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To help you dominate all of your 2018 fantasy baseball leagues, below are some 2018 fantasy baseball first base (1B) draft sleepers & waiver wire pickups to consider adding to your fantasy baseball teams. Be sure to also use our other draft resources and tools shown in the icons below.
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2018 Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers by MLB Position
ALL - C - 1B - 2B - SS - 3B - OF - SP - RP
Eric Thames (1B/OF, MIL) - Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 43% of Leagues ANALYSIS: After missing seven weeks from left thumb surgery, Eric Thames had a quiet return to the Milwaukee Brewers, going 1-for-10 with six strikeouts. He came alive on Sunday, bombing two home runs, collecting four RBI and a steal. The big day brought his season slash to .244/.344/.628. Thames is the antidote for managers looking for power, with nine long balls in only 89 plate appearances. His 30% HR/FB entering Sunday will moderate but a 45% FB% could support...continue reading
John Hicks (C/1B, DET) - Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 44% of leagues ANALYSIS: Detroit Tigers catcher/first baseman John Hicks is a player to watch for fantasy purposes, as he has a .295 batting average this season. He has hits in seven of his last nine games, including four multi-hit games, and has also scored a run in five of his last six games. Since the beginning of May, Hicks has a .319 batting average, .464 slugging percentage, and 11 extra-base hits. He has a .408 BABIP since the beginning of May,...continue reading
Daniel Descalso (1B/2B/3B/OF, ARI) - Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 26% of leagues ANALYSIS: Arizona Diamondbacks utility player Daniel Descalso has come out of nowhere to be a waiver wire option. Somehow the Diamondbacks have enough confidence to allow him to hit in the middle of the lineup. He is rewarding that good faith with production we have never seen from him before. Descalso has a slash line of .280/.374/.542 in 203 plate appearances. He is also carrying an abnormally high flyball rate (48%) and hard hit rate (44%). Over the...continue reading
Jake Bauers (1B,TB) - Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 7% of leagues ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jake Bauers is one of the Tampa Bsy youngsters that was recently brought up and is having success. Bauers has been performing quite well recently. After starting his career off 0-for-8, he has since figured things out and has gone 10-for-41. He has a .400 batting average, four home runs, six runs scored, and seven RBI over the last week, even stealing a base. It is a terribly short amount of time...continue reading
Yuli Gurriel (1B, HOU) - Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 36% of leagues ANALYSIS: Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel is the safest bet of any free agent pickup this week. He is a sure thing, nearly as guarantee-able as death and taxes. This week, Gurriel is hitting .455 with a home run, five runs, and six RBI. Gurriel is somewhat safe bet for a .300 AVG and little power. Gurriel’s .302 average is pretty good, but is unlikely to help to increase your team’s batting average. It is unfortunate that...continue reading
Ryon Healy (1B/3B, SEA) - Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 42% of leagues ANALYSIS: Seattle Mariners infielder Ryon Healy has had a roller coaster season and the roller coaster of production is riding at a high point for Healy in recent weeks. Over the last seven days, Healy is hitting .360 with four home runs, five runs scored, and five RBI. Unfortunately for those looking at Healy, his opponents this week are the Yankees and Red Sox. In total, he will face-off against right-handers five out of six matchups this week. Healy...continue reading
Niko Goodrum (OF/1B, DET) - Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 6% of leagues ANALYSIS: Detroit Tigers first baseman/outfielder Niko Goodrum had another surprisingly good week. A .267/.294/.600 line is pretty solid for 15 at-bats, but the thing that gets me is the extra base hits. Of his four hits this week, three of them including his homer went for extra bases. In fact, 19 of his 36 hits on the year have gone for extra bases, including the six home runs. The surprising speed that Goodrum brings to the table allows...continue reading
