Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Correa, Garcia among top pickup options
Need some help in your fantasy league? We all do at some point during the season. Lead fantasy sports writer Michael Beller provides his best waiver wire additions this week. All players are available in at least 60% of leagues.
Starting pitchers
Carlos Rodon, White Sox (Mixed: $8, AL-only: $21): Rodon had the best start of his young career last time out, fanning 10 batters and allowing just one run in six innings. Walks are always going to be a problem (he issued three free passes in the same start), but anyone with his ceiling should be much more widely owned.
Taijuan Walker, Mariners (Mixed: $6, AL-only: $17): After a terrible start to the season, Walker may finally be putting everything together. He has made it through eight innings in each of his last two starts, allowing a total of three runs on seven hits while striking out 15 batters. Like Rodon, the ceiling is too high for him to be as regularly available as he is right now.
Jaime Garcia, Cardinals (Mixed: $5, NL-only: $16): Garcia has notched quality starts in all four of his outings this season, and is coming off a 7-inning, 2-run, 6-strikeout performance against the Dodgers. He won’t be on the wire for too much longer in most leagues.
• CORCORAN: Awards Watch: Pederson leading Bryant in NL ROY race
Relief pitchers
Brad Ziegler, Diamondbacks (Mixed: $8, NL-only: $15): Despite reports that Addison Reed would potentially be moving back into the closer’s chair, Ziegler has converted three consecutive save opportunities. He’s the man to own in Arizona.
Rafael Soriano, FA (Mixed: $2): Soriano remains a free agent, but he will throw for interested teams this week. He should catch on with one in the near future and, depending where he goes, he could be relevant in fantasy leagues immediately upon signing.
Brandon Morrow, Padres (Mixed: $3, NL-only: $7): Morrow is scheduled to make a rehab start with Double-A San Antonio on Tuesday. Assuming all goes well, he should be back in the San Diego rotation by the end of the month.
Corner infielders
Re-ranking the top 50 fantasy baseball players in the 2015 season
Adam Lind, Brewers (Mixed: $10, NL-only: $19): Lind may struggle, and often sit, against left-handed pitching, but he’s still slashing .289/.361/.511 with nine homers 31 RBI and 21 runs scored this season. Even with a day off here and there, he’s well worth owning in most fantasy formats.
Justin Turner, Dodgers (Mixed: $2, NL-only: $7): Turner has been getting a lot of time at third base since the Dodgers dealt Juan Uribe, and is hitting .301/.377/.488 with five homers on the season. He’s a strong corner infield option in deeper leagues.
Chris Colabello, Blue Jays (Mixed: $2, AL-only: $10): Colabello can provide a power boost in deeper leagues, and also qualifies in the outfield. He’s hitting .359/.400/.538 with four homers in 125 plate appearances.
• RAWNSLEY: 2015 MLB Mock Draft: Vanderbilt's Swanson poised to go No. 1
Middle infielders
Carlos Correa, Astros (Mixed: $8, AL-only: $22): Correa will likely be with the Astros sooner rather than later. (Update: Correa was called up Sunday night.) Fantasy owners would definitely rather be too early than too late on the phenom. He’ll be worth owning in all formats once he’s with the big league club.
Jose Iglesias, Tigers (Mixed: $1, AL-only: $7): Iglesias is hitting .338 after compiling a .303 batting average in 109 games in 2013. He’s going to provide a good average, and already has seven stolen bases this season, as well.
Logan Forsythe, Rays (Mixed: $2, AL-only: $9): Forsythe is getting time at second and first, and as long as he’s hitting Kevin Cash will find a spot for him in the lineup. He’s slashing .276/.364/.464 with seven homers, 25 RBI, 25 runs and four steals this season.
Outfielders
Kris Bryant or Carlos Correa: Which super prospect would you choose?
Rajai Davis, Tigers (Mixed: $2, AL-only: $13): Davis doesn’t play every day, but you can pretty much bet that he’ll swipe a bag on days he does make Brad Ausmus’ lineup card. He has 13 steals this season to go along with a .261 batting average and .336 OBP.
Andre Ethier, Dodgers (Mixed: $4, NL-only: $20): Ethier was an afterthought in Los Angeles at the start of the season, but injuries have opened the door for an everyday job. He has taken advantage, hitting .288/.371/.503 with seven homers in 175 plate appearances.
Delino DeShields, Rangers (Mixed: $2, AL-only: $16): DeShields has been a stolen-base machine, thieving 13 bags in 41 games. He could very well steal 30 bases this season, providing speed on the cheap. Josh Hamilton’s injury is a boon for DeShields’ fantasy value.
