Fantasy Baseball Week #3 Waiver Wire Work

[bcbadgalz]

Short on time but here are a few advice articles:

Week Three Waiver Pickups
The Cleveland Indians are off to a great start, and it looks like starting pitcher Justin Masterson is ready to help fantasy owners after a disappointing 2010 season. Masterson is still having some problems verse left handed hitters but with three wins on the season and a 1.33 earn run average, he’s dominating overall.

Despite Masterson’s fast start, he is still owned in less than 40 percent of all leagues in ESPN and Yahoo, but you will need to act fast as fantasy baseball owners will be targeting him this weekend.

Outfielders
Sam Fuld – Rays

With Manny Ramirez gone for good, Sam Fuld has taken advantage of regular playing time by making dazzling plays in the outfield and stealing bases left and right. Heck, Fuld is so hot he even turned down an opportunity to hit for the cycle against the Red Sox when he opted to run for a double instead of sitting back on a single, late in the game.

Look to Fuld as a must own if you’re in need of speed as he seems to have earned enough confidence in his coaching staff to be the teams regular leadoff man.

Jonny Gomes – Reds

It seems like Jonny Gomes is one of those players who always comes up on waiver wire discussion in the early portion of the season. While Gomes five home runs and 13 RBI’s are impressive, thus far, it is his 15 walks that truly shows he’s seeing the baseball well. Gomes if off to a terrific start and is actually hitting fourth in the Reds’ order as of this weekend.

Take a shot on the veteran as he plays in a friendly lineup and a hitters park.

Dexter Fowler / Seth Smith – Rockies

Fowler
Smith

The Rockies are off to a hot start this season and outfielders Dexter Fowler and Seth Smith are a big reason why. Both are getting the job done and are worth placing on your fantasy roster. Of the two I like Smith the best as he provides you will better power and gets opportunities to drive in runs.

Fowler has speed but he never seems to live up to the potential he should in that category. The speedster does have two stolen bases coming into the weekend so hopefully he can build in his productive start and gain more confidence on the base paths.

David Murphy – Rangers

With Josh Hamilton out for the next two months, David Murphy should get regular playing time in the Rangers’ outfield. Murphy has always been able to hit but playing time has been a big reason why he’s stayed on the waiver wire in most leagues. Since Hamilton broke his shoulder, Murphy has been hitting just fine and should be owned in all leagues.

Michael Brantley – Indians

Don’t let the expected return (possibly Sunday) of Grady Sizemore shy you away from Michael Brantley as he is expect to move into left field when the veteran returns. Brantley has had a great start to the season, and the Indians should be for real in the first half of the season. This team had ability, but it looks like everyone if paying off for breakout years and rebound seasons.

Maybe the Indians won’t duplicate this success next season, but for now they are a force in the American League Central, look out.

Second Baseman
Orlando Cabrera – Indians

Regular playing time coupled with the overall success the Indians makes Orlando Cabrera a player who can help your team in the short run. Cabrera isn’t going to be a world beater for any fantasy baseball team, but he can help you through an injury or while you’re looking for a young prospect to (Dustin Ackley perhaps) to get a call up around June.

Chris Getz – Royals

The Royals are off to a great start and their hitting looks to be for real in the first month of the season. Who knows how long some of these guys will continue to hit, but Chris Getz is benefiting from their success hitting atop the order. Getz is a steady option to help your team in the short run.

Shortstop
Angel Sanchez – Astros

The Astros were in need of a future solution at shortstop even before Clint Barmes suffered an injury before the season began. It looks like Angel Sanchez could be that answer as he’s played good defense and is hitting well to begin the season. Look to Sanchez as a quick fix option for shortstop if you’re in need of some early season help at this position.

Relief Pitchers
Kyle Farnsworth – Rays

With three saves and a win to his name already, Kyle Farnsworth is the name who has broken out as the Rays’ leader for ninth inning work. The veteran could make a go of being the teams closer throughout this season, as they need a steady option to close down games. Farnsworth should be owned in all leagues, but as you can see by the percentage owned above, that is not the case at this time.

Mitchell Boggs – Cardinals

If Ryan Franklin should continue to struggle for the Cardinals Mitchell Boggs is a likely option to receive an opportunity. You can never fully know what manager Tony LaRussa will do, but Boggs has been s thus far, and has the stuff to nail down the ninth. If you’re in need of a future prospect for saves, Boggs is worth stashing.

