MLB fantasy waiver wire report
It's a long season; let us guide you through all of the potential names on the wire who can help your team. For more fantasy analysis, check out Sandlot Shrink.com.
Brad Bergesen, Baltimore Orioles -- Bergesen, 24, will be recalled again to start on Saturday. He has a 6.50 ERA in 12 games (10 starts) with the Orioles this season. His sinker has improved working with AAA Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin, so he might be worth watching. His fine rookie campaign (11 wins, 4.12 ERA) ended last July when he was nailed on the left shin by a line drive. He also strained a shoulder muscle over the winter. He's not a big strikeout pitcher but gets a lot of ground ball outs and doesn't give up many homers. He usually doesn't throw hard although he can get it up to 95 mph at times. He relies more on a sinker-slider-change combo with a good feel on the mound. Grade B
Jason Castro, Houston Astros -- Castro, 23, was hitting .265 at AAA Round Rock and takes over as the starter behind the plate. He is a decent prospect but not a star despite being drafted No. 10 overall in 2008. He is an excellent defensive backstop and has a nice swing with developing power but don't expect a lot of offense yet. Grade B-
Jarrett Hoffpauir, Toronto Blue Jays -- Hoffpauir, 27, was recalled to start at third base for the Jays. He can hit and was batting .332 (77-for-232) with nine home runs and 43 RBIs at AAA Las Vegas. Last season for St. Louis he hit .250 (3-for-12) with two doubles. Grade C+
Chris Johnson, Houston Astros -- Johnson, 25, will get some playing time at third base with Pedro Feliz struggling. He began the season with the Astros, going 5-for-22 before being placed on the disabled list. He has power potential and is worth considering in NL-only leagues, but beware a low batting average and a propensity to strikeout a lot. He batted .281 with 13 homers for Round Rock last year. Grade C+
Daniel McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates -- McCutchen, 27, will be recalled from Indy on Saturday to make a spot start. He struggled in an earlier stint with the Bucs but righted himself with AAA Indianapolis with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in 10 starts. He probably will make a second spot start July 1 but, if he struggles and Charlie Morton (shoulder) improves, Morton could return for the July 1 game. Morton worked nine innings in his last start, allowing one run on two hits, and striking out four for Indy. Prior to that he had posted a 4.91 ERA in three minor league rehab starts. He was placed on the disabled list last month after beginning the season 1-9 with a 9.35 ERA. Grade: C
Andy Oliver, Detroit Tigers -- Oliver, 22, will make a couple of starts for the injured Rick Porcello and should be watched. A second-round pick in '09, he is 6-4 with a 3.61 ERA in 14 starts with AA Erie. He throws 95 mph (topping out in the high 90s) with a good changeup and gets his share of strikeouts but his slider can be inconsistent. Grade C+
Two pitchers on rehab are worth monitoring and/or picking up if you can stash them on reserve:
Edinson Volquez (elbow) allowed one run in five innings of rehab for AAA Louisville on Wednesday and hit 98 mph several times. He hasn't walked a batter and he has struck out nine in 13 rehab innings. But the Reds would like him to get to 100 pitches he threw 80 Wednesday -- and throw that many at least two times. He will throw again on June 29 and July 5 or 6. He still hopes to return before the All-Star Break.
Erik Bedard (shoulder) allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings in his first rehab start for Rookie League Peoria on Monday. He is throwing 93 mph. He's expected to throw 70 pitches on Saturday and then re-evaluated. He hopes to return July 6.
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