RADIO
Hunting for values on the waiver wire is one of the most fun, and most challenging, parts of any fantasy season. This can be especially true at the infield corners, an area where the stars are readily scooped up and finding a low cost alternative can be often difficult.
Here at RotoBaller, we're always looking for ways to help our readers succeed in all aspects of the game. With that aim in mind, each week I'll be bringing you my recommendations for which waiver wire 1st and 3rd basemen should be on your radar as you peruse the waiver wire. Let's get started with a look at the top corner infield waiver wire options for Week 11.
Editor’s Note: to read about even more waiver wire options for first base and third base, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily.
Top 1B Waiver Wire Pickup
Adam Lind (1B, MIL)
ESPN: 43.4% owned; Yahoo: 51% owned
I've waxed on about my love for Adam Lind enough times in this column that I won't bore you with a long-winded rewrite. After his early season surge, Lind is slowly but surely turning on the gas again. He's hit .375 through the month of June with a home run and 10 RBI. During this time, Lind has been the ultimate evidence that even on a weak offense like that of the Milwaukee Brewers, a locked in cleanup hitter can do a lot of damage.
There are downsides to Lind's game of course. I've written numerous times about his inability to hit left handed pitching and the frequent rest days this deficiency results in. This might pose a real problem for our friends in head-to-head formats. In season long Roto formats, however, Lind's rest days prove much less troublesome and his ability to crush right handed pitching more than makes up for his struggles against southpaws. Frankly, I'm excited to see what Lind might do next week when the Brewers take on the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. You should be too.
Other Notable(s)
Mitch Moreland (1B, TEX)
ESPN: 19.3% owned; Yahoo: 14% owned
Moreland is the kind of player who could have a MVP-caliber season and the world wouldn't notice. While he hasn't quite been an MVP, Moreland has been a surprisingly productive fantasy asset for the past several weeks. He is hitting .310/.366/.542 on the season with eight home runs, strong numbers from a player owned in less than a quarter of leagues. It's also worth noting that three of those homers have come this month alone, during which time Moreland has delivered a .366 batting average to go along with them. With the Texas lineup in shambles, Moreland has etched out a position as the team's cleanup hitter. Much like with Lind, a good cleanup hitter on a bad offense can still be a productive fantasy player. Moreland's very much a ride the streak kind of guy, but while his bat is hot, he's one of the first names I'd turn to if Lind is already off the board.
Top 3B Waiver Wire Pickup
Maikel Franco (3B, PHI)
ESPN: 47.0% owned; Yahoo: 33% owned
It's about time something went right for the Philadelphia Phillies. Franco has been putting on a show this June, slashing .425/.465/.850 with four home runs and eight RBI. He's been so good in fact that Manager Ryne Sandberg has even experimented with batting the rookie cleanup, although he seems more comfortable batting him in the 5th spot instead.
It's tough to say what Franco could be going forward. One one hand, his pedigree as a prospect is impressive. On the other, one cannot just ignore his May struggles and his inexperience. The only thing one can really say with any confidence, is that right now, today, Franco is swinging one of the hottest bats in the majors. There will come a time for debating his true talent value as a fantasy prospect. I'm just not so sure now is that time. Fantasy owners have ridden much less talented players than Franco on the basis of a hot streak alone. I see no reason why the young 3rd baseman should be an exception to this strategy. Grab him now and enjoy the ride while it lasts. You can worry about Franco's long-term value another day.
Other Notable(s)
Brett Lawrie (2B/3B, OAK)
ESPN: 30.2% owned; Yahoo: 48% owned
Brett Lawrie is something of a mixed bag this season. One one hand, the career high 26.8% strikeout rate he's posted so far this year makes him especially prone to the kind of hot and cold streaks his fantasy owners are all too aware of. On the other, Lawrie is still batting an above average .275 on the season and .298 since the start of May. What's more, we've recently started to see the emergence of an aspect of his game which has been conspicuously absent to this point: power. Despite having only hit four home runs through the first two and a half months of 2015, Lawrie has two in the last eight days alone. It's an encouraging sign from a player who hit 12 in only 70 games as a Blue Jay last year.
Lawrie's strikeout rate makes him rather unpalatable for standard league owners, but in a deeper league his balanced skillset and upside make him an attractive waiver wire target. The best version of Lawrie could play like a 20/20 player down the stretch. That kind of upside can be hard to find in deep leagues by this point in the season.
MLB & Fantasy Baseball Chat
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