We all at Belly Up Sports hopes that everyone had an outstanding Fourth of July weekend. Now that the holiday is behind us, managers can take a hard look at the second half of the fantasy season. It has been a roller coaster of a ride to say the least since baseball kicked off the season three long months ago. Several players, including some of the game’s biggest stars, have battled injury issues. Some simply haven’t lived up to expectations. No question, there are a ton of ragged rosters out there. However, there’s still hope and this baseball pickups early July edition will help managers get set for a strong second half run.

Kolby Allard, SP, Texas Rangers, 6.8% Owned

It might seem difficult to comprehend that a Texas Ranger starting pitcher is getting any recommendation for a fantasy staff. However, the performance of Koby Allard in his recent starts demands it. Allard has pitched six innings in his last three starts. His won-lost record doesn’t reflect how well Allard is throwing, as he has lost his last two starts. The fact his last opponent was Oakland allows Allard some leeway.

On the season, Allard is 2-4 with a respectable 3.46 ERA and an excellent 1.08 WHIP. In addition, Allard has 49 strikeouts in 52 innings. He has produced quality starts in two of his last three chances and has walked only two in those 18 innings. In a season that has seen so many injuries, Allard’s availability is his biggest selling point. If there aren’t any quality arms to shoot for on the wire, Allard can produce results, at least for this week.

Jon Gray, SP, Colorado Rockies, 27.1% Owned

There are many that might also be amazed that a Colorado pitcher also gets a recommendation this week. Just like Allard, though, Jon Gray has earned that designation this week. Gray’s last two starts have been excellent. In his last outing, he held the Pirates to two runs on just two hits through six innings to pick up the victory. His previous start was even more dominant. Gray quieted the hot hitting Brewers with five shutout innings while striking out ten and walking none.

No question, Gray needed some redemption after getting waxed in his two starts prior, both losses. However, that redemption is exactly what Gray has gotten the last two weeks. For the year, Gray is 5-6 with a 4.01 ERA. An ERA a shade over four is certainly satisfactory for anyone that pitches in the thin air of Colorado. Best of all for Gray and anyone that picks him up is his opponent this week. That would be the sad sack Arizona Diamondbacks, who have turned losing into an art form this season. Let’s be clear about this. Gray is not a season long recommendation, but he gets a high vote of confidence this week on this baseball pickups early July edition.

Merrill Kelly, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks, 14.6% Owned

Speaking of the Diamondbacks, while the team has completely deteriorated, the losing hasn’t dragged Merrill Kelly down to the bottom. In fact, about the only time that Arizona has won in the past month and a half, Kelly was on the mound. Coming out of his start on July 1 against the Giants, Kelly has won his last three decisions. On top of that, he has pitched extremely well to earn those victories. Kelly has three quality starts in a row, pitching at least six innings in all of them.

He has allowed just four earned runs in 20 innings, striking out 17 and walking just one. His season records are not impressive with a 5-7 record with an unsightly 4.67 ERA, However, he has completely turned his season around while the rest of the team has gone into a coma. Kelly has earned 66 fantasy points in his last three starts, but he is a winning pick up in any league setting. Quality starting pitching is a rare commodity at this time of year. However, Kelly is widely available and deserves a shot. That won’t last long, so act today.

Eric Lauer, SP, Milwaukee Brewers, 8.8% Owned

The Milwaukee Brewers had their 11 game winning streak snapped on Sunday, but they are still one of the best teams in baseball. Their hitting and pitching have both come together in spectacular fashion. However, one of their starters has yet to be discovered by fantasy managers. That starter’s name is Eric Lauer. He enters this week’s game against the Reds coming off two consecutive wins in which Lauer earned a quality start in both. Lauer was a mess in early June, but has put that behind him.

For the season, Lauer is 3-3 with a 4.11 ERA. He qualifies as a strike out pitcher, with 51 in 50.1 innings pitched. He walks too many hitters, but that is about his only flaw at the moment. Lauer has pitched at least six innings in his last two appearances and has a hitting machine of a team behind him. Best of all, Lauer has loads of availability, something that’s not easy to find on the wire these days. If a manager has issues with the rotation, Lauer could easily be the solution.

Joe Ross, Washington Nationals, 34.1% Owned

Some will see that Joe Ross lost to the Dodgers on Sunday and think that he couldn’t help a fantasy team. However, a look at his numbers reveals a starting pitcher that checks any possible box a manager is looking for. Here is a player that has pitched into the seventh inning in three straight starts. Ross has given up five earned runs in that time with 26 strikeouts against just four walks. In fact, Ross has pitched into the seventh or later in four of his last five appearances.

For the year, Ross is 5-8 with a 4.02 ERA. For certain, those are not numbers that will have anyone rushing to the wire to pick him up. Just keep in mind that Washington was a mess for much of the first half before turning things around a bit before the Dodgers came to town. Going into that game against Los Angeles, Ross had won three of his previous four decisions. Now that the team that has won nine straight is behind them, the Nationals look to get back to their winning ways. Without doubt, Ross will be a key to their, and the fantasy team that picks him up, success.

