X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5

Paul DeJong - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

We're coming up on the end of the first month of the 2021 season. Hopefully your fantasy squads are dominating to the point where you don't need any help. More likely, whether due to injury or ineffectiveness, you're in search of a boost.

Most of the players who will be written up in this feature won't be the next breakout star. Some may only be useful for a brief period. A few might not provide any value at all. It's the nature of the beast; if these players were slam dunks, they wouldn't be widely available for free. We're looking for plausible upside with naught but opportunity cost. By considering a wide swath of factors including but not limited to evidence of a change in approach, favorable upcoming schedules, and plain ol' potential, the goal is simply to find as much marginal value as possible.

As a reminder, we'll be looking at pickups for shallow leagues (30 -49% rostered) and deeper formats (10-29%), as well as highlighting players in the single digits who deserve a spot on your watch list at the very least. These are your second base and shortstop waiver wire pickups for Week 5 - April 26 through May 2.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and weekly lineup resources:

 

Pickups for Shallow Leagues

Paul DeJong, SS, St. Louis Cardinals (49% rostered)

In his second game of the season, DeJong hit two home runs. It was 30 plate appearances before he got another hit of any kind. That early skid has his full season numbers still looking a bit rough, but DeJong entered the weekend hitting .310/.394/.621 with three homers and 12 R+BI in his last eight games. He whiffs too much to hit for average, but DeJong can boost you in the counting stats as he has 30 HR power and a spot in the middle of the Cardinals' order.

Nick Madrigal, 2B, Chicago White Sox (46% rostered)

It would be nice to see Madrigal try to steal more bases (he's 1-for-2 this season and in his first 47 MLB games has only attempted five thefts) but he's been held hitless just once in his last eight contests. He has a .295 batting average and he's on a 100-run pace despite spending most of his time hitting ninth.

Adam Frazier, 2B/OF, Pittsburgh Pirates (34% rostered)

Even after a pair of hitless performances on Friday and Saturday, Frazier is still hitting .291/.374/.418 with as many walks as strikeouts. With a solid grasp on the leadoff spot in Pittsburgh, the 29-year-old has 20 R+BI in as many games and has also swiped two bags in three tries.

 

Pickups for Deeper Leagues

Kolten Wong, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers (18% rostered)

After going 2-for-4 with a walk on Saturday, Wong's season line is up to .259/.429/.407. He's only played nine games so far thanks to a stint on the injured list, but has a homer and two steals in those tilts and has hit at the top of the Brewers' lineup in every game in which he's appeared, giving him plenty of run-scoring opportunities. The 30-year-old has multiple 10 HR/20 SB campaigns to his credit and has batted at least .260 in four of the last six years.

Myles Straw, SS/OF, Houston Astros (18% rostered)

Straw has been as advertised, both the good (four steals in five attempts) and the bad (.549 OPS). He's shown a little more at the plate in the last three games, where he's collected four hits, three of them for extra bases. There aren't many everyday players with speed on the wire, so managers who need a boost there may be well served grabbing Straw and hoping he can build on this mini hot streak.

Starlin Castro, 2B/3B, Washington Nationals (12% rostered)

A textbook example of the boring vet. Castro doesn't merit much attention in shallow formats, but in deep leagues his pop (18 HR per season from 2016-19), consistent average (.278 over that same span, with all four seasons at .270 or better), and multi-position eligibility make him an underrated asset.

 

The Watch List

Ehire Adrianza, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF, Atlanta Braves  (9% rostered)

Adrianza came off the bench as a pinch hitter in seven of his first eight games this year, but lately he's worked his way into some starts thanks to a .946 OPS. He even got a couple of games in the leadoff spot last week filling in for a nicked-up Ronald Acuña Jr. The 31-year-old Swiss Army Knife has a pair of homers and 14 R+BI in just 34 plate appearances. He can play anywhere on the diamond, so any injury to a Braves regular would open the door for more starts.

