MLB Fantasy Fixer-Uppers April 28th 2015
Fantasy Fixer-Uppers
The fantasy season is in full, erm, swing. Sorry I’m not sorry. If you are like me and love fantasy sports then you are in the right place. If you don’t care much for fantasy sports maybe stick around anyway. See if I can help sway you to the other side. But if you are a regular player you know that the waiver wire is something that should be scoured almost every day. Baseball is a much different animal in that there are so many more games being played and they are happening virtually every day. Sure, some teams have an off day here and there but for the most part there is a full slate of games and rosters to pore through. It can be tough and that is why there are experts and podcasts and columns and blogs and who knows what other kind of information is out there. It all helps. And that’s what I’m here for. Help. Advice. Whatever you may need. Each week I will run down a list of a few players who might be able to help your team. So without further ado here are five players who are worth taking a look at.
Nick Martinez, SP, Texas Rangers (61% owned standard ESPN leagues)
If you are asking yourself who is this guy don’t worry as I thought the same thing myself two weeks ago when he caught my attention. Martinez was a regular in the Rangers’ rotation last year and struggled to the tune of a 5-12 record with a mediocre 4.55 ERA. Well, it appears something has changed in the youngster’s approach this season as he has allowed just one earned run in his first 26 innings. Martinez doesn’t strike many people out as he has only 11 k’s in those first four starts but as long as he isn’t allowing any runs he has fantasy value. As the weather warms up balls start to fly out of the bandbox in Arlington but Martinez is worth taking a flyer on. His next start is against the A’s on Saturday whom he held to four hits in seven innings while earning the win in his first start this season.
Alex Guerrero, OF/2B, Los Angeles Dodgers (52% owned)
This kid has been absolutely raking. Take a look at this insane slash line: .500/.500/1.773. That is not a misprint. Dude is tearing the cover off the ball. He has 11 hits in 22 at-bats and five of those left the yard. The only problem was playing time. Note that I said was. Yasiel Puig has been placed on the 15-day disabled list and Carl Crawford suffered what looks like an oblique injury last night. That should open up regular playing time for Guerrero. At the worst he is worthy of a bench spot in hopes that the playing time does come. At best he may show shades of another Guerrero who was a fantasy stud for the better part of 15 years. Man I miss Vladdy. But Alex should be owned almost universally and if his playing time increases his ownership will as well. Get him now. I know I did.
Yimi Garcia, RP, Los Angeles Dodgers (47% owned)
Let’s lead this off by saying Garcia is not L.A.’s closer. Though with the injury to fill-in closer Joel Peralta he may see some save chances because he has been nothing but excellent so far coming out of the pen. Garcia has allowed just one run in 10 2/3 innings while piling up 18 strikeouts against three walks for an absurd 15.2 SO9. If that doesn’t help out in your fantasy league I don’t know what will. He has already picked up two wins and a save thus far. Garcia is available in more than half of standard ESPN leagues and should help all your roto pitching stats. Ask any avid fantasy player how valuable a strikeout machine middle reliever is. The answer? Very valuable. And if he starts racking up saves it only boosts his value. Strike now while you can.
John Axford, RP, Colorado Rockies (30% owned)
If Garcia’s mere chance at saves isn’t good enough for you how about giving the axe man a shot? The Rockies opened the year with LaTroy Hawkins closing things out but that didn’t work out so well. Up next was Adam Ottovino who pitched well but has now landed on the disabled list. If the third time is the charm things should work out well for Axford. A former elite closer he shut down the Diamondbacks Monday night to pick up his third save of the season. He has yet to allow a run in his five appearances so far but that figures to change since he calls Coors Field home. That being said, it looks like he is a safe bet to be given save opportunities going forward. If you are hurting for saves Axford should help.
A.J. Pierzynski, C, Atlanta Braves (22% owned)
There was once a time when Pierzynski was a plus offensive catcher. Those years were thought to be well behind him. Tell that to Pierzynski. Brought in to be the back-up on a rebuilding team all he has done is hit. He has played in 10 games so far and has at least one hit in all of them. In fact, five of his 14 hits so far have gone for extra bases. The 38-year old is raking and should see extended playing time in Atlanta while Christian Bethancourt is still finding his swing. The catcher crop is always thin once you make it past the top players. If you are someone who lost Jonathan Lucroy to the DL you can do far worse than picking up A.J. as a place filler. The Braves did and look how it’s worked out for them.
Have questions about a player I didn’t mention? Feel free to leave comments or questions below and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Want to reach me in a more direct manner? Find me on Twitter @therichwhiteguy.