After an exciting opening, major league baseball steams into week two. Obviously, fantasy managers want to get their lineups in position for the best possible chance for a victory. To help achieve that goal, Belly Up Sports is presenting a weekly look at the players to pickup off the waiver wire. In case the week one pickups were missed, please find it here. Let’s move forward and jump right into this baseball waivers week two edition.

Phillip Evans, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates, 17.3% owned

It was stated in last week’s edition that there wouldn’t be many Pirate players featured going forward in 2021. It only took one week to make that prediction false. There aren’t any many, if any, hitters in baseball (even the Reds, see below) that are hotter at the plate right now than Phillip Evans. He has two hits in three of his last four games. Further, Evans has hits in five of the last six games.

In addition, Evans has cranked three homers and scored six runs, not to mention that he is hitting .393. This is the classic come out of nowhere guy that fantasy managers need to be aware of. Evans has never played in more than 19 games in a season before. He might break 150 before all is said and done this season. It is correctly said in fantasy that the smart manager rides the hot hand. It isn’t any hotter than Evans right now. He needs to be close to 100 percent rostered. Act today before the rush begins.

Yadier Molina, C, St. Louis Cardinals, 32.1% Owned

Last week, Buster Posey of the Giants was highlighted as a veteran catcher that should be rostered. This week, the focus is on Yadier Molina. Of course, Molina has seemingly been around forever and it was widely expected that his production would begin to fall. He is, after all, 38 years old. Hold off on the rocking chair just yet, however. Molina definitely belongs on this baseball waivers week two edition.

Molina begins this season hitting .367 as of this writing. He also has a homer, seven RBIs and 11 total hits. Without question, any fantasy manager would take that. However, Molina’s biggest contribution to a fantasy roster is the fact that he plays much more often than the average catcher, even at his advanced age. The manager can plan on Molina being in the starting lineup five times a week.

Most experienced managers only carry one catcher on the roster, so getting five starts a week is a huge advantage. Molina’s ownership is sure to soar, so if there are any question at all about the catcher currently owned, go get Molina. Now.

The Cincinnati Reds

In case it hasn’t been noticed, Cincinnati is tearing the cover off the ball and there are still Reds available in many leagues. Those players include 3B Jonathan India and OF Tyler Naquin. That is true even while considering the fact that the Reds were shut out Sunday. Before that, however, baseballs were flying all over the field when Cincinnati was at the plate.

The biggest surprise of the bunch has to be India as he is a rookie without a major league plate appearance prior to this season. That hasn’t stopped him from beginning his career with a .379 average along with 11 RBIs and four runs scored. He hasn’t hit a home run as yet, but as a second baseman, managers can live with that. Meanwhile, Naquin enters Monday hitting .290 with five homers, 14 RBIs and a ridiculous 1.195 OPS.

Obviously, these players won’t be available for long (if they are at all) and they won’t hit like this all season. However, it is will worth a manager’s time to check to see if they are on the wire and make the move if they are. It would also be well worth it to see if any other Reds player is available and react accordingly.

Jurickson Profar, OF/2B, San Diego Padres, 19.8% Owned

No question, Jurickson Profar deserves to be part of this baseball waiver week two edition on his own merit. When adding in the injury to Fernando Tatis, however, and it is crystal clear why Profar is included. it is unknown how long Tatis will be out. What we do know is that Profar will be moved around the field by the Padres for the foreseeable future.

That is especially true when Profar has a game like he did Saturday against Texas. He had three hits, the second time in the early going that Profar has had at least two hits in a game. The best part of his game, however, is that he will make contact at the plate. Profar only has two strikeouts in 35 plate appearances and is hitting .300 on the season.

He won’t cause a manager negative points at the plate and Profar has speed. There aren’t a whole lot of players that have that in the game anymore. Profar has a place in San Diego’s potent lineup. Adding him to a roster just makes sense.

Carlos Rodon, SP, Chicago White Sox, 29.7% Owned

It was clear coming into the season that the White Sox were going to challenge for the division title and possibly more. What wasn’t known was that Carlos Rodon would be a big part of it. Rodon began this season by pitching five innings of two hit shutout baseball against the Mariners. He struck out nine hitters.

Rodon did walk three and hit two others and he will obviously have to get those stats under control going forward. He takes the mound Monday against Cleveland. Another excellent start in that game will send his ownership level through the roof. Get while the getting is good and add Rodon now.

Drew Smyly, SP, Atlanta Braves, 20.2% Owned

Despite stumbling a bit against the Phillies on Sunday, Drew Smyly still deserves consideration by fantasy managers. The season had begun swimmingly for Smyly until the fourth inning against Philadelphia Sunday night. His first start certainly indicates what kind of pitcher he can be. Smyly limited the Nationals to two runs on just four hits in six innings.

Best of all, Smyly struck out eight and walked just one. 17 fantasy points in a start will certainly do a roster good. Even after giving up five runs Sunday, Smyly finished on the positive side with three points. He will face the Cubs in his next start and the Chicago offense is not what it once was. If nothing else, Smyly is worth a streaming add this week.

Jon Gray, SP, Colorado Rockies, 17.3% Owned

Most often, recommending a Colorado starting pitcher on a waiver pickup article is sure to lead to ridicule. However, that is the case here as Jon Gray definitely has a place on this baseball waivers week two edition. He has already pitched twice on the season with great results. Both starts were in Colorado, which as everyone knows, is not an easy thing to ask of any pitcher.

His first start was against the defending champion Dodgers. Gray limited LA to just one run on four hits with seven strike outs in five innings. He followed that with a start against Arizona and once again only allowed a single run on just two hits over 6.2 innings. Gray did walk four in that game and that is something to keep an eye on. However, everything else is full speed ahead. He again faces the Dodgers in LA on Wednesday. Now that Gray has been featured on this baseball waivers week two edition, he won’t be on the wire for long.

Johnny Cueto, SP, San Francisco Giants, 31.5% Owned

Without doubt, Johnny Cueto is one of those veteran players that has disappeared from fantasy rosters the past few seasons. There are very good reasons for that. Cueto hasn’t had an ERA below 4.50 in the past four years. He has combined for just six victories the past three. It is safe to assume that no fantasy managers drafted him this year.

However, it is safe to say that Cueto has had a huge turn around in his first two starts of 2021. A look at his numbers will confirm he looks like one of the game’s top starters and destined for fantasy rosters quickly. In his two starts, Cueto has allowed four runs on 10 hits in 14.1 innings. His ERA is 2.01 and his WHIP a masterful 0.977. Obviously, that is a small sample size but the recommendation will always be to ride the hot hand. Cueto is hot, no question. Get him on your roster immediately.

Thanks everyone for joining me for this fantasy baseball waivers week two edition! As always, I welcome input and suggestions from all of my readers. Let me know of others players that should be included on this list. 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!