Dale Thayer (RP, SD) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Holds Leagues OWNED IN: 3% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Mustache of the year goes to Thayer. The 34-year-old righty is more than just an impressive fuzzy face. While Thayer does not strike out many, what he does do is get weak contact. For the pitches put in play against Thayer, 17.4% are line […]

Jesse Chavez (SP/RP, OAK) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 8% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: With the recent news that Kendall Graveman has been sent down to the minors, Jesse Chavez will slide into the starting rotation. He pretty much pitched a gem in his first start of the season on Thursday, and has the potential to make […]

Kevin Plawecki (C, NYM) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues / Most Two-Catcher Leagues OWNED IN: 5% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: The Mets are the hottest team in baseball currently, having just racked up 11 straight wins and having the league’s best record before losing to the Yankees on Friday  night. They’re doing it on both sides of the field, ranking in the top third […]

Caleb Joseph (C, BAL) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues / All Two-Catcher Leagues OWNED IN: 22% of FleaFlicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Matt Wieters’ original timetable suggested that he would be back around May 1st, but the latest reports that have surfaced suggest that may be aggressive. This situation looks like it may wind up with Joseph still getting a good bit of playing time even when Wieters returns, […]

Wilmer Flores (SS/2B, NYM) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 11% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Wilmer Flores was a guy I was touting back when I wrote about three shortstops who should outperform their average draft position, and he’s beginning to make me feel pretty good about including him in that piece. Like Flores, the season is still […]

Yonder Alonso (1B, SD) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues OWNED IN: 15% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: I bet a lot of people would be surprised to find out Yonder Alonso is hitting .379 this season. Commonly occupying the 5th spot in a potent Padres lineup, Alonso could be an cheap source of RBI and batting average production for fantasy owners […]

Yimi Garcia (RP, LAD) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 11% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: If you are in a league that counts saves, you may want to consider adding Yimi Garcia off the waiver wire if he's still available in your league. He notched the save last night, and has awesome numbers on the year racking up 16 […]

Adam Lind (1B, MIL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues ANALYSIS: With Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Gomez recuperating on the DL, manager Ron Roenicke entrusted his cleanup hitter, Adam Lind, to take charge of the Brewers' offense over the past week. Lind has responded by hitting .348 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored. Gomez is on track to […]

Drew Smyly (SP, TBR) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All leagues OWNED IN: 71% of Yahoo Leagues ANALYSIS: Drew Smyly was one of my sleepers going into 2015, but a shoulder injury has kept him out until this point. He made his first start at Toronto and lasted 4 2/3 innings with two earned runs and five strikeouts. Smyly was […]

Ryan Howard (1B, PHI) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues / Monitor in All Leagues OWNED IN: 49% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Let's face the facts. Ryan Howard will never be the fantasy star that he once was, or hit 40+ home runs again. But he is the quintessential power hitter, which means he'll do about 80% of […]

David Freese (3B, LAA) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Mixed and AL-Only Leagues ANALYSIS: No team in baseball scored more runs in 2014 than the Angels. This year, the reigning AL West Champions returned strong, with Kole Calhoun, Mike Trout and Albert Pujols at the top of the lineup. Hitting cleanup behind these three, David Freese's run-producing opportunities alone could make him incredibly […]

Adeiny Hechavarria (SS, MIA) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues OWNED IN: 8% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Adeiny Hechavarria might not be the most gifted player on the Marlins, but he certainly makes up for it in a multitude of ways. The 23-year-old is only in his third full season and has demonstrated that he can provide positive stats for fantasy owners […]

Jimmy Nelson (SP, MIL) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 24% of Fleaflicker leagues ANALYSIS: Flying way under the fantasy radar in relation to his strong start to the season is Jimmy Nelson. There’s not much talent jumping into fantasy relevance out of Milwaukee these days but Jimmy Nelson is proving to be an early asset. Merely owned in 24% of leagues, […]

Ender Inciarte (OF, ARI) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues / NL-only Leagues OWNED IN: 42% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: The Dbacks are pretty loaded with outfielders including Mark Trumbo, A.J. Pollock, and Ender Inciarte. The game of Inciarte has been somewhat overshadowed over the past two seasons, with other bats in the lineup making a more visible impact, but Inciarte […]

Jose Ramirez (SS, CLE) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Mixed and AL-Only Leagues ANALYSIS: If you need a middle infielder, Jose Ramirez has favorable match-ups this week.  He should be a decent source of speed, with three steals this year after 10 in 68 games last year and a history of stolen bases in the minors.  He can also hit […]

