FANTASY BASEBALL WAIVER WIRE: That Shhh ‘Bay (Week 4)
FANTASY BASEBALL WAIVER WIRE
That Shhh ‘Bay (Week 4-5)
By Muntradamus
The Free Agents that are on this list, are players that you should add now in your fantasy baseball league off of the waiver wire for the long run. The season is still young as we approach week 4, so now is the time to grab these guys before they take off for good.
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HOT & COLD + WAIVER WIRE UPDATE
GARBAGE PILE:
So far no player from the 1st waiver wire is in the garbage pile. You can scroll to the bottom to see the first batch of adds.
WAIVER WIRE ADDS THIS WEEK (4)
OF. Jason Bay – Prediction (.275 Average. 21 HRs. 75 RBIs. 12 SBs)
Bay is in the midst of a 7-game hitting streak where he is hitting: .285, with 3 HRs, 4 RBIs, and a SB. This is the same Jason Bay that had a 36 HR and 119 RBIs three seasons ago with Boston. Now that the fences are closer in CITI, and the fact that he is hitting the ball well with the concussion problems way behind him. I would go with this add if I need RBIs.
OF. Alejandro De Aza – Prediction (.255 Average. 15 HRs. 55 RBIs. 24 SBs)
De Aza is showing enough power and speed where he is a player that should not be on your waiver wire anymore. 3 HRs, 7 RBIs, 2 SBs is better than most OF options to begin with. Add in the fact he is batting leadoff and will score a lot of runs, makes this a situation where he should be gone as you finish reading this sentence.
RP. Henry Rodriguez – Prediction (1.85 ERA. 24 Saves. 1.1 WHIP. 67 Ks)
4 Saves, 9 Ks, 0.00 ERA, WHIP of 0.95. To make everything even better, Brad Lidge blew the last save opportunity and is still dealing with Vertigo. If Rodriguez is still sitting on your wire, then your league is behind the times. Add him now. Drew Storen will eventually steal the job back, but that may not be until the All-Star Break as Rodriguez is pitching too well to give it up right away.
1B. Mat Gamel – Prediction (.275 Average. 13 HRs. 70 RBIs. 13 SBs)
Gamel was surprisingly a SB machine this Spring as it seemed like he had at least one a week. So far this season he already has 3. It also helps that he has zero competition as the everyday 1B option for the Brewers. Between his surprising speed, and the potential for 15 HRs. You are looking at a poor mans version of the next Derrek Lee.
C. Nick Hundley – Prediction (.267 Average. 11 HRs. 56 RBIs. 1 SB)
Hundley is now hitting cleanup for the dangerous Padre offense. That may not mean much, but he is hitting the ball at a respectable rate with a .391 Average, 2 HR, 8 RBIs in the last 7 games. Catchers are the hardest position to find on the wire, and adding Hundley now if you need the depth would be a solid move.
RP. Francisco Cordero – Prediction (3.35 ERA. 28 Saves. 50 Ks)
We all know Francisco Cordero can get the job done as a closer with 327 career saves. With Sergio Santos on the 15 day DL with what could be structural damage in his shoulder…
Now is a good time to pick up Cordero ASAP. If Cordero does a good job being the closer, after Santos was nothing but shaky with two blown saves on the season already. Then Cordero could hold this job long term.
OF. Jordan Schafer – Prediction (.270 Average. 7 HRs. 50 RBIs. 32 SBs)
With 2 HRs, 10 RBIs, and 6 SBs. The time is now to forget about concerns with Schafer, and just add him. He has already flashed the ability to steal 3 bases in a game. He already has more HRs and RBIs than Justin Upton. If you need someone to fill Jacoby Ellsbury’s shoes, this guy is more than capable of filling in. He could be the next Cameron Maybin.
SP. Danny Duffy – Prediction (12 Wins. 140 Ks. 3.89 ERA)
Duffy has 20 Ks in 17.1 INN. Forget about his bad start against the Blue Jays, focus on his good start against the Tigers and A’s. He has huge potential to be a fantasy ace in keeper leagues, and this season he should boost your K rate quickly. Just be aware an INN limit will occur at some point. You can read more about him in this Sleeper Pitchers to Own article.
