Keon Broxton (OF, BAL) - Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 1% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: After limping to a .143 average out of the gate with the Mets, Keon Broxton was flipped to the Orioles. He's thrived in a small sample size in Baltimore, hitting .318/.348/.636 with a pair of home runs and a stolen base in... Read More

Oscar Mercado (OF, CLE) - Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 11% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: When the Indians first called up outfield prospect Oscar Mercado, it was assumed he'd take over an everyday role with the club. That didn't happen for a few weeks, but the recent DFA of veteran outfielder Carlos Gonzalez seems to have paved... Read More

Tyler Mahle (SP, CIN) - Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 18% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: Ignoring the 1-5 record, Reds starter Tyler Mahle has posted some quietly solid number so far this season. In 10 starts Mahle sports a 4.05 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP, along with a very stellar 59/12 K/BB ratio. He has struggled going... Read More

Luis Urias (2B, SD) - Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 8% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: Urias' first taste of the big leagues in 2019 didn't go so hot, as he slashed a miserable .083/.241/.125 with a horrific 37.9% strikeout rate in 11 games. That'll surely be enough to scare many fantasy owners away, but it is worth... Read More

Pablo Sandoval (1B/3B, SF) - Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 3% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: In a true blast from the plast, San Francisco Giants corner infielder Pablo Sandoval is slashing a tidy .302/.330/.635(!) with seven home runs, 18 RBI and even one stolen base on the season. His ridiculous slash line is carried by an incredible... Read More

Roenis Elias (RP, SEA) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 32% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: The Mariners have rotated through a handful of different closers ever since Hunter Strickland went on the injured list after the third game of the season. The one who has impressed the most is journeyman left-hander Roenis Elias, who is sporting a... Read More

Felix Pena (SP/RP, LAA) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 9% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: Los Angeles Angels pitcher Felix Pena has continued to thrive in LA's new "bulldog" role, where he comes in after an opener throws the first inning or two. Since converting into a bulldog, Pena has gone 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA and... Read More

Logan Forsythe (1B/2B/3B, TEX) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 6% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: Elvis Andrus' injury has freed up veteran infielder Logan Forsythe for a full-time job, at least for the time being. Forsythe has crushed the ball so far this season, posting a .320/.418/.534 slash line along with three home runs, 21 RBI and... Read More

Dawel Lugo (2B, DET) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 0% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: The Detroit Tigers made a surprise move earlier this week, demoting struggling third baseman Jeimer Candelario to Triple-A Toledo. That allowed them to recall the hot-hitting Dawel Lugo, who manager Ron Gardenhire stated would be the team's primary third baseman going forward.... Read More

Ronny Rodriguez (1B/2B/SS/3B, DET) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 30% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: The Tigers have gotten quite a performance out of Ronny Rodriguez, an unheralded utility infielder who didn't do much with the bat last year. 2019 has been a different story however, as the shortstop is slashing a tidy .294/.337/.671 with six home... Read More

Angels In The Infield - The Rise of La Stella and Fletcher

The Los Angeles Angels have suffered injuries all across their infield this season, which has led to them being forced to play journeyman utility infielder Tommy La Stella and fringe-prospect David Fletcher in regular roles. However, that decision is paying off in a big way for the Halos, as both players are hitting out of... Read More

Tommy La Stella (2B/3B, LAA) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 12% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: What a wild ride it has been for Tommy La Stella. Through just 33 games, the six-year veteran has a career-high nine home runs and 23 RBI, with a ridiculously good 10% walk rate and just a 6.4% strikeout rate. His contact... Read More

Lucas Giolito (SP, CHW) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 13% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: After tossing 7 1/3 scoreless innings against the Indians his last time out, former top prospect Lucas Giolito is now sitting with a 4.06 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP on the season. Those numbers aren't anything to write home about just yet,... Read More

Hansel Robles (RP, LAA) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 31% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: Few ninth inning situations are as confusing as the one led by Brad Ausmus down in Los Angeles. First it was Cody Allen, but injuries and ineffectiveness have left him on the outside. Then, briefly, it was Ty Buttrey, who has been LA's... Read More

Eric Thames (1B/OF, MIL) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 8% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: Brewers first baseman/outfielder Eric Thames has quietly hit the stuffing out of the ball this season, boasting a ridiculous 91.7 mile per hour average exit velocity along with a 45.5% hard hit rate. Tack on his 16.3% walk rate, one of the... Read More

