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To help you dominate all of your 2018 fantasy baseball leagues, below are some 2018 fantasy baseball starting pitcher (SP) 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
J.P. Crawford (SS/3B, PHI) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 7% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Philadelphia Phillies infielder J.P. Crawford has been on a hot streak over the past week and change. Dating back to April 10th, Crawford has OPSed nearly 1.000 with three extra base hits and an equal number of strikeouts and walks. He has his average off the interstate for the first time all season and is trending in the right direction. He still only has a .598 OPS for the season, but has hit two home runs and driven in...continue reading
Jesse Winker (OF, CIN) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 6% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jesse Winker leaves a little to be desired in the way of batting average. He has also not flashed any of the power that we saw from him in his brief stint in the majors last season. However, none of that matters, because he is taking after Joey Votto in the plate discipline department. Entering play on Thursday, Winker owns a walk rate higher than his strikeout rate (22% walk rate versus 18%...continue reading
Aledmys Diaz (SS) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
Aledmys Diaz burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2016 with the St. Louis Cardinals. In 460 plate appearances he hit .300 with 17 home runs. However, he failed to back that up in 2017 hitting just .259 with 7 HR in 301 PAs before being optioned to Triple-A. Díaz is not the first and he certainly will not be the last baseball player to suffer a sophomore slump, but how he rebounds in 2018 will go a long way to deciding what sort of career...continue reading
Joey Lucchesi (SP) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 60% of Leagues ANALYSIS: San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi has made four starts this season and has shown that he is a lethal strikeout option that can limit baserunners as well. While he threw only 9 2/3 innings over his first two starts, he has registered back-to-back quality starts for the Friars. Lucchesi has only allowed one earned run in those two starts, striking out 17 batters and walking one. He is scheduled to face the Diamondbacks this weekend,...continue reading
Eduardo Escobar (2B/3B/SS, MIN) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 39% of leagues ANALYSIS: Minnesota Twins utility man Eduardo Escobar has taken over the shortstop job in Minnesota while Jorge Polanco has been suspended for PED usage and has had the most of it. He is hitting .294 in 38 plate appearances to open the season and also has six extra-base hits. Escobar had a .758 OPS in 129 games for Minnesota last season, including 21 home runs in 499 plate appearances, showing that he has...continue reading
Christian Villanueva (3B, SD) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 48% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Christian Villanueva continues to bat cleanup in the Padres lineup, giving him ample opportunities for RBIs. His average stands at .327 on the season. In the last week, Villanueva has a .310 AVG, a .408 OBP and hit three homers with four runs and eight RBIs. His average comes with a .417 BABIP so there is a definite expectation of regression. The current concern is strikeouts, which some think could be problematic. However, he’s never had a strikeout...continue reading
Yangervis Solarte (2B, 3B, SS, TOR) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickup
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 50% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Judging by his ownership, many didn't trust Yangervis Solarte as a late-round draftee. Fair, other sleepers like Aaron Altherr, Ryan McMahon and Carlos Gomez were more interesting and readily available. Doh! Through April 17, Solarte is slashing .280/.393/.520 and has appeared in 14 of 16 games. Batting cleanup, his starts have primarily come at third and second base. Partially credit the early flourish to his move from Petco...continue reading
Sean Newcomb (SP) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 5% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Sean Newcomb was robbed of his second victory in ‘18 on April 14 as Atlanta blew a 10-2 lead in epic fashion, but the southpaw still racked up seven strikeouts despite turning in just 10 swinging strikes. That’ll happen when you can nibble 20 called strikes with your fastball alone. So what if he walked another four batters and now has eight walks in just 15 ⅔ IP, because the 2.87 xFIP, 51.2...continue reading
Michael Kopech (SP) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 5% of Leagues ANALYSIS:The flamethrowing Chicago White Sox starting pitching prospect Michael Kopech has pitched 10 innings in 2018, allowing a lone run with 11 strikeouts against four walks. The four free passes are what we’re going to care about because we know the whiffs are going to be there no matter where he pitches. The youngster has shaved his walk rate down as he advances through professional ball, from over a 5.0 BB/9 at Class A Advanced in ‘16 to...continue reading