Max Muncy (1B/3B/OF, LAD) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 42% of leagues ANALYSIS: Los Angeles Dodgers utility player Max Muncy has a seven game hitting streak going, including a two home run game on June 3rd, and home runs in each of the last three games. At just 42%, he still is criminally underowned. In the last 30 days, Muncy has a .731 slugging percentage, including eleven home runs, and has 21 RBI. Mainly playing first base and third base for the Dodgers, Muncy has also found a place at the...continue reading
Yonder Alonso (1B, CLE) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 38% of leagues ANALYSIS: Cleveland Indians first baseman Yonder Alonso is a guy who gets you power, but could be a liability in other categories. The liability in this case is his batting average. He has a slash line of .245/.317/.446 to go with 11 homers, but has looked better of late. Over the last seven days, Alonso is hitting .410 with two home runs, six RBI, eight runs scored, and has even added a stolen base. Alonso consistently bats fifth in...continue reading
Justin Bour (1B, MIA) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 49% of leagues ANALYSIS: Much was expected from Miami Marlins first baseman Justin Bour after he hit 25 HR in 2017. Some owners are let down because they are not getting the power they anticipated, as his ISO is down to .191, which is still better than league average. However, he has become an overall better hitter. Over the last week, Bour has a .304 batting average, three runs scored, and three RBI. Bour has better control at the plate with a...continue reading
Max Muncy (1B/3B/OF, LAD) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 7% of leagues ANALYSIS: The Dodgers are starting to pick up steam, and most of that momentum has to do with bench bats playing above expectations. Max Muncy is one of those players, and to be honest, has forced himself into a starting job until he stops hitting. Through 37 games he is slashing .235/.347/.500 with seven homers and double-digit runs and RBI. This year has been his best in the majors so far, as with Oakland his average...continue reading
Yonder Alonso (1B, CLE) - Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 40% of leagues ANALYSIS: Cleveland Indians first baseman Yonder Alonso has been on fire over the last week, posting a hit in seven consecutive starts before an 0-fer on Friday night. Alonso had two doubles and two home runs over that hot streak, scoring five runs and driving in seven runs. In the month of May, Alonso scored 12 runs and drove in 12 runs, posting a .759 OPS for the month, hitting eight extra-base hits. Alonso has a 36.8% hard...continue reading
Ronald Guzman (1B, TEX) - Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 2% of leagues ANALYSIS: Texas Rangers first baseman Ronald Guzman was drafted in 2011 out of the Dominican Republic and slowly brought through the minors to ultimately get called up for a short stint with a couple of the starters getting injured. At first glance, Guzman is not anyone that will grab your attention. The average fantasy manager will see a guy that is hitting .229 with six HR and 20 RBI. However, he is hitting .364 with four home runs,...continue reading
Mitch Moreland (1B, BOS) - Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 44% of leagues ANALYSIS: Boston Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland has hovered around 31% ownership all season, despite our urges for people to pick him up. Since the news Friday that Hanley Ramirez was designated for assignment, Moreland’s ownership has increased, yet he still remains under-owned. In the two games since being identified as the full-time first baseman, Moreland has two runs, one hit, and three RBI with a .450 average. Over the last seven days, Moreland has two...continue reading
Mitch Moreland (1B, BOS) - Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 23% of leagues ANALYSIS: Boston Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland is suddenly in a position to get a lot more playing time. The corresponding move that brings second baseman Dustin Pedroia back from the DL was to designate Hanley Ramirez for assignment. This makes Moreland the sole man for the job. Blake Swihart will be the backup when Moreland needs a day off, but he won't be competing for playing...continue reading
Jedd Gyorko (1B/2B/3B, STL) - Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 22% of leagues ANALYSIS: St. Louis Cardinals infielder Jedd Gyorko may only have a .267 batting average this month, but has a hit in seven of his last nine games. Only one of those games is a multi-hit games, but Gyokrko did have a double on May 23. He has two doubles and two home runs this month, scoring six runs and driving in eight batters. Gyorko has been batting in the middle of the Cardinals lineup and had a four-game...continue reading
