1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 26

One last week remains in the 2019 season. For as much as the fantasy baseball campaign is a marathon, it always seems to pass by so quickly, doesn't it? Hopefully this column has been a boon to your pursuit of fantasy hardware. Once more unto the breach, without further ado... As a reminder, our focus... Read More

Mike Ford (1B, TB) - Week 25 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 3% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: The injury bug should have seriously detracted from the Yankees season, but they managed to find excellent talent in their farm system and off waivers throughout the year, allowing them to cruise into playoff position despite major losses. Mike Ford is one... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 25

With just two weeks remaining in the 2019 season, every move takes on added importance. The finish line is in view. It's quite literally now or never for those with title hopes. In the final stretch, the waiver wire is your only avenue for reinforcements, and though you'll have fewer rivals to outmaneuver, those that... Read More

Digging Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 24

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the injured list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Digging Deeper: NL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 24

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the injured list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 24

Only three weeks left in the 2019 season. If you're reading this, your team is almost certainly still in the hunt for a championship. Congratulations on surviving the grind of a long season. We're not at the finish line yet, though. In the final stretch, the waiver wire is your only avenue for reinforcements, and... Read More

Christian Walker (1B, ARI) - Week 24 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 37% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker is heating up in August, just in time for those owners in the playoff hunt. Walker has had a fine showing in his first year as the Diamondbacks starting first baseman, slashing .264/.350/.479 and hitting 25 home runs with... Read More

Digging Deeper: NL-Only Waiver Report for Week 23

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the injured list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Digging Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 23

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the injured list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 23

Somehow, it's already September. If you're still in the championship hunt, congratulations on navigating the first five months of the long grind that is the fantasy baseball season. With trade deadlines firmly in the rearview mirror, the waiver wire is your only recourse for reinforcements. A well-timed pickup could prove to be the difference between... Read More

Digging Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 22

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the injured list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Digging Deeper: NL-Only Waiver Report for Week 22

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the injured list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 22

Only five weeks remain in the 2019 regular season. Some leagues have already commenced postseason play; most of us are still fighting for positioning. With trade deadlines firmly in the rearview mirror, the waiver wire is your only recourse for reinforcements. A well-timed pickup could prove to be the difference between a championship and a... Read More

Josh VanMeter (1B/2B/3B/OF, CIN) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 15% of leagues ANALYSIS: Josh VanMeter is what some call a boring guy; he provides a little bit of everything when he plays, but nothing outstanding. Of course, he’s not terrible in any category either. While some will look the other way, this is exactly the type... Read More

Austin Nola (1B/2B, SEA) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 9% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: A latecomer to the majors, 29-year-old Austin Nola was finally called up by the Mariners after spending seven years in the Marlins' minor league system. He moved to Seattle this past offseason, debuted in mid-June, and has barely missed a game since.... Read More

Mark Canha (1B/OF, OAK) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 10% of leagues ANALYSIS: At this point in time it feels wrong that someone like Mark Canha keeps being overlooked. In 2019, his fifth MLB season, he's slashing .269/.385/.517, with a .902 OPS, all of those numbers being career-best marks. Adding wood to the fire, he just hit... Read More

Digging Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 21

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the injured list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Digging Deeper: NL-Only Waiver Report for Week 21

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the injured list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 21

The end of the 2019 season is now, incredibly, just six weeks away. With fantasy football kicking into high gear and many owners out of the running in baseball leagues, we can expect there to be fewer suitors for any waiver wire pickups moving forward. The owners who remain, of course, are generally of a... Read More

C.J. Cron (1B, MIN) - Week 21 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 31% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Despite having his breakout 30-home run season in 2018, Minnesota Twins first baseman C.J. Cron is still widely available on waivers across many fantasy leagues. And not only has Cron kept up his high home run pace from last year, he's exceeding 2018's power... Read More

Sam Travis (1B/OF, BOS) - Week 21 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 1% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: The Red Sox replaced veteran Steve Pearce with Sam Travis as their short-side platoon bat off the bench, a valuable role as a lefty smasher that Boston has often utilized. Travis' overall season of .266/.314/.468 doesn't jump off the page, but the... Read More

Rowdy Tellez (1B/DH, TOR) - Week 21 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 1% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: The Blue Jays recalled slugging first baseman/designated hitter Rowdy Tellez from Triple-A Buffalo a few days ago, and manager Charlie Montoyo indicated that Tellez will get regular playing time down the stretch. That's bad news for Justin Smoak owners, but it also... Read More

Christian Walker (1B, ARI) - Week 21 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 35% of Leagues ANALYSIS: A popular sleeper pick prior to 2019, Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker's 2019 has been a rollercoaster of hot and cold. He started out the year like a house on fire, hitting seven home runs in his first 20 games; but then the fire... Read More

Digger Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 20

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Digging Deeper: NL-Only Waiver Report for Week 20

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

C.J. Cron (1B, MIN) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 35% of leagues ANALYSIS: After injuring his thumb in late July and returning a few days ago to the lineup, C.J. Cron keeps putting on one of his best seasons. To be fair, he has steadily been on the rise since he entered the league. He has amassed... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 20

Time marches on, and with it the end of the 2019 fantasy baseball season grows nearer. With fantasy football kicking into high gear and many owners out of the running in baseball leagues, we can expect there to be fewer suitors for any waiver wire pickups moving forward. The owners who remain, of course, are... Read More

J.D. Davis (1B/3B/OF, NYM) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 32% of Leagues ANALYSIS: New York Mets corner infielder and outfielder J.D. Davis has quietly had a fantastic season and he's been on an absolute tear in August. Over 10 games this month, he has four home runs, nine RBI, eight runs and a 1.336 OPS. On the year,... Read More

