June 9, 2016

Pierre Camus analyzes some National League players to target as fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups & adds in Week 10. These NL-Only targets can be sleepers.

This list represents players who haven't yet garnered a great deal of attention in mixed-leagues, streaming options suitable only for deeper leagues or category specialists who may fill a specific need on your NL-only roster. Fantasy owners needing help should be on the lookout for these potential additions in the coming week.

The following players are owned in 25% or less of Fleaflicker leagues.

Editor’s Note: to read about even more waiver wire options, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily. Prefer using your phone? Our free waiver wire app is available for download in the Apple & Android Stores.

National League Waiver Wire Pickups

Hitters

James Loney (1B, NYM) - 1% owned - The longtime Dodger has resurfaced in the Big Apple and is now starting at first base for the defending NL champs. After getting cut right before opening day, Loney languished in Triple-A for the Padres until the right team needed his services. Lucas Duda's injury left a hole that will temporarily be filled by Loney, a career .285 hitter. He is off to a typical start, hitting .296 with just one homer in 27 at-bats. Loney will not produce power numbers comparable to most 1B, but an AVG around .300 is nothing to sneeze at. His run-production should be higher in New York than it was in Tampa Bay the last couple of years and he represents a good value at the position.

Alexei Ramirez (SS, SD) - 21% owned - The Cuban Missile is finally taking off. Ramirez went the first 50 games of the season without going deep, but is trying to make up for it with three homers, nine RBI and a .340 AVG in the last two weeks. He isn't exactly on a tear, but at least he is showing signs of looking like his former self. He won't be a high-end option at the shortstop position ever again, even in NL-only leagues, but he could provide some consistency for owners.

Chris Johnson (1B/3B, MIA) - 3% owned - Johnson had mainly been pinch-hitting this season, but with Martin Prado slumping and Justin Bour still unable to hit lefties, he has seen an uptick in playing time lately. In the last week, he is hitting .357. Johnson has some pop, but is a streaky hitter himself and his power hasn't shown up yet this season. He is best used as a streaming option if he stays hot and shouldn't be relied upon the rest of the season.

Nick Hundley (C, COL) - 13% owned - If Hundley can actually stay on the field, he has the potential to be a top-ten catcher. That hasn't happened yet this season, as he has only played 18 games. His 2015 numbers (.301/10/43 in 366 at-bats) show what he is capable of in Coors Field. Since returning on June 3rd, he is hitting .286.

 Trayce Thompson (OF, LAD) - 10% owned - Thompson remains hot, hitting .312 with two homers and three stolen bases over the past week. Yasiel Puig's injury and Carl Crawford's release just reinforce the fact that Thompson will be a part of the Dodgers outfield moving forward. His ownership level belongs much higher.

Derek Norris (C, SD) - 16% owned - Norris is finally resembling the player he should have been all along. With a .370/.400/.667 line in the last 7 games, Norris is worth a shot in NL and two-catcher leagues given the extreme lack of depth at the position.

Jon Jay (OF, SD) - 10% owned - Jay remains a high-average hitter, even for the struggling Padres. He is hitting .325 with 17 runs scored over the last month of play. Jay has never hit for power, so playing in spacious Petco Park does little to affect his value. If he keeps reaching base, he will keep scoring runs with Wil Myers and Matt Kemp

Domingo Santana (OF, MIL) - 16% owned - After missing two weeks with a right shoulder strain, Santana will resume his role as the Brewers starting right fielder. He is only hitting .234 on the season, but did mash a homer in his second game back from the DL on Saturday. Santana is not going to be a high average hitter, but does have some power in his bat that could help owners.

Pitchers

Zach Davies (SP, MIL) - 17% owned - Davis is forcing fantasy owners to pay attention with a pair of stellar outings in June so far. Davies pitched eight scoreless innings against the Cardinals on June 1st, followed by seven innings of two-run ball against Oakland six days later. These two starts indicate the first time Davis had been stretched beyond six innings and the results were positive both times. Perhaps this is the beginning of a positive trend for the young pitcher.

Erik Johnson (SD, SP) - 0% owned - When the Padres traded James Shields to the White Sox, their main return was this former second-round pick. It has been reported that Johnson will take Shields' spot in the rotation after spending a few days in Triple-A. If so, Johnson becomes an immediate add in NL-only leagues. Johnson has great potential, but is yet to find his way in the majors, posting a 4.50 career ERA with the Sox. The switch to the NL and pitcher-friendly Petco may do wonders for his stock, much like it has for Drew Pomeranz and Christian Friedrich. Speaking of which...

Christian Friedrich (SP, SD) - 3% owned - Friedrich may stay on this list the rest of the season because I still don't think anybody actually knows who he is. After five starts, he has a 3-1 record and a 2.57 ERA. The 1.57 WHIP and 5.1 BB/9 is concerning, but if you're looking this deep into the waiver wire, you can't be too picky.

Chase Anderson (SP, MIL) - 6% owned - He isn't going deep into games, but Anderson hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in a start since May 5th. He currently sports a 4.68 ERA but over the last month that number is only 2.59 with a 0.74 WHIP. Wins may still be hard to come by in Milwaukee, but Anderson's ratios make him a decent play in deeper leagues.

Adam Ottavino (COL, RP) - 0% owned - Fantasy managers with a need for saves and room for a DL stash may want to look Ottavino's way in the near future. Jake Mcgee has saved 14 games for the Rockies this year, but is allowing a .296 BA to opposing hitters. Ottavino was effective in 2014 when he last pitched before Tommy John surgery and could instantly become an eight-inning option.

Tyler Thornburg (MIL, RP) - 6% owned - No, I'm not pushing Jeremy Jeffress out of the closer spot like many others seem willing to do. Will Smith is back from the DL, which may apply pressure to Jeffress. The reality is that Thornburg has been lights-out as the setup man and there is no discernible reason that the Brewers should remove him from that role. He has a 12.8 K/9 and 13 holds. If Jeffress should falter or get injured, it could just as easily be Thornburg, not Smith, who takes over. In leagues counting holds, he should already be taken.

Hector Neris (RP, PHI) - 23% owned - For a reliever with only one save, his ownership rate is climbing surprisingly high. Everyone is waiting for Jeanmar Gomez to eventually lose his grip on the closer job, which may or may not happen. If so, Neris is suddenly looking like a top replacement option. Regardless, his 13 holds, 0.94 WHIP and 11.4 K/9 make him an attractive option at the RP spot.

Jake Peavy (SF, SP) - 9% owned - Just when you thought Peavy was done for... His season totals are still an eyesore, but if you look at the last two weeks he is starting to pitch more respectably. He has a 3.00 ERA and has upped his K/BB ratio to 4.00 in that time. When Peavy is on his game, he looks great. When he's off, he gets rocked hard. Pick your spots wisely if you roll with him.

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