Max Muncy (1B/3B/OF, LAD) - Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 28% of leagues ANALYSIS: Los Angeles Dodgers utility player Max Muncy is hitless in three of his last four games, but still has a .393 OBP this month and has gotten on base in three of his last four games. Muncy also has a .521 slugging percentage this month, including three home runs, and has 11 RBI. Playing all over the infield and the outfield for the Dodgers, Muncy has even batted first and second for the Dodgers last week. The...continue reading
Yonder Alonso (1B, CLE) - Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 25% of leagues ANALYSIS: Cleveland Indians first baseman Yonder Alonso only has a .219 batting average over the last month, but has hits in two of his last four games and could be turning the corner. A 30-home run hitter last season, Alonso was 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored, and three RBI against the Cubs on May 22 and is a good play against right-handed pitcher. Alonso has struck out in 25% of his plate appearances this month, but...continue reading
Niko Goodrum (1B/2B/3B/OF, DET) - Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 14% of leagues ANALYSIS: Detroit Tigers utility player Niko Goodrum is hitless in four of his last five games, but his strong May should still have him owned in deeper leagues. He has four home runs, four doubles, and a stolen base this month, registering a .536 slugging percentage. Even in a weaker week, Goodrum still was 2-for-4 with a double, home run, two runs scored, and two RBI on May 23. Goodrum has a .278 BABIP this month, which is...continue reading
Jedd Gyorko (1B/2B/3B, STL) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 24% of leagues ANALYSIS: St. Louis Cardinals infielder Jedd Gyorko is in a position to get more playing time. He has been playing in place of Matt Carpenter recently, and he has done well. After shortstop Paul DeJong suffered a broken hand injury after taking a pitch to the hand, manager Mike Matheny said that Gyorko would get the majority of the starts at the position. Knowing he'll potentially play every...continue reading
Jesus Aguilar (1B, MIL) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Hitter Streamer for Week 8 OWNED IN: 14% of leagues ANALYSIS: With Eric Thames injured, Jesus Aguilar has seen more playing time. In just 106 plate appearances this year, he has a line of .308/3/15/14/0. While he has hit lefties better than righties, he has the ability to provide power against either, albeit at a low batting average. If other options are off the board and you are seeking to gamble on power and run production, he is a good bet.
Yonder Alonso (1B, CLE) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 30% of leagues ANALYSIS: The definition of a buy-low candidate, Yonder Alonso has not had the start to the season he and the Cleveland front office expected. While the rest of the offense has taken off, Alonso is stuck in neutral with a measly .218 AVG and 88 wRC+ so far this season. Even looking to May, the numbers do not get better, and in some cases, they get worse. Since May 1, Alonso is hitting .189 with only one homer. Why...continue reading
Chris Davis (1B, BAL) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Hitter Streamer for Week 8 OWNED IN: 29% of leagues ANALYSIS: Chris Davis has been nothing short of putrid in 2018, compiling a -1.0 fWAR in just 39 games. He has a wRC+ of 41. After hitting .215 last year and .221 in 2016, he is batting a robust .169 on the year. The power (four homers) and run production aren’t there either. So why is he on the list? Well, he’s been a streaky player. This week, he faces good pitching matchups and has seven games in...continue reading
Mitch Moreland (1B, BOS) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 32% of leagues ANALYSIS: Boston Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland has been absolutely mashing the ball when given the opportunity in 2018. He is a classic platoon hitter who has the honor of hitting in the heart of the most potent offense in the MLB. On the season, Moreland is posting career-best statistics across the board along with elite advanced hitting metrics. His slash line sits at .319/.398/.606 with six home runs, 21 RBIs, and an insane .287 ISO...continue reading
