As the calendar moves into late May, baseball has reached week seven in its season. It is certainly hard to believe the year can pass by so quickly. Those of us fortunate enough to play fantasy baseball more than likely have roster decisions to make. Players are injured and/or not playing well. Speaking of injured players, check out this article for updates on many of their conditions. Depending on the league size, there are players on waivers that can help managers through a tough injury situation. This fantasy baseball top waivers week seven edition is presented to provide assistance in these trying times. Let’s get right to it and for informational purposes, all ownership percentages are taken from ESPN.

Top Position Player Waiver Options

Tyler Naquin, OF/DH, Cincinnati Reds, 9.7% Owned

Even after going 0 for 3 Sunday, Tyler Naquin is swinging a hot bat right now. Over his last ten games, Naquin has had two or more hits six times. He also homered in consecutive starts Tuesday and Thursday. Further, he has stolen two of his three bases in the last week. He’s had issues with strikeouts but seems to have gotten that under control with just four whiffs in his last eight games.

For the season, Naquin is hitting .258-4-21 with 11 doubles and 17 runs scored. Naquin’s OPS+ of 109 is the second highest of his career. His BABIP of .329 suggests a recession is around the corner. However, it is always advisable to ride a hot hitter until he starts to turn cold and then replace him.

When searching for offensive help on the wire, it always helps if a player is available, which Naquin is at the moment at less than ten percent owned. Ride the wave at the top of the crest and add Naquin today.

Santiago Espinal, 2B/3B, Toronto Blue Jays, 19.7% Owned

In looking back at previous articles, Santiago Espinal was a recommended pickup back in week four. There is nothing that he has done since then to cause him still to be so unowned in fantasy baseball. In fact, there may not be a hotter hitter in all of baseball. Coming into the weekend, Espinal was on a 12-game hitting streak. Over the past seven days, he has been a .400 hitter. For the season, he is hitting .293/.347/.436.

Despite all of the base hits, though, Espinal doesn’t have a lot of other stats that make him standout, even though he is currently third on the team with his .783 OPS. In truth, that has more to do with the fact that the Toronto offense hasn’t been what most expected before the season began. However, there are far too many superior hitters in that lineup for that to continue for long. Once that happens, Espinal will see significant improvements on the 15 RBIs and 14 runs scored that he has currently.

His .075 BB% is second on the team and his .190 SO% is third. That indicates Espinal knows what he is doing at the plate. Fantasy managers will wake up to his value soon enough and he won’t be the wire. Acting now and pick him up is a very highly recommended piece of advice on this fantasy baseball top waivers week seven edition.

Josh Rojas, 2B/3B/SS/OF, Arizona Diamondbacks, 23% Owned

Those in the fantasy community that were unfamiliar with Josh Rojas got acquainted with him in a big way this past Friday night. Rojas came to the plate five times against the Cubs and launched three balls over the ivy-covered walls. He came into the game with no homers but was going to be a recommendation on this fantasy baseball top waivers week seven edition even before that breakout performance.

In his last 13 games, Rojas has hits in ten of them. He has also stolen all three of his bases he has on the season during that same time period. Further, Rojas has scored nine of the ten runs he has, while crossing the plate five of his last six. Rojas began the season on the injured list but is making up for that time lost. His .382 OBP is outstanding, as his is .870 OPS. His OPS+ of 154 is the highest of his career.

Without doubt, with the three-homer game shouting his name throughout the land, Rojas will see a meteoric rise in his ownership percentage. Add in his excellent versatility and picking up Rojas today couldn’t be more recommended.

Note: Rojas suffered a bruised hand on Saturday and was out of the lineup Sunday. Make sure to check his status before adding him from the waiver wire.

Kole Calhoun, OF, Texas Rangers, 11.7% Owned

When discussing the hottest hitters in the Majors, Kole Calhoun must be mentioned. Although Calhoun has been nearly invisible deep in the heart of Texas, that will soon change if his bat stays on fire like it has. Over his last 11 games, Calhoun has hits in 10. Over the last 10 games, Calhoun has been supersonic at the plate with multiple hits in four of them. Best of all, the hits haven’t been of the singles variety, as Calhoun has five home runs over the past eight days.

