Being desperate when heading to the waiver-wire is never a good sign, but sometimes injuries decimate your team and there’s nothing you can do about it. Be meticulous in your research and add/drop players intelligently so you’re not always watching 11 of your friends pick up every player on you wanted. With six weeks in the books, we’re starting to get a sense on who’s going to be a real producer and who’s not. It’s time to weed out the pretenders and start adding some pieces to help get your name engraved on your family league trophy!
10-team leagues
Justin Wilson, DET SP (59% ownership), FAAB Bid - $22 – We tend to overpay for closers and things aren’t changing now. With Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez being replaced as the team’s closer, Wilson is the first pitcher out of the Tigers pen getting a chance to be his replacement. Wilson’s first audition went well as he retired the side in order on Tuesday night, something K-Rod wasn’t able to do essentially all season. Wilson has been super successful thus far in 2017, posting a 14.1 K/9 while opponents have hit just .082 against
him.
Kolten Wong, STL 2B, OF (11% ownership), FAAB Bid - $11-13 – Wong has been a run-scoring machine lately, scoring once or more in six straight contests. He’s been especially excelling when he’s lead off an inning dating back to last season’s All-star break. He’s leading all part-time players in average, slugging, on-base and OPS since then. Wong’s playing every day in ’17 and is making the most of that, too. Although the power has dropped off, he should score north of 70 runs and swipe around 15 bags, making him valuable in all formats.
12-team leagues
Tommy Pham, STL OF (8% ownership), FAAB Bid - $5-7 – With Stephen Piscotty out, Pham has stepped in nicely and given the Red Birds a power surge they likely weren’t expecting. Just over the last week, Pham has mashed three home runs and has slugged 1.063. We mentioned this wasn’t expected because Pham is 29-years young and had 14 career homers entering this season. Pham’s hot start isn’t sustainable, but he’s a great replacement for the time being. Even when Piscotty returns, Pham could see a healthy amount of playing time if he continues to hit and someone like Randall Grichuk continues to struggle.
Nate Karns, KC SP, RP (9% ownership), FAAB Bid - $7 – Before his last two starts, you wouldn’t have even flinched if somebody told you how good Karns would starting pitching, but here we are. He’s simply been lights out over his last 12.1 innings, striking out 17 batters while allowing just two runs. The 36 Ks over his 35.1 innings isn’t an aberration as he’s posted a very respectable 9.2 K/9 mark thus far in his career. Karns eligibility at both pitchers spot is also a big plus in all formats.
Matt Andriese, TB SP, RP (24% ownership), FAAB Bid - $8 – Talk about a model of consistency to start the 2017 campaign. Andriese has posted four quality starts over his last six outings and hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs over that same six-game span. Just over the last two weeks, opponents have a well-hit average of .061 against him, which slots him third among all qualified SP.
15-team leagues
Kennys Vargas, MIN 1B (1% ownership), FAAB Bid - $3 – Although first base is stockpiled with big fantasy producers, here’s a player that has flown under the radar early on this season. He started 2017 in the minors, but since being called up he’s been very productive. Vargas his hit four home runs in just 11 games this season and has posted an OPS of 1.000. He’s excelled versus RHP over the last two weeks, posting an OPS of 1.118 which is third in the league amongst part-time players.
Matt Szczur, SD OF (0% ownership), FAAB Bid - $0 – If you’re desperate and we mean absolutely desperate, here’s a name to consider. Szczur was just dealt from the Cubs to the Padres – we feel your pain, Matt – where there will definitely more opportunity. Szczur hasn’t shown much over his short time in the majors, but in the minors he showed off his skills more frequently. He had separate seasons in which he hit 10 triples, 10 homeruns and stole over 50 bases. In NL-only formats, he could be worth a look, especially if there is some statement that he will be platooning in San Diego.
*ownership percentages courtesy of Yahoo
** FAAB bids based on $100 budget
Player News
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that Zach Eflin (lat) is likely to return and start Sunday against the Angels
It was assumed that Eflin would be back this weekend, but now we have a concrete date. The 31-year-old may not be at full strength after throwing fewer than 60 pitches in his rehab start, but the Orioles feel confident enough to have the right-hander back on the bump for the series finale against the Angels.
Riley Greene is not in the lineup for the first game of a doubleheader against the Rockies on Thursday.
Greene will get a break and likely return to the lineup for the second game of the twin-billing. Zach McKinstry will get the start in left field while Greene rests.
Yu Darvish (elbow) is facing live hitters on Thursday.
Darvish has been throwing bullpen sessions and traveled to the team’s complex in Arizona to face live hitters on Thursday. It will be his first time facing live batters since a spring training appearance on March 13th. He will likely need a few sessions like this before the Padres can map out a rehab appearance timeline for him.
Adael Amador is starting at second base and batting ninth for the Rockies on Thursday.
Amador has now started three of the last four games at second base for the Rockies. He’s gone just 7-for-43 this season with 15 strikeouts in 16 games. He’s just 22 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to adjust to the MLB level, but he doesn’t need to be on redraft radars right now.
Jackson Holliday is playing second base and batting second for the Orioles on Thursday against the Twins.
With Cedric Mullins sitting out on Thursday, Gunnar Henderson will bat lead off, and Holliday will jump up from sixth in the order to second. Holliday is riding a hot streak right now, and the Orioles are taking advantage. This is likely just a one-game sample with no Mullins or Adley Rutschman in the lineup, but Rutschman has been struggling, so perhaps it could become a more permanent spot in the lineup for Holliday moving forward.
Endy Rodriguez (finger) had his splint removed this week.
Rodriguez suffered a lacerated right index finger on April 14th. Now that he is out of his splint, he “is playing catch and doing a slightly modified swing.” Once he can progress to taking full swings, we’ll have a better sense of the timeline for his return.