RADIO
BALLER MOVE: Add in leagues of 12+ teams
ROSTERED IN: 37% of leagues
ANALYSIS: The Braves wasted no time when Ronald Acuna Jr. went down to acquire a replacement. They didn't feel like they had a suitable one on the roster for their impending playoff run, so they sent Bryce Ball to the Cubs for Pederson. On the surface, it may look like a bit of a peculiar deal. Pederson doesn't fit the role of a prototypical leadoff hitter, a role which he was filling for the Cubs.
His .234 average is right on par with his career mark of .231, but Pederson's OBP is consistently around 33-34%. It sits a little low at .302 this season. Will that go up, or are we just chasing a hot streak with a new team? Let's take the journey and find out.
Pederson has four RBI in his first five games as a member of the Braves and seems to be fitting into the order well so far. However, the xBA of .235 suggests that he's not getting unlucky. He's just the epitome of a boom-or-bust player. In the 1980's, he would have been a left-handed Rob Deer. Pederson is a classic masher. His 113.6 mph max exit velocity is in the 95th percentile. The 91.2 mph average exit velocity is in the 83rd percentile. His hard hit percentage of 47.5 is the highest of his career.
Most of Pederson's metrics line up with his 2019 season, which was his most productive season in the majors. Pederson hit .249, a career best, and 36 homers, also a career best in a relatively modest 450 at bats. The power is still there. After a slow April in which Pederson hit just one homer the entire month, he picked it up in May with a .314 average, but still only hit three homers. The power arrived in June with seven homers, but the .211 average left a lot to be desired. So far in July, Pederson has 10 RBI in 11 starts and has only struck out three times. That's leaving fantasy owners with a glimmer of hope for the average.
So, will Pederson find middle ground with the Braves? He is hitting lefties better this year than he ever has, but it still hasn't helped his average much. The .276 BABIP is right in line with his career numbers, so don't expect much help there either. Pederson will provide the same thing for you that he provides for the Braves: power. He should get a boost in RBI playing in this lineup and a boost in runs scored as well, but he will hurt your batting average at some point. For now, enjoy the boost that the change of scenery is providing.
More Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups
Corbin Carroll: Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 20
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 13% of leagues ANALYSIS: Corbin Carroll was a first-round pick for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2019 MLB Draft, a consensus top-50 prospect, and was rostered to the 2022 NL Futures Game team. The D-Backs outfield may be stocked with formidable talent, but Carroll is ambitiously... Read More
JP Sears: Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 20
BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 9% of leagues ANALYSIS: 26-year-old Oakland A's starting pitcher JP Sears has been absolute money, essentially from his sophomore season at the Citadel and on. After going in the eleventh round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Sears moved through the minor leagues at a solid pace... Read More
Brian Serven: Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 19
BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 0% of leagues ANALYSIS: After going in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB Draft, it took several years of up and down play in the minors for catcher Brian Serven to make his way up to the Colorado Rockies. Now that the 27-year-old former ASU... Read More
Kyle Isbel: Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 19
BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 1% of leagues ANALYSIS: 25-year-old Kyle Isbel got a little bit of burn last season with the Kansas City Royals to the tune of solid results, and while things have started a bit slower for the former third-round pick from UNLV in 2022, his power/speed skillset... Read More
Ryan Pepiot: Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 19
BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 9% of leagues ANALYSIS: While the Dodgers may not need a ton of help this season, Ryan Pepiot has been a welcome recent addition to the LA rotation. A third-round draft pick in 2019, Pepiot earned his way into the top-100 prospect conversation before the start... Read More
Download Our Free Waiver Wire App
Like what you see? You can download our free fantasy baseball mobile app for iPhone and Android which includes more waiver wire recommendations at every position, 24x7 player news, notifications, injury alerts & daily articles.
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!
Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!
