June 23, 2016

Tony Peters analyzes some American League players to target as fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups & adds in Week 12. These AL-only targets can be sleepers.

June has brought with it a fair share of unforeseen injuries. Injuries to very important, integral players. Jose Bautista, J.D. Martinez, Steve Pearce and Yu Darvish are among those recently added to the DL. Others like Juan Uribe and Taijuan Walker have been day-to-day recently with their injuries.

If you need to fill an unexpected roster spot, here are some names to keep in mind, all owned in 25% or less of Flea Flicker leagues.

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American League Waiver Wire Targets

Hitters

Max Kepler (OF, MIN) - 1% Owned

Meet Max Kepler, the new addition to the Twins' right field platoon. The 23-year-old rookie has been turning heads since his recall at the start of the month, hitting .258 with two home runs, 10 RBI and one stolen base in 66 at-bats. He has been particularly good as of late, riding an eight-game hitting streak into Tuesday. With Kepler's only real competition for the position at the moment journeyman Robbie Grossman, there's plenty of opportunity here for the current top-50 prospect to flash his average and speed tools.

Devon Travis (2B, TOR) - 23% Owned

Second baseman Devon Travis has been putting up some solid numbers since the calendar flipped to June. Over 62 at-bats this month, he's hitting .274 with three home runs, 12 RBI and one stolen base, including a seven-game hitting streak. The second-year second baseman returned from injury about three weeks ago after missing the first part of the season recovering from shoulder surgery, so he may be available if he wasn't DL-stashed. With the ability to reach double digits in steals and homers while hitting for average make Travis a no-brainer for AL-only owners.

Cheslor Cuthbert (3B, KC) - 1% Owned

Rookie third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert may have started his career running due to Mike Moustakas' injury, but he has been acclimating himself quite nicely. After hitting .253 with one home run during May, he's hitting .290 with three home runs and six RBI so far this month. He has a minor league track record of offensive success, including tearing up Triple-A before his call-up to the tune of a .333 with seven home runs in 93 at-bats. With Mike Moustakas out of the picture for the remainder of the season, it's Go Time on this potential fantasy star.

Billy Butler (DH/1B, OAK) - 1% Owned

Don't look now, but "Country Breakfast" is warming up. He's hitting .343 with one home run and seven RBI in 35 at-bats, bringing his season average up to .259 and his home run total to two. Butler hasn't been a regular starter this year, but seems to be adapting to his new role as a reserve. His modest 15 home runs last year seem unlikely to be matched in 2016, but if he can keep his average above .265, he can help an AL-only team in a pinch.

Tim Anderson (SS, CHW) - 22% Owned

The latest hot new toy to come up from the minor leagues, shortstop Tim Anderson maybe have already been owned in your league before his call-up. One of the game's top prospects, he has lived up to the billing so far, hitting .283 with one home run, seven RBI and one stolen base in 46 at-bats so far. With serious speed, budding power and ability to hit for average, Anderson could begin challenging Francisco Lindor for the title of top shortstop in the AL Central.

Pitchers

Jake Diekman (RP, TEX) - 14% Owned & Matt Bush (RP, TEX) - 5% Owned

The Rangers have quietly put together one of the stronger fantasy bullpens in the AL this season, thanks in part to contributions from veteran Jake Diekman and rookie Matt Bush. Diekman has been a force to be reckoned with since coming to Texas from the Phillies last year. This season has been even better than the first, with him dropping his ERA to 1.35 and increasing his K/9 to 10.5. Bush is putting up equally impressive numbers, going 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA and K/9 of 9.7 through the first 16.2 inning if his career. They should both be owned while the results continue to shine.

Dylan Bundy (RP, BAL) - 1% Owned

One of Baltimore's top prospects, pitcher Dylan Bundy has been picking up experience in the Orioles' bullpen to start 2016. After initially struggling, he has really started to settle down. Over nine June innings, he's 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and nine strikeouts. Bundy doesn't have a spot in the rotation at the moment, but that won't stop him from showing he deserves to be in there. Pick him up if you are looking for a pitcher with more upside than normal.

Daniel Mengden (SP, OAK) - 2% Owned

Rookie starting pitcher Daniel Mengden has not found a level of competitive baseball that can keep him down this year, including his first taste of the Majors. After going 5-1 with a 1.19 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 8.8 K/9 in 11 minor league starts this year, he's gone 0-2 with a 2.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 in two starts with the Athletics. Mengden isn't a top prospect, but there is no denying the results he's had so far. If his control can hold up over the season, he could be a minor fantasy surprise.

Kendall Graveman (SP, OAK) - 2% Owned

After a rough end of April that went into early May, starting pitcher Kendall Graveman has found a groove and been riding it to some positive fantasy results. Since May 19th, he's only given up 13 runs in his six starts following it after giving up 20 in the four before. Like Mengden, Graveman isn't a can't-miss prospect but is producing at the Major League level, the only level us fantasy owners care about.

Clay Buchholz (SP, BOS) - 22% Owned

After a bullpen banishment, starting pitcher Clay Buchholz has been allowed back into the Red Sox rotation. He returned Tuesday with a start that is decent by his standards: three runs on four hits and one walk over five innings, with five strikeouts. This has certainly earned him another chance to stick in the rotation, but the million dollar question is can it last? The fact that it has as recently as last year means AL-only owners have to give him a bench spot to see in case he finds his mojo.

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