Deeper Waiver Wire Pickups: Hitters & Pitchers For Week 22

 

This week's Deep League Pick Ups are players that were not necessarily counted on at the beginning of the season, yet their impressive performances of late are making them invaluable. Take a look and see if there is one for one of these players on your fantasy team.

 

Waiver Wire Options for Deeper Leagues

Steve Pearce, 1B/DH (BAL)

Owned in 16% of Yahoo Leagues

As the O’s pull away in the East, Pearce has been a big part of their push. Carrying an 8-game hitting streak including five doubles and four homers, there are few hotter hitters in the game.

Pearce is sparing no one on his rampage, especially lefties, against whom he is posting an astounding 1.079 OPS. With Pearce nestled into the two-hole for the red hot Birds, the run production is sure to flow.

Recommendation: No-brainer. Pick him up now.

 

Travis Snider, OF (PIT)

Owned in 11% of Yahoo Leagues

Snider is a valuable role player that has caught fire in the second half of the season, and his post-All Star Break numbers may catch fantasy owners by surprise.

Snider has hit .319 with a SLG percentage of .585 since the break. Furthermore, he has collected 19 RBI in less than 100 at-bats during that span. Being a lefty, he is used almost exclusively against left-handed pitching.

Recommendation: Snider is still fairly young and carving out a nice niche as a platoon player. Look at him for daily matchups.

 

Chris Taylor, MI (SEA)

Owned in 3% of Yahoo Leagues

The Mariners have not completely given up on Brad Miller at shortstop, but Taylor is doing his part in wrestling the job away. As a mid-season call-up he has provided an offense spark that has been absent from the position all year.

Hitting nearly .330, Taylor has drilled six doubles and scored 10 runs in only 25 games of work. Lloyd McClendon likes to give Miller just enough work to stay sharp, so you will have to monitor the situation closely to take advantage.

Recommendation: Will not hit for power, but good for a knock or two per game.

 

Tsuyoshi Wada, SP (CHC)

Owned in 25% of Yahoo Leagues

In continuous cycle of rebuilding, the Cubs found a little something in the lefty Wada. Sure, he's in his 30’s but you take what you can get sometimes. Posting a 4-1 record and limiting teams to a .220 average, he’s looking like no fluke thus far.

In his last six starts, he has not yielded more than two runs, and his strikeout ratio is decent at 41 in 45 innings pitched.

Recommendation: I expect more success as he navigates his way through the league for the first time.

 

Joe Panik, 2B (SF)

Owned in 8% of Yahoo Leagues

Panik is locking down the second base spot for the Giants with a promising bat. Since his call-up, he has been a bit up and down. Lately it’s been more up with a string of multiple hit games.

In a six game stretch last week Panik went on a hitting tirade, collecting 15 hits and raising his average over 50 points. While in the minors, Panik hit over .320 in AAA before his call-up, indicating his flirtation with .300 is real.

Recommendation: While he has a high average, the run production has yet to appear. Continue to monitor this prospect.