Welcome to May as baseball enters the second month of its season. So much happened on the field in April it was almost impossible to keep track of it all. There were no-hitters, three homer games and that was just the beginning of the excitement. No question, disappointing players and injuries were also huge news. Many fantasy managers are faced with having to go to the waiver wire to replace those not performing as expected. Each week of the season, we identify the players at the top of the wire and this week is no exception. Let’s jump right in with this fantasy baseball waiver priorities edition.

Jose Iglesias, SS/DH, Los Angeles Angels, 9% Owned

The Angels as a team are hitting the ball well and Jose Iglesias is as hot as anyone in their lineup not named Trout. Entering Monday’s play, Iglesias has hits in four of his last five games and nine of 11. At the beginning of May, he is hitting .267/.282/.347/.628. While the OBP is certainly a concern, Iglesias balances that with only 17 strikeouts in 101 plate appearances.

Of course, the low strikeout total means that Iglesias will not leave managers with negative points on the fantasy stat sheet even when he doesn’t get a hit. In today’s game, that is rare indeed with all the strikeouts plaguing major league baseball. Last season in 39 games with Baltimore shows what Iglesias is capable of as he hit an incredible .373. Obviously, he will not swing the bat like that over a full season. However, with a lot of shortstops not hitting as expected so far, Iglesias can clearly help a fantasy team.

Pavin Smith, 1B/OF, Arizona Diamondbacks, 20.2% Owned

Don’t look now but the Arizona Diamondbacks are one of the surprise teams in baseball. Without question, the biggest surprise on their roster has to be Pavin Smith. His season stats of .272-3-10 with a .309/.478/.788 slash line don’t begin to show how hot Smith is. He had two of more hits in a game three times last week and has hits in four straight games.

Most importantly, Smith’s playing time will remain steady while Kole Calhoun, unfortunately recommended last week, is on the injured list. Even when Calhoun returns, Arizona will find a place in their lineup for a guy that is hitting as well as Smith is. He qualifies at first base and the outfield and that certainly helps his fantasy stock. A player swinging the bat as well as Smith that has guaranteed playing time for the foreseeable future must be owned in all formats. Pick up him today.

Tyler O’Neill, OF, St. Louis Cardinals, 23.1% Owned

When it comes to hitters on a hot streak, none compare to Tyler O’Neill. Coming out of this weekend’s play, O’Neill has hits in four of his last five. Even more amazing, he had at least two hits in all of those games, including two three hit games. Included in that hot stretch was two homers, 5 RBIs, six runs scored and two stolen bases. Undoubtedly, O’Neill is clearly providing production in every possible fantasy category this past week.

For the season, O’Neill is hitting .270-5-10 with 12 runs scored. His OBP, slugging and OPS have been rising like a rocket. A player that is this hot and this available demands attention and a happy fantasy home. Any manager with outfield issues needs to get to the wire and add him without delay. O’Neill is absolutely the must add player on this fantasy baseball waiver priorities edition.

Starlin Castro, 2B/3B, Washington Nationals, 11.3% Owned

A look at his season’s stats don’t show how well Starlin Castro is playing right now. Coming out of the weekend, Castro has hits in four of his last five games and six of his last eight. Castro is hitting at a time when many of his Nationals teammates are struggling at the plate. Castro has much the same issue as Iglesias as he has only three walks on the season. However, also like Iglesias, Castro has struck out only 18 times in 96 plates appearances.

Strikeouts have been an issue for Castro throughout his career as his has six seasons of more than 100. He seems like he may be getting those under control, however. 2021 provides evidence of that as Castro had only 13 in 63 official at bats last season. If that continues, Castro can be a valuable commodity on a fantasy roster, especially as he qualifies at multiple positions. In some leagues he also qualifies at SS. Any manager with infield issues should kick the tires and see if Castro is worthy of a waiver pickup this week.

Nico Hoerner, 2B/SS, Chicago Cubs, 29.6% Owned

When discussing players that has come out of nowhere this season, Nico Hoerner tops the list. Since making his season debut on April 22, Hoerner has appeared in 11 games for the Cubs. Hoerner has been the starter in 10 games and has hits in seven of them. He was brought up to play while Javier Baez missed some games with an injury. Baez is back now, but Chicago simply switched Hoerner to second.

His hot bat will keep Hoerner in the lineup, which is bad news for David Bote owners. It is great news for everyone else, however. There has to be a place on a roster for a player that is hitting .389. While Hoerner hasn’t yet hit a home run, he does have three steals. Speed is a missing commodity on many fantasy teams and Hoerner helps in that area, The fact that he qualifies at both second and short only enhances his value. His ownership has gone up 12 percent since Friday, so act fast or face an empty shelf.

Taijuan Walker, SP, New York Mets, 35% Owned

Taijuan Walker may not be available in a lot of leagues. It certainly is in the interest of all managers to verify that, however. Walker entered Saturday coming off an impressive start against the Nationals, pitching three hit shutout ball over seven innings. He did walk three, which is mildly concerning. However, his other stats are golden with a 3.00 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 27 strikeouts in 27 innings.

Walker’s Saturday start didn’t go as well as he, the Mets or fantasy owners would have liked. In six innings, Walker gave up four earned. He did cut the walks down to just one and did get a no decision, so it wasn’t all bad news. Walker had given up just five earned runs in his previous four appearances, so he deserves a little slack. His next start is against the Cardinals Thursday. If he pitches well in that game, it is assured he will not be available in any format, so act quickly.

Huascar Ynoa, SP, Atlanta Braves, 42% Owned

The previous statement regarding Walker also applies to Huascar Ynoa. His availability in most leagues is likely small, but managers need to check anyway, and sooner rather than later. After a 2020 in which he started five games with an unsightly 5.82 ERA, Ynoa wasn’t expected to make the team. However, Ynoa forced himself on the Braves’ roster out of spring training and he has already matched that five start total in the first month of 2021.

Coming into his start Tuesday against Washington, Ynoa has two wins, a 2.96 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP, and 34 strikeouts and 27.1 innings. Additionally, he has two quality starts to his name. On his April 17 start against the Cubs, Ynoa gave up six runs in four innings. However, he has allowed only three runs total in all other starts. Ynoa won’t be unknown for long, if that is even the case right now. Mangers need to act fast and that is why Ynoa is included on this fantasy baseball waiver priorities edition.

Kendall Graveman, RP, Seattle Mariners, 31.1% Owned

Those familiar with these editions the first few weeks of the season will recognize that Kendall Graveman is the first relief pitcher to be recognized. Relievers seldom have a place on this commentator’s fantasy roster. Even so, Graveman has performed so well in 2021 that he requires more than a passing mention on this fantasy baseball waiver priorities edition.

The major reason for this inclusion is that in 10 total games this year, Graveman has yet to allow an earned run. In 11.1 innings, he has a win, three saves, 12 strikeouts and only two walks. Graveman is one of the reasons why the Mariners surprisingly hold second place in the A.L. West as of today. If any fantasy manager is inclined to add a relief pitcher to the roster, Graveman would be a great place to start.

Thanks all for joining me for this fantasy baseball waiver priorities edition! Without question, I welcome input 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!