Zack Wheeler (SP) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 27% of Leagues ANALYSIS: After crushing the Marlins in his first Major League start of 2018, New York Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler was tasked with handling a much tougher Nationals lineup on Tuesday. While his overall line (6 IP, 7H, 3ER, 3BB, 2K) does count as a quality start, anyone who started him is likely disappointed. I think there’s plenty to be happy about, though. While the whiffs weren’t there (only eight swinging strikes on 99 pitches), he was...continue reading
Freddy Peralta (SP) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 0% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta is not in the Yahoo player pool yet, but you will want to have his name stashed somewhere in your memory banks. Peralta, who turns 22 in June, has won all three of his starts this year for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, posting a healthy 1.13 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 20 strikeouts in 16 innings. He has posted BB/9 marks around 4.5 through most of his Minor League career thus...continue reading
Tyson Ross (SP) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 5% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Once one of the premier strikeout pitchers in baseball, San Diego Padres starting pitcher Tyson Ross fell off the face of the earth after 2016 shoulder surgery. He is attempting to recapture success after suffering from thoracic outlet syndrome, the same injury that caused Matt Harvey’s performance to spiral out of control. There is not a good track record for recovery with this injury. A few other active pitchers that have suffered this injury are ...continue reading
Vince Velasquez (SP) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 14% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Vince Velasquez broke onto the scene with a three-hit, 16 strikeout shutout against the Padres in 2016, but it has been down hill from there. He has dealt with nothing but injuries and busted potential since then. In his start against the Rays this past weekend, the fastball looked close to what it was in 2016. His velocity was around 95 MPH in this start and topped out at 98 MPH. When he...continue reading
Reynaldo Lopez (SP, CHW) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 42% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez has allowed just three earned runs in 19 innings this season, making him a hot early season addition. The former top prospect, who was acquired by the White Sox in the Adam Eaton trade, has allowed just eight hits and has struck out 21 batters in his three starts. While his hot start cannot be dismissed, Lopez has also walked 11 batters this season and...continue reading
Cesar Hernandez (2B) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 53% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez has a .422 OBP to open the 2018 season and has already scored 11 runs. Hernandez only has a .275 batting average, but hit .294 in each of the last two seasons and likely will see his average approach .290 this season. Pressured by super rookie Scott Kingery, Hernandez has held his spot at second base, clubbing four extra-base hits (two home runs) and stealing three bases....continue reading
Chris Owings (2B, SS, OF) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 55% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Arizona Diamondbacks utility player Chris Owings has five extra-base hits in 53 plate appearances this season and his ability to play all over the diamond makes him very interesting for fantasy owners. Owings has a .280 batting average this season, slugging a home run and stealing a base while playing second base and the outfield for the Diamondbacks. Owings stole 21 bases in 2016 and slugged 12 home runs in 2017, so if he can...continue reading
Bud Norris (RP, STL) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 34% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Norris saw two save opportunities last weekend in the series against Cincinnati Reds, converting both of them. While the closer job was widely expected to go to Greg Holland after he led the the NL in saves last season with 41, Holland has had some trouble shaking off the rust after he signed with the Cardinals on the third day of the regular season. While his ERA is only 3.86 in two 1/3 innings, his WHIP stands...continue reading
Odubel Herrera (OF, PHI) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 56% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Herrera came into Sunday's game against the Rays scorching hot, having gone 14 for his last 33, but with only three RBI and six runs over that span. While he did go 0-for-3 on Sunday, he still managed to draw two walks and score a run to increase his OBP to an impressive .389. He is lacking in the power department as he is still looking for his first home run of the season after hitting at least 14 the previous...continue reading
Dexter Fowler (OF, STL) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickup
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 47% of Leagues ANALYSIS: It makes me feel like an old fantasy player when Dexter Fowler has become a boring forgettable veteran. As a youngster in Colorado, Fowler's irresistible 20/20 potential never came to fruition, but now a 32-year-old in his 11th season, Fowler might just be bland enough to warrant a nameless bench spot. Amidst a .183/.265/.317 start, restless owners are doubtlessly abandoning the wagon. Fowler's early-season woes narrow to one fact: his .200 BABIP is a full 136 points...continue reading