Starting Pitchers
Justin Masterson – Indians

One of the hot names on the waiver wire this weekend in all leagues, Justin Masterson has been fabulous in the first two weeks of the season. Cleveland will give Masterson solid run support and the addition of Grady Sizemore this week will only help their odds of success. Masterson will have some rough outings in the future, but he’s worth holding onto as the Indians should have a solid first half of the season.

Matt Harrison – Rangers

Since my last waiver wire article Matt Harrison has had two more solid starts and is flying off the waiver wire in most leagues. Surprisingly, Harrison is only gone in 45 percent of Yahoo’s leagues, but I expect that to change over the weekend. Harrison looks for real to have a solid first half, and we know the Rangers will give him run support and Neftali Feliz can close out his games for victories.

Chris Narveson – Brewers

One of the questions about the Brewers this season was if Chris Narveson could continue his success from the end of last season. Well, so far, the answer is yes, as Narveson has been solid overall. Narveson can help your squad and should be trust worthy in the early going of the season.

Sam LeCure – Reds

The Reds are having another solid start to the season and Sam LeCure is coming out of nowhere to give them quality games in the starting rotation. In week three, LeCure is a two start pitcher so pick him up and use him if you need an extra arm on your roster.



Buy and Sell Report...Pitchers

Buy

Clay Buchholz, SP, Boston Red Sox- Buchholz has gotten off to a slow start this season, as he is 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA with five home runs allowed through two starts heading into his next start on Friday night against the Toronto Blue Jays. He has done well in his career against the Blue Jays, going 6-3 with a 2.50 ERA over 10 appearances (nine starts), so a solid outing seems likely. If the Red Sox can provide him with better run support going forward, which is almost certain, a solid win total should come easily. Just don't expect last year's ERA (2.33).


Zack Greinke, SP, Milwaukee Brewers- Greinke has missed the start of the season after suffering a ribcage injury early in spring training, but appears to be making progress toward returning by the end of the month. He pitched simulated game earlier in the week, and is slated to throw another on Friday. Many owners who drafted him may be looking to trade him and shore up another spot on their roster. That can present a buying opportunity for an owner willing to stash the 2009 American League Cy Young winner until he is ready to go.


Francisco Liriano, SP, Minnesota Twins- Liriano has really struggled through three starts in 2011, as he is 0-3 with a 9.42 ERA after a poor outing against the Kansas City Royals earlier this week. The team is trying to get him to "pitch to contact" in order to allow him to stay in games longer, but it does not appear to be working. Liriano seems to be a strikeout pitcher, as evidenced by last season's 201 strikeouts in 191.2 innings of work, and he has already proven to be fairly fragile mentally and the coaching staff messing with his approach seems to be a bad idea. That said , he almost has nowhere to go but up from here. If the owner that has him in your league is looking to deal him, you may be able to get him for next to nothing right now.


Sell

A.J. Burnett, SP, New York Yankees- Burnett is currently 3-0 with a 4.67 ERA through three starts, and he pitched six shutout innings in his last start against the Baltimore Orioles before allowing four runs in the seventh inning. His peripheral numbers have been solid, as he has a 16:5 K/BB ratio in his 17.1 innings of work, but he also benefited from some nice run support for the prolific Yankees' offense. Burnett's career numbers early in the season (19-9, 3.88 ERA in April/March) are very good, but his career record in both May and June is below .500. His next start is scheduled for next Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays, one of his former teams, so he could be motivated to perform well. That said, now could be the time to sell high on Burnett as his fantasy value may never be higher.



Nick Blackburn, SP, Minnesota Twins- Blackburn has been excellent through two starts this season, as he is sporting a 0.77 ERA and a 1-1 record in his 11.2 innings of work. His next start comes against the Tampa Bay Rays and their struggling offense on Friday night, so another nice outing does appear likely. After that, it may be time to sell high on Blackburn. He is not a strikeout pitcher (4.2 career K/9), so his margin for error is not good and the Twins' defense has struggled at times this season. Pitching to contact and the fact that more ground balls may find a hole is not a recipe for success. If you've added Blackburn to your roster early in the season, it may be time to cut bait after Friday night's outing.


Brad Lidge, RP, Philadelphia Phillies- Lidge is expected to be out until close to the All-Star break with a rotator cuff issue in his right shoulder. That makes it hard for fantasy owners to just stash him for that long when the roster spot may be put to better use, even if you have a DL spot or two available. That said, if you have him on your roster and an owner in your league (a Phillies' fan?) wants to take a flyer on him it would be hard not to trade him for something of more immediate value.