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Week 26 Waiver Wire - First Base (1B) and Third Base (3B)

It is likely the playoffs in head-to-head leagues have concluded. Hopefully, you are the champion. The season is not over for those in roto leagues. Now is the time to focus on speculative adds for players who may see increased roles or move to a better situation.

The corner infield positions traditionally offer power with the potential for high averages. However, at this stage of the game, to get power, you'll likely get a mediocre batting average. The other route is to get players that are a little more well-rounded. In this piece, I'll identify waiver wire targets for first base and third base in week 26 who should be able to contribute in multiple categories. These players are owned in 50% or less of Yahoo! leagues.

If you have any questions on corner infielders or any dynasty question for that matter, message me directly on Twitter @EllisCan2.

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

 

Week 26 Corner Infield (CI) Waiver Wire Targets

Hunter Dozier (1B/3B, KC) 4% owned

Over the last 30 days, Dozier has four homers, 15 RBI, and a .269 average. It doesn’t sound particularly impressive. However, he is useful in most leagues if you just need power. Dozier has a 46% hard-hit rate, 52.7% against right-handers which he faces the most this week. He also has a .293 wOBA against right-handed pitchers. In the second half, he has made some improvements at the plate. He has increased not only his average (.251), but also his strikeout rate (27%) and slugging (.461).

Dozier plays two games in Cincinnati before returning home to play a four-game series against the Indians. He will see four righties and at least one lefty on the mound as one start by the Indians is still to be determined. It also isn’t confirmed that the Indians will run their aces on the mound for a full start considering their interest in being fully healthy for the playoffs.

Josh Bell (1B, PIT) 42% owned

Bell has been a bag of mixed emotions this year. 2018 has not been what fantasy owners had expected, particularly following a 2017 season in which he hit 26 homers with 90 RBI. The outlook is trending up though even with only 11 homers this year. In 70 fewer at-bats, Bell has already hit 31 doubles, compared to 26 in all of 2017. Bell never demonstrated elite power in the minors but the expectations were that it would improve, given his very good hitting ability. In the second half, he has a slash line of .291/.400/.480 and slightly improved his fly ball rate (34%) and greatly raised his hard-hit rate (44%).

Bell will have a full schedule on the road this week against the Cubs and Reds. He will face off against four left-handed pitchers and three righties this week. Bell is a switch-hitter and while he isn’t terrible against left-handed pitchers (.264), he is better against righties (.272).

Daniel Palka (1B/OF, CHW) 15% owned

Palka has been destroying pitching recently. He has six homers, nine RBI and a .273 average in the last 14 days. His 2018 rookie campaign has brought about 27 homers. Unfortunately, he does need to work on his plate discipline as he has a 33% strikeout rate. Also, he currently doesn’t use most of the field; he pulls the ball 44% of the time.

Palka will have a full seven-game schedule this week, which includes a double-header. The week starts at home against the Indians before he returns heads to Minnesota to face the Twins. It is a schedule loaded with right-handed pitchers. This is a perfect recipe for Palka; 25 of his homers this year have been against right-handers. Thankfully, he shouldn’t be too much of a drain on batting average with a .252 average against righties.

Jay Bruce (1B/OF, NYM)

Bruce has been a big disappointment this year. Bruce is normally known for his power and routinely provides 30 homers annually. Unfortunately, he has just nine this year. Bruce has slowly bounced back to give you the power your roster needs. It would not be wise to acquire him if you have a concern with batting average. In the last 14 days, he has three homers and 12 RBI, but only a .209 batting average.

Bruce has shown improvement in the second half. He has a .256 batting average during that time. He also has a swing that caters to homers with a 51% fly ball rate. You will also benefit from his 11% walk rate and only a 20% strikeout rate. Bruce will enjoy a week at home against the Braves and Marlins. This will match him up against five righties and one left-handed pitcher this week.

Peter O'Brien (1B/OF, MIA) 4% owned

O’Brien isn’t a superstar or a player that you would target in dynasty leagues; he is a 28-year-old journeyman. However, he is hot right now and you need that to improve your fantasy roster here in the home stretch. In the last 14 days, O’Brien is hitting .310 with three homers and seven RBI. He even has a .920 OPS this season. O’Brien’s walk rate (11% is enticing) but it also comes with a 32% strikeout rate. Even his .263 average comes with a .318 BABIP, so likely there is a risk of a batting average drain.

He will be on the road all week against the Nationals and Mets. This will have him facing five right-handers and one left-hander this week. As the schedule has it, it includes Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Noah Syndergaard. If the remains unchanged, be cautious in those starts.

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jake Burger

to Miss an Additional 2-3 Weeks
TreVeyon Henderson

Signs Rookie Contract
Christian Watson

Goes on PUP List
Austin Riley

Hopes to be Activated Next Week
Ketel Marte

Lands on Restricted List After Burglary
Ricky Pearsall

Heads to PUP List
Brandon Aiyuk

Placed on PUP List
Luther Burden III

Signs Rookie Deal
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Eli Willits Expected to Sign Contract on Saturday
Grayson Rodriguez

Being Shut Down Again - Will We See Him Again This Year?
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Activated and Back in Lineup on Friday
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Receives Injection in Wrist, Considered Day-to-Day
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Back to Start Second Half
Alec Bohm

Back From Rib Injury on Friday
Trey Hendrickson

Holdout to Spill into Regular Season?
Jalen McMillan

Bucs Offensive Coordinator Not Forgetting About Jalen McMillan
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to Miss at Least Four Games
Nick Emmanwori

Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori Reach Agreement on Rookie Deal
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Patricio Freire Set For His Second UFC Fight
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Set To Open Up UFC 318 Main Card
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Looks For Third Consecutive Win
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Bills Sign T.J. Sanders to Rookie Deal
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Maple Leafs Acquire Dakota Joshua
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Eugenio Suarez Expected Back Friday
Damian Lillard

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Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
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Grabs 19 Points, Nine Boards in Summer League Win
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Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
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Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
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Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
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Has Historic Summer League Outing
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Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
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Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
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Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
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Bradley Beal Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
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Takes Stellar 2025 Performance to The Open Championship
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Jordan Spieth

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Patrick Reed

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PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
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Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
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Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
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Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
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Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Clayton Kershaw

Retires Both Batters In ASG Appearance
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Hit In Pinky In All-Star Game, X-Rays Negative
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
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Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
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Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
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Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
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Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
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Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
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Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
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Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
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William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
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Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

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Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
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Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
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a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
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RANKINGS
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