Yuli Gurriel (1B, HOU) - Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 43% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel finished last week with three days on paternity leave and was subsequently dropped in a few leagues. Remember, his value is based on two things, batting average and opportunity. Over the last seven days, Gurriel is hitting .467 with a home run, five runs scored, and seven RBI.

Gurriel should be activated off paternity leave on Monday and placed directly back into the middle of the Astros lineup that has scored 98 runs in the last six series. In addition to average power, Gurriel is not an on-base machine as he still only draws walks 3.6 percent of the time, but he does limit his strikeouts (10.4%), with an equally impressive 8.2% swinging strikes. The handedness of the pitcher is irrelevant as well as Gurriel is hitting .305 against left-handers and .295 against righties.

This week he has favorable matchups against the Rangers in Texas and White Sox at home. He is a good addition in deeper leagues and even has some value in shallow leagues as well.