The following baseball waiver wire moves will help your fantasy team to get week two off to a winning start. After a wild and crazy beginning, there are certain players that we can get a read on whether they will contribute to a winning team or not. In such a short season, there is no time to wait. Make the decisions needed and move forward. You will be glad you did. We can discuss ways of thanking me later.
Pick these players off waivers immediately:
Kyle Seager, Third Baseman, Seattle Mariners
You may have forgotten that there is still a team playing up in Seattle. Trust me, there is. And if you have forgotten this, chances are high that you have forgotten about a certain player by the name of Kyle Seager. Trust me, you shouldn’t. It is understandable that Seager was left on the waiver wire by so many at the start of the season. Tons of third basemen put up much better stats than Seager’s .239-23-63 from last season. He also hasn’t hit higher than .249 the past three seasons.
All true, but Seager is riding the gravy train right now. He has hits in four of his last five games, including a three hit performance against the Angels Wednesday night. It has been said over and over again and will be repeated here- in a 60 game season, ride the hot hand. He is owned in 47.8% of leagues and that figure will rise rapidly. Remember Seattle and remember Seager. He has risen like the newly named Seattle NHL franchise Kraken. Don’t be left to a watery grave and go get him!
Mike Yastrzemski, Outfielder, San Francisco Giants
If you want to talk about rising, launching a rocket into space doesn’t come close to the rise that Mike Yastrzemski is on right now. He has two or more hits in three of his last four games. Hot, right? But wait, it gets even better. Yastrzemski put on a hitting clinic Wednesday night against the Padres with three hits. Still not convinced? Of those three hits, two of them wound up in McCovey Cove over right field.
There has been one other player that hit two homers into the Cove in the same game before. Care to guess the player? Does the name Bonds mean anything to you? Being hot is something that must be taken advantage of and acid isn’t as hot as Yastrzemski right now. He is owned in 38.3% of leagues and that number is sure to rise. Get on your device and add him, now!
Will Myers, Outfielder, San Diego Padres
No question, Will Myers is no longer the wonder kid he was when he won the American League Rookie of the Year so long ago. He has since put together some lackluster seasons for San Diego since then. But in 2020 the sun is shining bright so far. Myers has scorched the ball the last five games, with hits in four of them. He also has two home runs. He is owned in only 25.9% of leagues, so if there is a hole on your roster, add him quick while the gravy train is still running.
Tyler Chatwood, Pitcher, Chicago Cubs
Those not that familiar with the Chicago Cubs might be asking who is Tyler Chatwood? He is the pitcher that threw six innings in his first start against Milwaukee with eight strikeouts and one earned run allowed. He is also the pitcher that will face the Pirates. They are the team with the following in their lineup: Frazier (.126), Reynolds (.100), Bell (.174) and Heredia (.100), among others. In other words, yes please!
Players to drop from fantasy rosters immediately:
Corey Kluber, Pitcher, Texas Rangers
Recall that earlier in the week it was revealed that Corey Kluber was removed from his first start with a tightened shoulder. The update has come down and the news isn’t good. Kluber was placed on the injured list for at least four weeks.
That is bad enough. But local Dallas media are reporting that when/if he returns, Kluber will be used out of the bullpen. It is clear that he has no fantasy value this season. To win a fantasy baseball championship, dead weight must be purged from a roster. Unfortunately, that is what Kluber is. Kick him overboard today.
Mike Foltynewicz, Pitcher, Former Atlanta Braves
After just checking the percentage of players on active roster, it is discovered that Mike Foltynewicz is still on 46% of rosters. Which leads me to ask the question of what, exactly, are people thinking? In case it was missed, Foltynewicz was designated for assignment by the Braves this week after a disastrous opening start.
This is a shocking drop for a pitcher that was considered a pillar of Atlanta’s staff after winning 13 games with a 2.85 ERA in 2018. Now it seems that he might be the guy with the sign that says he will work for food at the next traffic light. Another team will assuredly pick him up, but even if that does happen, he isn’t worth keeping. Set him adrift. He is one of the most pressing baseball waiver wire moves.
Kevin Newman, 2B/SS, Pittsburgh Pirates
In the spring, Kevin Newman was chosen to be one of baseball’s value plays by a supposedly learned commentator (that would be me). But spring has turned to summer and the bloom is off of the rose the very first week. I hate to say this about a fellow Kevin, but there just isn’t time this year for players to turn things around. Don’t let any player drag down the team this year and that is what Newman has done so far.
He had a terrific rookie season in 2019, hitting .308-12-64. However, 2020 is off to a black hole start for Newman. He has one hit in his last 16 at bats. There are no do-overs this season and he needs to hit the waiver wire until he proves he can hit again.
That’s it for this edition of baseball waiver wire moves. Have a great second week and I will see you next time!
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