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Kyle Bishop suggests five middle infield targets for week 19, second basemen (2B) and shortstops (SS), for fantasy baseball owners to consider adding to their rosters in 2018.
The injury bug bit hard and often this week, and while the majority of the major maladies affected other positions, middle infield wasn’t spared. Popular waiver add (and featured player in this column last week) Lourdes Gurriel could miss the majority of the games left, and Ian Kinsler only made it a few games into his tenure with the Red Sox before suffering a hamstring strain.
Every Sunday until the end of the season, we'll look at the best middle infielders available in at least 50 percent of Yahoo leagues. These are based on standard 5x5 scoring; adjust accordingly for your specific setup.
Let’s get to it. Below are your second base and shortstop waiver wire targets for Week 19.
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Week 19 Middle Infield (MI) Waiver Wire Targets
Ben Zobrist, 2B/OF, Chicago Cubs (35% owned)
He’s more valuable in leagues that include on-base percentage as a category, but Zobrist can still be an asset to you in standard formats. A year after posting the lowest batting average of his career (.232), Zorilla is hitting a career best .305. He’s also posted respectable run production with 92 R+BI in 91 games despite not hitting for much power.
Johan Camargo, 2B/3B/SS, Atlanta Braves (24% owned)
If it’s power from the MI spot you’re after, Camargo is more up your alley. The Braves’ infielder has 13 home runs on the season, with four of them coming in his last 10 games. Not for nothing, the most recent one came against Jacob deGrom. He has admittedly traded contact from power this year compared to his rookie campaign, but the exchange has been a positive one, particularly since he’s also more than doubled his walk rate from a year ago.
Nick Ahmed, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks (16% owned)
The Diamondbacks’ infield is going to get crowded once Jake Lamb returns from the disabled list after Arizona acquired Eduardo Escobar at the trade deadline. Ahmed’s making his case to stay in the lineup. After a multi-hit performance on Saturday that included his 15th homer of the year, the former Gold Glove winner is up to 105 R+BI on the year, despite hitting primarily in the lower third of the lineup. Ahmed’s 23 RBI over the last 30 days is tied for third-most in the majors with luminaries Jose Ramirez, Javier Baez, and Brian Dozier.
Adalberto Mondesi, 2B/SS, Kansas City Royals (10% owned)
Mondesi appears in this space for the second consecutive week because he refuses to quit hitting. The Royals’ shortstop, who turned 23 last week, has gone hitless just twice since July 10 and posted a .340/.354/.511 line during that time, with a pair of homers and five stolen bases. Some of that success is certainly BABIP-fueled, but given how tough it is right now to find players who can contribute steals without killing you in other categories, fantasy owners will take it.
Aledmys Diaz, SS, Toronto Blue Jays (2% owned)
Diaz certainly hasn’t recaptured the form he showed as a rookie in 2016 (obviously if he had, his ownership rate wouldn’t be microscopic), but he has bounced back in terms of power. The Blue Jays’ shortstop has 12 homers this year in just 279 plate appearances, with four of them coming in his last 11 games. Diaz will play every day for as long as Lourdes Gurriel is on the disabled list and is worth consideration in AL-only formats.