Josh Harrison, 2B/3B, Washington Nationals (7% rostered)

Harrison was intermittently useful in fantasy over the years he spent with the Pirates - over a four-year span he hit .290 and averaged nine homers and 15 steals per season. That stretch ended four years ago, but the veteran entered play on Saturday with a .911 OPS and has primarily been hitting either second or fifth in the lineup as the regular second baseman in the nation's capital.

Nico Hoerner, 2B/3B/SS, Chicago Cubs (7% rostered)

Hoerner was recalled from the alternate training site on Friday and is 4-for-7 with three doubles and three walks thus far. The 23-year-old is likely a better player in real life than in fantasy, but he's eligible at three positions and showed flashes in his 2019 cup of coffee.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Advice


Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

D'Andre Swift15 mins ago

Upgrades To Limited Participant On Thursday
Luka Doncic19 mins ago

Expected To Miss At Least A Week
CeeDee Lamb25 mins ago

Sidelined During Thursday's Practice
Ladd McConkey32 mins ago

Does Not Practice On Thursday
Mike Evans41 mins ago

Logs Full Practice On Thursday
DeVonta Smith2 hours ago

Misses Another Practice
Cody Bellinger3 hours ago

Cubs Looking To Trade Cody Bellinger?
Brandin Cooks3 hours ago

Preparing To Play In Week 12
CeeDee Lamb3 hours ago

Not Seen At Thursday's Practice
3 hours ago

Blake Snell Has Met With Red Sox, Dodgers
Aaron Rodgers3 hours ago

Jets Owner Suggested Benching Aaron Rodgers
Mike Evans5 hours ago

Practicing Again On Thursday
Chandler Stephenson6 hours ago

Registers Three Assists Versus Predators
Jason Robertson6 hours ago

Totals Three Points In Wednesday's Win
Nils Lundkvist6 hours ago

Exits Early With A Lower-Body Injury
Matthew Knies6 hours ago

Sustains An Upper-Body Injury
Mikael Granlund6 hours ago

Exits Late With Injury Wednesday
Patrik Laine7 hours ago

Returns To Practice
Ausar Thompson7 hours ago

Listed As Doubtful For Thursday
Walker Kessler7 hours ago

Still Missing For Jazz
Jordan Clarkson7 hours ago

Questionable To Face Spurs
Devin Vassell7 hours ago

To Miss Third Consecutive Game
Chris Paul7 hours ago

Considered Probable For Thursday's Game
Khris Middleton7 hours ago

Medically Cleared To Play
Chris Sale18 hours ago

Wins National League Cy Young Award
Tarik Skubal18 hours ago

Wins 2024 American League Cy Young Award
Paul George18 hours ago

Exits Game On Wednesday, Hyperextends Left Knee Again
Scoot Henderson19 hours ago

Leaves Game On Wednesday, Won't Return
Jalen Johnson19 hours ago

Active On Wednesday Night
Zach Collins20 hours ago

Uncertain To Play On Thursday
Austin Eckroat20 hours ago

Heads To The RSM Classic After Win
Harris English20 hours ago

Finding Form Heading To The RSM Classic
Ben Griffin20 hours ago

Continues Playing Well Heading To The RSM Classic
Denny McCarthy20 hours ago

Returns to The RSM Classic
Patrick Williams20 hours ago

Likely To Miss At Least One Week
Kyle Anderson20 hours ago

Available For Matchup With Hawks
Victor Wembanyama20 hours ago

Out Again On Thursday
Jusuf Nurkic20 hours ago

Available On Wednesday
Stephen Curry20 hours ago

Will Play Against Atlanta
De'Anthony Melton20 hours ago

To Undergo Season-Ending ACL Surgery
Tre Mann20 hours ago

Probable For Thursday Night Matchup Against Detroit
Mike Conley20 hours ago

Appears On Injury Report For Thursday With Toe Injury
Donte DiVincenzo21 hours ago

