Week 9

Waiver WireMemorial Day weekend is typically the time that fantasy owners need to look at their teams seriously.  That 10th round picks that you were sure would breakout and haven’t, it might be time to move on.  Only you can make those decisions but our job is to provide names that might help you both short and long-term.

Our list this week is full of interesting names that we hope will help in your evaluation.

Enjoy the list and please click on the baseball card to visit our partner amazon.com to explore additional information on each player.

Albert Almora, OF, CHC (CBS: 16% owned)

Albert Almora is on a tear. In the past 14 days, he has hit four homers, driven in nine runs and scored eleven while hitting to the tune of a .311 BA. He’s looking like a very solid short-term option as a fifth outfielder in deeper formats.

Cavan Biggio, 2B, TOR (CBS: 43% owned)

The Jays are starting to look to the future and have called up Cavan Biggio. In 137 at-bats at Triple-A Buffalo, Biggio had mashed six homers, driven in 26 runs, swiped five bags, and was sporting a .949 OPS. He’s ready. This isn’t a short-term promotion, making Biggio a potentially expensive acquisition this weekend. He could be worth the price.

Kevin Cron, 3B, ARZ (CBS: 22% owned)

Cron flat out owned the PCL and was at the top of the leader board with 21 homers and 62 RBI. He is likely looking at a part-time role initially, but any continued struggles by Christian Walker and that could be subject to change.

Elias Diaz, C, PIT (CBS: 4% owned)

Diaz is heating up, going 7-for-19 in his past six games. Francisco Cervelli has hit the 7-day concussion IL for the sixth time in his career. With six concussions on his resume, Cervelli won’t be returning any time soon, guaranteeing regular at-bats for Diaz.

Amir Garrett, RP, CIN (CBS: 9% owned)

In his past six appearances (totaling 5 2/3 IP) Garrett has a couple of wins under his belt, but more importantly a whopping 12 strikeouts. He still struggles at times to find the strike zone, but his ability to generate swinging strikes is an asset in both our game and the real one.

Mitch Keller, SP, PIT(CBS: 20% owned)

After a rather poor start to the 2019 season which left him sporting a 5.19 ERA after his first two starts, Mitch Keller has picked up the pace. He has allowed a scant seven walks in his past five games and is coming off a strong seven inning, one earned run effort. He’ll be making his MLB debut on Monday against the Reds in one end of a scheduled doubleheader. It’s likely just one start, but a good one could force the Pirates’ hand. Steven Brault and/or Nick Kingham have proven that they aren’t the answer.

Shawn Kelley, RP, TEX (CBS: 32% owned)

Chris Martin had a short run replacing Kelley, who was activated off the IL on Monday. Heading into Sunday’s action he had picked up three consecutive saves before a Saturday night meltdown. A small bid might buy you a handful of saves until incumbent Jose Leclerc, who has been lights out lately, returns to the ninth inning in Arlington.

Scott Kingery, SS/OF, PHI (CBS: 30% owned)

Kingery was heating up and then missed a month with a strained right hamstring. He was activated May 19 and has gone 7-for-24 with four runs scored and one stolen base since returning. Kingery is very quickly making us forget his woeful 2018 debut.

Lance Lynn, SP, TEX (CBS: 54% owned)

In his past three starts, Lynn has gone seven innings in each, allowed one walk in each of those three starts, amassed 24 strikeouts, and has a pair of wins. He’s on a roll. Run with it!

Colin Moran, 3B, PIT (CBS: 5% owned)

Over the past two weeks, Moran has one homer, 9 RBI, and a solid .275 BA. Jung Ho Kang is getting close to a return, but with Moran playing solid ball, there are no guarantees that he’ll be facing a reduction in playing time.

Scott Oberg, RP, COL (CBS: 20% owned)

Wade Davis hit the IL last week with a left oblique strain and the Rockies are turning to the 29-year-old Oberg to get the job done. It’s likely 2-to-3 weeks until we see Davis returning, so a small bid and you could find your way into an additional 5-to-10 saves.