1B. Ike Davis – Prediction (.278 Average. 24 HRs. 80 RBIs. 1 SB)
Last season Ike was on his way to a big year with 7 HRs, 25 RBIs, and a .302 average in only 35 games. People were worried his ankle problem would carry into the season, but this Spring he put that to rest with a couple of HRs. Now in the 1st month of the season, Davis is back to raking the ball with 3 HRs, and 7 RBIs. The batting average is extremely low at .148, but we all know that will not last.
SP. Drew Smyly – Prediction (11 Wins. 110 Ks. 3.77 ERA)
Drew has only allowed 1 ER in his first 10 INN as a major league pitcher. The Tigers are going to give him ample run support, and now is a good time to snatch him off the waiver wire. There is a good chance Drew hits an INN limit this season, but his potential as a fantasy starter the rest of the way is big. His K rate is not amazing, but it will get the job done at about 5 a start. If he can continue this pace, he is a guaranteed 10 wins this season.
OF. Luke Scott – Prediction (.260 Average. 25 HRs. 82 RBIs. 1 SB)
Scott is starting to cool down a bit as his average was at .455, and is now at .275. Still I am not worried as his power potential is tremendous in this D-Ray offense. Scott is batting 5th nearly every game, and that means a lot of RBIs. His career high in HRs is 27 in 131 games, and it is very possible he reaches those numbers now that he is 100% healthy.
SP. Jake Peavy – Prediction (3.89 ERA. 14 Wins. 165 Ks)
Peavy has two starts this week, one against Oakland. The other against Boston. If he pitches well in both of these, he will not be on your wire any longer. He is my first pick I feel could end up in the garbage pile. But I would use him this week no doubt as his K rate is great with 21 Ks in 19.2 INN. It also helps that he has already pitched well against Texas and Detroit. Confidence is up for sure.
SNEAK PEAK AT NEXT WEEK ADDS (Week 5): Players to scout during the week.
SP. Philip Humber
The perfect game was great. It was even better I picked him as my sleeper pitcher in my daily pitcher rankings. If he beats the Red Sox, or even pitches a good game against them. He should not be on your wire any longer. His K rate is a bit flukey right now with 16 in 14.3 INN.
SP. A.J. Burnett
7 Ks, 7 INN against the Cardinals. Not a bad way to start a season, and pitchers who move from the AL to the NL typically have better seasons. Ask Brad Penny, and then think of two other examples. You will see the trend.
OF. Cody Ross
Cody Ross – Ross would have definitely been a must-add option had the Sox not traded for Byrd. Now we have to wait and see if he still plays everyday, this Spring he stole around 10 Bases. When Ross gets hot, he gets on fire. Remember what he did for the Giants during their World Series run?
1B. Bryan LaHair
The batting average is great over .350, but show me you can hit multiple HRs in a game or something that gets me excited. “Mark Grace” type player will not win you championships.
OF. Denard Span
Everyday leadoff hitter, but only 3 SBs. You already know you get zero power with him, so what good is he?
OF. Nolan Reimold
Random players get hot from time-to-time. Let us see if he can continue the power another week. –
OF. Kirk Nueywenhuis
He bats leadoff for the Mets. If he shows some Jordan Schafer ability then he could be added.
See how I am doing on the Waiver Wire so Far
FANTASY BASEBALL WAIVER WIRE: I Want to be Like Mike. (Week 3-4)
2B.SS.3B. Mike Aviles – Prediction (.285 Average. 15 HRs. 72 RBIs. 14 SBs. 97 Runs)
Not only does he qualify at nearly every INF position. He has solid power with the potential for 15+ HRs, he also has some speed and can possibly steal 15 bags. Aviles also hits for a good average, and now is the leadoff hitter for the Red Sox while Jacoby Ellsbury is out for 6 weeks. So far Mike has hit 2 HRs in that spot and even when Carl Crawford returns, it could still be Mike hitting #1.
