David Fletcher (2B/3B/OF, LAA) - Waiver Wire Pickups Week 7

May 12, 2019

David Emerick profiles Los Angeles Angels utilityman David Fletcher as a waiver wire pickup or target for Week 7 of the 2019 fantasy baseball season. Fletcher offers an elite plate approach and an elite playing context, which could make him a valuable addition.

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ANALYSIS: Fletcher's selling point is simple: He owns a .354 OBP, a .455 SLG and he hits leadoff when the Angels face a right-handed starter. That means that about 60% of the time, Fletcher is hitting just before Mike Trout. Additionally, when he doesn't hit leadoff, the Angels bat him 9th in front Tommy La Stella (.923 OPS) who is followed again by Mike Trout. The context has propelled Fletcher to relevance. Three home runs, three steals, 19 runs, 14 RBI may not be the most thrilling numbers, but they come with a .306 batting average that doesn't rely on an inflated BABIP (.306).

It would be folly to pin all of Fletcher's value to his playing context. To some extent Fletcher is building on his 2018 AAA season when he produced a .953 OPS with a .209 ISO in the PCL. In particular, Fletcher showcases elite plate discipline with an excellent 24.1% chase rate and elite contact skills (95.2%). He owns a putrid 1.5 Brls/PA%, but given how often he's making contact, that's not necessarily a cause for concern, especially considering his healthy .361 xwOBA. Fletcher's game is about volume. To an extent, Fletcher follows the same approach as La Stella and to a lesser extent Andrelton Simmons: conservative swing rates, minuscule strikeout rates, and solid but not overwhelming on-base skills. With Trout and Ohtani providing the power, that may be all the Angels need from their supporting players, and it may be enough to make those supporting players undervalued fantasy assets.

Fletcher isn't a 20-20 candidate, but if he gets to 15-15 with 85 runs and manages to hit around .300, he'll be the type of value play seen on championship rosters in many leagues. Take advantage of his low profile and plug him in wherever you need help in your lineup.