Cesar Hernandez, 2B, Cleveland Indians, 32% Owned

No question, the Cleveland Indians have had some issues this season, especially among their starting pitchers. However, one player in the starting lineup has been a constant for the team. This player could certainly help a fantasy team needing help at the second base position. That player is Cesar Hernandez. He is coming off what can only be described as a excellent week with three homers, two doubles, five runs scored and six RBIs. During that time, Hernandez put together a .367 OBP, 66 points above his season average.

So far in 2021, Hernandez has 14 homers, 12 doubles, two triples, 34 RBIs and 49 runs scored. He hits at the top of the Indians’ lineup and owners should expect he will be there for almost every game of the second half. In his last seven games, Hernandez has hits in five of them. In that time, Hernandez has a robust .704 slugging percentage. Most second basemen won’t come close to that and if they do, they are nowhere to be found on the wire. His week has clearly earned Hernandez a place on this baseball pickup early July edition.

J. P. Crawford, SS, Seattle Mariners, 37.4% Owned

Those familiar with these waiver pickup articles will recognize that J. P. Crawford has been featured more than once. That will continue as long as Crawford keeps hitting like he did in the first half and and his ownership percentage is well below where it should be. After the holiday, July is only four days old. However, Crawford already has six hits and is hitting .353 for the month. There simply aren’t any hitters hotter right now than Crawford.

He has hits in 18 of his last 19 games. Over his last six games, Crawford had three hits twice. For the season, Crawford is hitting .289-5-31. Further, he has a .348 OBP and a .754 OPS. Seattle’s hitter were asleep for the first two months of the year, but the team as a whole has heated up significantly in recent weeks. Leading the charge in that turnaround has been Crawford. He needs a fantasy home and an ownership rate well north of 50 percent. If the shortstop position has presented any challenges at all for an owner, act today and solve all of those issues.

Akil Baddoo, OF, Detroit Tigers, 28.6% Owned

When thinking of the top rookie players in the big leagues this season, many won’t place the name of Akil Baddoo on the list. That would be a mistake, as he is having an excellent freshman season for Detroit. Baddoo has been especially productive stealing bases, especially recently. The stolen base is a stat that many managers in fantasy are far lacking in. Baddoo can help correct that as he has 13 on the season and four in the last seven days.

Further, Baddoo isn’t half bad as a hitter, either. He enters play this week with hits in three of his last four games, with two hits in two of the games. Looking deeper, Baddoo has hits in eight of his last 11 games. Sunday showed just what Baddoo is capable of with a double, a run, a stolen base and two RBIs. For the season, Baddoo is hitting .281-5-25. The entire Tigers team looks better of late and Baddoo is a big part of that. If outfield help is needed, Baddoo can go a long way in solving the issue.

Andrew Vaughn, 1B/OF, Chicago White Sox, 37.6% Owned

Speaking of rookies, any discussion of them would simply be incomplete without Andrew Vaughn on the list. There seems to have been some hesitation on the part of fantasy managers to add him to their rosters. His play of late should put a stop to such talk. Vaughn enters the week on a six game hitting streak. Incredibly, Vaughn had two hits in four straight games to begin the streak. He has two homers, five RBIs and six runs scored in that span. Almost as important is the fact that Vaughn has only struck out twice since the hit streak began.

For the year, Vaughn is hitting .245-8-22. Over his last seven games, that average spikes all the way to .417. Over the past 30 games, Vaughn is near a .300 hitter with a .298 average. His slugging percentage has been on the rise each week since June began. Without doubt, there have been plenty of injuries suffered by the White Sox position players. Others have had to step up during the first half to keep the team in first place. Vaughn has been one of those key players. The return of many of those players is still in the distant future. He will be in their lineup for the time being. Since Vaughn qualifies as a first baseman as well as an outfielder, he should have a place on a fantasy roster as well.

Other players to keep an eye on:

Wilmer Flores, 1B/2B/3B, San Francisco Giants was held hitless Sunday. However, he began the week with four hits against the Dodgers. It was his second four hit game in the last two weeks.

Harold Ramirez, OF, Cleveland Indians had two hits Sunday and has hits in three of his last four games.

Mike Zunino, C, Tampa Bay Rays looked like he was about to really heat up with hits in four straight games. He went hitless over the weekend, so it is obvious he can streak in any direction with ease. Anyone that has catching issues (who doesn’t) should keep a close eye on him and act if he heats up again.

Joey Votto, 1B, Cincinnati Reds, is probably not on most league’s waiver wires. If he is, he demands attention coming off a week where he had six hits in his last seven games.

Thank you for joining me for this fantasy baseball pickups early July edition! As always, input and suggestions are welcome from all of my readers. 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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