Niko Goodrum (1B/2B/OF, DET) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 15% of leagues ANALYSIS: Detroit Tigers infielder Niko Goodrum has a hit in seven consecutive games, including a two-home run performance against the Indians on May 14. Goodrum now has 11 extra-base hits in just 88 plate appearances this season and has also stolen four bases for Detroit. From May 8-May 15, Goodrum scored a run in five consecutive games, putting him right on the fantasy radar with three consecutive multi-hit games as well. Goodrum first gained some fantasy interest when...continue reading
Yonder Alonso (1B, CLE) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 32% of leagues ANALYSIS: Hard-hitting 1B Yonder Alonso needs to be owned in more leagues, simply put. His 2018 numbers to this point are not great, as he's hitting just .216/.284/.440 with 9 HR and 23 RBI over 148 AB. However, there are quite a few key factors that make Alonso a very intriguing player moving forward. The most glaring stat is his .211 BABIP, which is extremely low compared to his career .297 BABIP. This suggests he is getting unlucky with...continue reading
Mark Reynolds (1B, WAS) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 9% of leagues ANALYSIS: Remember Mark Reynolds? You should - he hit .267 with 30 HR and 97 RBI in 2017 with the Rockies. Well, after spending the first few months on the Nationals Triple-A squad, the HR-specialist is back. He made his return to the MLB a loud one, as he smacked around the Diamondbacks to the tune of 3/4, 2 HR, and 3 RBI in his first plate appearances of the year. If you're thinking, "Reynolds is...continue reading
Mitch Moreland (1B, BOS) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 30% of leagues ANALYSIS: Boston Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland has four games against the Orioles this week, and if that is not reason enough to start him, there is more. The righty-masher has a home run every 20.2 at bats against righties in his career with a .258 average. This year, he has batted .339 against them with a homer every 11.8 at bats. He should face six right-handed starters this week. However, he has also managed to hold...continue reading
Neil Walker (1B/2B, NYY) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 6% of leagues ANALYSIS: New York Yankees infielder Neil Walker has seemingly come out of nowhere to be one of the most productive players for the league's best team. While he is only hitting .210 this season with five doubles and 10 RBI, Walker has a .974 OPS over the last 14 days and has scored 17 runs this season. We have to say that Walker has seemingly come out of nowhere in a bit of a tongue in cheek way,...continue reading
Daniel Palka (1B/OF, CHW) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 2% of leagues ANALYSIS: Across the board production is the category for Chicago White Sox outfielder Daniel Palka, who is only given an opportunity because of a hamstring injury to Avisail Garcia. Palka has a .295 batting average with six runs, four homers, and 11 RBI to go with one stolen base in 44 at-bats in 2018. Over the last 7 days, Palka has scored two runs, hit one HR, driven in three runners, stolen one base, and...continue reading
Jedd Gyorko (1B/2B/3B, STL) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 20% of leagues ANALYSIS: St. Louis Cardinals infielder Jedd Gyorko is a guy that will never give up. You have to respect and appreciate those types of guys. He has been beat up left and right in the fantasy community, particularly after not meeting expectations following a 30 HR season in 2016. Gyorko had a letdown season in 2017, like only fantasy fans can know, in the form of 20 HR, six stolen bases and a .272 batting average. Still...continue reading
Ryon Healy (1B/3B, SEA) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 37% of leagues ANALYSIS: Seattle Mariners infielder Ryon Healy had 25 home runs for the Athletics this season and, while he has dealt with ankle and hand injuries since coming to the Mariners, has six home runs in just 76 plate appearances this season. Healy has a career-best .548 slugging percentage this season, as he has added three doubles, and has 13 runs scored and 16 RBI this season. Healy only has three walks (against 17 strikeouts) this season and only...continue reading
C.J. Cron (1B, TB) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 30% of leagues ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays first baseman C.J. Cron appears to be reaching his power potential in 2018 and is on the fantasy radar. After hitting 16 home runs in each of the last three seasons, Cron has already hit seven home runs in his maiden season with the Rays and has 20 RBI as well. Cron is not known for his patience (seven walks in 142 plate appearances), but his .264 batting average is in line with his...continue reading
