2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 18

We're approaching the MLB trade deadline, which marks the unofficial start of the stretch run in most leagues. By now you should have a clear sense of any weaknesses that need to be addressed on your roster. At this point in the year, we care less about the names and more about the numbers, and... Read More

Akil Baddoo (OF, DET) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 49% of leagues ANALYSIS: Akil Baddoo just barely comes in under the 50% rostered cutoff as of this writing and as one of the most popular adds on the Yahoo platform in recent days, that's unlikely to be the case for much longer. If he's still available in... Read More

Jameson Taillon (SP, NYY) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 44% of leagues ANALYSIS: After a disastrous performance against the Phillies on June 12 wherein he allowed four runs and recorded only a single out, Jameson Taillon's ERA stood at an unsightly 5.74. After Saturday's win over Boston, that has shrunk to 4.36 alongside a 1.24 WHIP and... Read More

Joakim Soria (RP, ARI) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 32% of leagues ANALYSIS: Though he's a prime candidate to be dealt ahead of next weekend's trade deadline, Joakim Soria is the clear top dog in the Arizona bullpen right now. That makes it surprising to see him languishing on the waiver wire in over two-thirds of leagues... Read More

2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 17

Due to the All-Star break, there hasn't been much action since we reviewed the best middle infield waiver options last week - just two days' worth of games. As a result, I would still happily recommend everyone who was featured in this space at that time, though the Rays' handling of Vidal Brujan gives me... Read More

Logan Webb (SP, SFG) - Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 22% of leagues ANALYSIS: Logan Webb got some sleeper buzz based on a strong spring training performance, but early struggles when the games began to count led most fantasy managers to abandon ship. He'd reeled off four quality starts and another strong five-inning in six outings before landing on... Read More

Heath Hembree (RP, CIN) - Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 44% of leagues ANALYSIS: The Reds have used a variety of relievers in the ninth inning this year, as expected, but it's unlikely many anticipated Heath Hembree being one of them. The veteran has six saves on the season, nailing down five of the team's last six opportunities headed... Read More

Andrew Vaughn (1B/OF, CHW) - Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 32% of leagues ANALYSIS: In the final game of the season's first half, Andrew Vaughn homered twice and plated four runs. The rookie has shaken off a slow start and begun tapping into the immense potential that led the White Sox to hand him a spot on the big... Read More

2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 16

The All-Star Break is a brief respite from the daily grind for fantasy managers, and a logical time to take stock of your situation. As the number of games remaining shrinks, so too does the difference any one player can make, but churning through waiver bats can lead to surprisingly buff stats in aggregate. Most... Read More

Trevor Larnach (OF, MIN) - Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 5% of leagues ANALYSIS: While Saturday's 0-for-5 showing was forgettable, Trevor Larnach has quietly been swinging a hot bat in recent weeks. Specifically, in the two weeks of action leading up to the oh-fer, he had hit .302 with eight runs, two home runs, nine RBI and a... Read More

Eric Haase (C/OF, DET) - Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 47% of leagues ANALYSIS: How far off the radar was Eric Haase to open the season? Well, let's just say that his first name is misspelled in the tag on the image in our library. Now he's one of the most popular adds on Yahoo and based on... Read More

Joey Votto (1B, CIN) - Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 36% of leagues ANALYSIS: We've touted Votto 'round these parts before, and he just keeps on hitting. While the full-season numbers (.257 AVG, 26 R, 11 HR, 39 RBI in 59 games) don't leap off the page, the 37-year-old has been one of the most productive bats in 5x5... Read More

Logan Gilbert (SP, SEA) - Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 48% of leagues ANALYSIS: This isn't the first time I've advised fantasy managers to pick up Logan Gilbert, but hopefully it's the last. Though he's close to exceeding the 50% cutoff, even just barely qualifying means he's not as widely rostered as he ought to be. One might have... Read More

2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 15

The All-Star Break isn't for another week, but we've reached the halfway point in terms of games played for most teams. For fantasy managers in head-to-head formats, the runway is even shorter. Still, there's plenty of time to improve your roster. Most of the players who will be written up in this feature won't be... Read More

Merrill Kelly (SP, ARI) - Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 13% of leagues ANALYSIS: Given how terribly the Rockies' hitters perform while on the road, almost any pitcher with a matchup against them outside of Coors merits consideration. In the case of Merrill Kelly, there's also some reason to think he's better than his results to this point... Read More

