Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups: Second Base (2B) & Shortstop (SS)

Here we go gang. It's the playoff push. Whether you've got a spot locked down or need that extra kick to get yourself in, take a look at these middle infield sleepers for the home stretch.

Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Jedd Gyorko (SD) - Owned in 31.4% of leagues

Gyorko has turned things around in the second half, hitting over .280 with four homers and a handful of RBIs. He’s still a sort of boom-or-bust guy, as power is his best quality.

However if he stays focused and keeps that batting average in the respectable region, he could help you out in the last weeks. At the second base position and this late in the season, I’d be okay with rolling the dice on him.

Baller Move: Add in deeper and NL-only leagues

Joe Panik (SF) - Owned in 11.3% of leagues

This light-hitting rookie is hitting over .400 in August, and is showing no signs of slowing down. The Giants have faith in him to start regularly, and in the home stretch you can’t afford to lose production because players are platooning or riding the bench—you need a bat in there every day, and Panik is going to knock out base hits and score runs. Snatch him up.

Baller move: Add in deeper leagues

Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Arismendy Alcantara (CHC) - Owned in 17.0% of leagues

This is more of a potential-based pickup versus a performance-based one. Alcantara is a five-tool player who has the capacity to help in multiple categories, as he already has five homers and seven stolen bases through his first 44 games.

He can bust out with a big game at any time, and if you need a Hail Mary to get in the playoffs, this could very well be your guy.

Baller Move: Add in deeper leagues

Justin Turner (LAD) - Owned in 15.8% of leagues

Turner has very quietly produced great numbers for the Dodgers from a utility perspective, filling in for the injured Juan Uribe and Hanley Ramirez. He’s a multi-category producer, as he is not without power or speed in addition to his stellar batting average (.321 at the time of this writing).

In a potent offense he has the capacity to both score runs and knock them in, and I think he’s a very solid option if you need a fill-in at shortstop. Monitor whether or not he continues to start, though.

Baller Move: Add in deeper leagues