Brian Anderson (3B/OF, MIA) - Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups

Nicklaus Gaut profiles Miami Marlins 3B/OF Brian Anderson as a waiver wire pickup or add target for Week 15 of the 2019 fantasy baseball season due to him heating up after a slow start to the season.

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 14% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Marlin's third baseman Brian Anderson was a pleasant surprise in 2018, as he was one of the few Marlins to return any fantasy value. In Anderson's first full season in the bigs, he hit 11 home runs, with 87 RBI, 65 runs scored, with a .273 average. While not overly impressive on the surface, the fact that he managed that much production on a 98-loss Marlins team was enough to make him a popular sleeper heading into 2019.

Unfortunately, Anderson never woke up once the season started; and for the first two months of the seasons, the 26-year old only slashed .232/.315/.350 with a .118 ISO and 80 wRC+. On the production side, he managed only five home runs with 21 RBI and 13 runs scored. Given this, it's no surprise that he's now available in 85% of leagues.

But since the calendar turned to June, Anderson has quietly turned it on and once again deserves consideration. In 122 plate appearances since June 1st, Anderson is slashing .290/.377/.561 with six home runs, 17 RBI, and 20 runs scored. The counting stats aren't empty either, as they are supported with a .271 ISO, .392 wOBA, and 148 wRC+. For reference, that wOBA and wRC+ are both top-five among third basemen over the same period, behind such names as Machado, Devers, and LeMahieu. And ahead of ones like Bregman, Rendon, and Bryant.

Those in need of an upgrade at third - or a replacement for the injured Tommy La Stella - would be wise to look south to Miami and pick up Anderson now.