June 21, 2016

Bill Dubiel's second base (2B) and shortstop (SS) fantasy baseball waiver wire adds. Pickups and middle infield sleepers for Week 12 of the 2016 MLB season.

Over the course of the season I’ll be giving you two players at second base and shortstop per week who I think can help your team. These players are usually widely available in any format, and should turn nice profits in the weeks to come.

As always, feel free to reach out to me directly @Roto_Dubs with any questions about the middle infield or fantasy baseball in general.

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Second Base (2B) Waiver Wire Pickups

Whit Merrifield (2B - CHC) - Owned in 36% of Fleaflicker leagues

With (sketchily) perennial All Star candidate Omar Infante justifiably designated for assignment, Whit Merrifield has taken over as the Royals' everyday second baseman. The 27-year-old rookie has flourished in his first 120 big-league at bats, hitting .333 with 21 runs scored, 12 RBI, two big flies and four stolen bases. There's not much to write here--the dude is red-hot, he helps in multiple categories, and this is your last chance before the rest of the league catches on. Go get 'im.

Scooter Gennett (2B - MIL) - Owned in 4% of Fleaflicker leagues

Every time I write his name, in my head I hear Christopher McDonald (Shooter McGavin) busting out the double-guns..."Scooter!" My own lunacy aside, the Brewers' second baseman has quietly turned it on in June, hitting .373 with two homers, two steals, five runs scored and nine RBI in his last 15 games. We all know what Gennett is at this point in his career--12-15 homers, 12-15 steals, and a .275 batting average--but that doesn't mean he's not useful. He's still a perfectly serviceable middle infield option in any format as long as he's hitting well, and he sure is at the moment.

Shortstop (SS) Waiver Wire Pickups

Jose Iglesias (SS - DET) - Owned in 5% of Fleaflicker leagues

After a positively dreadful month of May, Jose Iglesias has heated back up. His breakout 2015 campaign, in which he hit an even .300 across 416 at-bats, is proving to be no fluke, as Iglesias has his overall average back up to .244 after hitting a miserable .160 in May. His BABIP for 2016 currently sits at .273, which is below his career mark of .300 and well below last year's .330. There is room for improvement and I have faith that Iglesias will continue to regress back towards last year's numbers, modest though they might be.

Tim Anderson (SS - CWS) - Owned in 21% of Fleaflicker leagues

After two dreadful months at the plate, the White Sox Notebook" href="http://www.rotoballer.com/mlb-fantasy-news/?team=CHW">White Sox finally gave up on Jimmy Rollins and designated him for assignment. The move cleared a path for their top prospect, Tim Anderson. He should be the primary shortstop for the rest of the season (providing he doesn't struggle too severely) and with good reason. The highly-touted youngster maintained a .301 batting average in the minors and has 50-steal capability, although somewhere in the 30-40 range is more likely. Given that we're already in June I wouldn't anticipate him swiping any more than 25 bags the rest of the way, but that still provides plenty of value to prospective owners. His .282 batting average so far is definitely a positive sign, but beware his 0:11 BB/K ratio. You're rolling the dice on him adjusting well to major league pitching, but Anderson has the pedigree to make an immediate impact on a team that desperately needs a spark.

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