Steven Matz (SP, NYM) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 42% of leagues ANALYSIS: In only three starts this season, Matz has flashed the potential that has tantalized Met fans for years but has so far fallen short. After an up-and-down spring, Matz had a rocky start in a loss to the Cardinals, going only four innings while giving up three runs including two home runs. He bounced back with a stellar start against the Nationals, giving up only an unearned in five innings while striking out eight. His third start (and first win) against...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
Junior Guerra (SP) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 1% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: In his first start of 2018, last Wednesday, Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Junior Guerra pitched 5 1/3 innings (86 pitches), allowed one earned run, and struck out four Cardinal hitters. He can now be endorsed hin deeper leagues now and can be added in nearly all leagues. To help ease your minds, Guerra gets Cincinnati and Miami this week. Both clubs are in the bottom five when looking at runs scored this season. If you are...continue reading
Adam Wainwright (SP) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 13% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Is St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright back? In his last outing, Wainwright pitched seven innings and struck out four Brewers, however he allowed three earned runs (two homers). Next on Waino’s dance card is a trip to Wrigley. In his career, Wainwright is 10-2 with a 3.79 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 116.1 innings of work. While his two starts this week are on the road (also travelling to Philadelphia), both ballparks should not...continue reading
Jackie Bradley (OF) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 27% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Boston Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley is a defensive ace who occasionally has shown some success with the bat. In 2016, for example, he posted a line of .267/26/94/87/9. While that is likely the upper end of his ability, the 27 year-old has some power, a touch of stolen-base ability, and should not hurt you badly in the other categories. Facing decent pitching matchups this week (Angels and Athletics), he is a serviceable play if the...continue reading
Jeimer Candelario (3B) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 5% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: After his trade to the Tigers last year, Detroit Tigers infielder Jeimer Candelario got off to a hot start. He batted .330 with two homers and a .874 OPS in 27 games. Even though he is only batting .200 to start this young season, he already has six extra base hits and he has prospect pedigree. Facing favorable pitching matchups this week (Orioles and Royals, he has the potential to provide you with good power and...continue reading
Leonys Martin (OF) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 2% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Detroit Tigers outfielder Leonys Martin is known for his defense, but that will be of no use in fantasy leagues. While his defense will keep him in the lineup for the Tigers, Martin can provide you offensive value this week. Martin has always stolen bases, and he even has some pop. For his career, his 162-game averages are 10 homers and 30 steals. Martin is off to a decent start this year, batting .271 with a homer...continue reading
Kevin Pillar (OF) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 41% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar has been fairly consistent over the last three seasons, averaging 12 homers and 18 steals. With stolen bases becoming increasingly sparse relative to homers, Pillar is an interesting pickup. This year, he is up to more of the same, with a homer and three steals in his first 14 games. He only faces average pitching matchups this week, but he has the opportunity to be a five category contributor nonetheless....continue reading
Tyler Skaggs (SP) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 46% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: In Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs' lone start last week, he shut down the Rangers. He pitched five innings, allowed one earned run, and struck out seven batters. In all of his 2018 outings, Skaggs has struck out at least five batters and allowed two earned runs or less. The numbers that Skaggs have put up are more than ideal for a streamer. This week, he’s home to the Red Sox and Giants. While...continue reading
Trevor Williams (SP) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 26% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Trevor Williams has refused to allow more than two earned runs in an outing this season. In his next start, Williams will face the Rockies. Thankfully, that matchup will be at home, and not at Coors Field. Not only will Williams get to avoid the hitter-friendly environment in Colorado, but it is also a perk because Williams performed better at home in 2017 (3.45 ERA) as opposed to his road starts (4.96 ERA)....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
