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Waiver Wire – Week 3

Alejandro Kirk, C, TOR (CBS: 24% rostered): Danny Jansen is currently mired in a 2-for-28 funk with no homers and RBI’s. The Jays will only tolerate his inability to hit for so long before Alejandro Kirk starts taking away at-bats. That time is fast approaching. It might have even arrived.

Rowdy Tellez, 1B, TOR (CBS: 18% rostered): Tellez got off to a dreadful start, going 0-for-21. All that has changed and should be forgotten after the 8-for-19 run this past week. It’s time to make a move and get him active heading into Week Four.

Jed Lowrie, 2B, OAK (CBS: 48% rostered): Jed Lowrie and the Oakland A’s have a special bond and a good one. The proof is in the pudding. Two homers, 12 RBI, and a .360 BA are all you need to know to get Lowrie in your active lineup next week.

Adam Frazier, 2B/OF, PIT (CBS: 26% rostered): We know it is the Pirates and a rather offensive offense, but Frazier is hitting out of the leadoff slot and thus far is doing exactly what a leadoff bat should do. The 5/7 strikeout-to-walk rate guarantees he’ll score runs.

Jurickson Profar, 2B/OF, SDP (CBS: 27% rostered): Three games at 1B. Three games at 2B. Eleven games in the outfield. He’s doing exactly what was anticipated but for one small thing. He has currently walked 11 times in his first 49 at-bats and is sporting a .403 OBP. He has also swiped three bases. The combination of the roster flex, on-base skills, and speed makes Profar a great investment in all formats.

Josh Harrison, 2B/3B, WAS (CBS: 6% rostered): Harrison got off to a late start, getting caught up in the early-season Covid woes in Washington, but since being activated from the IL on April 12 has been on fire. He has gone 10-for-18 with a homer and five RBI and looks to be penciled in as the primary option at second base for the Nats. He’s doing exactly what is expected of former Pirate players. He’s excelling.

Leury Garcia, SS, CWS (CBS: 3% rostered): Now that Tim Anderson has returned from his stint on the 10-day IL, Garcia can return to his role of super-sub. Andrew Vaughn is struggling, both at the dish and in the field. Will Garcia be the short-term beneficiary of those struggles?

Adolis Garcia, OF, TEX (CBS: 2% rostered): in 2019 at Triple-A Memphis, Garcia slugged 32 homers in 491 at-bats. He also struck out 159 times. It’s a case of feast or famine, but with Ronald Guzman on the 10-day IL with a meniscus cartilage tear, Garcia could get a lengthy opportunity to flash that massive power potential for the Rangers.

Jarren Duran, OF, BOS (CBS: 9% rostered): Franchy Cordero and Hunter Renfroe simply aren’t getting it done. It’s only a matter of time before we see Jarren Duran getting the call. An early buy-in and bench stash are highly advised.

Scott Schebler, OF, LAA (CBS: not rostered): Okay, we were wrong on the Friday Podcast. It wasn’t the recently released Jon Jay taking over for the injured Dexter Fowler, it was Scott Schebler. Either way, it’s the type of roster move anticipated but far from preferred. In AL-only Leagues give Schebler a look. In any other format, wait for the eventual Joe Adell or Brandon Marsh promotion.

Maikel Franco, 3B, BAL (CBS: 29% rostered): In the RBI race at the “hot corner”, Franco is currently tied with Rafael Devers for second place with 14 RBI. Sustainable, probably not, but a potential 20-85 season is warranting a bit more love than what we are currently witnessing.

Ryan Weathers, SP/RP, SDP (CBS: 12% rostered): Weathers is off to a great start with the Padres. In 9 2/3 innings, he has allowed a scant three hits, four, walks only one earned run, and has chipped in with ten strikeouts. The injuries to Adrian Morejon and Dinelson Lamet have created an opportunity that Weathers has capitalized on and whether in a starting or middle-relief role, should hold solid value moving forward.

JT Brubaker, SP, PIT (CBS: 12% rostered): Up until recently, my fondest memory of “Brubaker” was the 1980 gem starring Robert Redford. That has now changed. Three starts into the 2021 campaign, JT Brubaker has two wins under his belt and is sporting a 1.76 ERA. He’s also struck out 18 in 15 1/3 IP. The sinker/slider combo has been working in full force to start the 2021 campaign.

Spencer Howard, SP, PHI (CBS: 20% rostered): Matt Moore is currently sporting a 9.82 ERA after three starts and is coming off a five-walk performance Saturday against the Cards in which he couldn’t get through three innings. The Phillies must be looking at “Plan B”. Spencer Howard had back issues in the Spring and is currently working out of the pen, but that could change oh so quickly. In deeper Leagues, it wouldn’t hurt to find room for Howard on your reserve roster.

Taylor Widener, SP, ARZ (CBS: 28% rostered): In two of his three starts he has blanked the Padres and Nationals. That counts. For those that exercised patience, the memory of that disastrous 2019 season is fading quickly.

Jake Junis, SP, KCR (CBS: 22% rostered): The key to success for Junis will be keeping the ball in the park, something he hasn’t been successful doing in the past. So far, so good. Toss in the fact that he has the Rays, Tigers, and Pirates next up on the schedule and you have to like his chances for at least short-term success.

Danny Duffy, SP, KCR (CBS: 42% rostered): We’ve seen streaks where Duffy is definitely warranting a rotation slot and this is currently one of them. In his two starts, he has gone six-innings in both allowing only a total of one earned run. Get him going while the going is good!

Lou Trivino, RP, OAK (CBS: 43% rostered): Remember when Jake Diekman, Sergio Romo, and J.B. Wendelken were all part and parcel of the closer committee in Oakland? The committee has now evolved into a single closer and surprise surprise, Lou Trivino has emerged with the ninth-inning gig. Trivino has now reeled off a string of six consecutive scoreless outings, including back-to-back saves this week against the DBacks and Tigers. It’s time to find room for him on your Fantasy squad.

Yimi Garcia, RP, MIA (CBS: 50% rostered): Since taking over for Anthony Bass, Garcia has in five appearances totally shut down the opposition. He also has two wins and three saves on his resume in those five appearances. That is called “job security” and Yimi Garcia has a ton of it right now. 

Rafael Dolis, RP, TOR (CBS: 17% rostered): Remember when Rafael Dolis was an afterthought for saves in a loaded Jays bullpen? Injuries to Julian Merryweather and Jordan Romano in the past week have once again thrust the 33-year-old sinkerball specialist into the ninth-inning role in Toronto. We’ve seen success as recently as last year when Dolis reeled off a string of five saves, seven holds, and a stellar 1.50 ERA. Expect more of the same in 2021.

Taylor Rogers, RP, MIN (CBS: 36% rostered): Alex Colome is off to a poor start, sporting a 5.68 ERA. Taylor Rogers is yet to allow an earned run in five appearances. Unless Colome ups his game and quickly at that, expect Rogers to start garnering save opportunities in Minnesota.  

J.B. Bukauskas, RP, ARZ (CBS: 5% rostered): The DBacks have called up Bukauskas from the alternative site. The combination of Stefan Crichton, Kevin Ginkel, Yoan Lopez, and the currently injured Joakim Soria has been less than awe-inspiring in the early going. Bukauskas could quickly work his way into a role of prominence in the Arizona bullpen and spending a couple of bucks now could save you a few more than that down the road.

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