Week 8 Waiver Wire - Second Base (2B) and Shortstop (SS)

May 21, 2018

Kyle Bishop suggests five middle infield targets for week 8, second basemen (2B) and shortstops (SS), for fantasy baseball owners to consider adding to their rosters in 2018.

DJ LeMahieu is the latest injury casualty in the middle infield. The Rockies’ second baseman has hit the disabled list for the second time already this year, this time with a sprained thumb. If the current rate holds, middle infielders will be extinct by August. (cue depressing photo montage set to Sarah MacLachlan)

Every Monday until the end of the season, we'll look at the best middle infielders available in at least 50 percent of Yahoo leagues. These are based on standard 5x5 scoring; adjust accordingly for your specific setup.

Let’s get to it.

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Week 8 Middle Infield (MI) Waiver Wire Targets

Brandon Crawford, SS, San Francisco Giants (34% owned)

On the heels of a putrid April, Crawford has been one of May’s hottest hitters. Since the calendar flipped, he’s slashing an absurd .449/.459/.652, with nine multi-hit games (including five with at least three hits). That line is supported by a .509 BABIP so it’s obviously not sustainable, but Crawford has been hitting the ball hard enough that at least some of his production over recent weeks could stick around through the inevitable regression.

Dansby Swanson, SS, Atlanta Braves (28% owned)

The Braves’ unfortunately named shortstop recently returned from the disabled list. He did so in style, lacing a two-run single to complete a six-run ninth-inning comeback for Atlanta on Sunday. Swanson won’t provide a ton of power or speed, but he makes enough contact to be a batting average asset and has posted respectable run production despite hitting in the lower third of the lineup.

Daniel Robertson, 2B/3B/SS, Tampa Bay Rays (18% owned)

A pair of home runs over the weekend boosted Robertson’s season line to .273/.424/.473. As the gaudy OBP indicates, Robertson has drawn a ton of walks in the early going – 27, to be exact, giving him a 19.4 BB% on the year. If he qualified, that mark would rank second in MLB, behind only Bryce Harper. Fresh off a reworking of his swing, Robertson is also posting solid contact quality metrics to supplement that excellent eye. With eligibility at three infield positions, it’s surprising to see him so overlooked.

Niko Goodrum, 1B/2B/OF, Detroit Tigers (17% owned)

A 26-year-old without eye-popping minor league numbers or anything resembling a prospect pedigree tends not to draw much attention in fantasy circles. Goodrum has bucked that trend with a solid showing to this point. The pop (four homers in 96 plate appearances) seems unlikely to persist, but Goodrum is quick and showed enough base-stealing potential as a prospect that his five stolen bases so far pass the smell test. He also has solid plate discipline that should allow him to reach often enough to put that speed to use.

Jose Iglesias, SS, Detroit Tigers (7% owned)

Iglesias is starting to garner a bit of love from fantasy owners, but an ownership rate in the single digits has him bringing up the rear in this space for a second consecutive week. The Tigers’ shortstop has swiped three bases since that column was published, bringing his total to seven in nine attempts. He also logged three multi-hit games during the week and is hitting .287 over the past 30 days.

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