2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 11

The start of June is a great time to take stock of the baseball season. We're two months in, which gives us a decent sample size to split in half to see who cooled off after a hot start, and who really turned things around after a miserable April. A bad start may still be... Read More

Ezequiel Tovar (SS, COL) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 10

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 24% of Leagues ANALYSIS: A week ago, we recommended Ezequiel Tovar as an add-in advance of a seven-game week at Coors Field, and the rookie delivered with a six-game hit streak. Unfortunately, the counting stats remained low as he's buried at ninth in the Colorado batting... Read More

Casey Schmitt (SS/3B, SF) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 10

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 39% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Casey Schmitt is somehow less rostered today than when this column came out last week, despite posting three more multi-hit games. The 24-year-old prospect continues to mash for the Giants as he's batting .343 and slugging .507 through his first 17 games. Oddly,... Read More

Ronny Mauricio (2B/SS, NYM) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 10

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 7% of Leagues ANALYSIS: There's a saying in football that the most popular player on a losing team is the backup quarterback. Well, that same principle applies to underachieving baseball teams, particularly when the team in question is running out of the largest payroll in MLB history.... Read More

2B/SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 10

Welcome to another week of Middle Infield waiver wire options, and Happy Memorial Day weekend to all. The unofficial start of summer is a great time to take stock of the baseball season, both on the real and virtual diamond. If your fantasy team isn't doing so hot, no worries, there's still plenty of season... Read More

2B/SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 9

Some of the biggest stars in the sport – and biggest fantasy names– returned last week as Rangers shortstop Corey Seager, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, and of course, Cubs superstar second baseman Nico Hoerner made triumphant returns to the diamond. That doesn't mean we don't need waiver options, however, as there's always a demand for... Read More

Ezequiel Tovar (SS, COL) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 9

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 27% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Ezequiel Tovar was a hot commodity during draft season, but an early-season slump had many fantasy managers cast him aside. This was a mistake for two reasons. First, he's only 21 years old and will be prone to some rookie struggles. Second,... Read More

Bryson Stott (2B/SS, PHI) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 9

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 49% of Leagues ANALYSIS: In writing this column every week, I thought we were done with Bryson Stott, but his roster rate dipped under 50% so here we are. If Stott is available in your league, he should absolutely be added as the leadoff hitter for... Read More

Casey Schmitt (SS/3B, SF) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 9

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 35% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Early this season, many top prospects have struggled, but don't tell that to Casey Schmitt, who has assaulted Major League pitching in the short time he's been in The Show. Through his first 10 games, the 24-year-old is batting .400 with a .650... Read More

Casey Schmitt (SS/3B, SF) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 8

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 35% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Keeping up with the theme of top prospects, the Giants called up their fourth-ranked prospect, 24-year-old Casey Schmitt. Schmitt is an interesting fantasy option as most of his prospect pedigree is derived from a 60-grade glove at third base. Another multi-hit night... Read More

Luis Garcia (2B/SS, WAS) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 8

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 15% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Luis Garcia (2B), like so many other hitters, got off to a slow start but has really come around in recent weeks. Since April 14, which gives us a sample of over 100 plate appearances, Garcia is slashing .290/.350/.452 with three homers,... Read More

Ezequiel Tovar (SS, COL) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 8

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 31% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Like Miguel Vargas, Tovar is a top prospect who got off to a slow start. His .224 batting average leaves a lot to be desired, but Tovar is still putting up plenty of counting stats as he's got 35 runs-plus-RBI through 36... Read More

Miguel Vargas (1B/2B, LAD) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 8

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 46% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Dodger rookie got off to a miserable start to the season, but he's really picked things up over the past couple of weeks, capped by back-to-back games with a two-run homer last Tuesday and Wednesday. Miguel Vargas is hitting for power... Read More

2B/SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 8

Welcome to another week of waiver wire options, and Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. Things are getting bleak at the middle infield positions as appealing options that are widely available are few and far between. Still, we sift through the garbage hoping to find that diamond in the rough who can... Read More

Miguel Vargas (1B/2B, LAD) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 7

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 44% of Leagues ANALYSIS: In the intro, we mentioned how some players were dropped after a cold start to the season, and Miguel Vargas fits the bill. Vargas began the season way too rostered for this column but was dropped in a ton of leagues as he was... Read More

Ezequiel Tovar (SS, COL) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 7

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 26% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Just like Vargas, Ezequiel Tovar is a top prospect in the NL-West who was dropped after a miserable start to the season. And, just like Duran, he is named Ezequiel. Tovar is still batting just .222 on the season with a sub-.300... Read More