J.P. Crawford (SS, SEA) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 1% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: The Mariners finally recalled infield prospect J.P. Crawford this week, giving him and Shed Long a chance to show off at the big league level. Only one Seattle infielder, Dylan Moore, was placed on the IL however, so playing time could be... Read More

Pablo Lopez, Miami's Other Breakout Starter

Miami Marlins right-hander Pablo Lopez quietly dominated the Braves on Sunday, tossing six scoreless innings with one walk and six strikeouts. That was his second scoreless outing in his last three appearances, and it lowered his season ERA to 4.03 - along with a 1.08 WHIP and a 25% strikeout rate. Lopez's 4.03 ERA, even... Read More

Spencer Turnbull (SP, DET) - Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 13% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: As much as I have fiercely supported Spencer Turnbull all season, the caveat had always been that his first few games were against very poor hitting teams, and that we needed to see what he could do against good hitters. He had a... Read More

Nate Lowe (1B, TB) - Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 23% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: Nathaniel Lowe has long been one of the better hitting prospects in the Rays system, and he finally got his chance to show off at the big league level. Through five games, Lowe has slashed .263/.286/.316 with a pair of runs... Read More

Griffin Canning (SP, LAA) - Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 27% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: Los Angeles Angels star prospect Griffin Canning made his big league debut on Tuesday, tossing 4.1 innings and giving up three earned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out six. While that's not an outing that would make most... Read More

Rowdy Tellez (1B/DH, TOR) - Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 4% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: Tellez has continued to heat up at the plate, raising his slash line up to a respectable .250/.319/.512 with 13 runs scored, six home runs and 17 RBI. He has absolutely crushed the ball, boasting a 92.3 mph exit velocity and a... Read More

James McCann (C, CWS) - Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Two Catcher Leagues OWNED IN: 15% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: The move from Comerica Park to Guaranteed Rate Field was expected to help catcher James McCann at the plate, although few could have expected the line he's currently boasting: .365/.412/.587 with three home runs and, somehow, two stolen bases in 16 games.... Read More

A Minor Comeback

On Saturday, Texas Rangers left-hander Mike Minor went absolutely crazy against the Seattle Mariners, tossing seven innings while surrendering just one run on three hits and one walk - while striking out a season-high 13. Minor is now sitting with a 2.88 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 25.0% strikeout rate through five starts this season, numbers... Read More

Alex Verdugo (OF, LAD) - Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 20% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: Verdugo has long been one of baseball's top prospects, but a crowded outfield in Los Angeles prevented him from having fantasy value outside of deep leagues. However, Verdugo has started four of the last five for the Dodgers, and today's announcement that... Read More

Rowdy Tellez (1B/DH, TOR) - Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 5% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: Tellez has now played 24 games this season, just one more than he played last season when he caught a lot of people's attention as a hot-hitting September call-up. The immediate numbers don't look great. Tellez hit .314/.329/.614 in 23 games last... Read More

Ty Buttrey (RP, LAA) - Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 21% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: It may be hard to believe, but it appears that manager Brad Ausmus has actually learned from previous mistakes. Known for leaving closers in the ninth inning role for far too long, Ausmus pulled the plug on the struggling Cody Allen in late-April, giving the... Read More

Michael Chavis (3B, BOS) - Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 13% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: As if you needed any more ammunition to pick up this kid, he hit another home run while I'm writing this post. As of now, Chavis is slashing a robust .250/.419/.667 with three home runs, five RBI, one stolen base and nearly... Read More

Luis Rengifo (SS, LAA) - Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 1% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: The Angels have struggled with a combination of injuries and ineffectiveness around their infield so far in 2019. Enter top prospect Luis Rengifo, who was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake earlier in the week. Rengifo hasn't gotten off to the speediest start... Read More

Spencer Turnbull (SP, DET) - Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 5% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: I wrote last week that Turnbull's performance against the Red Sox was going to go a long way in determining if he is actually worth a longer look in deeper leagues, or if he only a streamer when facing poor offenses. Turnbull... Read More

Chad Pinder (2B/3B/OF, OAK) - Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 24% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: I wrote last week that Chad Pinder has been having an odd year. That has continued, with a strikeout rate that has plummeted from last season, down from 26.4% last year to just 15.2% so far in 2019. Unfortunately his walk rate has... Read More