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Week 2 Waiver Wire Watch List

Every Monday we’ll be checking in on some names to keep an eye on and add to your watch list. Some may require quick action while others are simply options to keep in mind down the road.

We're still in the very early stages of the season but every bit of additional data helps.

Here's who you should be watching this week on the fantasy baseball waiver wire, for week two of the 2018 season:

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Players to watch in 10-team leagues

Preston Tucker (OF, ATL): 36% owned
A castoff from Houston, Tucker has blasted out of the gates thus far, hitting .385/.414./.692 through his first 29 plate appearances. As long as he continues to play in a Braves lineup that sits atop the majors in run production, he’s worth watching.

Maikel Franco (3B, PHI): 50% owned
Franco received the opposite of a vote of confidence when the Phillies decided to bring rookie infielder Scott Kingery north to start the season. That said, he’s still received 22 PAs in six games and has made the most of it with 2 HR, 11 RBI and a cool .316/.409/.789 triple slash. He’s also walked as many times as he’s struck out (3:3), and his .286 BABIP is fully sustainable, especially considering he’s smashing the ball (37.5% hard contact, just 6.3% soft contact). Watch, but be ready to pounce if he’s available in your league.

Joe Panik (2B, SF): 36% owned
We know Panik is not a power guy, but over his career he’s proven to be a solid hitter when healthy. His hot start is likely not sustainable (he’s homered on 37.5% of his fly balls so far) but he’s a career .284 hitter who gets on base and doesn’t strike out very often. It’s possible the 27-year-old could be tapping into some power, so keep an eye on his batted ball profile. If he continues to hit the ball hard (38.5% compared to just 26.7% for his career), move him up your list.

Tyler Skaggs (SP, LAA): 31% owned
The former first round pick has looked solid in two starts with a 10:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 11 innings pitched and a tidy 1.64 ERA. His xFIP stands at 3.38 which, while still good, is quite a bit higher than his ERA. Skaggs is on tap to start twice this week at Texas and at Kansas City, a mixed bag of opponents, so see how he fares before you make a move.

Shin-Soo Choo (OF, TEX): 46% owned
Available in more than 50% of leagues, Choo is a solid option to have on your watch list if you’re in need of a boost or an injury replacement. Choo is off to a great start in 2018 with a .314/.385/.629 slash line and a 50.0% hard contact rate. He’s recently been moved atop the Rangers order after an injury to Delino DeShields, so he’ll see even more at-bats and scoring opportunities for the foreseeable future.

 

Players to watch in 12-team leagues

Mike Foltynewicz (SP, ATL): 26% owned
Folty has always had the stuff but never seemed to be able to put it all together for very long stretches. If his start to this season is any indication, he may be turning a corner. Foltynewicz managed to neutralize the powerful Nationals lineup last week, throwing 5.1 innings of four-hit, one-run ball with 8 K and just 2 BB. Through 10.1 IP, he’s posted a 2.61 ERA (2.73 xFIP) and 13.06 K/9. Another couple of solid starts and his ownership could go through the roof.

Nick Pivetta (SP, PHI): 9% owned
A poor showing in 2017 has Pivetta off the radar for most, but there’s reason for optimism. Pivetta struck out a batter per inning last season, one of only 34 starting pitchers to do so, and through his first two starts he’s managed to whiff 12 in 9.2 IP while walking just two. His swinging strike rate outside the strike zone is 32.2%, which places him in the top-30 just behind names like Verlander and Price. This could be a breakout.

Christian Villanueva (3B, SD): 16% owned
Villanueva flew under the radar with his 2017 cameo in which he hit 4 HR in 12 games and slugged .750, but nobody missed his three-homer performance last week. Not everyone has the ability to hit three bombs in one game, and his batted ball profile shows a lot of hard contact (38.5%) and a ton of fly balls (a whopping 61.5%). The skepticism is understandable but don’t ignore just yet.

Yoshihisa Hirano (RP, ARI): 2% owned
The Japanese import is not a strikeout artist (just 3 in 4.1 nnings) but his experience is clearly valued by manager Torey Lovullo. Hirano will essentially be competing for saves with Brad Boxberger and is someone to watch as a cheap source of saves should Boxberger struggle or go down with an injury - certainly possible given his checkered past.

Colin Moran (1B/3B, PIT): 5% owned
You could make a case that Moran is more of a deep league target given his current ownership, but this is a very underrated hitter who could be an impact bat at a corner infield slot in 12-teamers. Moran always had a solid approach at the plate coming up through the minor leagues but recently tinkered in an attempt to shorten up and get to the ball quicker. So far that’s worked: a 43.5% hard contact rate and an identical 43.5% fly ball rate have unlocked some power (.520 SLG, .200 ISO). He’s struck out just twice in 27 PAs to boot, showing some comfort in the batter’s box. Watch for now, and keep that finger on the trigger.

