Over the course of the season I’ll be giving you two players at second base and shortstop per week who I think can help your team. These players are usually widely available in any format, and should turn nice profits in the weeks to come.
As always, feel free to reach out to me directly @Roto_Dubs with any questions about the middle infield or fantasy baseball in general.
Editor’s Note: to read about even more waiver wire options, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily. Prefer using your phone? Our free waiver wire app is available for download in the Apple & Android Stores.
Second Base (2B) Waiver Wire Pickups
Johnny Giavotella (2B - LAA) - Owned in 3% of Fleaflicker leagues
Besides Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun, someone on the Angels has to hit, right? Giavotella has been terrific for the Angels over the last couple weeks, going 19-for-52 with eight runs and eight RBI. While it's true that the Angels were considering booting Giavotella from the starting role after an April in which he hit well below the Mendoza Line, he's roared back to life in May. He's got his average back up to a ver respectable .271, and has added 15 runs scored and 14 RBI. He'll never be more than an injury fill-in or plug-and-play, but every lineup (particularly in deep or AL-only leagues) needs those types of players too.
Chris Owings (2B, SS, OF - ARI) - Owned in 21% of Fleaflicker leagues
The super-utility man has been filling in in the outfield since A.J. Pollock's injury, and he should continue to collect at-bats with David Peralta also sidelined with a wrist issue. Owings hit .350 over the last week to bring his average up to a stellar .294 on the season. He's also chipped in six stolen bases, and is capable of 20-25 if he continues to receive consistent playing time. At one position or another, Owings has established himself as a mainstay of the Arizona lineup.
Shortstop (SS) Waiver Wire Pickups
Eduardo Nunez (SS, OF - MIN) - Owned in 34% of Fleaflicker leagues
*Knock knock knock* HELLO? MCFLY? Too many fantasy owners are asleep at the wheel if Nunez is still just 34% owned. He's gotten off to a blistering start in 2016, hitting .320 with 16 runs scored, 17 RBI, three jacks and eight stolen bases. Nunez is locked in as an everyday starter for Minnesota, and while the shoddy lineup around him won't yield much in the way of RBI, hitting in front of Miguel Sano, Byung-ho Park and Oswaldo Arcia should lead to plenty of runs scored. Nunez is also capable of a 20-steal season, and the three homers already are an encouraging sign that he might be able to approach 10 on the year. A 10/20 player who hits .290 (allowing for some regression)? I'll take him in any format.
Danny Santana (SS, OF - MIN) - Owned in 4% of Fleaflicker leagues
Santana has been bringing up the rear in the Minnesota lineup, but he's there to act as a second lead-off more than anything. He's been contributing in multiple categories lately--he's hitting .302 with six runs, six RBI and four steals in his last 43 at-bats. Santana is a cheap, cheap source of steals in roto formats, and while he's not likely to approach the .319 batting average of his rookie season he should have no trouble swiping 30 bags and hitting .275 over 500 at-bats. Again, cheap speed in an era when any speed at all is a rarity.
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