Mitch Moreland (1B, BOS) - Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 30% of leagues ANALYSIS: Mitch Moreland has never been a terribly exciting player for fantasy purposes. His struggles against left-handed pitching and streaky nature generally have put him firmly into the streamer or bench bat bucket. You can give him points for consistency in the power department, though; he's hit 23, 23, 22, and 22 home runs in his last four full seasons. Moreland is currently running hot, with four multi-hit efforts and four homers in his last six games. That barrage has...continue reading
John Hicks (C/1B, DET) - Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 4% of leagues ANALYSIS: Detroit Tigers catcher/first baseman John Hicks is the hottest hitter in the Tigers lineup over the last few weeks. While that does not always equate to fantasy production, there may be some great value here. Hicks has taken over for the injured Miguel Cabrera for the time being, and he has put together an impressive five-game stretch , collecting nine hits and a homer. He is slashing .283/.333/.528 in 57 plate appearances this season and has...continue reading
Jedd Gyorko (1B/2B/3B, STL) - Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 17% of leagues ANALYSIS: St. Louis Cardinals infielder Jedd Gyorko is hitting the snot out of the ball. A home run on Sunday brought his season line up to a cool .400/.525/.767. As those relatively round numbers and his low ownership rate imply, of course, it is in a tiny sample. Gyorko missed some time with a hamstring strain but was also a victim of the Cardinals’ roster crunch in the early going, so he has only got 40 plate appearances...continue reading
Jesus Aguilar (1B, MIL) - Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 3% of leagues ANALYSIS: Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jesus Aguilar is getting an opportunity for playing time while Eric Thames is out with a thumb injury that could cost him roughly two months. Currently, Aguilar is splitting time with Ryan Braun and has started four of the last five games. In 2017, Aguilar hit 16 homers in 279 at-bats, but it came with a 30.2% strikeout rate. 2018 has been a different story; he has drastically improved his strikeout...continue reading
Ryon Healy (1B, SEA) - Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 23% of leagues ANALYSIS: Seattle Mariners first baseman Ryon Healy was acquired in the offseason to take over the first base job. However, an ankle injury slowed him down and gave the job to Dan Vogelbach. He returned from the disabled list to re-occupy his first base job and excelled thus far. In the last seven days, Healy has seven runs, four homers, nine RBI, .370 AVG, and a 1.245 OPS. Underlying stats can support this performance, but there are...continue reading
Mitch Moreland (1B, BOS) - Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 9% of leagues ANALYSIS: Mitch Moreland has been off to an exciting start to a season where he was expected to play mostly off the bench and receive limited chances at the plate. So far, he has played in 22 games, posting a slash of .323/.384/.600 carrying over a strong 2017 campaign to this year. Even more impressive - four home runs to compliment 13 runs and 14 RBI which put him in the top-seven Red Sox players concerning overall production. Not...continue reading
Tyler Austin (1B, NYY) - Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 23% of leagues ANALYSIS: New York Yankees first baseman Tyler Austin has made the most of a Spring Training injury to Greg Bird and has been one of the best rookies of the 2018 season. Austin was actually sent down to Triple-A to start the season after the team added Neil Walker, but, in 76 plate appearances, has an .894 OPS and five home runs. The free swinging Austin (27 strikeouts and just six walks),...continue reading
Matt Adams (1B, WAS) - Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 24% of leagues ANALYSIS: Washington Nationals first baseman Matt Adams, who posted an .858 OPS with the Braves last season, is back to his slugging ways in the NL East. He has a 1.042 OPS this season, slugging six home runs in just 61 at-bats and walking nine times already as well. After only posting a .396 slugging percentage with the Cardinals in 2017, Adams posted a 1.042 OPS and 12 home runs in his first month with the Braves (May...continue reading
C.J. Cron (1B, TB) - Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 25% of leagues ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays first baseman C.J. Cron continues to hit, yet people just are not giving him the love. He is getting playing time, a huge positive after being blocked by Albert Pujols at times in Los Angeles. Over the last seven days, Cron has scored six runs, driven two home runs, and knocked in six RBI while posting a .286 AVG and .882 OPS Hitting out of the two-hole, he has given you...continue reading
