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Waiver Wire – Week 4

Tyler Stephenson, C, CIN (CBS: 12% rostered): An 11-for-30 start from the 24-year-old with a homer, five RBI, and eight runs scored should have our attention, especially in Keeper/Dynasty formats.

C. J. Cron, 1B, COL (CBS: 46% rostered): The dreadful start has been replaced by optimism after Cron hit a pair of homers this week. It is nice to see him getting untracked and providing that 25-30 home run potential.

Adolis Garcia, OF, TEX (CBS: 23% rostered): In last week’s Waiver wire we mentioned that “Garcia could get a lengthy opportunity to flash that massive power potential.” Those that invested in Garcia last weekend now have four homers and eight RBI in the bank. Those that decided to take a “wait and see approach” will be spending considerably more of their FAAB this week chasing that “massive power potential.”

Harrison Bader, OF, STL (CBS: 4% rostered): It has been a long wait, but Harrison Bader has finally been cleared for live batting practice and is throwing from 120 feet. He’s still likely a couple of weeks away, but an early cheap bid can more than likely secure a 15-15 type player.

David Peralta, OF, ARZ (CBS: 49% rostered): I found this rather surprising. A 15-to-20 home run bat with 80+ RBI potential, and 340 OBP hitting in the cleanup slot in a hitter’s park, should be rostered in more than 49 percent of CBS Leagues.

Alex Kirilloff, OF, MIN (CBS: 53% rostered): With the hodge-podge assortment of outfielders the Twins have been wheeling out on the field, it’s about time they made their left fielder of the future, their left fielder of the present. The kids are starting to arrive!

Tejay Antone, SP/RP, CIN (CBS: 30% rostered): The spin rates and velocity are off-the-charts good, which might explain the 17 strikeouts in 10 2/3 IP. The only thing missing is a defined role and as a starter or reliever, it will be worth the wait.  

Ryan Weathers, SP, SDP (CBS: 32% rostered): Last week Weathers was rostered to the tune of 12 percent. After tossing 5 1/3 innings of one-hit shutout ball this past week against the vaunted Dodger offense, this will be your last opportunity to procure his services in most Leagues.

Luis Garcia, SP, HOU (CBS: 9% rostered): Jake Odorizzi lasted five pitches in his outing Saturday night after experiencing a serious drop in velocity and is dealing with a bout of forearm tightness. He is likely going to miss time, possibly a significant amount of time. In his last start, Garcia limited the Rockies to a pair of earned runs over 5 2/3 IP, no small feat, and is the likely candidate to fill in during Odorizzi’s absence.

Spencer Turnbull, SP, DET (CBS: 16% rostered): Turnbull only needed 62 pitches to get through five solid innings against the Pirates in his 2021 debut. He is heading into a two-start week with the Royals and Yankees on the agenda. That is not half bad.

Aaron Sanchez, SP, SFG (CBS: 15% rostered): Sanchez is not going deep into games, averaging five innings per start, but sporting a 1.83 ERA and 1.02 WHIP should we really be concerned? Whatever Brian Bannister and Andrew Bailey are earning, it’s not enough!

Zac Lowther, SP, BAL (CBS: 1% rostered): The Wade LeBlanc era in Baltimore has ended, with his dispatch to the alternate site and the subsequent promotion of Zac Lowther. In 2019 at Double-A, Lowther posted a 2.55 ERA and struck out better than a batter per inning. The AL East is tough, but in deeper and AL-only Leagues he’s worthy of our attention.

Gregory Santos, SP, SFG (CBS: 1% rostered): I’ll turn this one over to Rich Wilson. “The Giants had hoped that Gregory Santos would have taken a significant step forward in 2019, but a shoulder injury plagued him for most of the season and he only pitched 34.2 innings in Low-A.  He continued to show premium stuff with a fastball that can hit the upper nineties which he complements with a nasty slider.  Given his health concerns and lack of a third pitch, the Giants might decide to move him to the bullpen where his fastball-slider could be a real asset.” He’s definitely a work in progress, but the fact that the Giants have now called him up is a good indication that he will be part of their future and should immediately have the attention of those playing in Keeper/dynasty Leagues.

Jeff Hoffman, SP/RP, CIN (CBS: 10% rostered): Hoffman received the best off-season present a starting pitcher can receive.  He was given a new lease on life and traded out of Colorado. Two wins later and sporting a 2.66 ERA it’s time to add him in deeper formats.

Josh Fleming, SP, TBR (CBS: 36% rostered): The callup of Luis Patino puts Josh Fleming in the role of “follower” and has me more excited for Fleming than it does for Patino. The combination of that sinker, cutter, and change should work very well in 3-to-4 inning stints and provide ample opportunities to work his way into wins.

Gregory Soto, RP, DET (CBS: 35% rostered): It’s still a job share in Detroit with Bryan Garcia but a little patience and Soto with the full-time ninth-inning gig could be the reward.

Josh Staumont, RP, KCR (CBS: 13% rostered): Greg Holland might still have the edge as the Royals closer, but it’s a very slight one. Saturday, Staumont earned his first save of the season by blanking the Tigers. In nine appearances he has allowed only one earned run. Any further struggles from incumbent Holland and Staumont could be working the ninth inning on an everyday basis.

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