Questionable Heading Into Thursday
Josh Jacobs21 hours ago

Limited With Multiple Injuries
DeVonta Smith21 hours ago

Misses Practice On Wednesday
Isaiah Hartenstein21 hours ago

To Make Season Debut On Wednesday
Seth Jones23 hours ago

Expected To Miss Four Weeks
Sam Darnold23 hours ago

Limited With Foot Injury
Max Domi23 hours ago

Placed On Injured Reserve
Jalen Hurts23 hours ago

Limited On Wednesday
Connor Ingram23 hours ago

Out Day-To-Day With An Upper-Body Injury
Jake Ferguson23 hours ago

Picks Up A DNP On Wednesday
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen23 hours ago

Returns To Action Versus Kings
CeeDee Lamb23 hours ago

Listed As Limited, Dealing With Two Injuries
Alex Tuch23 hours ago

Available Wednesday
Tage Thompson23 hours ago

Remains Out On Wednesday
Sam LaPorta24 hours ago

Practicing In Full
Jordan Eberle24 hours ago

To Remain Out On Wednesday
George Kittle24 hours ago

Will Play In Week 12
Ludvig Aberg24 hours ago

Looks To Defend RSM Classic Title
Ladd McConkey24 hours ago

Does Not Practice On Wednesday
Si Woo Kim24 hours ago

An Intriguing Option At RSM Classic
Maverick McNealy24 hours ago

In Solid Form Ahead Of RSM Classic
Eric Cole24 hours ago

Chasing First Tour Victory At RSM Classic
San Francisco 49ers1 day ago

Nick Bosa Does Not Practice On Wednesday
Christian McCaffrey1 day ago

Does Not Practice On Wednesday
George Kittle1 day ago

Limited During Wednesday's Practice
Connor Bedard1 day ago

Ends Drought With Two Assists
Sam Reinhart1 day ago

Pushes Point Streak To 11 Games
Mark Scheifele1 day ago

Celebrates Ninth Career Hat Trick
Evan Bouchard1 day ago

Rocks Senators With Three-Point Period
Connor McDavid1 day ago

Nets Two Goals During Three-Point Night
TB1 day ago

Nicholas Paul Exits Early With Injury Tuesday
Zach Hyman1 day ago

Sits Out Third Period Versus Senators
2 days ago

Guardians' Stephen Vogt Named AL Manager Of The Year
Milwaukee Brewers2 days ago

Pat Murphy Named NL Manager Of The Year
Jonas Brodin2 days ago

Returns To Action
2 days ago

Nick Pivetta Declines Boston's Qualifying Offer
Jose Siri2 days ago

Mets Acquire Jose Siri From The Rays
2 days ago

Phillies To Meet With Juan Soto
2 days ago

Luis Severino Rejects Qualifying Offer From Mets
2 days ago

Willy Adames Declines Brewers Qualifying Offer
2 days ago

Teoscar Hernandez Declines Qualifying Offer From Dodgers
2 days ago

Juan Soto Declines Yankees' Qualifying Offer
Luis Gil3 days ago

Wins AL Rookie Of The Year Award
Paul Skenes3 days ago

Named 2024 NL Rookie Of The Year
Brady Singer3 days ago

Reds, Royals Discussing Jonathan India, Brady Singer
3 days ago

Sean Manaea To Reject Mets' Qualifying Offer
3 days ago

Braves Have Interest In Walker Buehler
3 days ago

Astros Interested In Willy Adames
Charles Oliveira3 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Michael Chandler3 days ago

Gets Dominated At UFC 309
Karine Silva3 days ago

Suffers Her First UFC Loss
Viviane Araujo3 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Mauricio Ruffy3 days ago

Extends His Win Streak To Six
Nick Martinez4 days ago

Signs Qualifying Offer With Reds
4 days ago

Luis Severino Likely To Decline Qualifying Offer From Mets
James Llontop4 days ago

Loses Clear-Cut Decision In Thrilling Fight At UFC 309
Paul Craig4 days ago

Loses Decision At UFC 309
Bo Nickal4 days ago

Remains Undefeated With Lackluster Performance At UFC 309
Stipe Miocic4 days ago

Retires After UFC 309 Loss
Jon Jones4 days ago

Gets TKO Win At UFC 309 To Defend Heavyweight Title

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP