This paragraph will help fantasy managers identify the fantasy baseball waiver pickups that will heal their rosters held hostage by injuries and non performers.

Adbert Alzolay, SP, Chicago Cubs, 35.3% Owned

Without question, the Cubs have been hot of late. One of the players that have helped them achieve such heights is Adbert Alzolay. After making ten appearances in the last two seasons, Alzolay has already made ten starts in 2021. His last two starts were especially impressive as he allowed just one earned run on eight hits in 10.2 innings while striking out 13.

Even better, Alzolay won them both and he now has wins in three of his last four starts. For the season, he is 4-4 with a 3.62 ERA and a miniscule 0.91 WHIP. Alzolay hasn’t given up more than three earned runs in a start since his first against Milwaukee. He doesn’t typically go deep into a start, but then, almost no pitcher does anymore. However, he has pitched into the sixth or later three times. Alzolay lines up to start against San Diego next week, which is tough to ask of any pitcher, let alone a youngster. Even so, managers looking for a season long add as a starter would do well to check out Alzolay.

Martin Perez, SP, Boston Red Sox, 25.7% Owned

While Alzolay is a relative newcomer, Martin Perez has been around for quite some time now. Managers may have forgotten about him, but Perez has returned to fantasy relevance in a big way. Perez has won his last four starts, allowing just five runs in 18.2 innings. In his last start against Houston, Perez was especially dominant, pitching 7.2 shut out innings. The Astros won the first two games of the series against the Red Sox, making the start by Perez even more impressive.

For the season, Perez is 4-2 with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. He has pitched into the sixth inning or later in three of his last four starts. Perez has given up more than three runs in just one start all season. He has 52 strikeouts in 58.1 innings against 18 walks. Obviously, Perez doesn’t have the best track record with ERAs of 4.50 and 5.12 the past two seasons. However, he is pitching well now and has a good offense behind him, which will help get him wins. Without doubt, Perez belongs on this fantasy baseball waiver pickups early June edition.

Alex Cobb, SP, Los Angeles Angels, 22.1% Owned

In his last start against the Mariners, Alex Cobb made one bad pitch. It resulted in a grand slam by Jake Fraley and left Cobb behind in the game 5-1. Fortunately, the Angels’ offense came alive with 11 unanswered runs and Cobb came away with his third straight win. Cobb has learned to keep the walks to a minimum with only three in his last three starts. Aside from that one pitch, Cobb has been outstanding since the calendar flipped to May.

For the season, Cobb is 4-2 with a 4.24 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. That WHIP has steadily come down of late, however, as the highest it has been in his last three starts is 0.80. Most importantly, Cobb has pitched seven innings in his last two starts and gone at least five in his last four. In addition, Cobb has a strikeout pitch, with 49 in 40.1 innings. Obviously, the Angels will not score 11 runs in every game, but it shows what kind of offense they do have. It will lead Cobb to excellent chances of a win in each and every start. Last, but not least, Cobb is widely available. If the above two pitchers are off the board, managers should run, not walk, to pick up Cobb before he, too, has disappeared.

Sean Murphy, C, Oakland A’s, 37.3% Owned

Before the season began, Sean Murphy was highly thought of in fantasy circles. In fact, he was drafted by a certain manager who happens to be writing this article. Murphy started 2021 in a funk, however, and wound up on waivers. Here in early June, Murphy is back on the radar. Friday against the Rockies demonstrates exactly what Murphy is capable of with three hits, including a home run.

Murphy is hitting .222-6-31 so far this season. Over the past week, though, Murphy is hitting a much more respectable .286 and has four doubles. The catching position is always going to have slim pickings and the cupboard is even more barren with Mitch Garver going on the IL last week. Garver joins such notable catchers d’Arnaud, Nola and Ramos on the injured list. Managers with catching issues would do well to check out Murphy and pull the trigger.

Amed Rosario, SS/OF, Cleveland Indians, 24.8% Owned

How does a player hitting at the top of his team’s order with multi position eligibility and is widely available sound? Take a look at the wire and Amed Rosario is most likely there waiting for a fantasy home. Rosario certainly deserves one after the performance he put up over the past week. Rosario comes out of the weekend with hits in seven of his last eight games. He also has two homers and six RBIs in that span.

For the season, Rosario is hitting .246-4-17 with five stolen bases. He also keeps the negative at bats to a minimum with just two strikeouts in his last five games. Since May 22, Rosario has put some solid fantasy points on the board with four points three times, five points once, six points twice and a nine point game. He is playing every day and has multi position eligibility. Those are certainly pretty good reasons to include him on this fantasy baseball waiver pickups early June edition.

Odubel Herrera, OF, Philadelphia Phillies, 21.3% Owned

Hot doesn’t begin to describe the temperature of Odubel Herrera right now. How does two straight games with three hits sound? How about the fact the Herrera hit two home runs in a game Tuesday? In addition, Herrera had two hits in a game against Miami on May 27 and again on Sunday. After a three day period in late May in which Herrera went 0-12, he has hits in six of his last eight games. Over the past seven days, Herrera is hitting .391. Hot is the only word that does justice here.

For the season, Herrera is hitting .273-4-14 His OBP is .343 and slugging .438. Over the past seven days however, that OBP jumps to a .417 OBP and the OPS goes to .696. Best of all, Herrera is hitting whether he is at home or on the road. This is an important distinction that separates the good hitters and those on the next level. Herrera is also keeping the strikeouts down with only nine since May 20. He can certainly help a manager with issues in the outfield. That manager, however, needs to act quickly.

Luis Urias, 3B/2B/SS, Milwaukee Brewers, 12.3% Owned

There simply aren’t many players in fantasy baseball that have the versatility that Luis Urias has. There are even less that have the availability Urias has. Yet, both statements are true. Urias has eligibility at all of the infield positions except first base. He also is owned in just 12 percent of leagues. All of that sounds great, but what of his hitting? Great question and there is a great answer.

Prior to the weekend, Urias was hitting .400 with two homers, five RBIs and a stolen base in the last week. Arizona stopped his four game hitting streak, but Urias erupted for two hits Sunday. Urias also had three hits May 29 against the Nationals. He definitely needed the upturn as Urias didn’t have a hit in ten at bats before that game. He has heated up since, though. At the very least, Urias needs to be on everyone’s watch list. If the hot streak continues, he certainly has a place on any fantasy roster regardless of format.

Tejay Antone, SP/RP, Cincinnati Reds, 33.9% Owned

For the fantasy owners seeking bullpen help, there aren’t many relievers pitching as well or as frequently as Tejay Antone. It has been over a month since Antone has allowed an earned run, making 11 scoreless appearances since then. Antone regularly pitches more than an inning, having done so ten times in his last 14 trips to the mound. Any time the Reds have a lead late in a game, it is virtually a certainty Antone will get the call.

For the year, Antone is 1-0 with a 1.41 ERA and an excellent 0.72 WHIP. His ERA would be miniscule if it weren’t for a four run explosion the Cubs put on Anton on May 2. Antone simply over powers hitters, demonstrated by 40 strikeouts in 32 innings pitched. In leagues that value holds, Antone is even more valuable, as he has seven on the season to go along with three saves. The top relief pitchers are off the board at this point and anyone looking for bullpen help should rescue Antone off the wire before it is too late.

Adam Wainwright, SP, St. Louis Cardinals, 39.5% Owned

Adam Wainwright last went to the mound on Thursday and was hit with the loss against Cincinnati. That is the end of the bad news for fantasy managers. Wainwright wound up pitching seven innings against the Reds and allowed three earned runs on eight hits. The good news continues in that Wainwright walked no one, his first start since April 26 without a free pass. Wainwright pitched seven innings in the game, which has become something of a pattern for him of late.

In his last eight starts, Wainwright has pitched at least seven innings in five of them. For the season, his won-loss record is an unimpressive 3-5, but Wainwright only got roughed up in two of the losses. Wainwright also has a 4.19 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. There can be no doubt that as such a veteran, Wainwright knows how to pitch. There aren’t many quality pitchers on the wire and Wainwright won’t be there long, either. It is best to act now before the shelf is picked clean.

Thanks all for joining me for this fantasy baseball waiver pickups early 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!

Go play the greatest and latest in sports gambling at https://simbull.app/bellyupfantasy. Wall street meets sports gambling in this innovative app. Simbull brings the fun of being able to play for the long term by purchasing, selling, and trading stocks of your teams. When your teams win you win a payout. When they lose you DON’T! The value of your teams’ share is all that matters and it’s easy to use. Just download the Simbull app on your play store and use the promo code BELLYUPFANTASY for a $10 deposit bonus of at least $10 or more. Join the fun of investing in your team for the long haul where the sportsbook edge is put back into your hands as the player. For the latest and most fun in sports gambling download Simbull and again use the promo code BELLYUPFANTASY for your $10 deposit bonus today! https://simbull.app/bellyupfantasy