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Deeper Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 12 (American League)

Tony Peters analyzes some American League players to target as fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups & adds in Week 12. These AL-only targets can be sleepers.

June has brought with it a fair share of unforeseen injuries. Injuries to very important, integral players. Jose Bautista, J.D. Martinez, Steve Pearce and Yu Darvish are among those recently added to the DL. Others like Juan Uribe and Taijuan Walker have been day-to-day recently with their injuries.

If you need to fill an unexpected roster spot, here are some names to keep in mind, all owned in 25% or less of Flea Flicker leagues.

Editor's Note: RotoBaller offers the best Premium MLB Subscription - only $1.99 per week. All the tools you need to help win your seasonal and daily leagues: Hitter & Pitcher Streamers, Matchup Ratings for every player, Under-the-Radar Surgers for AVG, HR, Ks, plus daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Lineup Picks, Expert Lineups, Stacks and Avoids. 

 

American League Waiver Wire Targets

Hitters

Max Kepler (OF, MIN) - 1% Owned

Meet Max Kepler, the new addition to the Twins' right field platoon. The 23-year-old rookie has been turning heads since his recall at the start of the month, hitting .258 with two home runs, 10 RBI and one stolen base in 66 at-bats. He has been particularly good as of late, riding an eight-game hitting streak into Tuesday. With Kepler's only real competition for the position at the moment journeyman Robbie Grossman, there's plenty of opportunity here for the current top-50 prospect to flash his average and speed tools.

Devon Travis (2B, TOR) - 23% Owned

Second baseman Devon Travis has been putting up some solid numbers since the calendar flipped to June. Over 62 at-bats this month, he's hitting .274 with three home runs, 12 RBI and one stolen base, including a seven-game hitting streak. The second-year second baseman returned from injury about three weeks ago after missing the first part of the season recovering from shoulder surgery, so he may be available if he wasn't DL-stashed. With the ability to reach double digits in steals and homers while hitting for average make Travis a no-brainer for AL-only owners.

Cheslor Cuthbert (3B, KC) - 1% Owned

Rookie third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert may have started his career running due to Mike Moustakas' injury, but he has been acclimating himself quite nicely. After hitting .253 with one home run during May, he's hitting .290 with three home runs and six RBI so far this month. He has a minor league track record of offensive success, including tearing up Triple-A before his call-up to the tune of a .333 with seven home runs in 93 at-bats. With Mike Moustakas out of the picture for the remainder of the season, it's Go Time on this potential fantasy star.

Billy Butler (DH/1B, OAK) - 1% Owned

Don't look now, but "Country Breakfast" is warming up. He's hitting .343 with one home run and seven RBI in 35 at-bats, bringing his season average up to .259 and his home run total to two. Butler hasn't been a regular starter this year, but seems to be adapting to his new role as a reserve. His modest 15 home runs last year seem unlikely to be matched in 2016, but if he can keep his average above .265, he can help an AL-only team in a pinch.

Tim Anderson (SS, CHW) - 22% Owned

The latest hot new toy to come up from the minor leagues, shortstop Tim Anderson maybe have already been owned in your league before his call-up. One of the game's top prospects, he has lived up to the billing so far, hitting .283 with one home run, seven RBI and one stolen base in 46 at-bats so far. With serious speed, budding power and ability to hit for average, Anderson could begin challenging Francisco Lindor for the title of top shortstop in the AL Central.

 

Pitchers

Jake Diekman (RP, TEX) - 14% Owned & Matt Bush (RP, TEX) - 5% Owned

The Rangers have quietly put together one of the stronger fantasy bullpens in the AL this season, thanks in part to contributions from veteran Jake Diekman and rookie Matt Bush. Diekman has been a force to be reckoned with since coming to Texas from the Phillies last year. This season has been even better than the first, with him dropping his ERA to 1.35 and increasing his K/9 to 10.5. Bush is putting up equally impressive numbers, going 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA and K/9 of 9.7 through the first 16.2 inning if his career. They should both be owned while the results continue to shine.

Dylan Bundy (RP, BAL) - 1% Owned

One of Baltimore's top prospects, pitcher Dylan Bundy has been picking up experience in the Orioles' bullpen to start 2016. After initially struggling, he has really started to settle down. Over nine June innings, he's 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and nine strikeouts. Bundy doesn't have a spot in the rotation at the moment, but that won't stop him from showing he deserves to be in there. Pick him up if you are looking for a pitcher with more upside than normal.

