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Waiver Wire – Week 5

Waiver Wire2Jesus Aguilar, 1B, MIA (CBS: 47% rostered): In his past seven games, Aguilar has gone 11-for-29 with a homer and nine RBI. During this span, he has only struck out a total of three times. On the season he’s sporting a .302 BA. Why is he rostered in only 47% of the Leagues at CBS?

Alec Bohm, 3B, PHI (CBS: 23% rostered): The Phillies are hoping that Alec Bohm can provide their rather anemic offense with a spark. The swing is a tad long so BA expectations should be tempered, but there is no doubting that immense power potential.

Dylan Carlson, OF, STL (CBS: 51% rostered): The Cards have finally called up young phenom Dylan Carlson and it won’t be to ride the pine. With a double-header every other day, you can rest assured that Carlson will get plenty of opportunities to ply his trade.

Dylan Cease, SP, CWS (CBS: 54% rostered): After a dreadful 2020 debut against Cleveland, Cease has quietly reeled off three outstanding efforts. In 17 IP he has allowed only three earned runs and has now reeled off a string of three consecutive victories. It’s time to find a home for him if he’s hanging out in your League’s Free Agent pool.

Lewin Diaz, 1B, MIA (CBS: 6% rostered): Corey Dickerson has been placed on the bereavement list, so the Marlins are giving their future at 1B a look. Diaz profile took a huge boost last year when he mashed 27 homers in 455 at-bats down on the farm. It’s more than likely a short stint for the 23-year-old slugger, but at the same time, Garrett Cooper is currently nowhere to be found, so a hot start could dictate a longer look. If you have the room in 15-team formats, a cheap stash has the potential to reap some decent rewards.

Clint Frazier, OF, NYY (CBS: 22% rostered): There are three certainties in life. Death, Taxes, and that Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge (sometimes both at the same time) will spend time on the IL. With Stanton and Judge both on the IL, the Yankees called up Frazier last Wednesday and in his first game, he goes 3-for-4 with a solo shot. Game Two he goes 1-for-4 with a pair of RBI. In his third game, he ups the ante, going 3-for-3 with a homer and five RBI. Come on Yankees, do what it takes and find a permanent home for this extremely talented youngster.

Luis Garcia, SS, WAS (CBS: 9% rostered): The 20-year-old Garcia is far from a finished product, but the broken right wrist suffered by Starlin Castro Friday night has forced Washington’s hand. In NL-only Leagues, the speed numbers could prove to be an asset.

Kevin Gausman, SP, SFG (CBS: 27% rostered): On the surface, Gausman is looking very much like an average starting pitcher. He’s currently sporting a 4.21 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over his first 25 2/3 IP. What should have your attention is the 34/5 K/BB ratio.

Robbie Grossman, OF, OAK (CBS: 7% rostered): Grossman has always been able to find his way to first base, and that has continued into 2020 where he’s currently posting a 16.2% walk rate. He’s also contributed three homers and four stolen bases in his first 53 at-bats. He should be rostered and active in all Leagues using OBP.

Nick Markakis, OF, ATL (CBS: 19% rostered): Ronald Acuna was anticipated to return on Monday from the nagging wrist injury, but has now been moved to the 10-day IL. In the meantime expect a steady diet of at-bats and solid production from Markakis.

Casey Mize, SP, DET (CBS: 41% rostered): With the news that Ivan Nova has been placed on the 10-day IL with right triceps tendinitis and Tyler Alexander likely returning to a long-relief role, I wonder what young phenom might be looking at making his MLB debut this coming week?

Freddy Peralta, SP/RP, MIL (CBS: 14% rostered): Peralta is currently working in long relief and in his past three appearances totaling nine innings, he has allowed three hits, walked two, has allowed no earned runs, and struck out an amazing 19 batters. Don’t let the fact that he’s not starting every fifth day sway you from finding a spot in your Fantasy rotation.

Drew Pomeranz, RP, SDP (CBS: 55% rostered): Kirby Yates is dealing with bone spurs on his elbow, necessitating what could potentially be a long IL stint. Drew Pomeranz already has four saves on the year and in 7 2/3 IP has yet to allow a run. He’s only allowed but a single hit. I think it’s safe to say that Pomeranz will enjoy his time spent in the ninth inning a lot more than the opposition.