Additionally, he has nine RBIs and seven runs scored while hitting a hot .333 in the last week. Calhoun has 51 fantasy points on the season, of which he has accumulated 32 of those in just three games. He started off the season slow but has certainly looked every bit like his old Angels self. After all, this is the man that hit 33 homers in 2019. Calhoun’s OPS+ of 119 is significantly higher than the 81 he posted in his last season in Arizona.

Even better, Calhoun has played in 37 of the 39 games the Rangers have played as of Sunday. After only playing in 51 games in 2021, Calhoun looks to play in 150 plus in 2022, something he did regularly in California. The Texas offense has heated up of late. Calhoun and the manager that makes a move on him with definitely benefit. If outfield help is a need on the fantasy roster, get to the wire and pick Calhoun up.

Further Position Player Recommendations:

Austin Hays is over the 50 percent owned in ESPN leagues, but it would be worth a manager’s time to see if he were available. After going 0-19 and missing four games because of injury, Hayes has come on with hits in four of his last five. Additionally, he has driven in four runs while also scoring four. For the season, Hays is hitting .288-3-16 with 11 doubles and 16 runs scored. Hays also has 79 fantasy points. In the few seconds it would take to see if Hays is available won’t be wasting time.

As we all know, the catching position in fantasy is mostly a vast wasteland. However, there is one catcher who is widely available who can also swing the bat. In this case, that catcher would be Alejandro Kirk of Toronto. Before going hitless over the weekend, Kirk had hits in six of his last eight games. Best of all, after taking Sunday off, he should be in the lineup the first three games of this week. If catching is a need, check the wire for Kirk and get him on the team before Monday’s games begin.

Top Pitching Waiver Options

Zach Greinke, SP, Kansas City Royals, 40% Owned

Truth be told, Zack Greinke may not be available in a lot of leagues. Even so, fantasy managers need to get to the wire and check on his status and add him if available. There aren’t many, if any, better pitcher fantasy options this week than Greinke. As with many starters, it begins with the opponent, in this case the Arizona Diamondbacks. The team has struggled mightily this season against right handers, checking in 23rd in the Majors with a .656 OPS. Only one team has a worse batting average against righties than Arizona’s .207.

The Diamondbacks can hit homers (31) off right-handers, so Greinke will need to keep the ball in the park. That shouldn’t be an issue for him, as he has allowed just two home runs in his last five starts, none in his last three. If he does keep the balls out of the seats, Greinke is in excellent position to bring home fantasy points for his manager.

Even though he wasn’t won a game yet in 2022, he has a very respectable 3.48 ERA. Since he is pitching Monday, that sets Greinke up for a two-start week. That in and of itself is enough of a reason to pick him up and a leading reason for including him on this fantasy baseball top waivers edition.

Dylan Bundy, SP, Minnesota Twins, 27% Owned

After being out for two weeks because of the dreaded virus protocols, Dylan Bundy returned to the mound Tuesday against Oakland. Limited to three innings, Bundy allowed no earned runs on two hits with three strikeouts and two walks. That clearly wasn’t the most efficient of efforts, but Bundy illustrated that he is healthy once again. Hopefully, Bundy left his pre absence pitching woes behind him, as he lost the last two starts made before being shelved.

As with many of these pitching recommendations, however, the opponent has as much or more to do with the reason a player is selected. Such is the case here, as Bundy will face Detroit his next time out. The Tigers are dead last in the American League with a .573 OPS against right-handers. Their .207 batting average against and .273 OBP are second worst.

Look for results similar to Bundy’s first three starts when he allowed just one earned run. Bundy gets an extremely high recommendation this week.

