1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 26

One last week remains in the 2019 season. For as much as the fantasy baseball campaign is a marathon, it always seems to pass by so quickly, doesn't it? Hopefully this column has been a boon to your pursuit of fantasy hardware. Once more unto the breach, without further ado... As a reminder, our focus... Read More

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 26

This is it, folks. One last week and we'll arrive at the conclusion of the 2019 baseball season. Odds are if you're still reading this, you're in the hunt for a championship - or at least finishing on the podium and/or in the money. Hopefully this feature has been of assistance. A reminder before we... Read More

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 25

Two weeks. That's all that separates us from the end of the 2019 season. It feels like we only just got started. Alas, all good things must come to an end. Hopefully this season has qualified as such for you - and if this feature played a role in making it so, even better. A... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 25

With just two weeks remaining in the 2019 season, every move takes on added importance. The finish line is in view. It's quite literally now or never for those with title hopes. In the final stretch, the waiver wire is your only avenue for reinforcements, and though you'll have fewer rivals to outmaneuver, those that... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 24

Only three weeks left in the 2019 season. If you're reading this, your team is almost certainly still in the hunt for a championship. Congratulations on surviving the grind of a long season. We're not at the finish line yet, though. In the final stretch, the waiver wire is your only avenue for reinforcements, and... Read More

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 24

With just three weeks remaining in the 2019 season, the stakes are at their highest. There is precious little room for error as we barrel toward the conclusion of the year. That's true regardless of format; head-to-head owners have to navigate their league's postseason, while rotisserie players must make every move count as they scratch... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 23

Somehow, it's already September. If you're still in the championship hunt, congratulations on navigating the first five months of the long grind that is the fantasy baseball season. With trade deadlines firmly in the rearview mirror, the waiver wire is your only recourse for reinforcements. A well-timed pickup could prove to be the difference between... Read More

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 23

This is it, folks. We've officially crossed the rubicon into September. Almost all head-to-head leagues have commenced postseason play, and rotisserie owners are scrambling for any edge they can find as we rapidly approach the end of the 2019 season. Pitching has been a trouble spot for many owners this season. Hopefully, this column has... Read More

Tips for Head-to-Head Playoff Success

Anyone who has read my work, followed my Twitter feed, or in some other fashion engaged with me on the subject of fantasy baseball knows my strong preference for rotisserie formats over head-to-head. While the appeal of the latter is obvious, the idea of successfully navigating the grind of a six-month season only be to... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 22

Only five weeks remain in the 2019 regular season. Some leagues have already commenced postseason play; most of us are still fighting for positioning. With trade deadlines firmly in the rearview mirror, the waiver wire is your only recourse for reinforcements. A well-timed pickup could prove to be the difference between a championship and a... Read More

Delino DeShields (OF, TEX) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 10% of leagues ANALYSIS: Delino DeShields is not a great hitter, as evidenced by his .674 OPS and 17 home runs in 1,841 career plate appearances. He can draw walks, but strikes out too much for a guy with no pop. If you're rostering him in a fantasy... Read More

Oscar Mercado (OF, CLE) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 34% of leagues ANALYSIS: Since being promoted to the major leagues in mid-May, Oscar Mercado has compiled roughly a half-season's worth of plate appearances. With the usual caveat that we can't simply extrapolate that sample over a full season, what he has done in that time is worthy of... Read More

Joe Jimenez (RP, DET) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 32% of leagues ANALYSIS: The Tigers are terrible, but bad teams still get save opportunities (unless they're the Orioles, perhaps). Joe Jimenez has assumed the closer role after Detroit shipped Shane Greene to Atlanta at the trade deadline, and done well thus far. The hard-throwing righty has converted four... Read More

Kevin Pillar (OF, SF) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 43% of leagues ANALYSIS: Kevin Pillar has been one of the game's hottest hitters in recent weeks, and fantasy owners have begun to take notice - his ownership rate has more than doubled in the last few days. You can still add him in the majority of Yahoo leagues,... Read More

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 22

Just over a month remains of the 2019 season. Playoffs have already begun in some fantasy baseball leagues, but most of us are still fighting for position regardless of scoring format. Pitching has been a bugbear for many owners in 2019. Hopefully, this column has helped you navigate the waters thus far and will continue... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 21