Joe Ross (SP, WAS) - Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 33% of leagues ANALYSIS: Back in 2015 and 2016, yours truly was high on Joe Ross's potential, but a few years in the wilderness combined with him having opted out of the 2020 season had him completely off of even my radar entering this year. The former first-round... Read More

Hunter Renfroe (OF, BOS) - Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 49% of leagues ANALYSIS: If you haven't added Hunter Renfroe yet, it may already be too late. The Red Sox outfielder has been one of the most popular adds in the game, with his rostered rate more than doubling in the last couple of days,. And small wonder, given his... Read More

Kyle Bishop's 10 Bold Predictions for 2021: Midseason Review

With the calendar flipping to July, we've now reached the rough midpoint of the 2021 season. As with any other year, it's been a mixed bag of expected results and wild surprises. As anticipated, the Dodgers and Padres are running neck and neck in the National League West...but both are behind the Giants, who somehow... Read More

2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 14

This week marks the halfway point of the 2021 season. Hopefully you're at or near the top of your league standings. Even if you're not, there's still time to change that. Key to that effort will be effective work on the waiver wire, and this column is designed to help you get there. Most of... Read More

Akil Baddoo (OF, DET) - Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 17% of leagues ANALYSIS: Akil Baddoo was one of the most popular adds in fantasy baseball during the first two weeks of the season, but when his hot start fizzled out, most managers moved on. Yet as we near the season's halfway point, he owns a .282/.374/.506 line... Read More

Abraham Toro (3B, HOU) - Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 12% of leagues ANALYSIS: Besides having an 80-grade name, Abraham Toro has generally hit well as a prospect. The major league results weren't there in his first couple of cracks at it, but those two stints covered a mere 186 plate appearances. Thus far in 2021, he's looked... Read More

C.J. Cron (1B, COL) - Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 47% of leagues ANALYSIS: C.J. Cron's fantasy stock skyrocketed after the Rockies signed him and made him their cleanup hitter. He's been largely dropped in the batting order during June, but that doesn't reflect on his recent performance. The veteran slugger has hit .304/.385/.674 with five homers and 19... Read More

2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 13

We're barreling toward the halfway point of the 2021 season, and with the onslaught of injuries showing no signs of stopping, diligence on the waiver wire is as crucial as ever. Most of the players who will be written up in this feature won't be the next breakout star. Some may only be useful for... Read More

Joey Votto (1B, CIN) - Week 13 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 29% of leagues ANALYSIS: Much like the old gray mare, Joey Votto ain't what he used to be. But the 37-year-old doesn't have to reach his prior lofty heights to be of value to your fantasy roster. Since returning from the injured list on June 9, Votto has... Read More

Max Stassi (C, LAA) - Week 13 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 37% of leagues ANALYSIS: Max Stassi hasn't just been the top catcher in 5x5 over the past two weeks - he's in the top 10 overall during that time. He won't continue to hit over .300 or send close to 40 percent of his fly balls into the... Read More

Logan Gilbert (SP, SEA) - Week 13 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 43% of leagues ANALYSIS: Trouble with the long ball marred Logan Gilbert's start on Saturday night, but given that the Rays are a top-five offensive club this year, it's not something to condemn him for - especially since he'd allowed just six runs in his previous four outings. The... Read More

2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 12

We're barreling toward the halfway point of the 2021 season, and with the onslaught of injuries showing no signs of stopping, diligence on the waiver wire is as crucial as ever. Most of the players who will be written up in this feature won't be the next breakout star. Some may only be useful for... Read More

Adam Wainwright (SP, STL) - Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 41% of leagues ANALYSIS: Adam Wainwright will turn 40 in August, but he continues to find ways to get major-league hitters out on a consistent basis. In 12 starts covering 73.2 innings, the veteran has a respectable 4.03 ERA and 1.14 WHIP along with 67 strikeouts. 21 of... Read More

Miguel Andujar (3B/OF, NYY) - Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 33% of leagues ANALYSIS: Miguel Andujar burst onto the scene in 2018 with a terrific season as a 23-year-old, slashing .297/.328/.537 with 27 home runs, 83 runs, and 92 RBI. In most years that would've been enough to capture Rookie of the Year honors, but most years don't... Read More

Lucas Sims (RP, CIN) - Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 45% of leagues ANALYSIS: It took a couple months, but there appears to be a clear #1 option for saves in Cincinnati. Lucas Sims has locked down each of the Reds' last five opportunities, and while his full-season ratios (5.01 ERA, 1.29 WHIP) aren't great, he also has 36... Read More