 

Players to watch in deep leagues (14-team or AL/NL only)

Andrew Triggs (SP, OAK): 9% owned
Triggs is not a sexy play, but he could have some value in deep leagues if he keeps up his early pace. He’s struck out 13 batters in 10.2 innings and has pitched to a 2.98 xFIP in the process. Triggs isn’t a hard thrower but he does get swings on pitches outside the strike zone; at 31.1% he ranks 35th among qualified pitchers this season.

Mike Minor (SP/RP, TEX): 7% owned
Some scoffed at the idea of the Rangers signing Minor to pitch out of the rotation after a fantastic season in the bullpen in 2017, but so far he’s shown he can hang with his rotation mates. Minor was effective against the Blue Jays on Saturday, limiting their high-scoring offense to one run on two hits while striking out seven. His dual-position eligibility is a plus for those looking to stock their lineup with starters. It would be nice to see another quality start or two before commiting, and it’s always possible he gets moved to the bullpen eventually, so watching is advised for now.

Jarlin Garcia (RP, FLA): 2% owned
The Marlins seem to love the low-K types who can eat innings (see Urena, Jose), so Garcia is a risky pick coming from the bullpen where he struck out just 7.09 batters per nine last season. Nevertheless, innings are more scarce in deep leagues, and Urena himself did have some deep league value last season despite his lack of punchouts. Watch, but from a distance.

Anthony Santander (OF, BAL): 0% owned
The Rule-5 pick hit his first homer Sunday and as someone who has shown some pop in the minors, Santander is worth a watch. He’s forced to stay up with the Orioles for at least the first six weeks of the season, so he’ll likely get his opportunities.

Yolmer Sanchez (2B/3B, CWS): 8% owned
The White Sox offense has been booming to start the season and Sanchez has been a big part of that. Manning the hot corner, Sanchez has notched a homer, a steal, three R and seven RBI to go along with a .333 AVG and .429 OBP in 28 PA. He’s played in 7-of-8 games thus far and that shouldn’t change if he keeps up the hot hitting. Sanchez popped 12 HR and stole eight bags last season, and at 25 years old it’s not a stretch to see improvement in both of those categories. He could be a viable MI option in deep leagues very soon.

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Adds




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Josh Naylor

Returning to Diamondbacks Lineup
Eric Gordon

Remaining with 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Oronde Gadsden

an Active Pass-Catcher This Offseason
Brashard Smith

Speed Could be Put to Use
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Pat Bryant

Off to a Good Start
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs With Islanders for Two Years
Cody Barton

Quickly Becoming a Leader With his New Team
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal With Mammoth
Montaric Brown

has Worked With Starters
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Ryan McLeod

Inks Four-Year Extension with Sabres
NAS

Predators Bring in Nick Perbix on Two-Year Deal
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
LA

Cody Ceci Moves to Los Angeles
DET

James van Riemsdyk Joins Red Wings on One-Year Contract
Viktor Arvidsson

Traded to Boston
Charlotte Hornets

Spencer Dinwiddie Lands With Charlotte
Josh Jung

Sent to Triple-A
Jurickson Profar

Officially Reinstated and Hitting in Five-Hole on Wednesday
Spencer Schwellenbach

Going on Injured List With Fractured Elbow
Maxwell Hairston

Facing Sexual-Assault Lawsuit
Tai Felton

Rookie Season Likely to be Spent on Special Teams
LeQuint Allen Jr.

to Have Receiving Role for Jaguars?
Justin Walley

Turning Heads Going into Rookie Season
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
Jamari Thrash

Establishing Himself as Reliable Option
Grayson Murphy

Could Provide Rotational Pass-Rush Depth
Joe Andreessen

in a Good Position to Compete for Backup Job
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Bhayshul Tuten

Needs to Improve Pass Protection
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Brandon Woodruff

Likely to Pitch on Sunday in Miami
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
PHI