Daniel Mengden (SP, OAK) - 2% Owned

Rookie starting pitcher Daniel Mengden has not found a level of competitive baseball that can keep him down this year, including his first taste of the Majors. After going 5-1 with a 1.19 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 8.8 K/9 in 11 minor league starts this year, he's gone 0-2 with a 2.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 in two starts with the Athletics. Mengden isn't a top prospect, but there is no denying the results he's had so far. If his control can hold up over the season, he could be a minor fantasy surprise.

Kendall Graveman (SP, OAK) - 2% Owned

After a rough end of April that went into early May, starting pitcher Kendall Graveman has found a groove and been riding it to some positive fantasy results. Since May 19th, he's only given up 13 runs in his six starts following it after giving up 20 in the four before. Like Mengden, Graveman isn't a can't-miss prospect but is producing at the Major League level, the only level us fantasy owners care about.

Clay Buchholz (SP, BOS) - 22% Owned

After a bullpen banishment, starting pitcher Clay Buchholz has been allowed back into the Red Sox rotation. He returned Tuesday with a start that is decent by his standards: three runs on four hits and one walk over five innings, with five strikeouts. This has certainly earned him another chance to stick in the rotation, but the million dollar question is can it last? The fact that it has as recently as last year means AL-only owners have to give him a bench spot to see in case he finds his mojo.

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Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

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Compare Any Players
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24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jaylen Warren

Records First Career Two-Touchdown Game in Week 9 Win Over Colts
Michael Pittman Jr.

Leads Colts With Nine Catches in Week 9 Loss at Pittsburgh
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Continues Historic Pace, Racks Up 129 Yards in Week 9 Win
Tory Horton

Catches Two Touchdowns in Week 9 Win at Washington
Sam Darnold

Nearly Flawless in Dominant Sunday Night Win at Washington
Jayden Daniels

Suffers Gruesome Left-Arm Injury on Sunday Night
Kyren Williams

Goes Over 100 Rushing Yards, Scores in Dominant Win Over Saints
Davante Adams

Continues Red-Zone Dominance in Week 9 Win
Dalton Kincaid

Leads Bills in Receiving Yards in Week 9 Win
Geno Smith

Throws Four Touchdown Passes in Week 9
DJ Moore

Scores Two Touchdowns, Involved in Several Ways Sunday
Kyle Monangai

Capitalizes on Expanded Role in Week 9
Matthew Stafford

Adds Four More Touchdowns in Sunday's Win
Brock Bowers

Snags Three Touchdown Passes in Grand Return
Brian Thomas Jr.

Injures Ankle in Victory Against Las Vegas
Puka Nacua

Injures Ribs Sunday, Could Have Returned
Rico Dowdle

Delivers Another Huge Showing in Lead-Back Role
Cooper Kupp

Ruled Out for Week 9
Colston Loveland

Scores Game-Winning Touchdown
Joe Flacco

has Career Game in Loss to Bears
Tee Higgins

Scores Twice in Loss
Kevin Porter Jr.

Suffers a Knee Injury, Out at Least Four Weeks
Quinn Hughes

Returns to Practice Sunday
Roman Josi

Moved to Injured Reserve
Max Scherzer

Doesn't Plan on Retiring
Michael King

Becomes Free Agent After Declining Mutual Option
Ayo Dosunmu

Sidelined for Rematch Versus the Knicks
Cole Smith

to Miss 3-6 Weeks
Walker Kessler

to Undergo Further Testing on Injured Shoulder
Ryan Reaves

Placed on Injured Reserve
NYI

Max Shabanov Not Close to Returning
Jusuf Nurkić

Jusuf Nurkic Getting the Start on Sunday Night
Ryan Kalkbrenner

Available Versus Utah
Tyson Foerster

Won't Play Sunday
LaMelo Ball

Won't Play on Sunday Night
Sean Couturier

Returns to Flyers Lineup Sunday
LaMelo Ball

Not Expected to Play on Sunday
Austin Cindric

is A Driver to Avoid for Phoenix DFS Lineups
Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Named World Series MVP
Alex Bowman

