High Fives: Week 3 fantasy waiver wire finds include Jake Lamb
As we head into Week 3 of the fantasy baseball season, Brandon Funston, Scott Pianowski and Andy Behrens offer their top-5 takes on those players bucking for employment in fantasy leagues. Each week, we'll take a trip around the diamond to uncover the best help that your FAAB dollars can buy. Let's get to it ...
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Top 5 corner infield pickups among the under 50% owned crowd | ||
1. Mike Moustakas - Spray chart shows he's using the whole field - he pulled every HR in '14, but neither of his two HRs in '15 | 1. Jake Lamb - As long as bat stays robust, we won't sweat Tomas (or annoying Chip Hale) | 1. Michael Morse - Proven player with useful power and multi-position eligibility |
2. Jake Lamb - Offensively, he's doing it all, and have to love a 6:3 BB-to-K ratio out of the gate | 2. Michael Morse - I still think this should be one of the better NL lineups | 2. Jake Lamb - The kid went 11-for-25 to start season, offers pop and on-base skills |
3. Adam Lind - Already has more hits vs. LHP (3) than he had all of last season (2) | 3. Yonder Alonso - Vanilla play, but here comes four games at Coors Field | 3. Mitch Moreland - My loyalty to him is unflinching. Day-to-day at the moment, but (hopefully) will avoid DL |
4. Joe Mauer - Nothing exciting about him sans C eligibility, but safe BA bet with some RBI/R upside hitting 3rd for MIN | 4. David Freese - If he can stay healthy, the 2012 power level is attainable. Lineup helps. | 4. Mike Moustakas - Personally, I've had nothin' but bad experiences with this guy, but I can't deny he's raking |
5. Chase Headley - Compelling enough pedigree to want to see what a full year away from SDG looks like | 5. Eric Campbell - Just pretend it's 1979 and you're drafting Earl Campbell | 5. David Freese - He's hitting in the heart of the order, behind Trout and Pujols |
Top 5 middle infield pickups among the under 50% owned crowd | ||
1. Brandon Phillips - He's in decline years, but only a season removed from 100 RBI - seeing plenty of cleanup duty in '15 | 1. Jed Lowrie - A useful bat until the next injury | 1. Jed Lowrie - Hitting in a prime spot in the order, offers respectable power/speed totals |
2. Roughned Odor - I'd gamble on the upside of the very talented 21-year-old who has held up well in 1st 125 MLB games | 2. Odubel Herrera - A one-trick pony, but Phillies can't be choosy | 2. Odubel Herrera - Surging in recent days, flashing the speed that makes him fantasy relevant |
3. Odubel Herrera - Who doesn't love cheap speed from a player with MI and OF eligibility? | 3. Brandon Phillips - Applying for Ibanez All-Star membership | 3. Wilmer Flores - Finally beginning to show the power, with two HRs over his last three games |
4. Jed Lowrie - Now has 19 HRs in 106 career games in a HOU uniform | 4. Wilmer Flores - Swings for the downs every time, but connecting on a few | 4. Brandon Phillips - Sure, he's a boring vet, but the floor is well-known and relatively high for a MI. |
5. Brock Holt - Little power, but can hit for average and run a bit, plus his versatility is the ultimate fantasy roster Band-Aid | 5. Brock Holt - Covers a sillly five positions, should find way into lineup eventually | 5. Chris Owings - Ugly beginning to his season, but he's much better than this. Also, his home park is a plus |
Top 5 outfield pickups among the under 50% owned crowd | ||
1. Denard Span - Just activated from DL - hit .302 with 31 SBs and 94 runs in '14 | 1. Gose/Davis - You'll need bench space, but a fun Motown platoon if you have the time | 1. Ender Inciarte - Enjoy the runs, the steals, and the multi-hit games |
2. Angel Pagan - Proven hit-n-run roto play that deserves to be rostered for as long as he's healthy | 2. Dexter Fowler - Kris Bryant makes everyone around him better, ha ha ha | 2. Stephen Vogt - Technically, he's OF-eligible. But I mention him because he's a catcher and he's raking |
