The end of the fantasy baseball regular season is approaching and for some the playoffs have already begun so let’s take a gander at the top performing players that are left on the waiver wire who could instrumental in leading you to a fantasy baseball league championship.

Catcher

10 Team League

Gary Sanchez, NYY – Sanchez continues to rake for the Yankees and over the last week he is hitting .294 with four runs, three home runs and four RBI.  He is currently owned in about 85 percent of standard leagues and ranks among the top 10 catchers in fantasy this season.  He is likely only available in shallower leagues so check your waiver wire if you are looking for an upgrade at the position as Sanchez figures to be one of the top offensive talents at the position over the final few weeks of the year.

12 Team League

Sandy Leon, Bos– Leon is hitting .389 with two runs and four RBI over the last week for the Red Sox as he continues his career year.  He currently ranks among the top five catchers in fantasy this season as he is hitting .356 with 33 runs, seven home runs and 33 RBI on the year.  The Red Sox boast the league’s top scoring offense and while Leon hits in the lower half of the lineup he still sees plenty of RBI opportunities.

15 Team League

Mike Zunino, Sea- Zunino has always hit for power and over the last week he is hitting .278 with three runs, two home runs and four RBI.  He ranks among the top 20 catchers in fantasy despite having played only 42 games so far this year. Overall this season Zunino is hitting .224 with 15 runs 11 home runs and 27 RBI.

First Base

10 Team League

Hanley Ramirez, Bos– Ramirez is absolutely on fire right now, hitting .333 with six runs, four home runs and nine RBI over the last week. Since the All-Star break Ramirez is hitting .286 with 28 runs, 16 home runs and 49 RBI which ranks him among the league leaders.  Overall this season Ramirez is hitting .287 with 75 runs, 24 home runs 97 RBI and nine stolen bases.  Ramirez is owned in about 90 percent of standard leagues so his availability is likely limited to 10 team formats.

12 Team League

Carlos Santana, Cle–Santana is enjoying a career year in 2016 which sees him hitting .245 with 76 runs, 31 home runs, 74 RBI and five stolen bases.  He currently ranks among the top 12 first basemen yet is owned in just about 80 percent of standard leagues.  Over the last week Santana is hitting .308 with four runs, three home runs and six RBI.

15 Team League

Marwin Gonzalez, Hou– Gonzalez has turned in yet another quality season for the Astros as he is hitting .255 with 50 runs, 12 home runs, 40 RBI and 11 stolen bases on the season.  In deeper leagues his fantasy value comes from the fact that he is eligible to play four infield positions while adding double-digit home run and stolen base totals.  Despite his production Gonzalez is owned in under five percent of standard leagues so in deeper leagues if you are looking for an upgrade at CI or MI check your wire for Gonzalez.

 

[pagebreak]

Second Base

10 Team League

Trea Turner, Wsh– I’m not totally sure why but Turner is owned in just 85 percent of standard despite the fact that he is tearing the cover off the ball and filling up the stat sheet on a nightly basis.  Over the last week Turner is hitting .355 with five runs, two home runs, five RBI and four stolen bases.  He is also eligible in the outfield which is currently his primary position but seeing as he came up as a second fielder this position is where he holds his most fantasy value.

12 Team League

Addison Russell, ChC– Russell is enjoying a career year in 2016, hitting .246 with 60 runs, 20 home runs, 90 RBI and five stolen bases. Over the last week he is hitting .286 with three runs, one home run and two RBI.  Despite all this production Russell is owned in just about 75 percent of standard leagues.  The Cubs have one of the league’s top offenses which has helped Russell’s march towards his first 100 RBI season.

15 Team League

Logan Forsythe, TB–Forsythe is hitting .280 with 68 runs, 19 home runs, 48 RBI and six stolen bases this season as he proves that 2015 was no fluke.  Over the past week Forsythe is hitting just .241 but with two home runs and three RBI.  He is currently ranked among the top 15 second basemen in fantasy yet is owned in just about 60 percent of standard league so it’s more than likely he is floating around the waiver wire in your league.

Shortstop

10 Team League

Jonathan Villar, Mil – The top ranked shortstop in fantasy this season is owned in just 85 percent of standard leagues which makes little sense for a player of his caliber.  Over the last week he is hitting just .200 but with five runs, three home runs, three RBI and two stolen bases.  On the year Villar is hitting .292 with 81 runs, 16 home runs, 55 RBI and 54 stolen bases which ranks him second in all of baseball.

12 Team League

Jose Reyes, NYM—Reyes is hitting .259 with 11 runs, two home runs, two RBI and two stolen bases over the past couple weeks as he hits leadoff for the Mets.  He should continue to score runs at a high rate now that the Mets offensive is largely back to 100 percent health.  Reyes on the season is hitting .275 with 34 runs, six home runs, 15 RBI and eight stolen bases over 45 games.  He is owned in under 50 percent of standard leagues but given his ability to fill up the stat sheet he is worth the add.

