Starlin Castro (2B/3B, MIA) - Week 21 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 22% of Leagues ANALYSIS: As much as I'm a believer in Starlin Castro's abilities, I must acknowledge his stay in Miami hasn't been glorious. Although he finished 2018 with a 2.3 WAR (his best since 2014) and a wRC+ of 101, those numbers were nothing otherworldly. In 2019,... Read More

Freddy Galvis (2B/SS, CIN) - Week 21 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 32% of Leagues ANALYSIS: In a little bit of a puzzling move, the Toronto Blue Jays moved on from infielder Freddy Galvis and put him on waivers after finding no market for him at the trade deadline. The Reds pounced since Galvis was having a good season in Toronto.... Read More

Christian Walker (1B, ARI) - Week 21 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 35% of Leagues ANALYSIS: A popular sleeper pick prior to 2019, Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker's 2019 has been a rollercoaster of hot and cold. He started out the year like a house on fire, hitting seven home runs in his first 20 games; but then the fire... Read More

Kolten Wong (2B, STL) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues OWNED IN: 31% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Wong's ownership is extremely low for such a complete player. This season, Wong is on pace for his most plate appearances since 2015. He's already matched last season's PA numbers and is improving each and every one of his stats. He's walking more (from 7.6... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 20

Time marches on, and with it the end of the 2019 fantasy baseball season grows nearer. With fantasy football kicking into high gear and many owners out of the running in baseball leagues, we can expect there to be fewer suitors for any waiver wire pickups moving forward. The owners who remain, of course, are... Read More

2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 20

We didn't have to venture too far into the month of August for the impact of the new trade deadline rules to become clear. Gaps on each team that weren't addressed by July 31st don't just go away, and players like Joe Panik, Zack Godley, Kevin Gausman, Jonathan Lucroy, and Asdrubal Cabrera have all found new... Read More

Isan Diaz (2B/SS, MIA) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 20% of leagues ANALYSIS: Marlins rookie Isan Diaz already gave us one of the year's best moments, homering in his first at-bat off of Jacob deGrom while his parents were being interviewed in the stands, resulting in the type of pure elation that makes baseball fandom so special. But putting... Read More

Josh VanMeter (2B/3B/OF, CIN) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 27% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Not appearing on anyone's top prospect lists for the Reds heading into 2019, Cincinnati rookie Josh VanMeter has nevertheless impressed after being recalled for the second time on July 18. In his 62 plate appearances since, VanMeter is slashing .333/.419/.648 with four home runs, three... Read More

Anthony DeSclafani (SP, CIN) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 26% of leagues ANALYSIS: To own Anthony DeSclafani is to know the rollercoaster; sometimes he gives up one run and strikes out eight, sometimes he walks four and gives up two home runs. Why? Because "Disco" DeSclafani likes to party, that's why. But also because he sometimes completely... Read More

Joe Jimenez (RP, DET) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 24% of leagues ANALYSIS: Perennial closer-in-waiting Joe Jimenez is waiting no more, as the 24-year-old has been given the Tiger's job after the trade of Shane Greene to Atlanta. Jimenez has had an up and down season, being removed from his setup role twice in 2019, only a year... Read More

Willie Calhoun (OF, TEX) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 14% of leagues ANALYSIS: Texas outfielder Willie Calhoun is tired of being ignored. In the minors and in the majors, the Ranger rookie has done everything he was supposed to in 2019.  He raked at the minors after failing to break camp with the Rangers, hitting eight home... Read More

Cal Quantrill (SP, SD) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 19% of Leagues ANALYSIS: San Diego Padres pitcher Cal Quantrill has delivered in just about every opportunity he's been granted for the team this year. He's been used in a variety of roles, as a traditional starter, as a long reliever following an opener and even as an... Read More

Chris Bassitt (SP, OAK) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 36% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Chris Bassitt has been a solid pitching option just about all season. Over the year, he's 7-5 with a 3.80 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. He's made 19 starts this year and allowed over three earned runs on just three occasions.... Read More

J.D. Davis (1B/3B/OF, NYM) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 32% of Leagues ANALYSIS: New York Mets corner infielder and outfielder J.D. Davis has quietly had a fantastic season and he's been on an absolute tear in August. Over 10 games this month, he has four home runs, nine RBI, eight runs and a 1.336 OPS. On the year,... Read More

Freddy Galvis (2B/SS, TOR) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 32% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Toronto Blue Jays middle infielder Freddy Galvis is having a career-best season across just about every measure and has started off the month of August red hot with two home runs and a 1.346 OPS through five games. On the year, he is slashing .273/.306/.456... Read More

