RADIO
Are You For Real? Surprising MLB Pitcher Starts from Week 23
Javier Baez (SS, CHC) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Very Deep Leagues Analysis: Let me begin with stating this: Baez will be fantasy gold, it's just a matter of when. He has a ton of power, solid plate discipline, and plays a premium position. The Cubs have already spoke to Castro about moving from shortstop to open up a spot for Baez,... Read More
Jonathan Schoop (2B, BAL) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Continue Scouting ANALYSIS: Now that the season is underway, we know which players have made the opening day rosters and Jonathan Schoop is among those surprises. Schoop is primarily a second baseman, but can play third base as well. The one main thing to be aware of with Schoop is that he will most likely... Read More
Miguel Montero (C, ARI) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately in All Leagues ANALYSIS: Miguel Montero is currently owned in only about 50% of all leagues. This is alarming low, given the fact that he hits in the middle of a powerful Diamondbacks lineup, and the hot start he's gotten off to. He has started 5 of the first 6 games, hitting in... Read More
Marlon Byrd (OF, PHI) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues ANALYSIS: Journeyman outfielder Marlon Byrd is coming off his best season since 2007. Playing for the Mets and Pirates last year, Byrd managed to hit 24 HR and drive in 88 runs. He is off to a hot 2014 with 5 hits in his first 13 AB’s (.385 AVG) including a... Read More
Chris Owings (SS, ARZ) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately in All Leagues ANALYSIS: Chris Owings is the most popular option for owners who left the draft without a quality bat at shortstop. The main reason he went largely undrafted was because he was in a position battle with Didi Gregarious, but he came out on top and has the bat to stay... Read More
Martin Perez (SP, TEX) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues ANALYSIS: Martin Perez showed his stuff in his season debut vs. the Phillies on Tuesday night, going 5 2/3 IP, with a pristine 7:0 K:BB ratio, while only allowing 2 ER. That's about as solid a debut as you can hope for from this young but erratic lefty down in Texas.... Read More
Erasmo Ramirez (SP, SEA) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately ANALYSIS: Add immediately you say? Yes, if not sooner! Orgasmo Ramirez was orgasmic last night, going 7 strong with a nasty 6:0 K:BB ratio, while allowing just 6 hits and 2 ER. This was a significant start for Ramirez, against a stacked Angels' lineup including the best baseball player in the world, ya... Read More
Dan Uggla (2B, ATL) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues ANALYSIS: If you’re looking for some cheap power, or are horrified by your current 2B/MI slot, look no further than Dan Uggla. Coming off a horrific year in 2013, where he hit a whopping .179, he still managed to hit 22 HR out of the 2B position. Uggla had laser... Read More
Emilio Bonifacio - (2B/OF, CHC) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in NL-Only Leagues ANALYSIS: The lone bright spot for the Chicago Cubs offense on opening day was Emilio Bonifacio. The leadoff hitter went 4 for 5 with a stolen base. In 2011, Bonifacio hit .296 with 78 R, 5 HR, 36 RBI, and 40 SB - all career highs. Those numbers have all... Read More
Anthony Rendon (2B, WAS) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues (Add Immediately in All Leagues for 2B help) ANALYSIS: 2013 Statistics: 394 PA, .265/.329/.396, 7 HR, 35 RBI, 40 Runs, 1SB At only 45% ownership, chances are that the National's second baseman Anthony Rendon is still available in your fantasy league. A popular sleeper among second basemen coming into 2014, Rendon's... Read More
Francisco Rodriguez (RP, MIL) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately in All Leagues ANALYSIS: Francisco Rodriguez, and not projected closer Jim Henderson, got the save today for the Milwaukee Brewers. This comes as a bit of a surprise, as K-Rod was expected to operate as the setup man for the Brewers in 2014. But saves are saves, so if you have room on your team... Read More
Jenrry Mejia (SP, NYM) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Continue Scouting in Standard Leagues, Add in Deeper or NL-Only Leagues ANALYSIS: The good news is Jenrry Mejia won the fifth starters job for the Mets with a strong spring. In cactus league play, he posted a 2.70 ERA in his four starts and averaged nearly a strikeout per inning. Last year, in limited appearances,... Read More
Matt Lindstrom (RP, CWS) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately in All Leagues ANALYSIS: The big closer news today is that White Sox manager Robin Ventura has decided to go with Matt Lindstrom as the team's closer over Nate Jones. If you play in a league that counts saves, and Lindstrom is still available, stop what you're doing now and go pick... Read More
Sergio Santos (RP, TOR) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately in All Leagues ANALYSIS: With the news released today that closer Casey Janssen will start the season on the DL, Toronto's GM Billy Anthopoulos confirmed that Sergio Santos will fill-in as the team's closer until Janssen returns. Steve Delabar may get some looks as well, but keep in mind that Santos was a former closer and racked up 30... Read More
Mike Olt (3B, CHC) - Waiver Wire Analysis
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues ANALYSIS: Mike Olt has earned a spot on the Opening Day roster for the Chicago Cubs. It remains to be seen if he platoons with Luis Valbuena or he is the everyday starter. Either way, Olt seems to have found his stroke after concussion symptoms that hindered his eye sight. Olt... Read More
