Dr. Stat’s Waiver Prescription: Week 9
The Doctor is in! Here is my weekly showcase of players who are most likely available in your league and could be valuable to your team. Since we’ve got more than one week to catch up on, I’ll also name some more obvious ones that are more likely to have been picked up, but still should be named just in case.
HITTERS
Jay Bruce- OF, Cincinnati Reds
Bruce was finally called up from AAA-Louisville on Tuesday, and proceeded to reach base in eight of his first ten plate appearances. You’ve heard all the hype on one of the top prospects in America, and you should believe it. If by some miracle no one has picked him up in your league, do so this instant. Do not tarry!
Fantasy Diagnosis: If he hasn’t been picked up already, your league is less active than Terry Bradshaw’s hair growth.
Pedro Feliz- 3B, Philadelphia Phillies
Feliz has always been a decent hitter, and is benefiting from his switch from San Francisco’s mammoth AT&T Park to the cozy confines of Citizens Bank Ballpark. While he started slow, he’s currently enjoying an eight-game hitting streak. Over the last month, he’s hit .314 with 4 home runs, 13 runs and 19 RBIs, boosting his 2008 average to .265.
Fantasy Diagnosis: A nice fill for a team in need of a 3B with some pop. The lineup he hits in only increases his value.
Ryan Spilborghs- OF, Colorado Rockies
With Brad Hawpe and Matt Holliday on the DL, Spilborghs has gotten a serious boost in playing time and is taking advantage of it. He’s hitting .308 for the season now, with 3 home runs, 22 RBIs, 16 runs and 3 stolen bases. He proved he has some pop in his bat last year (.299/11/51 in 264 at-bats), so his numbers should increase with his playing time.
Fantasy Diagnosis: Worth picking up as a fourth outfielder or a starter in deeper leagues.
Juan Pierre- OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
I know what you’re thinking. You hate his hitting. He’s only good for steals. But what if I told you that over the last month, Pierre has hit .290, scored 16 runs, drove in 9 and stolen 13 bases? Not too shabby, huh?
Fantasy Diagnosis: If you need stolen bases, run with Pierre while he’s still running. Once Andruw Jones returns from the DL, Pierre may end up losing some starts, though continued fine play will make it likely that Pierre starts the rest of the way.
Cody Ross- OF, Florida Marlins
Ross is the type of player that causes you to scratch your head. As of Wednesday, 9 of his last 12 hits were home runs, including five in a row. While he doesn’t play everyday, he may force Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez to play him more if the power he’s been showing continues. Ross showed the same burst of power last season, belting out 12 HR and 39 RBI in just 173 ABs. It’s possible that this surge continues.
Fantasy Diagnosis: Wait and see. His average will hurt you, while his power will help you. Keep an eye on the status of Josh Willingham too; his return from the DL may complicate the Marlins’ outfield situation even more. Randy Winn- OF, San Francisco Giants
He’s consistent, always has been. Yet every year we assume he’s running out of gas, or hits in a weak lineup, so isn’t worth much in fantasy. Yet, Winn scored 21 runs last month and hit .327.
Fantasy Diagnosis: He doesn’t do one thing better than any other, but he does them all pretty decently. You’ll get a good average, along with runs and a few stolen bases, week in and week out. Only useful in deeper leagues.
Benji Molina- C, San Franciso Giants
Pretend you don’t know who I’m talking about, and listen to these current numbers. .333 / 6 / 36 / 20. Now open your eyes. Bengie Molina??? Yes. He was last week’s NL Player of the Week and just came off a 10-game hitting streak. Bengie is raking the ball in ways we never expected possible for a Molina brother. He’s a career .278 hitter; so don’t expect the average to stay where it is, but his current .OPS is over 140 points higher than his career-high for season. The fact that Molina hits cleanup for the Giants doesn’t hurt one bit.
Fantasy Diagnosis: If you play in a smaller league or carry only one catcher, chances are Molina might still be available in your league. If so, pick him up and enjoy his current production. Currently, he’s still available in over 40% of leagues on one of the internet’s biggest fantasy sports sites.
Shane Victorino- OF, Philadelphia Phillies
Because he was on the DL, he’s still available in many leagues. He has a 10-game hitting streak going (multi-hit games in 7 of them), stole 5 bases in his last 6 games, and has been getting hits and scoring runs like crazy.
Fantasy Diagnosis: Grab him if he’s there. He hits near the top of a great lineup, and proved last year that he’s a legitimate .285/35 stolen bases/75 runs player. You don’t get nicknamed the Flyin Hawaiian for nothing! He’s a good buy-low candidate as well; try to steal him with a bigger name player who isn’t producing like he should.
