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Kyle Bishop analyzes the top MLB first base (1B) and third base (3B) waiver wire pickups and adds for Week 18 of the fantasy baseball season.
This week's corner infield pickups include three rookies, a well-traveled super-sub, and a former fantasy behemoth. As always, I am here to try and help you find ways to improve your teams off the waiver wire.
We're getting closer and closer to gut-check time, so without further adieu, let's dive in.
Editor’s Note: to read about even more waiver wire options for first base and third base, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily.
Corner Infield Pickups
Miguel Sano, 3B/SS, Minnesota Twins (49 percent owned)
Shocked to see Sano in the under 50 percent crowd. It's true that he's cooled since the break, but that was inevitable. At one point in the early going, his BABIP was .600. Regression was bound to happen. He's still showing great plate discipline and power, and remains in the middle of the Twins lineup. If one of your rivals foolishly cut bait once Sano's OPS fell below four digits, stop reading and go pick him up right now. He's shortstop eligible in Yahoo, for crying out loud! You're telling me you can't find space on your roster for a 22 year old rookie with a .973 OPS who can be plugged in at the shallowest position in fantasy? C'mon, son.
Maikel Franco, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies (44 percent owned)
Another rookie who's fallen off only slightly in recent weeks and has no business being on the wire in more leagues than not. While Franco's power evaporated in July, he also showed better plate discipline, walking nearly as often as he struck out. He also kept hitting line drives for extra bases. Bet on the homers returning moving forward. Pedro Alvarez should not be more widely owned than Franco. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.
Jung Ho Kang, 3B/SS, Pittsburgh Pirates (39 percent owned)
For obvious reasons, I typically try to avoid covering the same player in consecutive weeks. In this case, however, Kang has simply hit too well to be ignored - and yet that seems to be what many owners are doing. Since we discussed him last week, Kang has raised his OPS a whopping 52 points. That's not easy to do this late in the season for someone who's played regularly. He boasts an absurd .426/.475/.778 line with four homers in 15 games to start the second half. Even leaving aside the fact that he's eligible at short, that kind of production deserves more attention.
Logan Forsythe, 1B/2B, Tampa Rays (36 percent owned)
The versatile veteran was already enjoying a nice season before the All-Star break, but he's been absolutely on fire since, slashing .333/.434/.600 with three homers and 10 RBI in just 13 games. Overall, Forsythe has 12 homers and seven steals to go along with an .809 OPS. Maybe not the most exciting numbers for your first base slot, but they'll play well at second base where he's also eligible. Forsythe, as his current ownership rate shows, has flown under the radar all year. It's time for fantasy owners to take notice.
Ryan Howard, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies (22 percent owned)
Scoff if you must, but the artist formerly known as The Big Piece has resembled his old self over the last month, posting a .905 OPS in that span with five homers and 23 RBI. A good chunk of that production has come during his current eight-game hitting streak. On the year, Howard is hitting a mediocre .241/.292/.464, but he does have 18 homers and 60 RBI to his credit. Ride the former fantasy juggernaut while he's hot.
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