RADIO
Tony Peters analyzes some American League players to target as fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups & adds in Week 3. These AL-only targets can be sleepers.
Regardless of your feelings about the superhero extravaganza known as Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice (I enjoyed it, despite the flaws), the movie is quickly fading away from theaters. At the end of the day, history will see it financially as a huge starter with no longevity, a superstar held down by its own potential.
In fantasy terms, BvS is that fantasy player who opens with a massive April, maybe even extends the good times into May. But come June, July, they are overexposed, struggling just to keep afloat and stay relevant. Learning how to identify those types of players and when to use them to maximize their value can be tricky. But owners that are able to navigate through slow starts from established players make them less likely to make rash roster decisions that hurt long-term.
Here are some players from both scenarios that could be available in your AL-only league. All players are owned in 29% or less of Flea Flicker leagues. I had to raise the owned bar a tad this week due to surging ownership rates for a few of these players who went over 25% ownership since Monday, so if those players are still available in your league, don't hesitate or they may be gone.
Editor’s Note: to read about even more waiver wire options, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily. Prefer using your phone? Our free waiver wire app is available for download in the Apple & Android Stores.
American League Targets - Hitters
Jarrod Saltalamacchia (C, DET) - 15% Owned
Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia has been performing quite well since taking over for the injured James McCann. Over seven games so far this season, "Salty" is hitting .269 with four home runs and 11 RBI. Consistency is not one of his strong points, and it has often cost him work and roster spots in the past, including last year's epic fail with the Marlins. But with McCann due to miss only two-to-four weeks, Saltalamacchia could continue to hit until then, providing cheap pop to those needing a catcher patch-up. Just be prepared to jump ship once the streak ends or you are very like to lose what little he gave.
Nomar Mazara (OF, TEX) - 26% Owned
After starting 2016 as one of the game's very best prospects, outfielder Nomar Mazara was off to as good of a start in Triple-A as a guy can have. In three games, he was 6-for-12 with a home run and four RBI before being called up to Texas for his Major League debut, replacing the injured Shin-Soo Choo. With the Rangers, he has continued his hot start, hitting .444 with one home run and five RBI. With a clear spot on the roster for another month or so (at the very least), Mazara is a must-add as he attempts to show the Rangers and fantasy owners they are better off with him than without.
Rajai Davis (OF, OAK) - 9% Owned
Outfielder Rajai Davis has been trying to carve out a spot for himself in the Indians' outfield before projected starters Michael Brantley and Lonnie Chisenhall return to the team, beginning later this week. Helping his case is his recent speed outburst on a team lacking in stolen base threats. Davis' five stolen bases represents half of the Indians' total. While he was ice cold to start the season, Davis has warmed up as of late, hitting .269 with one home run, four runs scored and four stolen bases over his past six games. If Tyler Naquin--the only outfielder with an option--is demoted, look for Davis to push for the starting center field job. He's not good for much else than steals, but cheap steals still have plenty of fantasy value.
Omar Infante (2B, KC) - 5% Owned
Second baseman Omar Infante has been a fairly substantial bust since coming over to the Royals as a free agent two seasons ago, hitting a new-low during an injury-shortened 2015. So it'll come as a surprise to many fantasy owners that entering week three, he's been a solid fantasy option, especially in AL-only. Infante is hitting .324 with four runs scored, collecting a hit in all but one of his ten games played. His days of hitting near .300 for a full season are likely through, but that doesn't mean a healthy Infante won't have low-end value. Even if you can't start him, he's a good stash for a long season.
Travis Shaw (1B/3B, BOS) - 15% Owned
The era of Travis Shaw is in full effect. Early this week, the baseball world was abuzz with the fall of former starting third baseman Pablo Sandoval. But the real story is the ascension of current starting third baseman Travis Shaw, who is coming off a great stretch in which he hit .333 with one home run and six RBI in eight games. He is now sporting a robust .342 average on the season, and with his team's confidence behind him, the days of fantasy baseball sleeping on Shaw are coming to a close.
American League Targets - Pitchers
Derek Holland (SP, TEX) - 26% Owned
Starting pitcher Derek Holland has been more or less out of the fantasy baseball spotlight for most of the past two seasons due to injuries (none arm-related). Before that though, he was a young budding ace despite pitching half of his games in a very hitter friendly ball park. In Holland's last full season of 2013--his age 26 season--he went 10-9 with a 3.42 ERA and 189 strikeouts in 213 innings. Holland's current hot start--1-0 with a 2.31 ERA and nine strikeouts-- isn't as dominant as his 2014 start, but it is a good indication that he should have no problem matching his 2013 production, giving him serious value in AL-only leagues.
Colby Lewis (SP, TEX) - 22% Owned
If fantasy baseball had various difficulty settings like a video game, maximizing starting pitcher Colby Lewis' value would be an expert-level feature. If fantasy owners don't do their research before each of his starts, they'll be in trouble in a hurry. Last season, he won 17 games...and that's about his only useful feature as his other stats--4.62 ERA, 6.2 K/9, 1.24 WHIP-- were not great. But when Lewis won, he was great, carrying a 2.70 ERA and 0.934 WHIP over 116.2 innings. Looking at his next two starts, Lewis is a great option on the road against the White Sox, a team he is 6-0 against with a 1.22 ERA in his last eight starts. But the opposite is true when the Angels come to town, a team that has handed him seven losses in the past two seasons alone.
Matt Moore (SP, TB) - 29% Owned
I have to say, after all the hype that followed starting pitcher Matt Moore into the league back in 2011, I was surprised to see his initial ownership so low upon the start of 2016. He was understandably rusty when he returned from Tommy John mid-season last year. But by September, he was rounding into form, going 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 36.1 innings. After three 2016 starts, Moore has put up similar stats, going 1-0 with a 2.95 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 18.1 innings, showing those ace-like skills that made him an All-Star in 2013. This has caused his ownership to surge, and with two mildly favorable starts his next two times to the hill, Moore is a must-add.
Steven Wright (SP, BOS) - 3% Owned
Starting pitcher Steven Wright has been doing a solid job holding down a rotation spot for the Red Sox so far this season, going 0-2 with a 2.13 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 11 strikeouts in two starts. While he is not that good at suppressing runs, with a full season of starts, Wright should be able to replicate his 2014-15 numbers. With the potential of 10-12 wins, an ERA around 4.00 and 150 strikeouts for a minimal investment, Wright makes a wonderful pickup for any owners trolling for reliable starters. He isn't a sexy pick by any means, but in AL-only leagues, "looks" aren't everything.
Erasmo Ramirez (SP/RP, TB) - 10% Owned
Serving as Alex Cobb's rotation warmer while he finishes his recovery from Tommy John, starting pitcher Erasmo Ramirez has been fantastic in limited work so far this season. After three relief appearances and one start, he is 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 11.2 innings. With Cobb not due back until July, Ramirez has two months of starts left before returning to the bullpen full-time. While last year's performance of 11 wins, a 3.75 ERA and 6.94 K/9 rate are likely his true floor over a full season as a starter, a half starting, half relieving season could over-exaggerate his abilities and stats. This scenario would reward his owners ten-fold, so I recommend owners find themselves into that situation if possible.
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