Jonathan Villar (SS, HOU) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues (or if need SB) ANALYSIS: 2013 Statistics: 241 PA, .243/.321/.319, 1 HR, 26 Runs, 8 RBI, 18 SB If you're hunting for a source of cheap speed, I highly suggest you turn your attention to the Houston Astros' shortstop Jonathan Villar (16% owned). He'll hurt you in batting average, as... Read More
Josmil Pinto (C, MIN) - Waiver Wire Analysis
BALLER MOVE: Continue Scouting, Add in 2 Catcher Leagues ANALYSIS: Pinto put up .342-4-12 in just 76 AB last year. Small sample size blah blah blah. The point is he has big time potential. We're not expecting him to go .342-20-80 over 500 AB. Far from it. But we do expect that he'll be ingrained as the... Read More
Joe Kelly (SP, STL) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Stash in Deeper Leagues ANALYSIS: The St. Louis Cardinals are like any other well-oiled factory - they turn out great product after great product. The Cardinals’ product just happens to be MLB pitchers. Joe Kelly won the 5th spot in the rotation over flame thrower Carlos Martinez. He won this not because he was the... Read More
Dan Straily (SP, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues. ANALYSIS: The part of Dan Straily’s game that keeps me coming back to him is his strikeout potential, which has been demonstrated time and again in AAA. Over his minor league career, Straily has thrown 551.1 innings with a whopping 591 strikeouts. Impressed yet? Over partial seasons in... Read More
Cody Allen (RP, CLE) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues or Holds Leagues ANALYSIS: The Cleveland reliever Cody Allen is coming off of a very productive 2013 season, in which he boasted a sub 2.50 ERA and an impressive 11 strikeouts per nine innings. Those numbers have future closer written all over them, but for the time being he will be... Read More
Rick Porcello (SP, DET) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All AL-Only & Most 12-Team Mixed Leagues ANALYSIS: It may be surprising to many, especially to those that view Rick Porcello as a prime prospect that never fully delivered on the potential shown during his 2009 rookie season, that the Tigers’ right-hander has reached double-digit wins while turning in north of... Read More
Mitch Moreland (1B, TEX) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues ANALYSIS: Mitch Moreland of the Texas Rangers had a bit of a breakout season in 2013, and showed off some of the power the Rangers have been waiting for. He slugged 23 home runs in 462 at bats while driving in 60 runs. If he can stay healthy he could be... Read More
Melky Cabrera (OF, TOR) - Waiver Wire Analysis
BALLER MOVE: Stash in Deeper Leagues ANALYSIS: Melky Cabrera is not one of the names that automatically jumps out at you when you are drafting, but somehow he always finds his way on to some fantasy team in your league. Why? It is because he is an undervalued source of a little of everything. He has had his... Read More
George Springer (OF, HOU) - Waiver Wire Analysis
BALLER MOVE: Stash In Deep Leagues, Add in AL-Only Leagues ANALYSIS: Many of us experts thought last season's minor league Mr. 37/45 was a sure bet to start the year with the Astros big boy squad, but according to the latest reports, he and his agent are disgruntled at the prospects of Houston doing the... Read More
J.J. Hoover (RP, CIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues ANALYSIS: The Reds bullpen is a mess right now, and there is no locked in closer slated to start the season. With Aroldis Chapman's recent injury, there is an opening for someone to step up and grab the closer's role. Jonathan Broxton and Sean Marshall are also dealing with their own... Read More
Dee Gordon (SS / 2B, LAD) - Waiver Wire Analysis
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues ANALYSIS: By now we all know what Dee Gordon brings to the table in fantasy leagues. He's a speed demon, and can rack up SBs in bunches for your team. The problem is he hasn't been able to get on base much the past 2 years when given at bats. It... Read More
Joakim Soria (RP, TEX) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately ANALYSIS: Normally we wouldn't add a player to the waiver wire pickups list if they're already 65% owned - but with the recent news that Soria has officially been named the Texas closer over Neftali Feliz, this is a reminder that he needs to be owned in all leagues. If your draft has... Read More
Nick Castellanos (3B / OF, DET) - Waiver Wire Pickup
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues ANALYSIS: Highly-touted prospect and rookie Nick Castellanos is off to a scorching start in spring training, batting .400/.488/.689 over 45 at bats to go along with 2 HRs, 16 RBIs, 9 R and 2 SB. Not too shabby. Of course this is only spring training, but Castellanos is a big... Read More
Neil Walker (2B, PIT) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues ANALYSIS: The former first-round draft pick is entering his age-28 season, coming off an underwhelming performance in 2013. Don't let his lack of production last year fool you, though-- here's a guy at a really thin position who will not hurt you in any category, and as a member... Read More
Ivan Nova (SP, NYY) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues ANALYSIS: Ivan Nova, the Yankees # 4 starter, is available in more than 50% of mixed league formats and really should not be. He hits 93 mph consistently on his fastball and drops down to 80 mph on his curve which is enough to keep most hitters off balance. But the... Read More
