Max Kepler (OF, MIN) - Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues

OWNED IN: 29% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Minnesota Twins OF Max Kepler has been a distant afterthought in all but the deepest of leagues (think 16+ teams) ever since his debut back in 2015.  However, he just had his most productive year in 2017, hitting .243/.312/.425 with 19 HR, 69 RBI, and 67 runs scored. Respectable numbers, but he hasn't been a player that anyone has targeted for fantasy production. We're just a few months into the 2018 season, but Kepler seems to have figured something out in his third full year in the majors.

Kepler is now slashing .274/.351/.487 with 4 HR, 13 RBI, and 15 R.  Kepler also has a .214 ISO, the highest of his career by a wide margin.  Additionally, he is striking out less (13.0 K%), walking more (10.7 BB%), and hitting the ball harder (43% Hard Hit %) than he ever has in his career.  He regularly slots in at third in the batting order, with some potent bats protecting him in Dozier, Escobar, and Rosario. While it is likely that Kepler's AVG regresses closer to his career mean (.257), his peripheral numbers suggest the OBP, SLG, and counting stats are here to stay.

Pick him up if you are in need of an OF with guaranteed playing time, hitting near the top of a good lineup, and has the added bonus of playing at hitter-friendly Target Field for half of his games (seventh-ranked park in runs created).