rough start, otherwise he’s been very solid. He’d be a solid #4 fantasy starter and pick up for those who lost Stephen Strasburg to the DL over the weekend for at least the short term.
Next: Called Up From Minors
A.J. Reed, 1B, Houston Astros, 20.6%
Reed is the guy that everyone has been waiting on with the Astros. He’s a big (6’4, 275 pounds) masher of a hitter that will be playing 1B/DH for the Astros, and he should be a very good source of power. Last season, he hit 34 home runs between high-A and AA, and so far this season, he’d hit 11 home runs for his AAA team in what had been viewed as a “disappointing” power output. He’s got a monster left-handed swing, so he may end up being a guy that struggles some with left-handed pitching at the major league level, but there simply will not be another player to come to the major leagues from the minors this year that offers the power impact that Reed offers, so jump on board if you need a power boost and have the room on your roster!
Daniel Mengden, RHP, Oakland Athletics, 10.2%
Mengden was part of the midseason trade for Scott Kazmir last year that sent Kazmir from Oakland to the Houston Astros. While Mengden isn’t a guy who will lead your league in strikeouts or dominate things, but he pitches with excellent location and uses his defense well. So far, Mengden has made 3 starts, and while he’s lost all 3, he’s thrown 18 innings, so he’s getting deep into games so far, and he’s put up a 3.00 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. The encouraging part has been his 6/21 BB/K ratio as he’s been getting hitters to swing over his pitches. He may not work as a fantasy ace, but he’s a guy who should have a good shot at a job all season in a good home ballpark.
Next: Injury Beneficiaries
Steven Moya, OF, Detroit Tigers, 14.3%
Fantasy owners were just beginning to love the Detroit outfield again in June as Justin Upton went on one of his trademark hot streaks and J.D. Martinez was simply doing what he has been doing since joining Detroit. Then Martinez crashed into a wall and will be out until August, giving Moya a very good shot at playing time. He’s another big (6’7, 260 pounds) slugger from the left-handed side. This season, he’s been hitting home runs again after having a rough year last season where he struggled with his batting average. He’s got 13 home runs at AAA while hitting .298, and he’s taken that to the majors, hitting .322 so far in his short time up with 9 extra base hits in 63 plate appearances.
Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, Kansas City Royals, 2.1%
Cuthbert has been known by prospect folks for a long time, and many wondered why he just couldn’t take that next step to the majors, but after Mike Moustakas was lost for the season after tearing his ACL, Cuthbert took over at third base, and he’s hit .281 on the season with 6 home runs with 17 runs and 16 RBI, and he’s even stolen a base. The crazy part is that Cuthbert has even taken more of a role in the lineup and turned things up as of late. In June, he’s hitting .311 with 5 homers, but specifically in just the last week, he’s hitting .350 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI.
Next: Return To Old Roles
Bud Norris, RHP, Atlanta Braves, 6.5%
Norris was signed by the Braves to be a veteran piece of their rotation. He was absolutely bad in April in the rotation, and he got moved into the bullpen. The first week of June, he was inserted back into the rotation. On the season, he’s 3-7 with 60 strikeouts, a 4.22 ERA, and a 1.36 WHIP. However, if you look at June, he’s now 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts after a big start against the Mets on Sunday. Norris goes against the Marlins Sunday and then faces the Phillies, so his upcoming opponents play very well into him continuing his excellent pitching into the All-Star break, and he’ll most likely remain a Brave at least until then before he gets moved during the trade deadline.
Seung Hwan Oh, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals, 21.9%
When Oh was signed this offseason, he came with a long career as a closer overseas, and many thought that immediately Trevor Rosenthal‘s job was in danger, but the Cardinals and manager Mike Matheny were adamant that this was not the case. They’ve been true to this over the season, until this weekend when Matheny stated that Rosenthal would no longer be utilized in the 9th inning. He did not commit to any one pitcher in the 9th inning, but with his experience in the role previously and his tremendous numbers this season, it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine “The Final Boss” ending up in the closer role for a team that should provide plenty of saves. He’s certainly shown no issues transitioning to life in the majors, with a 2-0 record, 0 saves, 51 strikeouts, 1.66 ERA, and 0.79 WHIP in relief this year. I’ve been using Oh in a lot of my leagues as a middle reliever to give good ratios and strikeouts, so I’m enjoying a sudden extra save source.
Next: 2016 Draft Winners and Losers
I’ll freely admit to having added four names on this list in the last week to various teams of mine, both in dynasty/keeper leagues and in single-season leagues. Hopefully, you find them available in yours!