Yonder Alonso (1B, CLE) - Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 24% of leagues ANALYSIS: Cleveland Indians first baseman Yonder Alonso has suffered from bad luck in the batting average department, and thus we should expect his average to continue to rebound. However, the rest of his production has remained, as he has a line of .236/8/13/19/0 through 25 games. The power and run production are real, and there is no reason to expect them to stop this week. After joining the fly ball revolution, he swatted 28 homers in just 451...continue reading
C.J. Cron (1B, TB) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 10% of leagues ANALYSIS: Since his trade from the Angels in the offseason, C.J. Cron has solidified his spot as the Tampa first baseman, not that he has much competition. Keeping a similar K%, Cron has seen a surge in his OBP and SLG so far this season. All signs point to Cron finally hitting his potential as top-10 first baseman with power upside. If this keeps up, a .321 OBP would be his highest since 2016, and solidify the...continue reading
Brandon Belt (1B/OF, SF) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 46% of leagues ANALYSIS: The serial fantasy disappointment, Brandon Belt, might be having that long-awaited breakout year. Through 18 games, Belt is hitting a career-high .290 with five home runs, and ten RBI. Add in the random steal on occasion, and there is a complete package that should excite fantasy owners. Digging a bit deeper, the profile is intriguing. To add to a career-high in AVG are career-highs in both OBP at .392 and SLG at .581. Not only is...continue reading
Yuli Gurriel (1B, HOU) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 37% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Yuli Gurriel arrived in the Majors with more hype than most other Cuban players due to his age and lineage, but the jury is still out on his ceiling. Last season, a 1.7 WAR in 139 games limited him to a decent but not great profile, but in fantasy, there is still surplus value to be had. In AVG leagues a close to .300 batting line places him at the top at the position, whereas...continue reading
Yonder Alonso (1B, CLE) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 46% of Leagues Analysis: At first glance, Yonder Alonso has started off 2018 in the same funk that characterized the end of last campaign. After his trade from Oakland Alonso's numbers took a nosedive and put a bit of a damper on a breakout campaign. So far this season Yonder has only managed nine hits through 14 games and continues to struggle against lefties. That said, a .212 BABIP so far this term hints at some bad luck, much the like...continue reading
Albert Pujols (1B, LAA) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 54% of leagues ANALYSIS: While the Los Angeles Angels version of Albert Pujols is a shell of his former Cardinals' self, he is still a productive fantasy player given that he has hit at least 23 home runs and knocked in at least 95 RBI in each of the past four seasons. So far this season, Pujols already has three homers to go with six RBI and eight runs scored all while sporting a more than respectable .284 average. While his .304 OBP leaves something...continue reading
Brandon Belt (1B) - Weeks 2 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 45% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: The knock on Brandon Belt has always been the regrettable fact that he plays in the worst ballpark for left-handed power. While he has not changed teams or venues, the reliance on a pull-heavy power seems to be a thing of the past. So far this year, Belt is hitting the ball to the opposite field 5% more often and making hard contact at a clip of 54.5%. Already boasting an impressive 29.7 GB% last...continue reading
Yonder Alonso (1B, CLE) - Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 44% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: First baseman Yonder Alonso, now with Cleveland, broke out in 2017 and came into 2018 as one of the top sleepers in the draft. It’s crazy how his draft stock failed to ascend after finally breaking out during his age-30 season, though. I thought we were beyond massively discounting post-hype breakouts, but apparently we’re not. That crazy high fly ball rate of his keeps chugging along, sitting at 46.2% through five games. It...continue reading
