RADIO
Sometimes it is really easy to pick six players to write a waiver wire article on, especially when they are playing the six players in discussion today. Hello and once again welcome to the Deep/Very Deep waiver wire column for playoffs: Week 1.
Today, as I stated, we will be discussing six players (four batters, two starting pitchers) who are widely available and are playing very well. Hopefully you are sold by the end of this piece, because they won't be widely available for much longer. We begin in pinstripes. All ownership rates are from Fleaflicker.
Editor's Note: For other waiver wire options, check out RotoBaller's fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups list. It's updated every single day. Our awesome writers bring you analysis on hot or emerging NL and AL-Only optioins, and also all other fantasy formats.
Deep League Waiver Wire Analysis
Greg Bird (1B, NYY) - 5% owned
Mark Teixeira's leg bruise turned out to be far more serious than originally diagnosed, so he is sidelined for a few weeks. At the same time, this has opened up playing time for prospect Greg Bird to man first base. This Bird has been hotter than Larry of late. In 76 AB on the season, Bird has five home runs and a .845 OPS. In just his last 17 AB, he has produced a .353 batting average, a 1.391 OPS, and jacked three home runs. In deeper leagues, with his newly found playing time, fantasy baseball managers should add Greg Bird for a big boost at the plate in hitter friendly Yankee Stadium.
Cody Anderson (SP, CLE) - 5% owned
Cody Anderson is not a strikeout guy by any means with just 4.0 K/9. However, at just 1.9 BB/9, Anderson knows how to control his pitches and get batters out with a 0.94 GB/FB ratio and a 1.36 GO/FO ratio. On the year he has a 3.72 ERA, a 4.34 FIP, and a 1.026 WHIP. In his last three starts, he has been especially hot with a 2.08 ERA and a fantastic 0.750 WHIP. Cody Anderson knows how to limit damage by creating ground balls and limiting walks. As far as widely available options go, Anderson is a one of a fantasy baseball manager's best bets for a quality start down the stretch.
Jed Lowrie (SS/3B, HOU) - 12% owned
Remember that thing I love? I love multiple infield eligibility, especially in deep leagues. Jed Lowrie is now eligible at shortstop and third base. That isn't the only recent good news for Lowrie. In his last 35 AB, Lowrie has three home runs, a .314 (Pi) batting average, and a 1.070 OPS. On the season, Lowrie has eight home runs and a .830 OPS in just 165 AB to add to the fact that he has been destroying southpaws with a 1.192 OPS vs. LHP. Lowrie was always one of the best power hitting options for fantasy baseball managers at SS. Now, he is one of the best widely available power hitting options for fantasy baseball managers at SS, and the hot corner.
Justin Bour (1B, MIA) - 5% owned
Besides one poor month at the plate with a .515 OPS, Justin Bour hasn't had a month with an OPS under .753. On the season, Bour has a .777 OPS and 16 HR in 319 AB. In just his last 46 AB, he has four home runs and a .820 OPS. While his season statistics are muddied due to the one poor month, Bour has been a consistent HR hitter who has been tearing the leather off of balls lately. If you are a fantasy baseball manager in a deep league looking for a first baseman to go yard, Justin Bour is all too widely available.
Jorge de la Rosa (SP, COL) - 9% owned
Jorge de la Rosa had a nightmare month of April with a 11.57 ERA and a very poor month of July with a 6.08 ERA. This has made his season statistics look far less appealing. Hey, it isn't easy pitching a mile up in the sky. Would you like to know what he has done since then? He had an ERA of 2.87 and WHIP of 1.30 in August and in his one September start has a 1.29 ERA and a 0.857 WHIP. In his last two starts de la Rosa has a 0.69 ERA, 0.846 WHIP, and a surprising 9.7 K/9 in 13 IP. Also, not surprisingly, de la Rosa pitches far better away from Coors Field with an away ERA of 3.22 and WHIP of 1.197 on the year. If you are a fantasy baseball manager looking for a deep league streamer with recent high strikeout upside, add Jorge de la Rosa (especially when pitching away).
Jedd Gyorko (2B/SS, SD) - 11% owned
How valuable is a second baseman with 13 HR on the season? Fairly valuable. How valuable is a second baseman who is now eligible at SHORTSTOP with 13 HR on the season? That player is much more valuable, and that player is Jedd Gyorko. This widely available Padre is even more of a hot commodity when you chart his progress throughout the season. In July he hit three HR and produced a .743 OPS. In August he hit five HR and produced a .748 OPS. In just 30 AB in September, Gyorko has already hit three home runs and is producing a .867 OPS. If you are a fantasy baseball manager in a deep league, and you were combing through the waiver wire in pursuit of a power hitting shortstop, Jedd Gyorko just popped up.
Does everyone else love multiple infield eligibility as much as I do?!