PITCHERS
Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
Like Bruce, I’m starting off by naming an obvious one that probably isn’t a free agent anymore. Still, I had to name him, since no article like this one was written last week. If you aren’t familiar with Kershaw, he’s the Dodgers’ #1 pitching prospect and made his first big league start on Sunday. He gave up no runs, walked one and struck out seven. The kid is now the youngest player in the majors, and looks like he’s for real.
Fantasy Diagnosis: If he’s somehow available in your league, add him now. If you play in a keeper league, don’t bother checking; he’s already been claimed.
Bronson Arroyo, Cincinatti Reds
After an awful 1-4 start, Arroyo has only given up 7 combined runs in his last 5 starts.
Fantasy Diagnosis: Not yet worth the risk. He’s been anything but consistent since 2006, and needs to produce a couple more quality outings before earning your trust. Watch his next start or two closely though. If he keeps up the pace, he’ll be snatched before long.
Darrel Rasner, New York Yankees
He’s 3-1 with 1.80 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. While he doesn’t strike out many batters (14), he doesn’t walk many either (3), which limits the amount of trouble he gets himself into.
Fantasy Diagnosis: Add now. Even when he inevitably gives up more runs in a game, he’s backed by the Yankee offense.
Jesse Litsch, Toronto Blue Jays
Litsch is now 7-1 with a 3.18 ERA for the season after shutting down the A’s on Thursday. He hasn’t given up a run in his last two starts, has won five of his last seven decisions, and has given up more than two runs only three times in 11 starts.
Fantasy Diagnosis: Litsch can pitch. Add now.
Jason Bergmann, Washington Nationals
It’s surprising that very few GMs have taken a flyer on a pitcher who’s hasn’t given up a run in his last three starts (19.2 IP). Jason Bergmann has done just this since coming off the DL, and has averaged more than a strikeout per inning while doing this. On the downside, Bergmann spent two months of last year out of commission with injury, and has already missed a month this season. Another downside: he has the Washington Nationals offense behind him. Never a good thing!
Fantasy Diagnosis: Take a chance on Bergmann if a struggling pitcher on your team (i.e. Brett Myers, Derek Lowe, Brad Penny, Jeff Francis) is driving you up the wall. He’s commented on his confidence and says he feels healthy. He had a strong finish in 2007 and scoreless pitching against the Mets, Phillies, and Brewers in consecutive starts is nothing to shrug off.
Garrett Olsen, Baltimore Orioles
Olsen is 4-1 with a 4.09 ERA and a 2/1 K/BB ratio. In 6 starts, he’s given up 2, 1, 3, 3, 6, and 0 runs, including a 3-hit performance against the Yankees on Memorial Day.
Fantasy Diagnosis: Keep a very close eye on him and add him if you have room. While he’ll experience a few rough outings as he adjusts to the majors, he should begin to produce more quality starts and wins as he adjusts to the majors.
Dan Wheeler, Tampa Bay Rays With Troy Percival put on the DL this week, Wheeler will see some save opportunities. He got the save on Wednesday after Percival had to leave the game.
Fantasy Diagnosis: While teammate Al Reyes might get a few calls to close out games as well, pick up Wheeler if you’re desperate for saves.
KEEP AN EYE ON
Jesus Flores- C, Washington Nationals
He’s hitting .344 with 2 HRs, 14 RBIs and 7 runs in 61 at-bats. It will be interesting to see what the Nationals do when Paul Lo Duca comes off the DL.
Adam LaRoche- 1B, Pittsburgh Pirates
After hitting just .174 at the end of April, LaRoche is now hitting .236 with 6 home runs and 24 RBIs. While his average is nowhere near where you want it to be, he is working his way out of the terrible funk that he started the season in. Adam is a .250 career hitter before the All-Star break, and a .296 hitter after. He’s probably available in your league, and could provide your team a much needed boost in the second half of the season.
Phil Dumatrait- SP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Dumatrait, claimed by the Pirates off waivers from the Reds last fall, has primarily been a reliever this season. He gave up just 1 run to the Cubs at Wrigley last week and started against the Reds on Thursday, where he dominated his former team, giving up just 1 run on 2 hits over 7 innings. Even more impressive was the fact that he walked only 2 and struck out 9. Put him on your radar and see how he fares over his next few starts.
Dr. Stat returns with fantasy advice for all members of rootzoo.com.
