Fantasy baseball marches on and the mid point of the season is in view. Managers from sea to shining sea have had to deal with injuries and disappointing performances from many players. Without a doubt, managers need to make decisions soon to stay in the playoff race. Many are trying to decide just what to do. Never fear as this fantasy baseball pickups mid June edition is here to help! The water is fine so let’s dive right in.

Tarik Skubal, SP, Detroit Tigers, 28.3% Owned

Managers having pitching problems need to run without delay to their nearest waiver wire and pickup Tarik Skubal. Against the White Sox on Friday, Skubal allowed three earned runs. The next day, Chicago put the hammer on the Tigers, scoring 15 times. Holding down the other team is something that Skubal is doing with regularity. In his last five starts, Skubal hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of them. He is pitching a little deeper in games, reaching the sixth inning three times in his last six.

For the season, Skubal is just 3-7 with an unimpressive 4.35 ERA. However, that ERA has been steadily coming down since the calendar flipped to May. In fact, his ERA over his last five starts is an impressive 2.67. in addition, Skubal is averaging an almost unheard of 14.3 strikeouts per nine over his last 27 innings. Pitching for a last place team probably won’t get Skubal many wins, but he checks every other box for fantasy managers. If available, pick him up. Now.

Cole Irvin, SP/RP, Oakland A’s, 19.9% Owned

If Skubal isn’t on the wire, managers should then check on the status of Cole Irvin. This is a pitcher that has pitched six innings in each of his last three starts. Further, Irvin has walked just four batters in his last 22.2 innings. Pitching in Colorado on June fifth, Irvin impressively held the Rockies to just one run on six hits. Colorado is not the Rockies of old, but it is still a feat to hold them to one run on the road. The next time out, Irvin showed that performance was no fluke, limiting the Royals to the same run and hits output.

Much like Skubal, Irvin has an ugly win-lost record at 4-7. More importantly, his ERA is a decent 3.70. Irvin has demonstrated an ability to bounce back from rough performances. His last three starts in May were especially brutal as Irvin allowed 13 runs and lost all three. However, Irvin put that behind him his first two starts in June. He pitches at home against the Angels on Wednesday and Oakland Coliseum is a pitcher’s paradise. Managers with pitching issues would do well to give Irvin the once over and make the move. Irvin is highly recommended on this baseball pickups mid June edition.

Tucker Davidson, SP, Atlanta Braves, 21% Owned

No question, the sample size to evaluate young Tucker Davidson is small. However, what we have seen thus far has been impressive. In his last two starts, Davidson has not allowed an earned run. As a matter of fact, in his first 17.2 innings this season, Davidson has given up just three runs total. Additionally, he has 14 strikeouts. Davidson did walk five against Washington his second start, but allowed only one each in his other two.

Atlanta has not been the team so far that many expected. Just think how much further out of first they would be without someone like Davidson to keep them afloat. The Braves figure to get straight at some point and that will give all of their pitchers, including Davidson, a better chance at wins. Davidson is available in most leagues right now, but that won’t last long. Get to the cupboard before it is bare.

Adrian Houser, SP, Milwaukee Brewers, 11.7% Owned

Fantasy managers in larger leagues looking for starting pitching don’t have a lot of options at this point. There is one, however, that is widely available as long as pitching deep into games is not a priority. This is where Adrian Houser comes in. Houser hasn’t pitched six innings in a game since May 8th. What Houser has done, especially in his last four starts, is give quality while on the mound. In those games, Houser has only allowed four earned runs in 21 innings with 16 strikeouts.

Most importantly, Houser has provided solid fantasy point totals with 17, 12 and 15 in three of the games. Houser scored eight in yesterday’s start against Pittsburgh. For the season, Houser’s 4-5 record is nothing to get excited about, but his ERA is a solid 3.62. In the last three starts before yesterday, Houser hasn’t had an ERA above 1.80. Sunday it was 3.18, which is solid. The Brewers are playing excellent ball at the moment, which gives Houser a good chance at wins. With this much availability, managers can stomach the five innings starts. He doesn’t pitch until this weekend and there should be no rush to get him off the wire. However, a manager will want to act while he is still on the shelf.

Jonathan Loaisiga, SP/RP, New York Yankees, 14.8% Owned

There is absolutely no doubt that the New York Yankees have been a disappointment so far this season. Injuries, of course, have a lot to do with that. If there is one thing that the baseball world can be sure of is that they will be one of the best teams around before long. As such, managers just might want to get in line to acquire one of their pitchers that has been playing well even in the dark times. In this instance, that pitcher would be Jonathan Loaisiga. He is widely available and New York sends him to the mound often.

Once in the game, Loaisiga has been impressive. As a matter of fact, teams have not scored on Loaisiga in his last eight appearances. Since allowing runs in back to back games in the middle of April, Loaisiga has allowed a run in only two games out of 21 total. He gave up four runs to Washington on the seventh of May. If not for that, his ERA would be practically zero.

For the season, Loaisiga is 5-2 with a 1.83 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. Even better is the fact that he has gone more than an inning in four of his last six appearances. Partnering with closer Aroldis Chapman gives New York a solid bullpen late in games. Managers looking for relief help would do well to get to the front of the line and pluck Loaisiga off the wire. His inclusion on this fantasy baseball pickups mid June addition will surely see him vanish into thin air.