Nick Pivetta, SP, PHI (CBS: 30% owned)

It’s now official. Nick Pivetta is getting called up to start this coming Tuesday against the Cardinals. He has pitched much better lately, with 50 strikeouts in 37 IP, but the free passes are still a concern. A solid start could have him facing off against the Dodgers in a two-start week.

Kyle Seager, 3B, SEA (CBS: 30% owned)

Remember when Kyle Seager was about as consistent as they come? You drafted him, penciled him into your lineup, and come year’s end he’d have a .260 25-80 season in the books. It’s now 2019, and there is still value, just drop the expectations by about 40 percent.

Marcus Walden, RP, BOS (CBS: 21% owned)

The 1.53 ERA, .82 WHIP, and better than a strikeout-per-inning has my attention. He has also found his way into six vulture wins. Memories of Scot Shields are dancing in my head.

Ryan Yarbrough, RP, TAM (CBS: 22% owned)

The Yarbrough Man was throwing smoke against the Indians last week in his return to the Tampa Bay lineup. It was just announced that Tyler Glasnow is out through the All-Star break, so you know whether he is starting or following the “opener”, the Rays will be counting on Yarbrough every fifth day.

Seven Under 7%

Hanser Alberto, 2B/SS/3B, BAL (CBS: 3% owned)

The one-time Ranger prospect arrived in Baltimore via a waiver acquisition by the Yankees. He was then DFA’d by the Yankees and acquired by the O’s. He was then DFA’d by the O’s and acquired by San Francisco who then DFA’d him and then he was acquired a second time by the O’s.  Alberto has no shortage of frequent flier miles. In deep Leagues, he’ll offer some pop, a handful of stolen bases and most importantly regular playing time.

Mark Canha, 1B/OF, OAK (CBS: 5% owned)

Since being activated off of the 10-day IL on May 13, Canha has gone 9-for-33 with 6 homers and 11 RBI.  With Khris Davis on the shelf dealing with a hip/oblique issue, a steady stream of at-bats and a potential boost in your power numbers is sitting on the Wire, ready for the taking.

Derek Fisher, OF, HOU (CBS: 2% owned)

George Springer hits the IL with a hamstring issue and the Astros turn to Derek Fisher. Yordan Alvarez or Kyle Tucker would have left us Fantasy folk much happier, but neither has the ability to play centerfield. In AL-only formats give Fisher a look.

Luis Rengifo, SS, LAA (CBS: 3% owned)

Andrelton Simmons hits the IL with an ankle sprain and the Angels once again call on Rengifo to fill in. Rengifo struggled in his first callup this year, but with a longer opportunity let’s hope we see more of the player that hit five homers and stole three bases this season at Triple-A Salt Lake City.

Will Smith, C, LAD (CBS: 3% owned)

The 24-year-old former First Round pick is getting close to arriving in the City of the Angels. In his past ten games at Triple-A Oklahoma City, Smith has gone 15-for-39 with four homers and 11 RBI. The dearth of talent in two-catcher formats makes Smith an intriguing option as we head into the summer months.

Jose Urquidy, SP, HOU (CBS: Listed under his former name, Jose Hernandez. Unowned.)

In two starts at Triple-A Round Rock since being promoted, the 24-year-old righty is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA. He has allowed eight hits, one walk and now for the number that should get your attention, has 20….yes, 20 strikeouts. Coming off of TJS in 2016, the fastball was sitting in the 89-to-92 mph range. Four outings into his 2019 season, Urquidy was hitting 97 mph on the gun. “Speaking in mid-May after Martin made his big league debut, general manager Jeff Luhnow lumped Urquidy along with the aforementioned names as a candidate for the next promotion.” In deep Dynasty Leagues, a stash on your Minor League roster is a wise move.

Michael Yastrzemski, OF, SF (CBS: unowned)

Mac Williams has been DFA’d again, and the Giants have turned to the grandson of a legend, Carl Yastrzemski. Michael is no Carl, but in the PCL, was enjoying a rather solid campaign with 12 homers, 38 runs scored, and a 1.090 OPS. Every day at-bats might be a challenge, leaving him best left for NL-only Leagues.

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