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Welcome RotoBallers to our AL-Only and NL-Only deeper fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 2 - April 1 through April 7. The waiver wire can be difficult to navigate. Knowing who to add and when is a game within the game of fantasy baseball. Doing this in a mono league where the player pool is half the size of a full league makes it even more challenging. Every drop and add is significant.
One of the keys to success with roster management is opportunity. A player given the chance to get on the field and produce is one of the first signs of potential. After all, they can't accumulate statistics if they're sitting on their team's bench. These opportunities can arise because of either a promotion from the minor leagues, an injury to another player, or simply because the team has moved on from another player. Whatever the case may be, these players are now given a chance to shine.
It's important to note that these players are on a short leash to see if they can produce. If they don't, then they can be dropped for the next man up. All that being said, here are some of the best players with opportunities.
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Trey Lipscomb - 3B, Washington Nationals
Due to the injury to Nick Senzel, Trey Lipscomb was promoted to the Nationals as a replacement at third base. He had a productive Spring Training where he finished with a .400/.455/.540 slash line over 50 at-bats.
His demotion was a last-minute decision to begin the 2024 season in the minor leagues. The plan was for him to get accustomed to playing second base in the minor leagues. However, opportunity knows no bounds, and he will get an immediate chance to prove himself on the biggest stage.
Trey Lipscomb with a single in today’s game bringing his batting average this spring up to .408 👀 pic.twitter.com/8ve2cBtnjq
— Milb Central (@milb_central) March 24, 2024
Now a member of the Nationals, chances are that he receives everyday playing time going forward. He will get to play third base, a position where he won a minor league Gold Glove in 2023. Overall, there is a lot to like in his profile.
Last year at the plate, he combined to hit 14 home runs and steal 10 bases over a full season in two minor league levels. He also showed patience at the plate, didn't strike out a lot, and has developed into someone that the franchise likes for their future. With games at the Reds before coming home to face the Pirates and Phillies, this could be a productive start to his career in Washington. He's worth a shot.
Brayan Rocchio - SS, Cleveland Guardians
Heading into the season, the Guardians had a choice to make at one of baseball's most important positions. Their decision to make Brayan Rocchio their primary shortstop was a big one, as he will get the bulk of the team's playing time to begin the season. New manager Stephen Vogt was impressed with his work-rate this spring and his overall boost in confidence.
Manager Stephen Vogt, sitting alongside #Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti, explains the decision to make Brayan Rocchio the primary shortstop. pic.twitter.com/VqwygvO5Yd
— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) March 22, 2024
Rocchio had a productive winter where he honed his craft in the Venezuelan league. He was able to work on controlling his emotions and remaining stoic in intense situations. That seemed to work on Opening Day, as he was able to rip a two-run double down the left-field line to help the Guardians beat the Athletics.
While he won't help much in the way of power, he could be an asset in speed, after recording 25 steals in Triple-A last year. He is owned in just 2% of leagues right now and should play every day.
Bowden Francis - SP, Toronto Blue Jays
Entering Spring Training, the belief was that Alek Manoah would be on the comeback trail and prove to the world that his 2023 was a fluke. Instead, he suffered an injured shoulder and has been on the slow path back to recovery. While he remains on the Injured List for the foreseeable future, Bowden Francis earned his way into the Jays' rotation after a successful spring.
Bowden Francis will open the season in the #BlueJays starting rotation.
He is 2-1 with 3.38 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 4 BB & 15 K in 18.2 IP in Spring Training. pic.twitter.com/GBs6Z74yes
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) March 22, 2024
Primarily a three-pitch pitcher, Francis was effective in relief last year for Toronto. Everything in his arsenal held opponents to a batting average under .200 last season, with his curveball doing immense damage at a 35.5% whiff rate.
Over his minor league career, he has been used primarily as a starter and has usually produced more than 10 strikeouts per inning. There is a lot of excitement surrounding this promotion, and Francis has a chance to solidify his spot even when Manoah is healthy enough to return.
The Blue Jays have a difficult schedule to begin the season, as they face the Rays, Yankees, and Astros to start. If he can hold his own here, there's a chance that he will maintain this spot going forward.
Lawrence Butler - OF, Oakland Athletics
Butler is an intriguing player who offers upside. Coming into the spring, he wanted to make the most of every opportunity that he got while learning from his experiences last season. Despite struggling in 2023 with a surging strikeout rate, he did show glimpses of his power potential at the plate.
He hits the ball hard, as evidenced by his 111.0 Max EV rate from last season. The offseason was just as productive, as he worked on the fundamentals of his game in an attempt to improve his approach at the plate.
His Spring Training production showed a player bursting with confidence. He finished the campaign with a .364/.419/.509 slash line and seven extra-base hits. What was even better was the fact that he walked six times and struck out only eight. That is significant because, in 2023, he finished with a 27.1% strikeout rate and a 3.1% walk rate. This was also a focus of his in the offseason, to develop patience at the plate.
Additionally, how he has been used in the spring makes for an intriguing profile. He saw time in all three outfield spots, which shows his flexibility and durability. He's an exciting player to watch, and if he can bring what he learned with him into the regular season, he may be one of Oakland's best players. He is rostered in just 1% of leagues right now and is worth a shot in deep leagues.
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