Todd Frazier (3B, NYM) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 56% of leagues ANALYSIS: Frazier has the difficult job of attempting to become the Mets first everyday third baseman since their beloved captain, David Wright. So far, Frazier has done just that. The Toddfather is hitting .282 with an eye-popping .423 OBP and a solid eight RBI in the first eleven games of the season. He blasted his first two homers of the season Friday night against the Brewers and he has already swiped a bag, something he did not do in his 66-game stint with...continue reading
Matt Wieters (C, WAS) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 7% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Washington Nationals catcher Matt Wieters has been getting picked up by a decent amount of Yahoo! owners, as he is just coming off the disabled list. The good news for those looking at a catcher is that he is still WAY under-owned. He is only 1-for-10 since coming off of the disabled list and only had a .632 OPS with the Nationals in 123 games last season. While Wieters' OPS has dropped in each of the last four seasons...continue reading
Mike Foltynewicz (SP. ATL) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 36% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz has always had the stuff, but never seemed to be able to put it all together for very long stretches. If his start to this season is any indication, he may be turning a corner. Foltynewicz managed to neutralize the powerful Nationals lineup last week, throwing 5.1 innings of four-hit, one-run ball with 8 K and just 2 BB. Through 15 1/3 IP, he has posted a 2.95 ERA (3.55...continue reading
Colin Moran (3B) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 15% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: While Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Colin Moran is more of a deep league target given his current ownership, this is a very underrated hitter who could be an impact bat at a corner infield slot in 12-teamers. Moran always had a solid approach at the plate coming up through the minor leagues, but recently tinkered in an attempt to shorten up and get to the ball quicker. So far that’s worked: a 41.4% hard contact...continue reading
Nick Senzel (3B, CIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 30% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Nick Senzel is currently plying his trade for the Louisville Bats of the International League, but that could change soon. One of the best prospects in baseball, Senzel was the second overall pick in the 2016 amateur draft and has moved quickly through the Reds' minor league system. The 22-year-old is known for his advanced plate approach and great bat-to-ball skills, and his burgeoning power should play up at Great American Ball Park. Senzel moved around the infield...continue reading
Aaron Hicks (OF, NYY) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 42% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Aaron Hicks generated some buzz as a value pick in drafts this spring after putting up an .847 OPS, 15 home runs, and 10 stolen bases in just 361 plate appearances last season. With a stellar supporting cast around him, fantasy owners didn't have to squint too hard to see a potential four-category contributor. Unfortunately, Hicks strained his right intercostal muscle (AKA his ribs) on Opening Day. He was activated on Thursday after spending just a couple...continue reading
Nick Pivetta (SP, PHI) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 21% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Nick Pivetta posted ghastly ratios last season as a rookie (6.02 ERA, 1.51 WHIP), thanks in large part to allowing 25 home runs in just 133 innings. Look closer, though, and you can see reasons for optimism. Pivetta’s 18.2 HR/FB% isn’t likely to repeat itself in 2018, nor is his 67.1% strand rate. He also got rather unlucky with a league-worst .327 BABIP on ground balls, when his expected BABIP on those based on hard-hit rate would have...continue reading
Keynan Middleton (RP, LAA) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 49% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Fantasy owners know well at this point how much Mike Scioscia hates them. Since the start of the 2016 season, a whopping 13 pitchers have recorded at least one save for the Angels, more than any other team. Consequently, Los Angeles is the only team in baseball lacking a pitcher who has saved at least 20 games for them in that span. Bud Norris had 19 saves last year, and no other Angels pitcher cracked double digits in...continue reading
Yangervis Solarte (2B/SS/3B, TOR) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 39% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Often overlooked by fantasy owners is the value that position flexibility offers for roster construction, and Yangervis Solarte fits that mold. In most leagues, he is at least 2B/SS/3B/MI/CI eligible with other leagues being even more lenient. Without turning this into a roster management post, the more players with flexible positions, the more owners can play with match-ups, adding value to Solarte’s profile. Even more, Solarte is a good add due to his offensive...continue reading
Corey Dickerson (OF, PIT) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 33% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Corey Dickerson has made the best of his new home and has maintained his ability to be a reliable fantasy option. Tampa made the surprise move to cut a player who, a season ago, was their best hitter. A .282/.325/.490 slash line is strong, but there were enough warts there to warrant Tampa dumping his salary for little (read Fangraphs’ piece on the Rays’ bad fastball hitters, for example). In reality, he...continue reading
