10-Team Leagues
Josh Bell , PIT 1B (63% ownership), FAAB Bid - $17 - Slow April starts are beginning to be a trend for the Pirates first baseman as back-to-back years he’s turned April showers into May flowers and by May flowers I mean destroying the baseball. After hitting .232 in April, he’s hitting .333 in May just 15 days in. As a matter of fact, his OPS is 1.090 and has a .453 wOBA to go along with it. We’re beginning to see the run production we had hoped for as well as he’s driven in eight runs over his last seven games. He’s also been pretty great at scoring runs with 26 on the year. At his current rate, he’ll score over 100 runs and drive in just under that. If you haven’t already jumped back on board, it’s time to do so.
Billy Hamilton , CIN OF (81% ownership), FAAB Bid - $15-16 - There are so many questions I wish I could peak into the future and see in regards to Billy Hamilton , man. Why is he all of sudden hitting .297 over the past two weeks? Why is he getting on base more but stealing less? He did recently have a three stolen base game so we know that is always just sitting in the holster if he reaches. The good thing is, he’s been reaching, hitting .317 with a .391 on-base percentage thus far in May. He should be owned in damn near 100-percent of leagues if he continues to hit. The stolen bases are coming..
Trey Mancini , BAL, 1B, OF (65% ownership), FAAB Bid - $13-16 - As long as Buck Showalter keeps Mancini hitting leadoff, he has tremendous value. He has value regardless, but hitting in front of Manny Machado increases your stock if you can get on base at a high clip. For example, in Mancini’s last four games he’s scored eight runs. He also has a .902 OPS over his last 10 games and has belted three homers in that span as well. All of that production and his multi-position eligibility makes Mancini a must-own in all formats.
12-Team Leagues
John Hicks , DET C, 1B (17% ownership), FAAB Bid - $11 - It’s pretty rare we see not only a first baseman with catcher eligibility, but one that can swing the stick as well. On the year, Hicks is hitting .304 and has fallen into an everyday role in Detroit. Just over his last 10 games, Hicks has slashed .359/.381/.590 with seven runs scored, three doubles, two homers and nine runs driven in. He’s doing a little bit of everything, plays multiple positions and hits in the heart of the Tigers lineup. It’s only a matter of time before Hicks’ begins getting long-term consideration in even 10-team formats.
Andrew Heaney , LAA SP (29% ownership), FAAB Bid - $7-10 - This week’s waiver pool has definitely been the deepest it’s been all season long. Heaney has been very solid of lately and maybe it’s just who he is when healthy (finally?). He’s posted three consecutive quality outings and has six or more strikeouts in four-of-six starts this year which has allowed him to rack up a 27.9-percent K-rate. His SIERA is 3.33 and his xFIP sits at a cool 3.14, suggesting that this is the real deal.
Jordan Lyles , SDP SP, RP (8% ownership), FAAB Bid - $7-10 - Just two starts ago people were rolling out as many Cardinals’ batters as we could against Lyles and now we’re all running to our waiver wire’s to put in a bid on the guy. He doesn’t have a ton of success as a starter in the past, but it’s hard to ignore the one earned run in his first 12.1 innings as a starter this year, including seven perfect innings against the Rockies his last time out that included 10 strikeouts. I’m unsure he can maintain his 25.8-percent K-rate knowing his previous career best mark is 17, but he’s worth the addition for the immediate future.
15-Team Leagues
Brad Ziegler , MIA RP (23% ownership), FAAB Bid - $6 - I wouldn’t go too crazy for the Marlins veteran closer because how closed a deal it is that he’s traded into a situation that doesn’t need a closer, but for the time being, he’s well worth the addition. The Marlins haven’t been ahead in that many games this year, but he’s 6-for-6 in save opportunities on the year and has three since May 6th. Just be ready to drop him if and when he’s dealt to a contender.
Freddy Peralta , MIL SP (20% ownership), FAAB Bid - $5-10 - The jury is still out on Peralta for the remainder of the year but boy did he make an amazing first impression on Sunday in Colorado striking out 13 Rockies over 5.2 scoreless innings. The strikeout stuff seems like it’s something that can continue. Obviously not to the extent it did in start one, but he posted an 11.94 mark at Triple-A this year and a 12.86 K/9 at Double-A last season. He’ll probably be the hottest waiver-wire add this week, so if you want him, you’ll have to get to the waiver wire NOW.
Jaime Barria , LAA SP (12% ownership), FAAB Bid - $7 - The 21-year old rookie stymied the Astros on Tuesday night and that was enough for me to know this kid has a bright future in the bigs even if he doesn’t have very overpowering stuff. He has a quality start in two of his last three games and has allowed two earned runs or less in each of those starts. He’s also been better in the strikeout department striking out at least seven in back-to-back outings. There isn’t any reason not to believe it’s real after seeing him mow down the Astros, pitch well IN Coors and Texas; two of the best offensive environments in baseball.
*ownership percentages courtesy of Yahoo
** FAAB bids based on $100 budget