1B. Adam LaRoche – Prediction (.255 Average. 27 HRs. 87 RBIs. 0 SB. 72 Runs)
No 1B option is getting RBI’s as consistently as Adam LaRoche. This could be the hottest he gets all season, but he has not even begun to reach his power stroke potential. Hitting .350 with 10 RBIs is just the beginning for what should be a solid season.
SS. Ian Desmond – Prediction (.266 Average. 12 HRs. 65 RBIs. 25 SBs. 85 Runs)
Desmond is off to a solid start this season, hitting .326 with a HR, 2 RBIs, and a SB. He has potential to be a 10 HR/30 SB type of fantasy performer, but 10 HR/25 SB is more of the reality. Either way you look at it, he is proving he is for real and you should add him while you still can.
RP. SP. Alfredo Aceves – Prediction (3.25 ERA. 3 Wins. 18 Saves. 67 Ks)
The Red Sox are going to win games this season. Jonathan Papelbon made a living as the Red Sox closer, Andrew Bailey was originally drafted as a top 10 closer, and now Alredo Aceves is their closer. The Red Sox have been saving Aceves for the 9th INN role all season long which appears to show the Sox are committed in making him their man. He is not Mr. Reliable, but he is Mr. Get the Job Done.
SP. Ricky Porcello – Prediction (3.77 ERA. 16 Wins. 107 Ks)
Ricky is one of those pitchers that can easily win 16+ Games just because he pitches on a great offense. We already expected the low K numbers, but we did not anticipate his ERA being at 1.84 after games against the D-Rays, and White Sox. The fact that his ERA is this low, and the fact that he will be facing easier opponents, makes Porcello have a lot of winnable games in his future. Add him now before it is too late.
OF. Josh Willingham – Prediction (.274 Average. 31 HRs. 103 RBIs. 5 SBs. 88 Runs)
Josh was a recommended fantasy option in a earlier version of the DAILY WAIVER WIRE article this week. Now that he has kept it up and sports a batting average at .419 with a SB, 4 HRs, and 7 RBIs. He easily has the potential for 30 HRs and 100 RBIs this season. DO NOT let him sit on the wire if he is still there.
RP. SP. Lance Lynn – Prediction (3.66 ERA. 14 Wins. 140 Ks)
If you are in weekly roto leagues, Lane Lynn is an amazing add. He qualifies at RP, which give you the flexibility to put him in your lineup to get a boost of Wins and Ks. It also helps that so far on the season he is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA and 13 Ks in 12 INN. Add him before it is too late.
SP. Matt Harrison – Prediction (3.87 ERA. 15 Wins. 107 Ks)
Yes he is 2-0, yes his ERA is .063, and yes he plays on a team that will give him a lot of run support every game. So yes, go ahead and add him if you want a nice quality pitcher that can give you solid win totals. The AL West is pretty weak offensively outside of his Rangers and the Angels, so yes there is a lot of positive in Harrison’s direction.
OF. Austin Jackson – Prediction (.267 Average. 12 HRs. 55 RBIs. 29 SBs. 110 Runs)
Jackson got his opportunity to be the everyday CF when the Tigers decided it was time to trade away Curtis Granderson. Jackson has already accomplished the 10 HR/22 SB season, and his career high is 27 SBs in a season. So far he is hitting .412 with a HR, 3 RBIs, and a SB. But the thing that makes him very attractive is the fact he bats leadoff on the best team in baseball. So far through 9 games he has 9 runs. That run count will not slow down anytime soon, and the other stats besides the batting average will continue to grow.
SS. Alex S. Gonzalez – Prediction (.245 Average. 21 HRs. 69 RBIs. 2 SBs. 65 Runs)
Alex is showing the power stroke early, and he is a candidate to easily hit 20 HRs this season. Already with 2, the Brewers power hitting SS has no competition to be raking the ball all season.
SP. Jake Westbrook – Prediction (3.85 ERA. 15 Wins. 105 Ks)
The Cardinals are looking like the beasts of the NL Central. No team can compete with that offense, and Westbrook has two elite starts in a row. Lohse was recommended last week, and now Westbrook and Lynn are recommended this week. Do not expect Ks with Westbrook, but it is possible for him to have an ERA under 3.50 by the time the season ends. So far in two starts, 2-0 with a .064 ERA. Things are looking good for Cardinal pitchers.