Chase Anderson (SP, MIL) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 26% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chase Anderson is the epitome of an unexciting waiver wire pickup. He goes a shade under six innings in each start, allows about two earned runs and strikes out less than a batter per inning. He had his breakout season two... Read More

Niko Goodrum (1B/2B/3B/SS/OF, DET) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 26% of Leagues ANALYSIS: July was the best month of the season for Detroit Tigers infielder and outfielder Niko Goodrum. He hit .284 with four home runs, 11 RBI, 13 runs and five stolen bases in the month. He's been regularly hitting second in the order since... Read More

2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 19

Well, the trade deadline came and went, and as many of us sat glaze-eyed for hours endlessly refreshing the internet search results to view incoming deals, we found ourselves sourly disappointed until nearly the final hour. Even with blockbuster deals that saw the swapping of Zack Greinke, Yasiel Puig/Trevor Bauer, Shane Greene, Nicholas Castellanos, and... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 19

It's frankly flabbergasting to find ourselves in August already, but here we are. With fantasy football kicking into high gear and many owners out of the running in baseball leagues, we can expect there to be fewer suitors for any waiver wire pickups moving forward. The owners who remain, of course, are generally of a... Read More

Ryan McMahon (1B/2B/3B, COL) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 31% of leagues ANALYSIS: Having finally gotten a proper chance for everyday at-bats, Colorado infielder Ryan McMahon accounted himself fine in his 265 plate appearances before the All-Star break, hitting seven home runs with 35 RBI and 36 runs scored while slashing .256/.332/.399. But since the midseason festivities,... Read More

Mark Canha (1B/OF, OAK) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 6% of leagues ANALYSIS: After hitting a quiet 17 home runs in his 411 plate appearances last year for Oakland, outfielder Mark Canha was a late-round sleeper heading into 2019 but then promptly disappointed with a .200 AVG over his first 18 games before going on the injured... Read More

Willie Calhoun (OF, TEX) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 10% of leagues ANALYSIS: Texas Ranger rookie Willie Calhoun was surprisingly demoted on June 15, with a .277 AVG over his first 99 plate appearances in the majors while hitting five home runs, with 13 RBI and 15 runs scored. But after Joey Gallo hit the injured list... Read More

Cal Quantrill (SP, SDP) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 15% of leagues ANALYSIS: San Diego rookie Cal Quantrill has been on fire recently, allowing only one run over his past three starts, going 2-0 with a 0.53 ERA with a favorable matchup at home against the Rockies on the schedule. Quantrill started his big league career off... Read More

Drew Smyly (SP, PHI) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Leagues OWNED IN: 9% of leagues ANALYSIS: Yes, that Drew Smyly. The same Drew Smyly that was released by the Texas Rangers after he made 13 appearances (eight starts), going 1-5 with an 8.42 ERA and 5.96 BB/9; not to mention 19 home runs in his 51 innings pitched. After being let... Read More

Giovanny Urshela (3B/SS, NYY) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 16% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Giovanny Urshela has been invaluable to the New York Yankees this season. In a year where the team has been plagued by injuries, Urshela has stepped up in a big way, allowing the team to keep performing at an elite level. On the year,... Read More

Chris Martin (RP, TEX) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 9% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Texas Rangers pitcher Chris Martin earned his fourth save of the season this past Friday with Shawn Kelley (biceps) on the Injured List. He appears to be the top candidate for saves in Texas while Kelley remains sidelined. However, Martin himself was unavailable due to... Read More

Alex Wood (SP, CIN) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 31% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Alex Wood has finally made his long-awaited Cincinnati Reds debut. Wood dealt with back spasms during spring training this year and had recurring effects of the injury throughout his recovery process, keeping him away from action until he began his minor league rehab stint... Read More

1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 18

Another week has come and gone, and suddenly August is within view. Is it me, or has this season simply flown by? With the dog days looming, you can expect the waiver wire to be less of a bloodbath soon. Also-rans will lose interest as they turn their attention to fantasy football or enjoying what... Read More

2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 18

It figures: we spend all year discussing a plethora of trade deadline possibilities and make allusions to chaotic deadlines of years passed, and we are experiencing one of the slowest deadlines in recent memory. Maybe this year a crazy result of the deadline will be that every team, more or less, ended up with the... Read More

Alex Dickerson (OF, SFG) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 16% of leagues ANALYSIS: Over the four years and 107 games in which he appeared as a San Diego Padre, 29-year-old outfielder Alex Dickerson was not terrible, but was less than impressive; slashing .250/.321/.459 over 312 plate-appearances, with 10 home runs, 39 RBI, and 40 runs scored. However,... Read More