Kevin Newman (2B/SS, PIT) - Week 21 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 18% of Leagues

ANALYSIS: Pittsburgh Pirates middle infielder Kevin Newman has had a quietly steady first full season in the majors. He's been a regular starter for the team since early May and has been slotting in as a leadoff hitter multiple times per week. While he doesn't offer much in terms of power, he's a great source of batting average help and could be a sneaky source of stolen bases as well.

On the year, Newman is slashing .301/.346/.420 with seven home runs, 42 RBI, 34 runs scored and ten stolen bases over 93 games. He has an elite strikeout rate of just 12.3%, a trend that has continued from his minor league career. At triple-A in 2018, he struck out just 50 times in 109 games.

So if you're looking for batting average help with some upside for stolen bases, Newman is a great target on the waiver wire. He's worth an add in NL-only leagues and leagues of 12 teams or larger. In more shallow mixed leagues, he can be left on waivers.