We’re officially a week into the season which means two things. One, you’re obsessively checking your teams all day every day in hopes they’ve racked up more stats in the 5 minutes since you last checked. Two, you are already dealing with at least one injury and you’re quickly reminded with how long of a grind baseball season is. Between your late round value picks starting off scorching hot and your studs starting the season 0-14, fantasy baseball is back with all its glory and pain. Chances are you and the other owners in your league have cut ties with at least a couple of the guys you drafted and the waiver wire is churning. Whether it be to fill in for an injury or to replace that struggling guy you didn’t want to draft anyway, the waiver wire is the go-to in improving your team. Yes, the samples are small right now which leads to overvaluing and overreacting. But we finally have some real numbers to look at!
I’ll keep it to hitters for now since pitchers have only had one start for the most part. I’ll exclude guys that are likely gone by now and owned in 70%+ of leagues. If you didn’t draft Jose Martinez, wait why didn’t you draft him?! Have you not been reading Razzball this offseason?? However, if you didn’t listen to our top-notch advice I’m assuming someone already picked him up as he’s now owned in 78% of ESPN leagues. Thanks to his 3-home run Opening Day, I’m assuming everyone picked up Matt Davidson (71%) before he even hit his 3rd. Let’s check out some hitters that are hopefully available on waivers that can help make an impact for your H2H squads.
Mitch Haniger, OF, Seattle Mariners
(67% owned in ESPN, 64% in Yahoo)
Early on in the season we see lots of hitters struggle. Mitch Haniger does not appear to be one of those hitters. Last March/April he hit .342 across 94 plate appearances in 21 games, to go along with 4 home runs, 7 doubles, 16 runs batted in, and 20 runs scored. After a scorching hot start, Haniger fell victim to a nagging oblique injury that caused him to miss significant time and hindered his ability to hit for power. Once he fully healed up, he returned to form. Over his last 28 games Haniger hit .353 to go along with 7 home runs, 8 doubles, 14 runs batted in, and 17 runs scored. While still early in the season, it is encouraging to see Haniger belt 2 home runs through his first 4 games to go along with a .462 average, 5 runs batted in, and 3 runs scored. A clean bill of health should allow him to produce lots of runs hitting behind speedsters Dee Gordon and Jean Segura in an under-the-radar Mariners offense. Look for Haniger to produce solid counting stats in this lineup, to go along with a plus average and ~30 home runs.
Tim Anderson, SS, Chicago White Sox
(55% owned in ESPN, 66% in Yahoo)
Shortstop remains one of the weakest positions in fantasy baseball. For what it’s worth, Tim Anderson is currently the #1 ranked SS on ESPN’s player rater. Add him while you can, because while he will likely not finish the season as the top SS, he makes a great case to finish in the top 10. He represents a great power/speed combo which is every H2H player’s dream and hard to find on the waiver wire as the season goes on. He had 17 home runs and 15 stolen bases in 2017 and is on pace to crack the 20/20 mark this season. Anderson has already notched 3 home runs and stolen bases a piece through his first four games, while hitting .375 and scoring 6 runs. He’ll strikeout a ton and doesn’t walk much which hurts more in certain formats, but he remains a great middle infield piece in H2H. His counting stats may be somewhat suppressed in a rebuilding White Sox lineup, but his power/speed combo along with a decent average make Anderson a guy you can count on week by week to pile up some stats.
Matt Chapman, 3B, Oakland Athletics
(60% owned in ESPN, 48% in Yahoo)
If you decided to focus more on pitching and speed in your draft and are now realizing you are in need of some powah, Matt Chapman is the guy for you. After hitting 14 home runs in 326 plate appearances last year, Chapman has blasted 2 in his first 25 of 2018. Even more promising is that he has reached base safely in each of his team’s first 6 games. As a guy that strikes out a ton (28% rate), it is important that Chapman gets on base to maximize his efficiency and remain a threat. His average may only be in the .230/240 range, but his 30+ homer production will make up for the strikeouts and average. Especially in today’s environment where guys are sacrificing average for power, he won’t single handedly lose average for you. I also like him in H2H leagues because his excellent defense will ensure he plays as many games as possible, thus maximizing his opportunities to pile up stats for you. Chapman won’t offer much in terms of stolen bases, but he is one of the best young power hitters who can help you week in week out with home runs and modest counting numbers.
Kevin Pillar, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
(48% owned in ESPN, 44% in Yahoo)
Kevin Pillar has shown he is one of the best defensive centerfielders in the game over the past few seasons, but his offensive production has quietly been pleasing as well. He was one of only 13 outfielders last year to record a 15/15 season. It was his first year hitting more than 12 home runs and speed tends to decline rapidly, but the now 29-year-old Pillar could very well reach that mark again this season. Pillar has gone 8/21 (.381) to go along with a home run, 3 stolen bases, 2 RBI, and 6 runs scored to open the season. Though his 3 stolen bases came in the same game against the Yankees, it is encouraging to see they are letting him run. If you are a frustrated Billy Hamilton owner or lost Delino DeSteals to injury, Pillar is a guy to target to help get some steals back. He’s a career .265 hitter, but that’s not a bad mark for someone who you can add through waivers that will help you out with some pop and some speed.
Lewis Brinson, OF, Miami Marlins
(27% owned in ESPN, 35% in Yahoo)
If Ronald Acuna did not exist, Lewis Brinson would absolutely be my favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award. While Acuna does exist (thankfully!), Brinson is still a first-year guy I think will make a big impact for his real-life team, and your fantasy one. Though off to a slow start hitting 7/31 (.226), it is only a matter of time before Brinson starts producing. The more important takeaway for me thus far is that he’s been batting lead-off which will allow him to maximize his plate appearances. Brinson is a future H2H stud thanks to his power-speed combo, and holds 15/15 potential for this season. I know, its justifiably tough to get behind anyone playing in that Miami lineup and his counting stats may not be great. But since it is a weaker lineup I can see the Marlins being more aggressive with him on the base paths. There are much worse options out on the waiver wire than a potential 15/15 guy. Pick him up while you can, because once he starts producing he won’t be out there for long.