J.P. Crawford, SS, Seattle Mariners, 18.1% Owned

Yesterday’s three hits put the bookend on an impressive week for J.P. Crawford. That was the fourth game in which Crawford had at least two hits. He is hitting .274 for the season, which is the highest among Seattle’s regulars. Crawford’s teammates aren’t doing much around him at the plate, no question. However, that hasn’t stopped Crawford from scoring at least three fantasy points in a game nine times since June began.

Included in that span are games in which Crawford has scored six, eight and nine fantasy points. Crawford has only three home runs on the season but does have an impressive 15 doubles. That total is just outside the top ten in the A.L. It has been said that the greatest ability is availability. Crawford has that at the shortstop position along with Willy Adames below. That availability likely won’t last long, however.

Joey Votto, 1B, Cincinnati Reds, 25.1% Owned

Don’t look now but a veteran that knows when to swing the bat and when not to has returned from the IL. Of course, that player is Joey Votto. Votto went hitless in his first two games back and there wasn’t any reason to lift a finger to pluck him off the wire. Then the next four games signaled otherwise. Votto had a hit in each of those games. He also demonstrated power that has been lacking in his game for some time with two homers and nine RBIs. In addition, Votto scored four runs.

His season average of .228 is not the important factor here. Votto is hitting in one of the best offenses in the National League and his home park is a hitter’s paradise. He is going out on the road this week which may temper him just a bit in the coming days. Don’t let that get in the way of picking Votto up, however, as his ownership rate will probably never be lower. Votto is worthy of a roster spot on a fantasy team that has problems with their current first basemen.

Joshua Fuentes, 1B/3B, Colorado Rockies, 13.3% Owned

A reader recently pointed out that while on the road, Joshua Fuentes can’t hit a lick. It would be difficult to find a statement with more truth in it than that. On the other hand, however, Fuentes comes alive at Coors. Fortunately for Fuentes and fantasy managers, Coors is where the Rockies will be this week. There are games scheduled Monday through Sunday. Any chance of getting a Colorado hitter into the lineup at home is always a good idea, especially when one that is this available.

Fuentes’ averages on the road don’t mean a thing for the purposes of this article. What does matter, however, is that in the thin air, Fuentes’ bat is on fire. The Rockies played six games in their last homestand and Fuentes produced nine hits. Fuentes has hits in 14 of the last 16 games played at home. All of his five homers have come in Colorado. Fuentes is one of those players a fantasy manager picks up while at home and cuts bait on the moment they hit the road.

Update:

Shortstop Trevor Story recently returned from the injured list. That quite possibly could push Fuentes to a reserve role. Check if he is in the starting lineup before picking him up. If he isn’t, disregard the above recommendation and leave Fuentes on the wire.

Max Stassi, C, Los Angeles Angels, 10.8% Owned

Without question, trying to find a catcher worth his salt on the wire is difficult at best. The better catchers are either already on rosters, injured or both. However, there is one that is currently hitting the ball well that is widely available. That catcher is Max Stassi. On fire does not adequately describe the last seven games that Stassi has had. In that period, Stassi has five games with two or more hits. For the week, he is hitting .455 with three homers and eight RBIs.

Further, Stassi has hits in eight of the last nine games he has appeared in. For the season, he is hitting .339-5-11. There is no chance that Stassi can maintain that level of success at the plate forever. However, given the sorry state of affairs at the catcher position, he is clearly worth picking up and starting until if and when he goes cold. Almost all managers can use an upgrade at the position. That fact is reason enough to highlight Stassi on this baseball pickups mid June edition.

Willy Adames, SS, Milwaukee Brewers, 18.5% Owned

Even after only getting one hit over the weekend against Pittsburgh, Willy Adames deserves a mention here. His previous two games dictates as much. In those games, Adames had six hits in nine at bats. Additionally, he drove in a run in three straight games. Adames showed on Friday that he is an asset without a hit as he drove in a run and had three fantasy points. He can put the bat on the ball, though, with hits in nine of his last 14 games.

Over the past week, Adames is hitting .304. Three is his lucky number with three each of doubles, runs and RBIs over that span. The shortstop position may not be a high priority add for many fantasy managers. However, anyone that does have a need in this area should take a look at Adames. He is available in most leagues, which is something that can’t be said for any other quality shortstops. Add him if needed and don’t look back.

Notes

See last week’s article for a recommendation on Adam Wainwright. All he did against Cleveland was pitch seven innings, giving up two runs on just three hits and no walks. It was the third time in his last four starts Wainwright has gone at least seven innings. If available, get him.

Likewise, the same article recommended Adbert Alzolay. However, things didn’t work as well for him as it did for Wainwright. First, the Padres hit Alzolay hard. Second, Alzolay suffered blister issues and wound up on the injured list. Many owners dropped Alzolay and he is on the wire in a lot of leagues. Put him on the watch list and monitor his recovery. He is a quality arm.

Chris Flexen needs to show a little more consistency, but he is worth keeping an eye on. He has pitched at least six innings in three straight starts.

Thank you for joining me for this fantasy baseball pickups mid June edition! As always, input and suggestions are welcome. Have other players to include? Disagree with the selections? Let’s discuss! Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea, and be sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports and Picks for all the latest MLB and sports news!

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