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Over the course of the season I’ll be giving you two players at second base and shortstop per week who I think can help your team. These players are usually widely available in any format, and should turn nice profits in the weeks to come.
As always, feel free to reach out to me directly @Roto_Dubs with any questions about the middle infield or fantasy baseball in general.
Editor’s Note: to read about even more waiver wire options for second base and shortstop, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily.
Second Base (2B) Waiver Wire Pickups
Cesar Hernandez (PHI) - Owned in 2.1% of Fleaflicker leagues
Hernandez will see more playing time with Chase Utley on the 15-day DL for at least a couple weeks, and should provide good value for fantasy owners while Utley is out. In his last seven games, Hernandez is hitting .348 with six runs and six RBIs, which makes him a contributor in any format. He’s got very little power to speak of, and while his stolen base numbers are down, he does have 20+ steal speed if he were to play an entire season. I like him a lot in the short-term, but you probably won’t have him on your roster any longer than a month.
Baller Move: Add in points leagues with 10+ teams/add in roto leagues with 10+ teams
Eddie Rosario (MIN) - Owned in 7.1% of Fleaflicker leagues
Rosario has played his way into a starting gig in Minnesota, and has impressed so far in 2015. In limited playing time thus far (132 at-bats), Rosario has hit .280 with 16 RBIs, 16 runs, four homers and five steals. Multi-category contributions are always useful, and Minnesota is still winning ballgames. He’s been hitting towards the top of the lineup recently, which should yield more runs scored as the season progresses. If he can keep his batting average up, he ought to be on base enough to approach 15 steals as well. Plug him in while he’s playing well, but monitor him moving forward.
Baller Move: Add in points leagues with 10+ leagues/add in roto leagues with 10+ teams
Shortstop (SS) Waiver Wire Pickups
Eduardo Nunez (MIN) - Owned in 1.7% of Fleaflicker leagues
Nunez is slowly finding his way into the lineup regularly, a result of solid work at the plate on his part and abysmal performance from Eduardo Escobar and the now-demoted Danny Santana. He’s hitting .302 on the season, and does have a bit of power for the shortstop position. He’s never seen more than 309 at-bats in a season, and probably won’t get there this year either. However, in the season he saw 309 at-bats he swiped 22 bags. The speed/power combo is useful in the shortstop/middle infield position, and he should provide good value in the weeks to come.
Baller Move: Add in points leagues with 10+ teams/add in roto leagues with 10+ teams
Eugenio Suarez (CIN) - Owned in 1.5% of Fleaflicker leagues
With Zack Cozart out for the remainder of the season, Suarez has every opportunity to lock up the starting shortstop gig in Cincinnati. In his sophomore season, he’s hitting .311 in just a handful of at-bats (45 so far). Looking back at his minor-league career offers a better look at his skill set—he’s a decent contact hitter, with only a 21% strikeout rate on average. In a full season in Single-A, he swiped 21 bags, so he definitely has the speed to be fantasy-useful.
I’ve got him as a 10-10 guy rest-of-season if he can keep his batting average above .275, which might be asking too much. He should have a fairly long leash though, as the Reds don’t seem primed for a playoff run and can afford to wait on players like Suarez to figure it out.
Baller Move: Add in points leagues with 10+ teams/add in roto leagues with 10+ teams
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