Despite the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals’ best efforts to torpedo the baseball season seemingly from the very beginning, baseball reaches week three. Baseball might look like Rocky Balboa in the early stages of his fight with Ivan Drago, but it is still standing. With that in mind, fantasy teams move forward. These are the baseball waiver wire moves that will help set up your team in the championship hunt.

Pick These Players Up Immediately

Marco Gonzales, Pitcher, Seattle Mariners

Last time, I recommended picking up Mariner’s third baseman Kyle Seager. This week I am going back to the Great Northwest and stating that Marco Gonzales should be on rosters. He has two wins so far and his last two appearances were quality starts. He faces the Rangers on the road Tuesday. Just in case it hasn’t been noticed, the new Texas home isn’t the nearly the homer haven the old one was. Gonzales is owned in 44% of leagues and that needs to be much higher before he takes the mound again.

Antonio Senzatela, Pitcher, Colorado Rockies

It is easy to think that this guy must be losing it if he is telling fantasy owners to pick up a Colorado Rockies pitcher. And yet, that is exactly what I am doing by recommending Antonio Senzatela. He is off to an incredible 3-0 start with a 2.65 ERA. When was the last time that a Rockies pitcher could say he had a sub 3.00 ERA at any time in their career? Probably not many. He next takes the mound against Arizona on Wednesday. If ever there is a time to get exposure to a Colorado pitcher, it’s on the road. Go get him.

Chris Bassitt, Pitcher, Oakland A’s

If the Oakland A’s can stop fighting on the field, Chris Bassitt is a must ad pitcher this week. Bassitt showed what he can do Saturday as he limited the Astros to one earned run on three hits in seven innings. He next faces the Angels on Wednesday. Unless their name is Mike Trout, the Angels can’t hit the ball and Bassitt needs to be owned in more than 59% of leagues. And not having to face the hated Astros should keep all of the A’s in their dugout. He is well worth one of your baseball waiver wire moves this week.

Hanser Alberto, 2B/3B, Baltimore Orioles

There is no possible way that I could be recommending Colorado pitchers and Baltimore Oriole hitters in the same article, right? Yet Hanser Alberto deserves every positive word he can get. Alberto is smoking the ball and he needs to rostered right NOW. He has hits in his last four games with two hits in three of those. He is hitting .349 on the season. Check your waiver wire and if he is available, get him. TODAY!

Wait until Wednesday for this pickup

Kevin Newman, 2B/SS, Pittsburgh Pirates

Remember when a leaned analyst stated that Kevin Newman should be dropped until he proves he can hit again? Score one for Kevin and I don’t mean the one with the last name of Wilson. Newman had six hits over the weekend against the Tigers and looked comfortable at the plate. The reason to wait until Wednesday to make a roster move with Newman is that the Pirates are scheduled to face St. Louis the next three days.

But we all know that the Cardinals are down for the count for the time being. I sure hope their players had a real fun time at the casino they were said to visit as the team is on the rocks for now. In any case, when the first game begins on Wednesday, pick up Newman. He will certainly be rested and ready to swing the bat going into the weekend. At that time he will be one of the great baseball waiver wire moves.

Dump these players so fast their heads spin

Andrew Benintendi, OF, Boston Red Sox

It wasn’t so long ago that Andrew Benintendi was one of the brightest prospects in all of baseball. He hit .290 and drove in 103 runs as Boston won the World Series. Too bad its 2020 and the start of the season has completely swamped Benintendi so hard we can’t even see him right now.

He finished last week 0 for 12 and was even removed for a pinch hitter over the weekend. he is hitting .056. That is a black hole of an average if there ever was one. He is owned in 79.8% of leagues and he just isn’t worth it. Have him hit the road from your fantasy squad and tell him to don’t come back no more, no more.

Scott Kingery, OF, 3B, 2B, Philadelphia Phillies

The advantage that Scott Kingery had going into the season was his versatility as he can play the infield and outfield. Unfortunately, for that to mean anything at all, Kingery has to get on base and no one is even sure if he is getting to the ballpark these days. Last week, he only played in two games and had one hit. That’s it. One more hit than I had. He is hitting .097 this season. He is 48.2% of rosters. It should be more like .02%. Cut him this minute.

Justin Upton, OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Justin Upton came into the season with a lot of hype despite a very down 2019 in which he hit just .215. Upton was expected to come back strong and reclaim his starting outfield spot. Upton is another example of things not always working as planned as the hype has been torpedoed to death. He didn’t have a single hit last week, going 0 for 9 and played in none of the games over the weekend in Texas. He is in a platoon. Convinced yet? Upton is owned in 55.8% of leagues and there is no justification for that. Time to hit the bricks.

Mike Soroka, Pitcher, Atlanta Braves

Unlike the other players above, this waiver wire move is not needed because of merit, or lack thereof. Mike Soroka successfully had surgery last Friday on his torn Achilles tendon on Friday. He suffered the injury in his last start against the Mets. Soroka is done for the season. It is truly unfortunate for him and fantasy owners. He must be dropped from any and all fantasy rosters. Hopefully, we will see him next season.

That’s it for this edition of baseball waiver wire moves. Have a great third week and please share if you have any recommendations on players to add to the list. I will see you next time!

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