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Kyle Bishop suggests five middle infield targets for week 5, second basemen (2B) and shortstops (SS), for fantasy baseball owners to consider adding to their rosters in 2018.
As we move into May, many of the season’s early performers have been snapped up from the waiver wire. That necessitates digging a bit deeper. Whether you’re looking for an injury replacement or just trying to shake things up after a slow start, RotoBaller has you covered.
Every Monday 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.
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Week 5 Middle Infield (MI) Waiver Wire Targets
Daniel Robertson, 2B/3B/SS, Tampa Bay Rays (37 percent owned)
Robertson was the most popular waiver add in Yahoo leagues this weekend, and it’s not hard to understand why. A two-hit effort on Sunday gave him multiple hits in five of his last six contests and brought his season line to a robust .355/.500/.597. While you can expect the 27.3 HR/FB% to fall off considerably, Robertson has always demonstrated plus contact skills and an excellent understanding of the strike zone. Those skills may prove enough to keep him rosterable in many formats even once the hot streak ends. For now, enjoy the production and positional flexibility.
Eduardo Escobar, 2B/3B/SS, Minnesota Twins (26 percent)
Escobar has failed to reach base in just three of his 20 games so far this season. After collecting two hits on Sunday, he’s batting .308/.356/.564 with three home runs on the year. The Twins’ shortstop hit 21 homers last season and is just one off the pace for the league lead with 10 doubles in 2018. He has recently been seeing time in the cleanup spot for Minnesota, and with Jorge Polanco serving out his suspension, there’s no immediate threat to Escobar’s playing time.
Jose Peraza, 2B/SS, Cincinnati Reds (32 percent)
Peraza had himself a stellar weekend, going 8-for-15 with a pair of home runs and 7 R+RBI to help the Reds win their first (!) series of the season against the Twins. While he’s certainly on the short list of players least likely to have a two-homer game (as he did Saturday, after hitting just eight previously in his entire MLB career), Peraza is now hitting .299/.321/.411 on the year. He’s also 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts so far, and if he continues to swing a hot bat, opportunities to run will be plentiful.
Howie Kendrick, 2B/OF, Washington Nationals (9 percent)
Kendrick homered twice over the weekend and extended his hitting streak to seven games in the process. The veteran is slashing .299/.330/.526 for the season, with four homers. With Daniel Murphy still working his way back from offseason microfracture surgery, Kendrick has carved out an everyday role for himself hitting in the top half of the Nationals lineup. The pop may not persist, but the 34-year-old has always been a reliable source of batting average and hitting in front of Bryce Harper certainly has its perks.
Joey Wendle, 2B, Tampa Bay Rays (4 percent)
Wendle just keeps hitting – a pair of base knocks on Sunday extended his hitting streak to seven games, with multiple hits in each of the last five games. His season line now stands at .348/.410/.522. Wendle recorded multiple seasons with double-digit HR and SB in the minors and is worth grabbing in deep or AL-only formats at minimum.
