Waiver Wire: Chris Colabello, Brock Holt lead this week's top options
Need some help in your fantasy league? We all do at some point during the season. Lead fantasy sports writer Michael Beller provides his best waiver wire additions this week. All players are available in at least 60% of leagues.
Starting pitchers
Ervin Santana, Twins (Mixed: $10, AL-only: $23): Santana is eligible to return from a PED suspension on July 4. He made his first rehab start over the weekend, allowing one run in five innings at Triple A Rochester. With his return on the horizon, he’s worth owning in all mixed leagues.
Steven Matz, Mets (Mixed: $5, NL-only: $12): Matz will likely be the next big pitching prospect to hit the majors. With Dillon Gee out of New York and the Mets contending for a playoff spot, they won’t be able to keep Matz down at Triple A Las Vegas much longer. He’s another guy worth stashing in all mixed leagues.
Carlos Rodon, White Sox (Mixed: $9, AL-only: $23): Rodon’s ownership has fallen off after he allowed seven runs in 3 2/3 innings to the Pirates last week, which is really a mistake. He’s going to suffer through his share of poor outings in his rookie year, but he also has 48 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings. As long as you understand that he’s not someone to deploy in every matchup, you’ll be able to turn a profit with him on your roster.
• BELLER: Pitcher Scouting: Zimmermann's low strikeout rate hurting value
Relief pitchers
Ken Giles, Phillies (Mixed: $3, NL-only: $10): Each passing day gets us closer to a likely Jonathan Papelbon trade. If and when that happens, Giles will become the ninth-inning man in Philadelphia. It doesn’t hurt to be too early on this one.
Pedro Strop, Cubs (Mixed: $3, NL-only: $8): Even with a three-week rough patch in May, Strop has a 2.90 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 34 strikeouts in 31 innings. He may not close out every game for the Cubs, but his strikeout ability and low rates make him a weapon in deeper leagues.
Carson Smith, Mariners (Mixed: $10, AL-only: $25): Smith is officially the closer in Seattle, but he’s still available in about 60% of fantasy leagues. In 29 2/3 innings this year, he has a 1.52 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 36 strikeouts.
• CORCORAN: Blame umpires, not Tabata for Scherzer's lost perfecto
Corner infielders
Chris Colabello, Blue Jays (Mixed: $3, AL-only: $11): Colabello has earned himself an everyday spot in the potent Toronto lineup, and is paying dividends for fantasy owners who have taken notice. He’s slashing .344/.385/.497 with five homers, 24 RBIs and 28 runs this season, and also has eligibility in the outfield.
Mitch Moreland, Rangers (Mixed: $1, AL-only: $10): Moreland has been swinging a hot bat for two weeks now, hitting .333 with two homers, 10 RBIs and six runs scored. First base is a deep position, but he’s been an asset for most of the year, slashing .303/.358/.514 with eight round-trippers.
Yunel Escobar, Nationals (Mixed: $3, NL-only: $10): Escobar continues to be a valuable fantasy player in deeper leagues, adding to his worth with the versatility provided by his dual eligibility at shortstop and third base. In the last two weeks, he’s hitting .380 (19-for-50) with a homer, nine RBIs and five runs scored.
• REITER: How Michael Brantley and his father built an MVP swing
Middle infielders
Justin Turner, Dodgers (Mixed: $4, NL-only: $14): Turner’s one of the most flexible players in fantasy leagues, providing eligibility at first, second, third and short. On top of that, he’s been an asset at most of those spots, hitting .327/.393/.558 with eight homers on the year.
Jace Peterson, Braves (Mixed: $2, NL-only: $12): Peterson has turned it on in the last two weeks, hitting .352 (19-for-54) with one homer, nine RBIs, eight runs, two steals and a .438 OBP. Peterson has done enough to hold off top prospect Jose Peraza, who’s hitting .299/.331/.369 at Triple A Gwinnett.
Brock Holt, Red Sox (Mixed: $2, AL-only: $12): There’s no more versatile player in fantasy baseball than Holt, who is eligible at every hitter position other than catcher. He’s getting more playing time of late, hitting .360 (18-for-50) with a homer, four RBIs, 10 runs, one steal and a .458 OBP in the last two weeks.
• CORCORAN: Holt should be praised, but not because of the cycle
Outfielders
Kevin Pillar, Blue Jays (Mixed: $1, AL-only: $10): Pillar’s rates aren’t great this season, but he fills up the counting categories for a deep-league outfielder. He has five homers, 10 steals, 39 runs and 32 RBIs on the year.
Andre Ethier, Dodgers (Mixed: $2, NL-only: $13): Ethier continues to rake with an everyday spot in the Dodgers’ lineup, hitting .275/.353/.487 with nine homers on the season. He has slowed down in the last couple weeks, but he’s still hitting for modest power, belting a pair of homers in the last couple weeks.
Joey Butler, Rays (Mixed: $5, AL-only: $15): Butler has taken his opportunity in the Tampa Bay lineup and run with it, hitting .336/.371/.531 with six homers and four steals in 151 plate appearances. In the last two weeks, he’s hitting .362 (17-for-47) with two homers, eight RBIs, five runs and a steal.