Dan Vladar Links Up With Flyers on Two-Year Deal
EDM

Andrew Mangiapane Signs Two-Year Pact With Oilers
SEA

Ryan Lindgren Joins Kraken on Four-Year Contract
PHI

Christian Dvorak Heads to Philadelphia
Logan Stankoven

Signs Long-Term Extension with Hurricanes
NYI

Jonathan Drouin Joins Islanders on Two-Year Contract
NJ

Devils Hand Connor Brown a Four-Year Contract
SJ

John Klingberg Lands in San Jose
William Eklund

Signs Three-Year Extension with Sharks
Will Cuylle

Agrees to Two-Year Contract with Rangers
Zac Gallen

Fans 10 in Tuesday's Win
Hunter Goodman

Hits Two More Homers Tuesday
Josh Hader

Stays Perfect In Save Conversion On Tuesday
Milwaukee Bucks

Taurean Prince Staying in Milwaukee
Shane Baz

Fans 11 Against Athletics
Grant Holmes

Strikes Out 10 in Scoreless Outing
Jeff Green

Signs One-Year Deal to Remain in Houston
T.J. Watt

Trying to Become Highest-Paid Non-QB?
Willson Contreras

Doubtful for Wednesday
George Springer

Clubs Two Homers in Seven-RBI Day
Joshua Palmer

Could be a Sleeper
Los Angeles Lakers

Jake LaRavia Lands with Lakers
Laviska Shenault Jr.

on the Bubble
Orlando Magic

Tyus Jones Signs One-Year Deal With Magic
Raheem Blackshear

to Work Mostly As Special-Teamer
Golden State Warriors

Kevon Looney Heads to New Orleans
Rico Dowdle

Trevor Etienne to Split Carries?
Chuba Hubbard

Should See Majority of Touches in 2025
Milwaukee Bucks

Jericho Sims Staying in Milwaukee
Denver Nuggets

Tim Hardaway Jr. Joins Nuggets
Willson Contreras

Avoids Structural Damage on Hand After HBP
Detroit Pistons

Duncan Robinson Lands With Detroit
Charlotte Hornets

Tre Mann Remaining in Charlotte
Josh Naylor

Scratched From Tuesday's Lineup Against Giants
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
San Francisco Giants

Giants Exercise Bob Melvin's 2026 Option
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Josh Naylor

Back in Action on Tuesday
Yordan Alvarez

Suffers Setback
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Nolan Arenado

Dealing with Finger Sprain
Jacob Wilson

Scratched With Hamstring Soreness
Brandon Woodruff

Ready for Season Debut
Garrett Mitchell

Out for the Rest of the Season
Milwaukee Bucks

Gary Harris Inks Deal With Bucks
Charlotte Hornets

Mason Plumlee Heading Back to Charlotte
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Jakob Poeltl

Agrees to a Contract Extension With Raptors
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
Vasilije Micić

Vasilije Micic Dealt to Bucks on Tuesday
Daniel Suarez

and Trackhouse Racing Parting Ways After 2025 Season
Pat Connaughton

Traded to Hornets
Atlanta Hawks

Luke Kennard Lands in Atlanta
Breece Hall

Aiming to Prove He is "Still One of the Best in the League"
T.J. Watt

Steelers Not Planning to Trade T.J. Watt
Ilia Topuria

Becomes The New Lightweight Champion
Charles Oliveira

Knocked Out At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Alexandre Pantoja Submits Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France

Submitted At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Extends His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Drops Decision
Renato Moicano

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Beneil Dariush

Gets Back In The Win Column
Felipe Lima

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Payton Talbott

Bounces Back
Alex Bowman

Competitive Run Ends With Third-Place Finish at Atlanta
Erik Jones

Secures A Top-Five Finish After Adversity In Atlanta
Tyler Reddick

Collects A New Career-Best Finish At Atlanta
Chase Elliott

Ends Winless Skid With Atlanta Victory
Brad Keselowski

Falls Short of Atlanta Victory
Carson Hocevar

Recovers From Big One to Finish 10th at Atlanta
William Byron

Caught up in Atlanta Big One but Retains Points Lead
Denny Hamlin

Top In-Season Challenge Seed Denny Hamlin Eliminated in Lap 70 Crash
Ty Dillon

Bottom Seed Ty Dillon Upsets Denny Hamlin to Advance in In-Season Challenge
Kyle Larson

Don't Expect Kyle Larson to Win First Drafting Track Race on Saturday
Christopher Bell

Unlikely to Complete Atlanta Sweep
Brad Keselowski

Seeks Another Clutch Win for Hail-Mary Playoff Bid
Chris Buescher

Unlikely to Lead Enough to Have Much DFS Value
Alex Bowman

Qualifies Best Among Non-Fords but Unlikely to Contend at Atlanta
Ryan Preece

Will Probably Run Better Than Usual at Atlanta
Austin Dillon

Consistently Mediocre at Atlanta
Ty Gibbs

Slightly Faster Lately but Unlikely to be a Factor at Atlanta
Erik Jones

a Low-Key Strong DFS Option
Noah Gragson

Could Have DFS Value as One of the Lowest-Qualifying Fords
Riley Herbst

Unlikely to Replicate February Atlanta Finish
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