Mark Reynolds (1B, WAS) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups

Kyle Ringstad profiles Washington Nationals first baseman (1B) Mark Reynolds as a waiver wire pickup and add in Week 7 of the 2018 MLB season for his power.

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 so old, and his 2017 numbers only looked that good because half of his at-bats were at Coors Field."  Well, those are good points.  However, he has displayed he can still get the job done at his age, as his last three years' (2015-2017) AVG (.260), K % (27.6%), and Contact Rate (68.7%) are all well higher than his career averages.  And to the stadium point, Nationals Park is no pitcher's park itself - it ranks 13th in runs scored Park Factor and 12th in HR Park Factor.

Starter Ryan Zimmerman has never been a bastian of good health, so there really is no telling how long he'll be on the shelf with a right oblique strain.  Additionally, Zimmerman has not hit well at all this year, slashing just .217/.280/.409 with 5 HR and 16 RBI. If Reynolds can display some of the consistent power he has shown throughout his career, he has the opportunity to push Zimmerman for playing time at 1B upon his return. Take a flier on the ageless wonder if you want a player who has serious 20-30 HR upside every year he's been in the MLB, who's hitting in an elite lineup, and is playing in a favorable park for HR production.