Ezequiel Duran (2B/SS/3B, TEX) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 7

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 38% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Rangers have been on fire as a team lately, thanks in no small part to 23-year-old prospect Ezequiel Duran. On the season, Duran is slashing .328/.357/.522 with three homers and two steals. He's been on fire lately as he's got eight... Read More

2B/SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 7

As we barrel through May, the fantasy baseball rankings are starting to become clearer. Hot and cold starts have had time to normalize, the sample size for each player grows larger by the day and, as a result, roster rates have somewhat stabilized as fantasy managers settle on a starting lineup. That doesn't mean there... Read More

Ezequiel Duran (2B/SS/3B, TEX) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 6

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 8% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Since Corey Seager (hamstring) landed on the injured list, the Rangers have used Ezequiel Duran and Josh Smith to fill in at shortstop. However, Duran is hitting and Smith is not as Duran is 14-for-42 with 10 RBI since Seager went down... Read More

Rodolfo Castro (2B/SS/3B, PIT) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 6

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 15% of Leagues ANALYSIS: As the first-place Bucs continue to turn heads, fantasy managers should be turning to some of the players responsible for all this winning. Rodolfo Castro has been a huge part of this Pirate lineup, as he is tied for seventh among all... Read More

2B/SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 6

We've reached the end of April and it feels like baseball has been going on forever. The first month of the season delivered a ton of excitement, so it's a bit of a reality check when you realize we've got five months of baseball left. It's a marathon, not a sprint, or so they say.... Read More

Rodolfo Castro (2B/SS/3B, PIT) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 16% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The scrappy Bucs have been one of the best stories early this season and a large reason why is the play of Rodolfo Castro. The 23-year-old switch hitter is sporting a sturdy 48.6% hard-hit rate and a 91.5 MPH average exit velocity... Read More

Brice Turang (2B/SS, MIL) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 24% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Brice Turang has slowed down after a nice start to the season, but he remains a strong fantasy option, particularly in category-based fantasy leagues.   Brice Turang - Milwaukee Brewers (2) pic.twitter.com/UlHjjrlYa9 — MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) April 18, 2023 Turang has three... Read More

2B/SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 5

A week ago, we lamented all of the injuries plaguing the middle-infield positions as we lost several high-profile fantasy options. This week, let's roll out the welcome wagon for Fernando Tatis Jr., who was back in the Padres lineup Thursday after serving the remainder of his 80-game suspension handed down last year. Speaking of last... Read More

2B/SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 4

Middle infielders are dropping like flies so if you're here looking for a replacement, take solace in knowing you are not alone. In the past week we've lost stalwarts like Corey Seager, Tim Anderson, and Oneil Cruz to multi-week injuries. Throw in Orlando Arcia, who was the headliner in this article last week, and tons... Read More

2B/SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 3

Welcome back to Week 3 of middle-infield waiver wire options, and Happy Easter to all who celebrate. We've got over a full week of baseball in the rear-view mirror and we're starting to get some clarity on playing-time situations around the league. In the first couple of series, most managers like to get their whole... Read More

2B/SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 2

Welcome back to another fun-filled season of fantasy baseball here at RotoBaller. We've got wall-to-wall content to help dominate your fantasy league(s). I'll be your guide up the middle, focusing on second basemen and shortstops to add off waivers that could provide that winning edge. It may be early in the season, but that won't... Read More

Who Is The Dodgers Closer? Fantasy Baseball Saves Candidates for 2023

The Dodger bullpen spent most of 2022 in flux and the offseason left fantasy drafters with more questions than answers regarding who to draft for saves in L.A. Craig Kimbrel recorded 22 of the team's 43 saves despite struggling to a 3.75 ERA and a ghastly 1.32 WHIP. Kimbrel is now in Philadelphia and manager... Read More

Relief Pitchers for Holds and SV+HLD Leagues - 2023 Fantasy Baseball Draft Targets

So you've found yourself in a fantasy baseball league that values holds? Diving into the world of unheralded middle relievers can be intimidating, but you've come to the right place. There's no need to fear the middle reliever and it's pointless to delve into the depth charts of all 30 teams. These days, most MLB... Read More

2022 Fantasy Baseball Year-In-Review: Nestor Cortes

Very few players came out of nowhere to become fantasy baseball heroes quite like Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes. The one they call Nasty Nestor was an afterthought during draft season, but the Hialeah Kid went on to be one of the most valuable early-season pickups, while Cortes himself picked up some cool new nicknames.... Read More