August 22, 2017

Daniel Burdeen recommends second basemen (2B) and shortstops (SS) who can be valuable waiver wire targets or adds to help fantasy owners for Week 21 of the 2017 MLB season.

With the the fantasy baseball playoffs right around the corner, it will be wise to own players who can help you the most. It shouldn't matter what they have done up to this point as any player who catches fire can have a nice short-term effect while it lasts. 

Week 21 will include players who are widely available in Yahoo leagues and ready to make an impact for your team. The list will include some familiar names as well as some new names. 

What we won’t be changing is the Yahoo ownership cut off to get into this column. Players still need to be available in at least 60 percent of Yahoo leagues to be eligible for this column.

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Week 21 Middle Infield (MI) Waiver Wire Targets

Tim Anderson (CWS, SS): 32% owned

12-team leagues and AL-Only Leagues

Tim Anderson of the Chicago White Sox was a hot name heading into fantasy drafts this year. For most of this season the young shortstop has disappointed both for the Chicago White Sox and fantasy owners. However a light has flicked on for the youngster who has been on a roll of late.

Over the past two weeks Anderson has 15 hits over 51 at-bats. Not only has he been hitting the ball at a .294 clip, he has hit for power with four home runs over that span. With 14 home runs on the season and .248 batting average, Anderson has improved since the start of the season. The stolen bases have not been there for the shortstop who swiped 10 bags last season, but he is providing pop which is hard to find at shortstop and will continue to start everyday as the White Sox see if he is their shortstop of the future.

As long as his bat is hot, he should be rostered in AL-Only only and deeper mixed leagues.

Kolten Wong (StL, 2B/OF): 19% owned

NL-Only leagues and 12 team leagues 

Kolten Wong is the perfect example of a player who should be owned as soon as owners give up on the player. Wong has been hyped up every season by both fantasy owners and the St. Louis Cardinals every season. As soon as owners are ready to put their stock into Wong he has struggled and either dealt with slumps or mid-season demotions.

However in classic Kolten Wong fashion, he is currently on fire and hitting everything in sight. Over the past month he has hit .330 with 17 RBI and 17 runs. Those are numbers anyone should be willing to accept from a middle infielder. It also doesn’t hurt that Wong is eligible in the outfield.

As long as Wong continues to rake there should be a spot for him in your starting lineup. Maybe everything has finally clicked for Wong?

Neil Walker (Mil, 2B): 23% owned

10-12 team leagues

Neil Walker is a player I have mentioned before in this article. Now that he is with the Milwaukee Brewers, his stock should only improve as he joins a much more potent lineup while hitting in the heart of the order since his arrival.

Known for his power over the past six years, he should be owned in way more than 23% of Yahoo leagues. Walker was out for part of the year due to a hamstring injury but has not been hamstrung since his activation hitting .302 including a .444 batting average over the past two weeks in Milwaukee.

Walker has always been underrated by fantasy owners and should be a top waiver wire pickup for those looking for a second baseman as well as a good infield or utility play. Walker has also been playing third base for the Brewers and can gain eligibility there as well.

Logan Forsythe (LAD, 2B/3B): 29% owned

NL-Only leagues

Logan Forsythe is another example of a player who was highly regarded coming into the season but has not been able to muster it all together. Acquired for one of the top pitching prospects Jose De Leon in the offseason, many had higher expectations than a .241 batting average.

Forsythe lately has finally seemed to be healthy and has started to hit the ball well over the past week with a .313 batting average. The sample size is very small considering his numbers coming into this past week; however you could do worse than starting something with the potential of Forsythe who is hitting in one of the best lineups in the league this year. The RBI opportunities should be there and he is worth a shot as he begins to heat up.

Jose Pirela (SD, 2B/OF): 11% owned

NL-Only leagues, Deeper mixed leagues

Jose Pirela has been under looked the entire season as he quietly has put together a .295 batting average and .858 OPS with eight home runs on the season in just 244 at-bats. Yes, the Padres don’t offer the best lineup, but Pirela has held his own and is worth a look in NL-Only leagues.

Eligible at both second base and outfield the Padres number three hitter has a .292 average over the past month which includes four home runs. Stop overlooking the lower owned players and ride them while they are hot. Pirela has proven all season that he has been real the deal thus far and until he stops he should be rostered.

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