J.J. Hardy (SS, BAL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues/AL-only leagues

OWNED IN: 13% of Fleaflicker Leagues

ANALYSIS: There's no doubting that J.J. Hardy has had an rough season. Coming off a 2014 campaign in which his production saw steep decline, the 32-year-old SS is hitting .239 thus far in 2015 with 6 HR and 28 RBI. Those numbers aren't great, not by a long shot, but there is still value in the once powerful SS. First off, a size-able chunk of those struggles can be attributed to left-handed pitching, against which Hardy has a .215 AVG and .026 ISO in 2015. His numbers against righties are much better, with a .250 AVG and .394 SLG. He's also making hard contact on nearly 29% of his successful swings against right-handed pitching, suggesting the aging SS still has some pop left in him. Lastly, and most importantly, Hardy's bat has found some life in the last couple of weeks, hitting .308 over his last 15 games with 8 runs, 1 HR, 6 RBI, and a still active 11-game hitting streak in that span. He's far from a star fantasy SS, but as long as there is a right-hander on the mound and a hole at SS in your lineup Hardy can prove a solid pickup.