The end of the 2019 season is now, incredibly, just six weeks away. With fantasy football kicking into high gear and many owners out of the running in baseball leagues, we can expect there to be fewer suitors for any waiver wire pickups moving forward. The owners who remain, of course, are generally of a... Read More

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 21

Time marches on, and with it the 2019 fantasy baseball season. With playoffs looming in head-to-head leagues, rotisserie formats barreling toward crunch time, and trade deadlines either near or already behind us, outmaneuvering your rivals on the waiver wire is of the utmost importance. Good thing you're reading this column, eh? A reminder before we... Read More

Managing For The Stretch Run

If you've gotten this far into the season and remain firmly in contention, congratulations! The fantasy baseball season is a grind, and maintaining a competitive squad for four and a half months presents a challenge to which many owners can't measure up. Still, as we approach the playoffs for those of you in head-to-head leagues... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 20

Time marches on, and with it the end of the 2019 fantasy baseball season grows nearer. With fantasy football kicking into high gear and many owners out of the running in baseball leagues, we can expect there to be fewer suitors for any waiver wire pickups moving forward. The owners who remain, of course, are... Read More

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 20

Week...20?! That can't be right, but somehow it is. With playoffs looming in head-to-head leagues, rotisserie formats barreling toward crunch time, and trade deadlines either near or already behind us, outmaneuvering your rivals on the waiver wire is of the utmost importance. Good thing you're reading this column. A reminder before we begin: This column... Read More

On The Value of Rankings

If you read my work last season, you may remember that 2018 was an uncommonly lean year in terms of personal fantasy success. Actually kinda hope you don't remember, because if you do that probably means I complained about it too often. Alas. Anyway, in reflecting on the root causes of these struggles, one of... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 19

It's frankly flabbergasting to find ourselves in August already, but here we are. With fantasy football kicking into high gear and many owners out of the running in baseball leagues, we can expect there to be fewer suitors for any waiver wire pickups moving forward. The owners who remain, of course, are generally of a... Read More

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 19

We're into August - the dog days of summer and the fantasy baseball season alike. The grind of a long season, along with the impending start of football, will siphon off the weak links in your league. That means less competition for waiver wire assets, but it also means that everyone still playing is in... Read More

Luis Robert (OF, CHW) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 17% of leagues ANALYSIS: One of the top prospects in the game, Luis Robert has risen steadily through the ranks in 2019. He opened the year at High-A, and made an emphatic case for promotion with a 1.432 OPS, eight home runs, and eight stolen bases in just... Read More

Cavan Biggio (2B/OF, TOR) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 25% of leagues ANALYSIS: Cavan Biggio has amassed 230 plate appearances thus far in his rookie season, or roughly a third of a full campaign. At his current pace, given a full season's worth of playing time, he would put up a 25 HR/25 SB season and score... Read More

Kevin Newman (2B/SS, PIT) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 24% of leagues ANALYSIS: Kevin Newman has been a pleasant surprise in a challenging season for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The rookie shortstop slumped a bit at the plate in July, but is still hitting .312/.352/.430 overall with six home runs and nine stolen bases in 80 games. While... Read More

Joe Jimenez (RP, DET) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 25% of leagues ANALYSIS: With Shane Greene traded to Atlanta at the deadline, Joe Jimenez is likely to favorite for saves in the Motor City over the balance of 2019. The 24-year-old doesn't have great ratios (4.93 ERA, 1.29 WHIP) but has racked up 59 strikeouts in 42 innings,... Read More

Joint Fantasy Custody

As I've mentioned before, when I'm not managing my own teams or doing my best to help yours, I also do private consultations, either for drafts or season-long personalized advice. With one client, this is our third year working together on his weekly points league roster. The team is two games up on its closest... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 18

Another week has come and gone, and suddenly August is within view. Is it me, or has this season simply flown by? With the dog days looming, you can expect the waiver wire to be less of a bloodbath soon. Also-rans will lose interest as they turn their attention to fantasy football or enjoying what... Read More

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 18

August looms, which means that some owners will inevitably abandon their teams as they turn their attention to football season. This is less than ideal in many ways, but one benefit to those of us who follow through on our season-long commitment is that competition for waiver adds will be less fierce. We're not there... Read More