August 15, 2017

Daniel Burdeen recommends second basemen (2B) and shortstops (SS) who can be valuable waiver wire targets or adds to help fantasy owners for Week 20 of the 2017 MLB season.

We are just three weeks away from the fantasy playoffs in most standard Yahoo leagues. With the playoffs just around the corner, it is time to dig deep and secure your roster for the playoff drive. 

Drop your busts, take a chance and go all-in on players who could help you. It is likely that every owner will be facing some sort of injury or slumping player on his or her's roster. It's time to take advantage and scoop up replacement and end of the roster players that could make a difference for you down the stretch. Some players have been talked about before, some are prospects and some are new to this article. 

What we won’t be changing is the Yahoo ownership cut off to get into this column. Players still need to be available in at least 70 percent of Yahoo leagues to be eligible for this column. Without further ado, let’s start it up with our new format.

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Week 20 Middle Infield (MI) Waiver Wire Targets

Ozzie Albies (Atl, 2B/SS): 10% owned

12-team leagues and NL-Only

If you were the first to jump on prospect Ozzie Albies when he got called up, I hope you were patient. Yes, Albies got off to a slow start with just two hits over his first 17 at-bats. However He is six for his last 18 with one home run and a .333 batting average to go with a .872 OPS. 

Albies bat has improved and this is the perfect week to take a shot on the young prospect. Albies and his Atlanta Braves will start the week off with four games in Coors Field and then finishing up the weak against a weak Cincinnati Reds pitching staff.

The prospect is also dual eligible at both second base and shortstop. The Braves are giving him everyday at-bats and with 21 doubles, eight triples and nine home runs with a .285 batting in 411 Triple-A at-bats, it is easy to see why people are so high on the kid.

Howie Kendrick (Was, 1B/2B/3B/OF): 20% owned

12 team leagues, NL-Only

The Washington Nationals quietly acquired utilityman Howie Kendrick from the Philadelphia Phillies prior to the trade deadline. Kendrick is the perfect example of someone who slides under the radar and helps both his major league team as well as your fantasy roster. 

In 40 at-bats thus far with his new team, the utilityman has hit .375 with two home runs and nine RBI. For the most part batting in the number two spot in a potent lineup has never hurt anyone. A career .291 hitter in a powerful offense, Kendrick deserves more respect from the fantasy community. Eligible at four positions in Yahoo there is no reason to not plug-in Kendrick while he is swing a hot bat.

Yangervis Solarte (SD 2B/3B): 10% owned

10 Team Leagues

Solarte missed a month due to an oblique injury and during that time many fantasy owners gave up on the Padres Infielder. The Padres might not have the most potent lineup but that does not affect what the infielder will do for you.

Since his return Solarte has hit .289 with two home runs. Over the past week he has upped his game and eligibility as he is one start away from being eligible at shortstop in Yahoo leagues. Solarte deserves to be owned in more than the 10% of leagues where he is owned. He's hitting .271 on the year which is identical to his career average. I'd recommend picking up him for an end of the bench player you could live without. The shortstop eligibility will only help improve his stock.

Brandon Phillips (Atl, 2B/3B): 32% owned

12-14 Team Leagues

Phillips is just above the cut off line for eligible players, but I will make an exception here as he is only owned in 32% of Yahoo leagues. As mentioned with his teammate Ozzie Albies earlier in the article, Phillips has a great schedule this week and has streaming appeal.

Acquired for his veteran presence in the locker room and on the field, Phillips has quietly had a solid season for the Braves. A position change to third baseman only adds to his versatility. With a .286 batting average to go along with ten home runs and nine stolen bases, he offers numbers across the board. With a good schedule for hitters, you could do worse than riding out the veteran this week. He won't be a long term option but can help out in the short term.

Jorge Polanco (Min, 2B/3B/SS): 5% owned

AL-Only leagues, Deeper Mixed While Hot

The versatile Polanco has been absolutely on fire over the past month. Over his last ten games five have included multi-hit games. He is not a long term answer by all means in most leagues as he is a career .259 hitter and at .240 for the year. If you are looking for a player who has been torching the ball and widely available than this is your guy. It never hurts to pick up a hot a hitter and ride it out. The triple eligibility only increases the chances he will start in daily lineups.

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