Could Alex Bowman be A Sneaky Tournament Play for Phoenix?
Noah Gragson

Should DFS Players Roster Noah Gragson At Phoenix?
Erik Jones

Is Erik Jones Worth Rostering for DFS at Phoenix?
Connor McDavid

Records Three Assists in Saturday's Win
Michael McDowell

an Easy Recommendation for DFS at Phoenix
Vladimir Tarasenko

Ends Dry Spell With Three-Point Effort
Nick Suzuki

Collects Two More Apples
Timothy Liljegren

Sustains Upper-Body Injury
Nick Cousins

Injured on Saturday
Christopher Tanev

Leaves on Stretcher Saturday
Kevon Looney

Questionable Versus OKC
Chase Briscoe

Probably Won't Win the Title
Joey Logano

Could Play Spoiler in Championship Battle at Phoenix
Tyler Reddick

Seeking to End Winless Drought, but Probably Won't Have the Speed
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Looks to Protect Top-10 Points Finish at Phoenix
Brad Keselowski

Hasn't Been Fast at Phoenix With RFK Racing
Daniel Suarez

With Nothing at Stake, Expect Little From Daniel Suarez
Kyle Busch

Qualifies Well, but Will Probably Finish Worse Than he Starts
Chris Buescher

Ryan Preece has a Shot to Overtake Chris Buescher as RFK Racing's Lead Driver
Austin Dillon

Looks to Avoid Finishing Last in NASCAR Playoffs
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Might be a Worthy DFS Option
Jakob Poeltl

to Remain Sidelined Sunday
Walker Kessler

Out on Sunday
Mitchell Robinson

Listed as Questionable for Sunday
Dillon Brooks

to Miss Fourth Straight Game Sunday
Jalen Green

Unavailable Against Spurs
Norman Powell

Questionable to Suit Up Against Lakers
Jeremy Sochan

Remains Absent Sunday
De'Aaron Fox

Still Out Sunday
Daniel Gafford

Makes Season Debut With Minutes Restriction
D'Angelo Russell

Cleared to Play Saturday
Deandre Ayton

Listed as Probable for Sunday
Paul George

Unavailable Sunday
Joel Embiid

to Sit Out Sunday's Action
Connor Brown

Won't Play on Saturday
Dylan Strome

Ready to Return Saturday
Sean Couturier

Out on Saturday
Ilya Mikheyev

Set to Return Saturday
Warren Foegele

Kings Place Warren Foegele on Injured Reserve
TOR

Chris Tanev Cleared for Action
William Nylander

Remains Out Saturday
Shohei Ohtani

to Start Game 7 of World Series
Alejandro Kirk

X-Rays Come Back Negative on Alejandro Kirk's Hand
Alejandro Kirk

Goes for X-Rays After Being Hit on the Hand
Mackenzie Blackwood

Set for Season Debut Saturday
Gleyber Torres

Undergoes Sports-Hernia Surgery
Bo Bichette

Not Expecting to Need Offseason Knee Surgery
George Springer

Back in Leadoff Spot for Game 6 of World Series
David Onama

Set For UFC Vegas 110 Main Event
Steve Garcia

Returns At UFC Vegas 110
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Set For Co-Main Event
Ante Delija

In Search For His Second UFC Win
Themba Gorimbo

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 110
Jeremiah Wells

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Yadier del Valle

Looks To Remain Undefeated
CFB

Arizona State Quarterback Sam Leavitt Out for the Season
Isaac Dulgarian

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Daniel Frunza

Looks For His First UFC Win
Charles Radtke

Looks To Bounce Back
Allan Nascimento

Set To Open Up UFC Vegas 110 Main Card
Cody Durden

In Dire Need Of Victory
George Springer

"Strong Possibility" That George Springer Returns in Game 6 of World Series
Bryce Miller

Not Expected to Need Elbow Surgery
Washington Nationals

Nationals Finalizing a Deal to Hire Blake Butera as Next Manager
CFB

Arch Manning Listed as Questionable for Vanderbilt Matchup
CFB

Arion Carter Listed as Questionable Ahead of Oklahoma Matchup
Minnesota Twins

Twins Name Derek Shelton as Their New Manager
CFB

Jordyn Tyson Questionable for Iowa State Matchup with Hamstring Injury
George Springer

Not in the Lineup for Game 4 of World Series

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP