Elias Diaz (C, PIT) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Elias Diaz is hitting .286 with seven home runs, 25 RBI and 27 runs scored in 59 games this season. He already has career highs in runs scored, home runs and RBI. Diaz's .286 average would rank third among catchers if he were qualified while his seven home runs rank tied for 19th among back stops.

The Pirates have noticed Diaz's offensive breakout as the catcher has been batting clean up in the majority of his starts, including every start since the All-Star break. He is batting behind players such as Corey Dickerson and Starling Marte while he is followed by a power hitter in Josh Bell. Overall, Diaz is batting in the middle of a lineup that currently ranks 11th in the MLB with 468 runs scored.

Diaz is going to be the Pirates starter going forward as Francisco Cervelli battles concussion symptoms. He has performed well at the plate and is hitting in the middle of a strong lineup. As Pittsburgh tries to surge into the playoffs, Diaz will be a big part of what they do on offense, making him a player to target in 12 and even 10-man leagues.