Nick Pivetta, Boston Red Sox, 20% Owned

There can be no doubt that Nick Pivetta has been on a roller coaster ride of epic proportions to begin the 2022 season. After failing to pitch even five innings in four consecutive starts, many managers cast Pivetta to the bottom of the waiver pit and had every reason to do so. His 7.84 ERA through five starts would scare even the very bravest among us. However, give Pivetta credit, because he has bounced back big over his past three appearances.

In his last 22 innings of work, Pivetta has allowed a grand total of two earned runs. Good news, for sure, but it doesn’t end there. During this stretch, Pivetta has an almost unbelievable 20:1 K:BB ratio. Wednesday saw Pivetta at his best, pitching a complete game against the Houston, allowing just one earned on two hits while striking out eight and walking none. He has pitched at least six innings in his last three mound trips. The good news continues with his next opponent, the White Sox. There are only two team in the A.L. hitting worse against righties this season.

In ESPN leagues, Pivetta has given his managers 92 fantasy points in 2022. He has earned an amazing 75 of them in his last three starts. Obviously, there will be many in fantasy that will wake up to just how dominant Pivetta has been the past few weeks. He won’t be on the wire for long. If starting pitching is needed, act immediately and get Pivetta a happy fantasy home.

Jhoan Duran, RP, Minnesota Twins, 16.1% Owned

Perhaps a manager needs a relief pitcher. In that case, Jhoan Duran will do the trick, even as a rookie. Apart from two nightmarish outings, Duran has been silky smooth this season. He has allowed six earned runs on the season, but five of them came against the Orioles and Red Sox. In 14 appearances, Duran has pitched shut out baseball in 11 of them. He has been making regular appearances for the Twins, meaning that his managers can get fantasy points from Duran two or three times a week.

For the season, Duran is 0-1 with a 2.79 ERA and a near invisible 0.78 WHIP. In leagues that counts holds, Duran has max value with four. Further, he has two saves. The best stat of all, though, is that in 19.1 innings, Duran has struck out 29 batters while walking just three. That is dominating pitching, friends. Much like Josh Hader, Duran can pitch more than just an inning in relief. He has done it six times so far.

Surely, finding a quality relief arm on the waiver wire can be tricky business, especially in larger leagues. No question, Duran would cure any manager’s bullpen situation. He is the top relief recommendation on this fantasy baseball top waivers week seven edition.

Further Pitcher Pick Up Recommendations

Yusei Kikuchi, SP, Toronto Blue Jays, is right at the 50 percent owned mark, so he is most likely not available in a lot of leagues. Everyone needs to check to see if he is rostered, however, as Kikuchi has been on fire of late. He has pitched into the sixth inning in his last three starts, producing 26, 18 and 26 fantasy points. He can be as hot and cold as anyone, so if available, riding the hot wave while it lasts is a clear recommendation on this fantasy baseball top waivers week seven edition.

Like Kikuchi, Marco Gonzales is right near the 50 percent mark and like Kikuchi, managers need to check his status immediately. Even though he has four losses on the season, Gonzales has a very respectable 3.08 ERA. He has pitched into the sixth inning in his last four starts. Best of all, he has 17 fantasy points apiece in his last two efforts. Gonzales is worth a look to check his eligibility and react accordingly.

Unfortunately, there is a certain fantasy baseball writer who dropped Martin Perez going into his Friday start against Houston. The thinking was that the Astros offense would show Perez’ excellent season was built with smoke and mirrors. Obviously, that was a huge mistake, as Perez threw a complete game shut out at Houston, on the road no less. His next start is against Oakland. The A’s are one of the worst hitting outfits in baseball. Like those above, Perez is right at 50% owned. If someone in your league had the misfortune of dropping him, snatch him up immediately.

The Last Word

Thank you for joining me for this fantasy baseball top waivers week seven edition! As always, I welcome any and all suggestions, comments and input from my readers. Have players to add to the list? Let’s discuss! Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea. Please feel free to share this article. Be sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports & Picks for the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL happenings and all the latest sports news! 

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