Josh Reddick (OF, OAK) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues OWNED IN: 48% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Power hitters generally follow certain rules when it comes to their statistics. The best ones can hide their flaws of high K totals and low BA while replacing it with high HR and RBI totals. Josh Reddick strays from that path for […]

Danny Salazar (SP, CLE) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately in All Leagues OWNED IN: 20% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: After a disappointing 2014 season, Danny Salazar was brushed aside by a lot of fantasy owners at the start of 2015. Part of that was because he started in the minors, but the other part was because he had broken so many […]

Denard Span (OF, WAS) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Most Leagues ANALYSIS: Upon returning from a core injury on Sunday, April 19, Denard Span should have immediately been added in all but the shallowest of leagues. In each of his seven seasons in the majors, he has posted an OBP higher than .325, including a .355 mark last year. Leading […]

Vance Worley (SP, PIT) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues and NL-only leagues OWNED IN: 6% of Fleaflicker leagues ANALYSIS: Although his rec-specs might fool you into thinking he's an old man, Vance Worley is only four years removed from his fantastic 2011 season in which he finished third for NL rookie of the year. In his 2011 season Worley […]

Angel Pagan (OF, SF) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 28% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Angel Pagan is producing like a borderline fourth or fifth outfielder so far in 2015. His numbers reflect that he may be a serviceable third OF, but there is always risk for injury with Pagan. The upside is certainly there with […]

Jed Lowrie (SS, HOU) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Own in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 15% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: There was a time when it looked like Jed Lowrie was going to be one of the best offensive bats at the shortstop position. In 2012 and 2013, he combined for 31 home runs and 117 RBI with an average of […]

Chris Young (OF, NYY) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues OWNED IN: 18% in Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: The one drawback to owning Chris Young right now is that he is not guaranteed to be in the lineup every day. With that said, Young has been making the most of his opportunities and could be in line for more consistent playing time. […]

Devon Travis (2B, TOR) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 45% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Devon Travis is the truth. I loved this guy coming into the season after he was named the starting second baseman in Toronto, and my opinion hasn’t changed at all. An injury to Jose Reyes has afforded Travis an opportunity to hit from the […]

Ike Davis (1B, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues OWNED IN: 13% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Another forgotten player this year is Oakland A’s first baseman Ike Davis. The once highly touted Mets prospect seems poised for a bounce back season in the bay area. After his breakout season in 2012 when Davis hit 32 HR, the lefty slugger has had […]

Kevin Plawecki (C, NYM) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in two-catcher and NL-only leagues OWNED IN: 5% of Fleaflicker leagues ANALYSIS: Before the season began, many (including yours truly) were touting Travis d'Arnaud as a breakout candidate. TDA was well on his way to making good on that promise, slashing .317/.356/.537 through his first 11 games before having his hand broken by […]

Addison Russell (SS, CHC) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 20% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Though he has not received the attention that Kris Bryant receives in the Cubs system, Addison Russell has quietly hit at every level. He has consistently been counted on at every level to maintain a high batting average and provide a lot of […]

Dustin Ackley (OF, SEA) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Target in AL only leagues and Deep leagues OWNED IN: 18% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: So far in 2015 we're seeing more July and August 2014 Dustin Ackley than we're seeing September and October 2014 Dustin Ackley. And that's a good thing. Ackley limped to the finish line last season hitting .149, but in […]

Jake Marisnick (OF, HOU) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues; Monitor in All Other Leagues  OWNED IN: 9% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Marisnick is already on his third organization, though he turned just 24 a few weeks ago. He was part of that mammoth Blue Jays-Marlins trade that broke the Internet back in 2012. Miami is known for aggressively promoting their […]

Miguel Gonzalez (SP, BAL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Very Deep (14+ Team) Leagues or AL Only OWNED IN: In 21% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Gonzalez has been sneaky effective for Baltimore, posting a 2.07 ERA since the All-Star break of last season. He was tremendous in his second to last start, setting a career high in strikeouts (10) while limiting the Yankees to […]

Shane Greene (SP, DET) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 57% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: I’ll admit, I was not ready to buy Greene in shallower leagues after his first start vs Minnesota. Unfortunately owners in my leagues did not need his second start at Pittsburgh to make the move. Greene was dominant against the Pirates, pitching eight innings of scoreless […]