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Tony Peters analyzes some American League players to target as fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups & adds in Week 13. These AL-only targets can be sleepers.
As we pull into Week 13, the gaps between ourselves and our opponents are becoming clearer. Whether your team is in the middle of the pack trying to pull up or a leader trying to fight back the competition, roster maintenance becomes more and more important.
Here are some roster lottery tickets that can help fantasy teams in need this week and possibly beyond. All players owned in 25% or less of Flea Flicker leagues.
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American League Waiver Wire Targets
Hitters
Kurt Suzuki (C, MIN) - 9% Owned
Catcher Kurt Suzuki was just getting by the first two months of 2016, but he has really come to life during the month of June. In 62 at-bats this month, he's hitting .371 with three home runs and 14 RBI. Going into Tuesday's game, he has a six-game hitting streak that was preceded by a six-game hitting streak of its own. With his .728 slugging percentage on the season one point above his 2014 mark when he was an All-Star, Suzuki is trending upwards for owners in need of a backstop.
Trevor Plouffe (1B/3B, MIN) - 13% Owned
The second Twin on the list, corner infielder Trevor Plouffe has been a disappointment for fantasy owners this year as he tries to follow up on a 2015 where he hit 22 home runs and 86 RBI. He's only at six home runs and 24 RBI this season, though there's hope for better stats going forward as he wraps up a decent June. In 79 at-bats this month, he's hitting .253 with three home runs and 13 RBI. Those aren't the most glamorous of stats, but they can keep a team going in a pinch.
Ezequiel Carrera (OF, TOR) - 1% Owned
With Jose Bautista on the shelf for a bit, the Blue Jays are turning to outfielder Ezequiel Carrera to help fill the gap. Since coming to Toronto last season, he's hit .289 with six home runs, 32 RBI and five stolen bases in 288 at-bats, including his .302 average this season. Carrera has had a bit of an off month at the plate in June, hitting just .224. But with at-bats and a recent track record of success, desperate owners should take a flyer on this poor man's version of old man Rajai Davis.
James McCann (C, DET) - 5% Owned
As predicted a while back in a waiver wire write up I did on catcher Jarrod Saltalamaccia, fellow catcher James McCann has emerged atop the Tigers depth chart at the position. With that back in his pocket, he's returned to work building off his very successful rookie season last year. In 60 June at-bats, McCann's hitting .283 with four home runs and 12 RBI, putting him well on track to shatter his previous career highs in the latter two. With the ability to be an average fantasy catcher at his very best, he makes a great add in two catcher leagues.
Joey Rickard (OF, BAL) - 3% Owned
Outfielder Joey Rickard is picking up steam again after his average fell off due to a rough May. Through 44 June at-bats, he's hitting .341 with one home run, eight runs scored and one stolen base while playing around the outfield while splitting time with fellow rookie outfielder Hyun Soo Kim. Rickard isn't playing enough to start in most leagues, but as a speculative pick and occasional fill-in piece, he's a great pick for patient owners.
Pitchers
Zach Duke (RP, CWS) - 3% Owned
Relief pitcher Zach Duke is into his second year of relief effectiveness as he works to further establish himself as a dependable pitcher. While his season totals of a 2.81 ERA and 10.2 K/9 look great as is, he's turned things up in June. In seven innings this month, Duke is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA and 10 strikeouts. His only blemish is a bloated WHIP, currently sitting at 1.32 for the season, thanks in part to his 3.9 BB/9. But sometimes beggers can't be choosers, and Duke's one of the better bottom-barrel fantasy relievers.
Ryan Dull (RP, OAK) - 1% Owned
Relief pitcher Ryan Dull has been enjoying his second year in the Majors after a so-so debut last season. After putting up a 1-2 record with a 4.24 ERA, 3.2 BB/9 and 8.5 K/9 in 17 2015 innings, he's 2-2 with a 2.31 ERA, 1.8 BB/9 and 9.7 K/9 in 39 innings so far this year. Though Dull does has experience as a closer in the minors, the Athletics have too many veteran options in his way at the moment. If he keeps performing well come the Trading Deadline though, that might not be the case.
Wade Leblanc (SP, SEA) - 0% Owned
Once starting pitcher Wade Leblanc left the Angels behind following the 2014 season to pitch in Japan, I figured the 31-year-old's Major League career was done. Doubly so after he put up a 4.23 ERA with a 1.44 K/BB there in 2015. Yet, after utterly dominating the minors this year by going 7-2 with a 1.71 ERA and 4.05 K/BB, he made a spot start for the Mariners last Friday, blanking the Cardinals for six innings. As ridiculous as it sounds, Leblanc could be a viable AL-only starter if he keeps this up, big emphasis on the if.
Bruce Rondon (RP, DET) - 0% Owned
This old wiseman's tale again. Yes, relief pitcher, and poster child for jumping the gun in fantasy, Bruce Rondon is back in the Majors following his most recent banishment. So far the results have been promising, as he has a 1.50 ERA, 0.50 WHIP and six strikeouts in six innings of work. How long this while last is based firmly on Rondon, as immaturity and lack of professionalism have hurt him much more than straight performance. If he can keep his head in the game, he could be one of the game's brightest relievers.
Scott Feldman (SP/RP, HOU) - 2% Owned & Wade Miley (SP) - 8% Owned
Two potential pickups re-enter AL West rotations this week in the form of Houston's Scott Feldman and Seattle's Wade Miley. Feldman is making his first start since getting bumped from the rotation April 24th when he faces the Angels Tuesday. He's gone 4-1 with a 1.85 ERA and 7.0 K/9 as a reliever, looking very hungry to return to starting. This is supposed to just be a spot start, but he's worth keeping regardless. Miley is set to return from the disabled list Wednesday to face the Pirates after a dominating rehab start for my hometown Everett Aquasox. Hopes are high that he can come back strong and find some consistency after an up-and-down start to 2016. He's 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA in five career starts versus the Pirates.
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