By the end of this week, it will be June, which officially kicks off summer, or what everyone in fantasy sports likes to call, “the heart of baseball season.” With just six weeks until the All-Star break, and eight weeks until the trade deadline, the value of every team in fantasy sports is at its peak now. Once these next few weeks are in the book, some teams will start to bring up young players to play, and others will be trading for veterans to help off the bench.
Whether it is a free agent pool, a budget-based system, or weekly waivers, playing the wire is a key element to winning your fantasy baseball leagues.
Each week, XN Sports will present an option at each position (if there is anyone worth picking up), and why you should add them.
Without further ado, let’s play the waiver wire:
Catcher
Yan Gomes, Cleveland Indians
Gomes has frequented this list a lot this season, but for some reason he continues to be available on the waiver wire. Gomes is available in around 60 percent of fantasy leagues, and should be a starting catcher in fantasy baseball. He is hitting .280 with six home runs and 18 runs batted in, and has scored 23 runs, which is second to Joe Mauer amongst catchers.
Third Base
Lonnie Chisenhall, Cleveland Indians
Chisenhall has been on fire in his last 42 at-bats, as he is hitting .452, but is even hotter in the last 25 at-bats where he has 12 hits. Chisenhall is available in over 80 percent of leagues, and is worth an add if you need help at the hot corner. In the last week, he leads all third basemen in hits, is second in runs scored, is third in home runs, and is first in total bases. Add him while he is hot.
Shortstop
Brandon Crawford, San Francisco Giants
Crawford is hitting just .255 on the year, which is nothing special. But, what he can contribute to your fantasy team is power, which is tough to get from a shortstop. Crawford has six home runs and 22 runs batted in, which both rank in the top seven shortstops. The other six are on almost every single fantasy team, so add Crawford if you need help at shortstop and can sacrifice some batting average for power numbers.
Outfield
David Murphy, Cleveland Indians
Murphy has been a solid hitter for a long time, and that trend has continued this year. The thing is, Murphy is available in over half of fantasy leagues, so check the wire to see if he’s available. So far this season, Murphy is hitting .268 with five home runs and 31 runs batted in. He has also scored 19 runs and has stolen two bases. In the last two weeks, Murphy has been on fire in the production department, hitting three home runs and driving in a dozen runs. Add him if you need help in the outfield.
Starting Pitcher/Relief Pitcher
Jenrry Mejia, New York Mets
It’s Monday, so you know what that means. There is another closer that is available on the waiver wire, and he is available in over 70 percent of fantasy leagues. Mejia has cemented his role as the Mets’ closer for now, and should be added in leagues where saves have weight. Don’t have enough room to add another reliever? Mejia is also eligible at starting pitcher, so be sure to add him if you need saves or just some help in a few categories at pitcher. How is that possible with a closer? Mejia has struck out eight batters in seven innings since becoming a reliever, and has only walked one batter without allowing an earned run. He is worth more than just saves, so if you need some help, be sure to add him.