Alex Reyes, RP, STL (CBS: 15% rostered): The rather thin St. Louis bullpen gets a huge boost when Alex Reyes and that 99 mph high heat enters into the discussion. Last night he struck out the side in his 2020 debut. The Cards will need every arm they can find with their double-header heavy schedule and a healthy Reyes would give them and Fantasy Managers a huge boost.

Keibert Ruiz, C, LAD (CBS: 9% rostered): Will Smith has now moved from day-to-day to the 10-day IL with neck inflammation. During his absence, the Dodgers will call on the 22-year-old Ruiz to share the workload with Austin Barnes. Last year down on the farm, Ruiz posted a 22/30 K/BB ratio. Even in a short burst, that hit tool is intriguing.

Dominic Smith, 1B/OF, NYM (CBS: 33% rostered): In his past four games, Smith has hit four homers driven in eight runs and gone 8-for-17 at the dish. A .212 BA heading into the week is now at an even .300. I’m thinking that Yoenis Cespedes will be on Dominic Smith’s Christmas card list this year.

Nick Solak, 2B/3B/OF, TEX (CBS: 38% rostered): In his past seven games, Solak is 12-for-25 with a homer and stolen base. Rougned Odor should be concerned…….very concerned.

Gregory Soto, RP, DET (CBS: 6% rostered): Soto has now pitched 10 shutout innings in which he has allowed only two hits and an equal number of walks. He has struck out 14 batters. He has also moved into the setup role with Buck Farmer on the 10-day IL. He should be active and rolling in all Leagues that count holds.

Rowdy Tellez, 1B, TOR (CBS: 7% rostered): It would appear that Rowdy Tellez is taking a shining to “Coors North”. Two games in the books and he has blasted two homers with four RBI. Tellez has always been streaky and this looks like the beginning of one.

Luis Urias, 2B/SS, MIL (CBS: 16% rostered): Urias has finally worked his way back to the active roster, after testing positive for Covid-19 at Summer Camp. In a season where BA is down, Urias and that solid hit tool should bring some relief.

Tony Watson, RP, SFG (CBS: 18% rostered): Trevor Gott was sailing along owning the closer role until Friday night when he allowed five earned runs in 1/3 IP. Saturday it wasn’t any better, as he allowed four earned runs in 2/3 IP, inflating his ERA to 12 .86 on the season. It looks like a change could be in order, with either Tony Watson or Tyler Rogers or both in a bullpen-by-committee scenario. I’ll give Watson a slight edge.

Five Under Five

Mike Brosseau, 1B/2B/3B/OF, TBR (CBS: 3% rostered): Brosseau is coming off a solid 2019 season at Triple-A, with 16 homers and 60 RBI in 270 at-bats. In AL-only formats, his ability to play at multiple positions and hit southpaws will prove to be an asset.

Ryan Castellani, SP, COL (CBS: 3% rostered): After getting absolutely destroyed at Triple-A Albuquerque last year, Castellani and that 94 mph fastball has proven to be a pleasant surprise. In two starts totaling 8 2/3 IP he’s allowed only one earned run and chipped in with ten strikeouts. Yes, it’s early, and he is pitching half his games at Coors, but so far so good.

Danny Mendick, 2B/SS, CWS (CBS: 1% rostered): Our on-again, off-again love affair with Leury Garcia has ended. Garcia hit the 45-day IL with a sprained thumb, leaving Danny Mendick to handle 2B for the White Sox. The power/speed combination and above-average hit tool makes Mendick a solid play in 15-team formats.

Roman Quinn, OF, PHI (CBS: 2% rostered): Scott Kingery is hurting. Adam Hasely is on the IL. Quinn should find his way into steady at-bats for at least the next week, maybe two. The cheap speed is always intriguing.

Chance Sisco, C, BAL (CBS: 5% rostered): Sisco is doing something that most catchers aren’t doing in 2020, he’s hitting for average. Toss in a couple of homers, and one could do much worse when looking at a second catcher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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