If it feels like at least one of your players is going on the injured list every day, you're not alone. The injuries are already piling up in the early part of the fantasy baseball season. Hitting the waiver wire is key to keeping your team competitive

 

Top Waiver Wire Hitters

Chas McCormick, OF, Houston Astros (10% – Yahoo, 2.5% – ESPN)

McCormick was recently promoted to the lead off spot for the Astros and it's a valuable spot to be in. He's also been aggressive on the bases so far with three stolen bases in three attempts and has two home runs and seven RBIs in his first 27 at-bats.

Josh Lowe, OF, Tampa Bay Rays (5% – Yahoo, 1.6% – ESPN)

Lowe is off to a great start through his first six games, batting .357 with four doubles, three runs, one home run and five RBIs. More importantly, the strikeouts are way down with only three in 22 at-bats. Lowe will sit against most left-handers, but he has power and speed.

Brice Turang, SS, Milwaukee Brewers (32% – Yahoo, 13.6% – ESPN)

Turang has been playing every day and can be a replacement for those that lost Oneil Cruz. Turang makes good contact and has a 13.8% walk rate in his first 29 plate appearances. He had 13 home runs and 34 stolen bases in 131 games at Triple-A last season. Turang has one home run and two stolen bases in his first nine games.

Isaac Paredes, 1B/2B/3B, Tampa Bay Rays (37% – Yahoo, 24.3% – ESPN)

Paredes has been playing almost every day and usually bats third against left-handed pitchers. He has eligibility at three positions and has good power. He had 20 home runs in 381 at-bats last season and has two home runs and nine RBIs in his first nine games.

Akil Baddoo, OF, Detroit Tigers (3% – Yahoo, 0.4% – ESPN)

This is for deeper formats. Baddoo was called up with Austin Meadows out due to anxiety. Baddoo has hit lead off in his first two games and went 2-for-5 in each game. He was on fire at Triple-A with a 1.013 OPS in 28 at-bats after struggling last season with the Tigers. In his 2021 rookie season, Baddoo had 13 home runs and 18 stolen bases in 413 at-bats.

 

Top Waiver Wire Pitchers

Bryce Elder, SP, Atlanta Braves (39% – Yahoo, 13.7% – ESPN)

Elder has pitched well in his first start and is earning a spot in the rotation. He pitched six scoreless innings with two hits, three walks and six strikeouts in his first start against the Cardinals and pitched 6.1 scoreless innings and allowed six hits, one walk and struck out seven Monday against the Reds. Elder's next start is in Kansas City.

Seth Lugo, SP, San Diego Padres (39% – Yahoo, 30.9% – ESPN)

Lugo has pitched out of the bullpen with the Mets the last few seasons, but you would never know based on his first two starts with the Padres. Lugo threw 93 pitches in his first start and 109 in his second on Sunday. In 13 innings, he has allowed nine hits, two runs, four walks and struck out 12 for a 1.38 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. The Padres are using a six-man rotation for now.

Jose Alvarado, RP, Philadelphia Phillies (23% – Yahoo, 5.3% – ESPN)

The Phillies bullpen has been awful. Craig Kimbrel, Seranthony Dominguez and Gregory Soto each have an ERA of at least nine. Alvarado has been dominant and could be the closer soon. In four innings, Alvarado has allowed one hit, no walks and struck out 11. The last time Alvarado allowed a run in the regular season was August 23rd. 

Kris Bubic, SP, Kansas City Royals, (10% – Yahoo, 2.3% – ESPN)

Trusting Royals pitchers in fantasy the last several seasons has ended well. Bubic has flashed before, but his first two starts have been impressive. In 11 innings pitched, he has allowed nine hits, two earned runs, one walk and struck out 13 against the Blue Jays and Giants. He had 19 swings and misses against the Giants on Sunday. Bubic showed the same ability to miss bats in the spring and his velocity is up.

Drey Jameson, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks (16% – Yahoo, 4% ESPN)

Zach Davies is on the injured list with an oblique injury and Jameson will take his spot in the rotation. Jameson has been pitching in long relief and has thrown 66, 38 and 26 pitches in his three appearances. Jameson can hit triple-digits with his fastball and his slider induces a lot of swings and misses.

 

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