Robert Gsellman (RP, NYM) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 5% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: After struggling mightily in the Mets rotation last season, New York Mets relief pitcher Robert Gsellman has thrived in a new role to open the 2018 season. The team decided to transition him into more of a long relief role, with the hopes of finding their own Chad Green of sorts, and Gsellman has allowed just one earned run in six innings this season. His velocity is up 1.5 mph in the new role, and...continue reading
Max Kepler (OF, MIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 28% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler has (very) quietly had a nice start to the season, and the metrics suggest a big breakout could be coming. Granted, he has only registered 27 at-bats up until this point, but the eye test shows that he’s controlling the strike zone much better than at any point last season. Right now, Kepler’s walked five times versus one strikeout. He is hitting for more power, and has been a little unlucky on his...continue reading
Jorge Alfaro (C, PHI) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Two-Catcher Leagues OWNED IN: 12% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Jorge Alfaro represents the ultimate problem for fantasy owners: is a toolsy player without production worth rostering for the upside? To be fair, Alfaro last season was certainly passable with a .318 AVG, five home runs, and 127 WRC+ in 29 games. At the same time, a 28.9 K% compared to a 2.6 BB% limits the ability to keep that line going. So then why does he appear on this list? Andrew Knapp....continue reading
Adam Ottavino (RP, COL) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 20% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Adam Ottavino has seen his ownership numbers skyrocket after his fast start to the season, now being rostered in one-fifth of all leagues. Pretty crazy for a guy who held an ERA and FIP above five last season and is not a closer or starting pitcher. You only have to go back to late 2016/early 2017 though to get a sense of the type of talent he is and can be. In...continue reading
Joey Lucchesi (SP, SD) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 11% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi will not always play the Rockies, but the rookie might wish he could after dismantling them a second time on Tuesday night. After allowing just one hit with three walks while fanning seven Rox over five innings in his first look at them, the Lucchador collected eight K’s thanks to 15 swinging strikes out of just 82 pitches. His fastball topped out around 93 MPH as his over-the-top delivery made the Rockies hitters look...continue reading
Andrew Triggs (SP, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 10% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Andrew Triggs has averaged nearly 11 K/9 through his first two starts and has been getting hitters to whiff consistently with his breaking pitches. While he did not have a strong 2017 season, these numbers were influenced by a hip/back injury that ended his season in June. Pitching through injury, Triggs saw his below-average velocity decline, and he surrendered 14 runs in 7 1/3 innings in his final two starts. If...continue reading
Brian Anderson (3B, MIA) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 13% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Miami Marlins third baseman Brian Anderson is a prime example of the value of opportunity and playing time. He never had an elite skill set in the minors, but he could hit (OPS over .850 in each of the last two seasons). With the Marlins rebuilding, Anderson now has the opportunity with Martin Prado out. Anderson manages the strike zone well with a very good BB% and a solid K% rates. Thus far, he has...continue reading
Joakim Soria (RP, CWS) - Week 2 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 30% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Joakim Soria has seemed to distance himself as the closer for the White Sox, at least in the early going of the 2018 season. Who would hold down this job was one of the big unknowns through the offseason, as many speculated that young relievers Nate Jones or Juan Minaya would get a chance. Once Joakim Soria was traded to the Sox in January, GM Rick Hahn said...continue reading
Andrelton Simmons (SS, LAA) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 55% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons enjoyed the best offensive season of his career in 2017, hitting .278 with 14 home runs, 19 stolen bases, and 146 R+RBI in 158 games. Judging by his ownership rate, fantasy owners were not overly impressed with the breakout. Those who drafted him have thus far enjoyed Simmons collecting 15 hits in 10 games and posting a .357 batting average. He has also added two doubles and has driven in seven...continue reading
Shin-Soo Choo (OF, TEX) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 53% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Available in just under 50% of leagues, Shin-Soo Choo is a solid option to have on your watch list if you are in need of a boost or an injury replacement. The 35-year-old Choo tends to be an afterthought come draft day, yet has been able to string together a solid stat line when healthy (only played 48 games in 2016). Choo is off to a great start in 2018 with a .325/.386/.625 slash line and a 50.0%...continue reading
