Michael A. Taylor (OF, WAS) - Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups

Kyle Ringstad profiles Washington Nationals outfielder (OF) Michael Taylor as a waiver wire pickup and add in Week 7 of the 2018 MLB season for his power/speed potential.

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 30% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Washington Nationals OF Michael A. Taylor has been presented with a golden opportunity in 2018, as regular starter Adam Eaton recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on his ankle and has been placed on the 60-day DL. He's expected to miss most of the season, meaning Michael A. Taylor gets to step in as an everyday player hitting in an elite lineup (9th in runs scored) and a fantasy-friendly home stadium (13th in runs scored Park Factor). His stats to begin 2018 have been far from impressive, as he's hitting just .191/.260/.319 with three HR and nine RBI. Taylor's .270 BABIP (compared to a .325 career average BABIP) suggests his batting average should normalize over time, while his .128 ISO (compared to a .215 career average ISO) figures to rise as well.  A look at his advanced batted-ball metrics don't inspire confidence, as his Hard Hit %, Average Exit Velocity, and Barrels/PA rank 288th, 340th,and 230th respectively among qualified hitters.

No one is expecting Michael A. Taylor to become an elite hitter overnight anyway. Taylor's value derives from his speed first and foremost, as he already has 10 SB on the year (third in the NL). If we project his AVG to rise a bit, and he can add a little XBH/HR upside to his game (which he has shown in the past), then he is well worth taking a shot on in 12+ team leagues.  Projections have him finishing the season with a .234 AVG, .170 ISO, 12-16 HR, 40-50 RBI, and 17-20 SB.