Tucker Barnhart (C/1B, CIN) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Two-Catcher Leagues OWNED IN: 11% of leagues ANALYSIS: Tucker Barnhart may have once been able to steal more bases than the average backstop, and he may have hit for a career-high home run total just last year (ten), but the former Gold Glove award winner's forte will always be elite defense behind the... Read More

Mark Canha (1B/OF, OAK) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 7% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: Oakland A's outfielder Mark Canha is quietly having an outstanding season. He's sporting a .255/.381/.514 slash line with 17 home runs, 50 runs scored, 34 RBI, two stolen bases and a 135 wRC+. He's always flashed plus power in the big leagues,... Read More

Digger Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 19

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Digging Deeper: NL-Only Waiver Report for Week 19

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Niko Goodrum (1B/2B/3B/SS/OF, DET) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 26% of Leagues ANALYSIS: July was the best month of the season for Detroit Tigers infielder and outfielder Niko Goodrum. He hit .284 with four home runs, 11 RBI, 13 runs and five stolen bases in the month. He's been regularly hitting second in the order since... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 19

It's frankly flabbergasting to find ourselves in August already, but here we are. With fantasy football kicking into high gear and many owners out of the running in baseball leagues, we can expect there to be fewer suitors for any waiver wire pickups moving forward. The owners who remain, of course, are generally of a... Read More

Howie Kendrick (1B/2B/3B/OF, WSH) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 35% of leagues ANALYSIS: For someone 35 years old (who saw his last season cut short because of an Achilles injury after playing just 40 games), what we're watching Howie Kendrick put together this season in limited playing time is quite impressive. He's hustling for plate appearances... Read More

Austin Nola (1B/2B, SEA) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 9% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: A relatively unheralded catching prospect for the Marlins, the Mariners signed Austin Nola as a minor league free agent this winter, and promoted him to the big league roster in June. While he is no longer a primary catcher, Nola has hit... Read More

C.J. Cron (1B, MIN) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12 Team Leagues OWNED IN: 33% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS:  Cron returned from injury just a night ago, and went 3-for-5 with a long ball. He has been mutilating lefties since the start of the season, posting a .436 wOBA and 1.086 ISO. If you can forecast a few lefties coming... Read More

J.D. Davis (3B/1B/OF, NYM) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 4% of leagues ANALYSIS: Through all of the chatter that routinely surrounds the New York Mets, it could be easy to overlook the superlative work that Cal State Fullerton alum J.D. Davis has put in at the plate for 2019. With ten home runs and an OPS of... Read More

Ryan McMahon (1B/2B/3B, COL) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 31% of leagues ANALYSIS: Having finally gotten a proper chance for everyday at-bats, Colorado infielder Ryan McMahon accounted himself fine in his 265 plate appearances before the All-Star break, hitting seven home runs with 35 RBI and 36 runs scored while slashing .256/.332/.399. But since the midseason festivities,... Read More

Mark Canha (1B/OF, OAK) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 6% of leagues ANALYSIS: After hitting a quiet 17 home runs in his 411 plate appearances last year for Oakland, outfielder Mark Canha was a late-round sleeper heading into 2019 but then promptly disappointed with a .200 AVG over his first 18 games before going on the injured... Read More

Digger Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 18

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

Digging Deeper: NL-Only Waiver Report for Week 18

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 18

Another week has come and gone, and suddenly August is within view. Is it me, or has this season simply flown by? With the dog days looming, you can expect the waiver wire to be less of a bloodbath soon. Also-rans will lose interest as they turn their attention to fantasy football or enjoying what... Read More

Niko Goodrum (1B, 2B, SS, 3B, OF, DET) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ team leagues OWNED IN: 1% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS:  If there’s a word to describe Niko Goodrum, it’s versatile. It’s not that he’s eligible for a ton of positions, either, though it doesn’t hurt. On the season, Goodrum has 20 doubles, nine home runs and four triples. He’s added 11... Read More

Marwin Gonzalez (1B, 2B 3B, SS, OF, MIN) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 29% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS:  The Twins have become the fastest team in MLB history to 200 home runs. Gonzalez has contributed plenty of his own with 12, but his real value comes as a switch-hitter who consistently drives the ball. Even in an off year... Read More

Ryan McMahon (1B, 2B, 3B, COL) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 22% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS:  The Rockies have been away from Coors Field, and Ryan McMahon has been raking. Over his last nine games, McMahon has accounted for 9 hits, 8 RBI’s, and three home runs. He’ll now get to go back to Coors Field for... Read More

Nate Lowe (1B, TB) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 16% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: Rays first baseman/designated hitter Nate Lowe's overall numbers are solid, but are still being bogged down by his less than stellar big league start. Since July 4, when he was last recalled from Triple-A, Lowe is slashing .300/.397/.660 with five home runs... Read More

Justin Smoak (1B, TOR) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 31% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS:  Justin Smoak started the year as a man on fire, but fell victim to a .291 wOBA in June. He’s been back up to a .331 since the ASB, including four home runs in his last ten games. He’s much better against... Read More

Miguel Sano (1B/3B, MIN) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 33% of leagues ANALYSIS: Minnesota third baseman Miguel Sano had been slumping coming out of the All-Star break, but even after waking back up last week he still remains criminally under-owned at only 33%. Over this last week, Sano hit three more home runs, with eight RBI and four... Read More

Digger Deeper: AL-Only Waiver Wire Report for Week 17

Every week in baseball, a significant player will hit the disabled list, slip into a slump, or get traded out of a good spot. How fantasy owners adapt to these situations can make or break the season as a whole. One lousy add might not hurt the long-term standing of a team, but failing to... Read More