Anthony DeSclafani (SP, CIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups

Baller Move: Add in 12+ team leagues. Owned in: 23% of Fleaflicker leagues. Analysis: In Great American Ball Park, you are going to give up HR, it is just part of the environment. The good news for when Anthony DeSclafani returns to the Red's rotation: he doesn't put a lot of people on base. In […]

Marcus Semien (SS, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups

Baller Move: Add in 12+ team leagues. Owned in: 41% of Fleaflicker leagues. Analysis: Marcus Semien currently owns a BA of just .205 and an OBP of just .285. So what makes him be of any value at all, especially considering his bumbling lack of a glove at shortstop? Despite Semien's lackluster average and high […]

Kevin Pillar (TOR, OF) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 51% of Fleaflicker leagues ANALYSIS: It's looking like Kevin Pillar's demotion earlier in the season to the bottom of the lineup is beginning to pay off. It took some time for Pillar to transition into his new role, but since the move he's been batting .381 (21-55) with six runs scored, […]

Jonathan Villar (SS, MIL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 8% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Jonathan Villar leads the National League with eight stolen bases — tied for second in all of baseball — despite having just 87 AB. The 25-year-old shortstop is hitting .264/.379/.379 with one home run, six runs batted in and 13 runs scored, and […]

Drew Pomeranz (SP, SD) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ team leagues OWNED IN: 29 percent of Fleaflicker leagues ANALYSIS: Drew Pomeranz became an attractive option at the backend of fantasy rotations the moment he was given the job as San Diego's fifth starter, as he is known for sporting an above average strikeout rate and his ability to keep the ball in the […]

Joe Mauer (1B, MIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 22 percent of Fleaflicker leagues ANALYSIS: Entering 2016, Joe Mauer was an afterthought for most fantasy owners. He’d lost his catcher eligibility, and his batting average fell from .324 to .277 and .265 over the past three seasons. Combined with his always modest power, advancing age, […]

Aaron Nola (PHI, SP) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in all leagues OWNED IN: 42% of Fleaflicker leagues ANALYSIS: Aaron Nola seemed like a decent prospect with a capped ceiling prior to his call up in 2015, and he reinforced that belief by replicating the mediocre strikeout rate and home run issues he occasionally showed in the minor leagues. While certainly not perfect, Nola’s […]

Brandon Finnegan (CIN, SP/RP) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 22% of Fleaflicker leagues ANALYSIS: A shaky start in late April where he was tagged for five runs and seven hits in four innings of work is as rough as it's gotten for Brandon Finnegan early on in the 2016 season. Five other appearances, five quality starts. Finnegan bounced back […]

Jarrod Dyson (OF, KC) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 28% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: It's hard to imagine that an everyday position player for the defending World Champions can be considered a sleeper, but Jarrod Dyson fits that description. Dyson has not been a full-time starter in his seven-year tenure with the Royals, but this season he will get that opportunity. […]

Carlos Santana (CLE, 1B) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 56% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Carlos Santana has been recently used in both the leadoff role and cleanup spot of the Indians batting order, both of which have benefitted his fantasy value. Santana has scored six runs in six games while his early production, four home runs and 12 RBI, is […]

Erasmo Ramirez (SP/RP, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 39% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Erasmo Ramirez has primarily been a starter since breaking into the big leagues with Seattle in 2012. He was slotted to be the fifth starter for Tampa Bay, but some funky scheduling early on led the Rays to skip his start. The bullpen role has suited him […]

Nick Castellanos (DET, 3B) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add In All Leagues OWNED IN: 44% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Castellanos is absolutely on fire right now. The third baseman for the Tigers is hitting a cool .368 and has driven in 19 runs. His .441 BABIP suggests regression will bring that average down to earth pretty soon. The early power display […]

J.T. Realmuto (C, MIA) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 44% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: A popular sleeper heading into 2016, Realmuto disappointed out of the gate. Even yours truly lost patience with him. He's been on fire over the last week or so, riding an eight game hitting streak. He has two homers and five […]

Asdrubal Cabrera (SS, NYM) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 19% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: You may see the lack of counting stats and wonder why I'm recommending that you pick up Asdrubal Cabrera. Well for one thing, shortstop is incredibly shallow. Cabrera also has no one really vying for his playing time, and he hits […]

Brandon Drury (3B/OF, ARI) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 15% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Drury was tearing it up for Arizona in the spring, but ultimately seemed poised for a super utility role in 2016. Things can change very quickly though, and, sure enough, it seems that Drury has carved out a starting role for […]