15 Team League

Freddy Galvis, Phi- Galvis is enjoying a career year in 2016, hitting .237 with 56 runs, 18 home runs, 62 RBI and 13 stolen bases.  His ability to fill up the stat sheet with both home runs and stolen bases is what boosts his fantasy value in deeper leagues where his poor batting average can be ignored.  Galvis is owned in under five percent of standard leagues so it’s more than likely that he is sitting on the waiver wire in your league.

 

[pagebreak]

Third Base

10 Team League

Hernan Perez, Mil– Perez has slumped a bit of late but he still ranks among the top 10 third basemen in fantasy this season and yet finds himself owned in just about 65 percent of standard leagues.  On the year he is hitting .273 with 45 runs, 13 home runs, 54 RBI and 30 stolen bases for the Brewers.  Over the last two weeks he is hitting .255 with six runs, six RBI and four stolen bases.

12 Team League

Jung-Ho Kang, Pit – Kang was a popular DL stash heading into the season as he missed a little more than the first month of the year recovering from offseason surgery.  Upon his return to the Pirates he immediately began to hit for power but real poor month of July saw some owners cut bait.  He is currently owned in just about 55 percent of standard leagues but he is now a must grab as he is hitting .478 with five runs, two home runs and seven RBI over the last week.  Overall on the year Kang is hitting .269 with 38 runs, 18 home runs, 51 RBI and three stolen bases.

15 Team League

Yulieski Gurriel, Hou- Gurriel has come as advertised to the Astros as he is hitting .370 with five runs, three home runs, four RBI and one stolen base over the last week.  He is owned in just about 25 percent of standard leagues but his offensive upside over the remainder of the fantasy season makes him worth grabbing now as Houston has him hitting in the middle of their potent lineup.

Outfield

10 Team League

Yasmany Tomas, Ari– In his second year in the league Tomas is living up to his offensive potential as he is hitting .270 with 67 runs, 29 home runs, 74 RBI and two stolen bases.  He currently ranks among the top 25 outfielders in fantasy yet is owned in just about 50 percent of standard leagues.  Tomas is absolutely crushing left handed pitching which has been the force behind his fantasy production all season long but of late it seems as if no pitchers can get him out as he is hitting .444 with four runs, two home runs and eight RBI over the last week.

12 Team League

Hunter Pence, SF– Pence continues to see his ownership levels climb since coming off the disabled list but he is still available in nearly 20 percent of standard leagues which is much lower than it should be for a player of his caliber.  Over the last week he is hitting .585 with eight runs, one home run and five RBI.  Pence is a must own in all formats so check your wire to see if he is floating around your waiver wire.

15 Team League

Kevin Kiermaier, TB– Kiermaier is known much more for his gold glove defense than for his offensive production but fantasy owners should take notice that he is hitting .247 with 47 runs, 11 home runs, 34 RBI and 18 stolen bases over 91 games this season which would put him on pace for nearly 20 home runs and 30 + stolen bases had he not missed time due to injury.  Over the last month Kiermaier is hitting .307 with 15 runs, five home runs, 12 RBI and eight stolen bases as he fills up the box score which makes him a must add.  He is owned in under 50 percent of standard leagues so he should be floating around most player pools.

Starting Pitchers

10 Team League

Ivan Nova, Pit–The trade to Pittsburg could not have turned out any better for the Pirates or Nova as he is 5-0 with a 2.41 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP with his new team while striking out 43 over 52.1 innings.  Nova is coming off an 11 strikeout performance on Tuesday against the Phillies and will next take the mound on Sunday against the Reds who he just tossed a complete game against last week.  Nova is owned in about 70 percent of standard leagues and ranks among the top 50 starting pitchers in fantasy.

12 Team League

Seth Lugo, NYM – Lugo has been dominant for the Mets since getting a chance to start in mid-August, going 4-1 with a 2.27 ERA while striking out 21 over 31.2 innings.  In his next start he will draw the lowly Minnesota Twins who, outside of Brian Dozier, are having a tough season and will be without the DH in their lineup.  Lugo is owned in about 50 percent of standard leagues and is worth a stream if you are looking for a pitcher this upcoming Saturday.

15 Team League

Ubaldo Jimenez, Bal – It has been a rough season for Ubaldo who owns a record of 7-11 with a 5.98 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP but he has seemingly begun to right the ship by notching four straight quality starts since returning to the Orioles rotation.  During this stretch of games he is 2-1 with a 2.83 ERA while striking out 17 over 28.2 innings.  His next start will come on Friday against a Rays team Ubaldo just pitched a complete game against last week.  He is under 10 percent owned in standard leagues and is very likely sitting on the waiver wire in your league but given his natural ability and recent success he is worth a spot start against a favorable foe.