Alex Avila (C/1B, DET) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 50% of Yahoo! Leagues

ANALYSIS: It is getting harder and harder to ignore Alex Avila. He has finally crept up to being owned in 50% of fantasy leagues, with his .322/.439/.635 slash line on the year absolutely meriting that kind of ownership, even if it is supported by an unsustainable .424 BABIP. Avila’s 40 strikeouts in 115 at-bats is alarming, but his 24 walks help keep his OBP very high, mitigating some of the damage done by all the K’s. Additionally, his nine home runs puts him on pace to come close to the career-high 19 he hit back in 2011. The 30-year-old backstop has entered into a time share with James McCann, and as the left-handed hitter in the group it certainly appears that Avila will earn the majority of starts going forward. Injuries are always a concern for any catcher, but if Avila can stay healthy he has a great chance to supply 20 home runs. His batting average likely won’t stay above .300, but he hit .295 back in 2011 and certainly could hit over .270 on the year. .270 with around 20 home runs would make Avila one of the better catching options in all of fantasy baseball, and he is certainly worth gambling on in 12-team leagues and beyond.