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RotoBaller writer Chris Lacey highlights a handful of players on most of your waiver wires to keep track of. You can find many of these players and recommendations, along with many more, in our Daily Updated Waiver Wire Pickups List.
STANDARD MIXED-LEAGUE VIABLE PICKUPS
Pedro Alvarez. Alvarez is a great power hitter for the Pirates, and that is pretty much all Alvarez will give you. He has 23 HR to go along with 60 RBI so for in 2013. The batting average for Alvarez is climbing up to .253, but he has struck out 106 times already this season. In the last seven games, Alvarez is hitting .360 with an .985 OPS in his last 25 at-bats. He struggles a bit with runners in scoring position, but he can be a valuable contributor to your team. Try to play the matchups if possible, and sit him against strong left-handed pitching for the maximum return.- Torii Hunter. Hunter is having a good season for the Tigers, with six bombs and 42 RBI in 341 at-bats. The power part of Hunter's game looks to be completely gone this season, but he is a solid run-producer and he scores a fair amount of runs, as well, hitting in the powerful Tiger lineup. He also is hitting .305 with an OPS of .777 this season, and has hit 22 doubles. He excels against righties with a .313 BA, but there is drop off against lefties, whom he hits at a .274 clip.
- Ben Revere. Revere is having a solid first season for the Phillies with an average of .302, and is using his best asset well, i.e., his speed. He has swiped 21 bases, against just eight times caught stealing. Over the past week, Revere is hitting .423 with a 1.000 OPS in 26 at-bats. The speedy outfielder is great with runners in scoring position, as indicated by his .353 batting average in that context. He's working hard to earn the coveted "clutch" tag, as he's hitting .444 with two out and runners in scoring position.
DEEP-LEAGUE PICKUPS
- Wily Peralta. Peralta has not looked very good this season, with an ERA of 4.82 in 19 games. He has thrown 106.1 innings with a WHIP of 1.50 for Milwaukee. The right-hander is holding righties to a .267 average, while lefties hit him at a .291 clip. However, he is coming off a start where he threw a complete-game three-hitter against the Reds, and he has not allowed an earned run in his previous 14 innings. He seems to be picking it up going in to the break, and he could be a savvy add for the second half.
- Marlon Byrd. Byrd is having a career renaissance with the Mets this season. He has hit 14 HR to go along with 49 RBI, and he's on pace to set career highs in both categories. Byrd isn't quite hitting for a robust average at .268, but his OPS is solid at .818. For the last month, Marlon has a .291 BA to go along with an OPS of .828. He is proving to be a clutch player for Mets, good for a .286 BA and .816 OPS with two outs and runners on base.
- Wade Miley. Miley has thrown a quality start in each of his last four outings, and has only given up six earned runs over his last 28.2 innings with a 1.88 ERA. The early struggles that Miley had seem to be a thing of the past. He is finally looking like the pitcher that earned an All-star selection last season. The one area he needs to improve is against left-handers, who are hitting him fairly hard for a .327 BA.
- Michael Saunders. Saunders is having a difficult season to say the least, with him only hitting .220 in 214 at-bats to go along with only five HR and 21 RBI. He does have 10 stolen bases, so that's certainly a positive. Over the last two weeks, though, he has gotten healthy and improved his approach, good for a .300 BA with an OBP of .400. One caveat here: Consider sitting Saundo against left-handers, as he has hit just .195 in 77 at-bats against them.
CONTINUE SCOUTING
Martin Perez. Perez has pitched well for the Rangers with a 2.08 ERA in 30.1 innings pitched. He has only surrendered two home runs while striking out 16 and allowing just two runs in his last 18 innings pitched. The opposition is hitting .279 against him this season, though lefties are hitting him hard, to the tune of a .324 BA against him in 2013. When the pressure is on he seems to pitch better, as indicated by him holding the opposition to a .214 BA in this scenario. He might be squeezed for playing time with Alexi Ogando returning from the DL, but continue scouting Perez in case an opening presents itself.- Brett Wallace. Wallace just has a .225 BA in 71 at-bats on the season, with only three HR and 11 RBI. The left-hander really struggles while facing southpaws, as indicated by his .063/.118/.180 triple-slash in 16 at-bats. He prefers to face right-handers, whom he hits for a .273 BA and a .879 OPS. Wallace has proven himself a fairly a capable run-producer when given the opportunity, as in his 16 at-bats with runners in scoring position, he's got a .313 BA.
- Jonathan Pettibone. Pettibone is pitching well for the Phillies, with a 3.84 ERA in 84.1 innings and 55 strikeouts. He has just allowed six earned runs in his last 22 innings pitched. The young right-hander has issues getting lefties out-- the're hitting .311 against him-- but has held his own dealing with righties, who hit just .241 when he's on the hill.
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