FANTASY BASEBALL WAIVER WIRE: Don’t Pena with my Heart. (Week 1-2)
1B. Carlos Pena- Prediction: (.230 BA. 34 HRs. 101 RBIs. 1 SB. 78 Runs)
Pena is starting the season hot, and he easily has the potential to hit 40 HRs. I would take him on my fantasy team no doubt as his power will compete with the big sluggers at 1B such as Hosmer, Morse, Morales, and Dunn. He could even break into the upper tier, but for now his power is among the best. He will kill you in batting average, though you should ride him during a hot streak like he is on now.
SS. Zack Cozart- Prediction: (.313 BA. 14 HRs. 65 RBIs. 16 SBs. 84 Runs)
Cozart is a must-add player as he is the #2 hitter in this Reds lineup for good, and he should be a lock to hover the .300 batting average range. The only question with him is, how many HRs and RBIs are you going to have this season? The answer to that question is, anything over 15 in each department would be a great season. He is capable of doing it.
3B. Chone Figgins- Prediction: (.278 BA. 1 HR. 42 RBIs. 38 SBs. 102 Runs)
If you let Figgins slip now, you will never get another chance with him. He has back-to-back 3 Hit games. He already has a SB, and he has 4 RBIs. The Mariners are dedicated to giving him the leadoff spot with no competition. They are paying him enough money, and he should get back to his 40 SB plateau that we once expected from him. Take the flier now before it is too late, he should be over last year’s terrible nightmare.
SP.RP. Daniel Bard- Prediction: (Becomes closer. 3.46 ERA. 75 Ks. 21 Saves. 1.15 WHIP)
There is rumors swirling around that Daniel Bard will move back to the closer role after Alfredo Aceves and Mark Melancon have proved to be terrible options in the bullpen. Even if Bard stays as a starter, he is still the Starting Pitcher for one of the best offensive teams in baseball. If you need pitching help, Bard is the first guy to go after.
SP. Chad Billingsley- Prediction: (3.78 ERA. 172 Ks. 14 Wins. 1.20 WHIP)
I do not care if it was against the Padres. 11 Ks, with 0 ER deserves to be added in all leagues. Especially with a pitcher who was once as dominant as Chad Billingsley once was. You can expect him to be on his way to a 165+ K season, if his ERA stays under 4.00 and his win totals break 14, then you got yourself a solid season.
SS. Rafael Furcal- Prediction: (.265 BA. 8 HRs. 45 RBIs. 26 SBs. 96 Runs)
Furcal is playing at his vintage form right now. Usually with Furcal, the second he gets hot, the second he lands on the DL. It is worth taking the early gamble that he will be healthy and it is not entirely impossible for him to end up with 10 HRs, and 25 SBs. At this rate he is looking for real.
SP. Kyle Lohse- Prediction: (3.80 ERA. 130 Ks. 15 Wins. 1.20 WHIP)
Lohse usually has an ERA under 3.00 the first two months of the season. He started out hot, and there is no reason to believe he will not keep it going. The Cardinals offense is on fire and there is good reason to believe Lohse will be one of the highest ranked pitchers by the end April. At least he is worth the gamble to find out.
SP. Edinson Volquez- Prediction: (4.10 ERA. 170 Ks. 13 Wins. 1.30 WHIP)
Volquez is looking primed for a big comeback season. His control is back, but most importantly his K rate is back. After racking up 7 Ks in 5 INN, you should give him a chance to prove he at his throwback form. I will take my chances with Volquez if I need pitching help now. Those Wins may not come easy though pitching for the Padres.
RP. Aroldis Chapman- Prediction: (Becomes Starting Pitcher. 3.20 ERA. 155 Ks. 11 Wins. 1.10 WHIP)
Chapman is still a MR option for the Reds. However he was the best pitcher for them this Spring as a starter, and would have been starting most likely if Ryan Madson was not out for the season. I will take my chances with him and wait it out as he will soon turn into MUST-START material. For now he can ride your pine, or be an elite RP in daily leagues.