Five Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5

April 26, 2014

RotoBaller Joe Hannon brings you his MLB waiver wire analysis on which outfielders (OF) are sleepers and who to pick up in fantasy baseball leagues.

Hit the Waiver Wire for these Hot Week 5 Pickups

The first month of the season is nearly in the books and fantasy owners everywhere are battling hard to stay atop the standings. The free agent market is slim this time of year and it can be tough to find quality additions on the waiver wire. Here are five promising outfielders to consider adding. All ownership percentages from Yahoo!

Rajai Davis - (OF, DET) - 61% Owned

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues

Speed is Rajai Davis's biggest asset. The knock on him over the past few years has been that he is not on base enough to take advantage of his speed. This year, Davis is off to a great start with 20 hits and 7 stolen bases in 16 games. He has a .328 BA and a .400 OBP. Combine those stats with 12 R, 2 HR and 8 RBI, and the fact he's at the top of a potent Tigers' offense, and you have an outfielder who is contributing across the board. Owners looking for stolen base and runs help should cash in on his impressive play if you play in one of the shallow leagues where he's available.

Marcell Ozuna - (OF, MIA) - 61% Owned

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues

Marcell Ozuna is getting a lot of protection batting in front of Giancarlo Stanton and it has been paying dividends so far this season. In 22 games, Ozuna is hitting .309 with 12 R, 3 HR and 10 RBI. After three seasons of 20+ homers in the minors, it is no surprise that he is showing some power early on. Ozuna looks to be firmly entrenched in the two-spot in the Marlins batting order and in good position to continue his early season production. Pick him up if he is available and you need some all around production.

Josh Reddick  - (OF, OAK) - 38% Owned

BALLER MOVE: Continue Scouting

Don't look now, but Josh Reddick has raised his batting average above the Mendoza Line after going 9-for-21 over his past six games. Reddick was drafted in just about every fantasy league, but the majority of owners jumped ship as Josh was hitting an anemic .098 as recently as last week.

While his recent stretch is encouraging, owners may want to refrain from adding him off of the waiver wire until he proves he can be a productive player for an extended period. Reddick has always been a streaky hitter and is capable of producing impactful power numbers during his hot streaks. Keep watch and be ready to add him should his improved play continue.

David Murphy - (OF, CLE) - 17% Owned

BALLER MOVE: Add in AL-Only Leagues

After spending the previous seven seasons in Texas, David Murphy has found a new home in Cleveland. Following a down year in 2013, the veteran outfielder is looking to replicate the success he had in 2012 when he slashed a .304 BA, 65 R, 15 HR and 61 RBI.  A promising start has Murphy sporting a .290 BA with 9 R, 2 HR and 17 RBI in 62 AB this season. Murphy's stats are not going to jump off the page, but he is a steady run producer that can add fantasy value in AL-only leagues.

Lucas Duda - (OF/1B, NYM) - 6% Owned

BALLER MOVE: Continue Scouting/Add in NL-Only Leagues

Lucas Duda is off to a respectable start this season (.254 BA, 10 R, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 1 SB). Never one to post a high batting average, his fantasy value lies with his power and versatility. Starting mostly at first base this season, Duda is also a fantasy-eligible outfielder, having played 200+ games in the outfield during his five-year career. Mets Manager Terry Collins recently moved Duda into the clean-up spot in the batting order, which significantly increases his fantasy value. Duda has 30 HR potential and a promotion to the four-hole could be just what the doctor ordered.