Adam Conley (SP, MIA) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 21 percent of Fleaflicker leagues ANALYSIS: Adam Conley finally notched his first victory in his last start. He did so in impressive fashion, tossing 7.2 no-hit innings against the Brewers. Through five starts, Conley has a playable 3.67 ERA and has struck out over a batter per […]

Odubel Herrera (OF, PHI) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 58 percent of Fleaflicker leagues ANALYSIS: Plucked away from the Rangers in the Rule 5 draft, Odubel Herrera came out of nowhere as a rookie last season to hit .297 with eight homers and 16 steals for the Phillies. A look at his peripherals indicated some […]

Billy Burns (OF, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 59 percent of Fleaflicker leagues ANALYSIS: In his rookie season last year, Billy Burns established himself as a solid fantasy contributor in batting average and steals. While his current average of .264 isn’t anything to write home about, he’s already swiped eight bags on nine attempts. […]

Rick Porcello (SP, BOS) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ team leagues OWNED IN: 22% of Fleaflicker leagues ANALYSIS: Rick Porcello is 4-0 with an outstanding 10.52 K/9 (way higher than his career highs) and a meager 1.75 BB/9 which is slightly lower than his career best. While these are very good numbers they are surrounded by some unsustainable ones, as Porcello currently […]

J.A. Happ (SP, TOR) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ team leagues OWNED IN: 46% of Fleaflicker leagues ANALYSIS: J.A. Happ has certainly picked up where he left off after being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second half of last season. Posting a 1.85 ERA in 11 starts, Happ has followed an impressive latter part of 2015 with a solid first […]

Chris Carter (1B, MIL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12 Team Leagues OWNED IN: 52% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: A change of scenery seems to have been exactly what the doctor ordered for Chris Carter. After his 2 HR day Sunday, Carter now has seven long balls, 15 R, and 18 RBI to go along with a healthy .278/.355/.671 line after the first […]

Javier Baez (2B/3B/SS, CHC) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 15% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Javier Baez has served as the ultimate utility man for the Cubs so far this season, appearing at all four infield positions. He begins most games on the bench, but Joe Maddon has found ways to get Baez in the game more often […]

Danny Santana (OF/SS, MIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Mixed Leagues, AL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 4% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Since returning from a hamstring injury on April 25, Danny Santana has been muy caliente. With Byron Buxton demoted due to lack of production, Santana should have the center field gig to himself, for the most part. This will most certainly be the […]

Ketel Marte (SS, SEA) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Mixed Leagues, AL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 10% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Following a horrendous start to the season, Ketel Marte has begun to look more like the multi-talented shortstop prospect that most people hoped he would be when they drafted him. In his last 15 games, he's hitting .333 with 15 hits […]

Angel Pagan (OF, SF) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in all leagues, but remain cautious of injury OWNED IN: 57% of Fleaflicker leagues ANALYSIS: Angel Pagan put together an impressive first month of the season, batting .315 with two home runs, 12 RBI, and two stolen bases. A switch-hitter, Pagan batted .371 against lefties and fared well against righties with his .281 average. Add […]

Travis Shaw (1B/3B, BOS) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12 Team Leagues OWNED IN: 59% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Travis Shaw cranked his third long ball of the season during Sunday's victory over the Yankees. He continues to make John Farrell look like a genius after the Red Sox manager surprised many by naming Shaw the starting third baseman over Pablo Sandoval, […]

Byung Ho Park (1B, MIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in all leagues OWNED IN: 41% of Fleaflicker leagues ANALYSIS: The Korean version of Giancarlo Stanton has arrived, folks. Okay, maybe not quite, but he is starting to display his trademark power. Byung Ho Park has been swinging for the fences and now has six homers in 20 games. The downside is he only has nine […]

Jake Lamb (3B, ARI) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in all leagues OWNED IN: 27% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Jake Lamb is providing a steady presence at third base for the Diamondbacks. After hitting only six homers in 350 AB last season, he already has three long balls in 80 AB. Lamb is not a huge power threat--he never hit more than 15 homers in […]

Nathan Eovaldi (SP, NYY) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Leave him on waiver wire OWNED IN: 23% of Fleaflicker leagues ANALYSIS: There's a lot to like about Nathan Eovaldi, despite what his record and ERA show early on in the 2016 campaign. He throws his fastball well into the high-90's. He induces a ton of ground balls (52.3%) and his K% is at 24.4, 7% […]

AL-Only League Waiver Wire Pickups For Week Five: Snell, Berrios, Manaea and More

With news breaking over the weekend that director of the upcoming superhero movie The Flash, Seth Grahame-Smith, had left the project due to creative differences, I immediately pondered if he'll still feel justified leaving after the project is finished by someone else. Will passing on this opportunity give way to new, better opportunities or will he look […]