It’s not fantasy baseball unless there are big-time injuries to your team within the first ten days, right? Most of us are already frustrated with the injuries to Jose Reyes, Clayton Kershaw, Omar Infante, Mark Teixeira, and now Matt Moore. The key to succeeding with injuries is not to panic and make trades to help your roster immediately, because it is a long season and the waiver wire can help you during the short-run.
Whether it is a free agent pool, a budget-budget based system, or weekly waivers, playing the wire is a key element to winning your fantasy baseball leagues.
Each Wednesday, XN Sports will present an option at each position, and why you should add them.
Without further ado, let’s play the waiver wire:
Catcher
Yan Gomes, Cleveland Indians
For some odd reason, Gomes is vastly under owned, and if his name is still on the waiver wire, be sure to capitalize. So far this season, Gomes is hitting .286 with two home runs and five runs scored in a powerful Indians lineup. Last season he hit .294 with 11 home runs in under 300 at-bats. With Gomes hitting in the Cleveland lineup, he possesses value anyway, but considering that he has some pop and a good batting average it makes little sense for him to be on the waiver wire. Add him if you are struggling behind the plate.
First Base
Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees
This is a different kind of add for the waiver wire, but a good add. Teixeira has a grade 1 strain of his hamstring and is currently on the disabled list. But seeing as he will be back in no less than two weeks, you could add a productive fantasy first baseman. Now, why would he be available? A lot of owners seem to drop their players right away if they are hurt, and then the savvy fantasy baseball players are able to stash him until he comes back. Teixeira has been dropped in about 25 percent of leagues, so he is bound to be available somewhere. Use your waiver claim on him should he be on the waiver wire.
Second Base
Neil Walker, Pittsburgh Pirates
Walker is being dropped left and right, and is available in over 65 percent of fantasy leagues. Although he is coming off a down year, (he still hit 16 home runs and scored 62 runs) Walker is still one of the better second base options in fantasy baseball. A lot of fantasy leagues have a roster slot for 2B/SS, and this is where you want Walker. So far this season he is hitting .250 with a home run and a stolen base, but remember Walker is a career .273 hitter and has gone three for his last seven. Add him before your league mates get to him.
Third Base
Trevor Plouffe, Minnesota Twins
Last week we informed you that Plouffe was under owned, and one week later he still is. Although he is being added quickly, the Twins starter at the hot corner is only owned in less than a quarter of the fantasy leagues out there. So far this season he is hitting .370 with seven runs batted in and seven runs scored. Plouffe has some pop, hitting 14 home runs last season and 24 the year before, so add him to your roster should you be in need of a third baseman.
Shortstop
Dee Gordon, Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodgers fans are glad to see his name in the lineup each and every day with his speed, and so should you. Gordon is only owned in around 40 percent of leagues and he already has three stolen bases. But, Gordon is not just speed as he is hitting .357 and even hit a home run last night against the Tigers. We all long for a shortstop with stolen base capabilities in our fantasy lineups, and Gordon is there for the taking. If you need help at 2B/SS he is your guy.
Outfield
Avisail Garcia, Chicago White Sox
During the preseason, Garcia was one of XN Sports sleepers, as detailed here. For some reason he is being dropped in almost half the leagues that he is owned in. Garcia is available in almost every fantasy league, so be sure to add him. Why? Currently he is hitting .276 with two home runs and five runs scored after his monster day in Colorado. But last season he hit .283 with seven home runs while driving in 31 runs and scoring just as many. Garcia has the potential to be a 25 home run hitter without sacrificing batting average, how often will you find that on the waiver wire?
Starting Pitcher
Yordano Ventura, Kansas City Royals
The Royals young star has made his impact in the major leagues right away. In his first start against the Rays he allowed just two hits and threw six scoreless innings while striking out six. Ventura has electric stuff, hitting over 100 miles per hour on the gun with consistency. The knock on Ventura is how he releases the ball and that it will lead him into some trouble, but the talent is there and he can be a strikeout-per-inning pitcher in the big league for a long time. In dynasty formats it is a given that he should be added immediately, but in regular fantasy baseball he needs to be added as well. Ventura’s next start is against the Houston Astros on Tuesday, April 15th.
Relief Pitcher
Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds
With Aroldis Chapman still recovering from a head injury, the Reds need a closer. Manny Parra has the only save of the season so far for the Reds, but Broxton was just activated off the disabled list and will assume the closer role until Chapman returns. More than likely, Broxton will be available in your leagues, so pick him up if you are in need of saves. Broxton struggled last year with a 4.11 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP, but he still has a heavy fastball and will get every opportunity to be the Reds closer for the time being.