3. Dexter Fowler - Sitting on top 100 fantasy numbers as the leadoff for a very potent lineup | 3. Alex Guerrero - A speculation play; bat looks so ready, just needs an opportunity | 3. Rajai Davis - Weirdly low ownership percentage for a burner tied to a terrific lineup |
4. Kevin Kiermaier - 15/15 upside with nice Runs potential as TB leadoff | 4. Alejandro De Aza - If Buck trusts him at trigger position, so should we | 4. Dexter Fowler - Hitting atop the Cubs order, ahead of Soler, Rizzo and Ruth Bryant |
5. Ender Inciarte - Speed, ability to hit for average sitting atop what has been a top 12 offense | 5. Dustin Ackley - I'm a sucker for the post-hype story | 5. Alejandro De Aza - Leading off for the O's, offers pop, modest speed and run-scoring |
Top 5 pitcher pickups among the under 50% owned crowd | ||
1. A.J. Burnett - PIT track record makes it easy to buy into 1st two starts of '15 | 1. Danny Salazar - Looked more than legit in Saturday return | 1. Joel Peralta - He's closing for the Dodgers, yet still unattached in a majority of leagues |
2. Danny Salazar - 10 K in his '15 debut - '14 awful opening act starting to look like water under the bridge | 2. Drew Pomeranz - When in doubt, believe the A's are right | 2. Anthony DeSclafani - He won't maintain these silly ratios, but this is a quality N.L. starter, capable of Ks |
3. Drew Pomeranz - Former elite prospect enjoying move from outhouse (COL) to penthouse (OAK) | 3. Archie Bradley - A shame about the park, but everything else lines up | 3. Yimi Garcia - If you can find a spot for a non-closing RP, this kid delivers two Ks per game |
4. Joel Peralta - Until he's forced back to setup role, needs to be rostered in all leagues | 4. A.J. Burnett - Ray Searage can fix anyone or anything; the Mr. Spicoli of MLB | 4.Archie Bradley - Season is off to a stellar start; he gets Texas in his next turn |
5. Yimi Garcia - Added him last week in Friends/Family league - crazy minor league K rate has followed him to LA | 5. Carlos Rodon - Should be a monster when he finally gets the call | 5. Carlos Martinez - You have to like the team context, and his first two starts have gone well |
Top 5 all-time early season MLB memories | ||
1. Roger Clemens Ks 20 M's - Didn't love it as a M's fan, but was able to deal Mike Boddicker to my brother (who wasn't watching) for Clemens mid-game | 1. Kerry Wood's 20 - Ultimate in wiffle ball, best game I've ever seen pitched. | 1. Kerry Wood's utterly ridiculous 20-K game - If it isn't the greatest game ever thrown, it's in the dicussion |
2. Macklemore's Dave Niehaus tribute - His "My Oh My" salute to M's late HOF announcer on opening night '11 was cause for a hanky | 2. Fernandomania - Close your eyes, lift your head to the sky, listen to the angelic Scully backdrop | 2. Can't personally claim it as a memory, since I was only two, but No. 715 belongs on any list of great April moments |
3. Safeco chill - I have done nothing but freeze my ass off in every April game I've ever attended at Safeco, which is why I avoid those trips now | 3. Clemens stikes out 20 Mariners - I had 1986 Celtics on the tube, but we changed over in time | 3. Philip Humber's perfect game. Honestly, I still cannot believe that happened. Hope you sold high |
4. Kerry Wood Ks 20 - Although I'm not a Cubs fan, it was hard not to be captivated by a young Wood's absolutely sick breaking ball and upper 90s heater | 4. Tuffy's opening day hat trick - For one day at least, Tuffy Rhodes ruled the world | 4. Rick Monday rescues the flag. Pretty awesome that Vin Scully was on hand for so many great/odd occurences |
5. Tuffy Rhodes hat trick - Yes, I too was one of the many fantasy owners trying to make sense of this one | 5. Dante Bichette christens Coors Field - The beginning of a wonderful friendship | 5. Mike Jacobs starts hot in '08 and I trade him straight-up for Tim Lincecum. If I'm being honest, this is my No. 1 |
