RADIO
Hello and welcome to another edition of deep league waiver wire additions looking forward into week 22.
Today we will be analyzing six players (four position players, two starting pitchers) who are all owned in 9% of Fleaflicker leagues or less and who can provide a spark for fantasy baseball managers searching for a roster addition to carry their team into the homestretch. For the NL, we begin in Miami, where two widely available players are making their mark.
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 options, and also all other fantasy formats.
Deeper League Waiver Wire Analysis
Justin Nicolino (SP, MIA)
Owned in 2% of Fleaflicker leagues
The trading of Mat Latos, Dan Haren, and the injury to Jose Fernandez has opened the door for Justin Nicolino in Miami and he has taken full advantage of said opportunity lately. In Nicolino's last two starts he has a 2.51 ERA and 0.977 WHIP in 14 and one-third IP. Interestingly enough the Marlin fans have yet to see the best of Nicolino live as he has been fantastic in two road starts with a 1.32 ERA and a 1.024 WHIP. Nicolino is very good at limiting damage in several different ways. He only produces 3.2 K/9, but Nicolino counterbalances this figure with the fact that he displays solid control with a 2.0 BB/9 and allows an impressive 0.6 HR/9, all of these figures of isolated performance are taken in combination with a 4.03 FIP. Nicolino has been pitching really well lately and it seems like he should be getting many more chances to pitch now that Mat Latos and Dan Haren are gone and Jose Fernandez is hurt. If he gets these chances, fantasy baseball managers in very deep leagues should add Nicolino to their rosters and ride his ability to limit walks and HR.
Derek Dietrich (2B/3B/OF, MIA)
Owned in 4% of Fleaflicker leagues
Derek Dietrich has hit really well all season. Fantasy baseball managers just haven't been able to take notice because Dietrich's AB were so few and far between. On the season Dietrich has a .272 BA, ten doubles, nine HR, and a .893 OPS in 158 AB. Dietrich also has some eye opening splits as in 2015 he has a .954 OPS vs. RHP and heavily prefers to bat outside of Miami with a 1.057 away OPS. Dietrich has been hot in the last 14 days by producing a .308 BA, .968 OPS, and two HR. Derek Dietrich is a hot and consistent hitter this season who has somehow slipped through the cracks into being available in almost every league. When considering his high BA, OPS, and eligibility and three different positions (2B and 3B not always being the easiest position to fill in deeper leagues), Derek Dietrich is becoming a must own commodity for fantasy baseball managers in very deep leagues.
Gregor Blanco (OF, SFG)
Owned in 7% of Fleaflicker leagues
Gregor Blanco certainly makes his impression with speed. With 12 SB and an impressive 53 R in just 281 AB this season, it is clear Blanco is able to use his legs to take full advantage of his teammate's hot bats. Blanco has also produced solid batting figures of a .292 BA and .789 OPS in 2015. In the last 14 days Blanco's high BA has segwayed into SB, as he has produced a .325 BA, .913 OPS, and four SB. On the season Blanco has impressive splits against RHP (.801 OPS vs. RHP) and at surprisingly at home in pitcher friendly San Francisco (.919 home OPS). If you are a fantasy baseball manager in a deeper league; trust in Gregor Blanco to use his speed to produce runs and SB without sacrificing batting statistics such as BA or OPS.
Franklin Gutierrez (OF, SEA)
Owned in 3% of Fleaflicker leagues
Being a Gold Glove winner, Franklin Gutierrez has mostly been known for his defensive work in the field, but Gutierrez has been a very pleasant surprise at the plate this season. So far in 2015 Gutierrez has hit eight HR, 25 RBI, while producing a .299 BA, and a .947 OPS in just 107 AB. Gutierrez has been a bright spot of late for the Mariners by hitting five HR, 18 RBI, and producing a .333 BA, and a 1.065 OPS in his last 60 AB. A sparkling trait about Franklin Gutierrez this season is that there seems to be no situation in which he feels uncomfortable at the plate. On the season, Gutierrez has hit very well against both sides of a pitcher's shoulder with a .842 OPS vs. RHP and a .997 OPS vs. LHP. Gutierrez has also hit well both at home with a .944 OPS and away with a .949 OPS. Usually when a veteran 32 year old player has an offensive resurgence like this, alarms go off and you look for reasons why this is a fluke. In Gutierrez's case however, his BABIP of .348 is supported by a line drive percentage of 30%. Franklin Gutierrez is a great power and batting average option for fantasy baseball managers in deeper leagues, and those fantasy baseball managers who do add Gutierrez can expect his level of production to continue.
Mike Pelfrey (SP, MIN)
Owned in 8% of Fleaflicker leagues
Mike Pelfrey's season has mirrored that of the Minnesota Twins: Good and surprising, but nothing initially eye popping. So far in 2015 Pelfrey has a 3.69 ERA, 1.417 WHIP, and a 3.86 FIP to support his ERA. However, Pelfrey's numbers are severely skewed by a horrendous month of June in which Pelfrey saw a 5.35 ERA and a 1.726 WHIP. In Pelfrey's last five starts he has been reliable and solid with a 2.83 ERA and a 1.256 WHIP in 28 and two-thirds IP. Pelfrey has also been fantastic at home this season with a 1.97 ERA and 1.055 WHIP when pitching in Minnesota. Pelfrey certainly isn't a big strikeout guy as he produces just 4.5 K/9, but he is able to limit damage extensively by only giving up 2.6 BB/9 and only allows a league leading 0.5 HR/9 by creating a GB/FB ratio of 1.12 and a GO/FO ratio of 1.60. Pelfrey has been consistent and of high quality in his last five starts and has moved on very nicely since his gloomy June. Fantasy baseball managers in deep leagues should look to Pelfrey (especially at home) to lead them to quality start after quality start in a line of ground balls and very few HR allowed.
Mark Canha (1B/OF, OAK)
Owned in 9% of Fleaflicker leagues
Oakland is always a team you can count on to produce some widely available assets for fantasy baseball managers and currently that widely available asset is first base and outfield combo man Mark Canha. So far in 2015 Canha has scored 41 R, hit 17 doubles, ten HR, 48 RBI, stolen five bases, and produced a .750 OPS in just 298 AB. Canha also hits his best against righties with a .887 OPS vs. RHP. In his last 50 AB Canha has been, dare I say, infuego; by hitting 13 RBI, two HR, while producing a .420 BA, and a 1.153 OPS. Canha's season totals are a little skewed by a poor month of July in which he produced just a .582 OPS, but since then, Canha has bounced back stupendously with a .997 OPS for the month of August. Canha is a hot hitting 1B/OF combo option who can hit the ball virtually any distance on the field (or out of it), and it doesn't hurt that he is a power option who can steal a base or two. Canha is a great option for fantasy baseball managers in deeper leagues now that he has weathered his July storm.
