April 27, 2016

Pierre Camus analyzes some National League players to target as fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups & adds in Week 4. These NL-only targets can be sleepers.

This week a couple of catchers join the list for waiver wire eligibility. One returning from injury, the other an injury replacement. As we get deeper into the season, the pickings get slimmer, but savvy owners will check here frequently to get ahead of the game. The following players are owned in 25% or less in Fleaflicker leagues, so there's a good chance you can find some on the waiver wire in your league.

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

Kevin Plawecki (NYM, C) - 1% owned -  As soon as Travis D'Arnaud hit the DL, Plawecki became a must-add replacement for him. Plawecki didn't contribute much as a rookie last year, hitting only .219 and striking out 60 times in 233 at-bats. He actually carries more offensive upside than D'Arnaud. His minor league record suggests he will hit for average, with an average line of .290/.364/.432. Power upside is limited, but run-scoring opportunities should be present in New York. Owners in NL-only and two-catcher leagues should at least try streaming Plawecki for the next week or so to see if he is ready for the big show.

Nick Hundley (COL, C) - 16% owned - Hundley was on the rarely used 7-day DL for a concussion, but is now back behind the plate in Colorado. Hundley could never truly be considered a full-time catcher from his time in San Diego. In seven seasons, he only exceeded 300 at-bats once. Shockingly, the Colorado air seemed to boost his value as he hit double-digit HR for the second time in his career and slashed .301/.339/.467. Hundley will never be an elite option, but he has enough pop to warrant a roster spot in deep leagues when healthy.

Jordy Mercer (PIT, SS) - 11% owned - Your starting shortstop for the National League - Jordy Mercer? Maybe not (Trevor Story might have that locked up), but statistically speaking Mercer is making a case. Hitting .300 with 11 RBI and nine runs scored, Mercer has put up more fantasy points than Brandon Crawford, Alexei Ramirez and Addison Russell. Mercer has posted a positive WAR each year he has played and is probably more valuable in real-life than fantasy, but NL-only managers are hard-pressed right now to find many better options at the position.

Carl Crawford (LAD, OF) - 8% owned - I know, I know... he will never be the same Carl Crawford he was in Tampa Bay. Crawford's run as a five-tool fantasy phenom seems eons ago. The past few years Crawford has been nothing but injured, missing a whopping 327 games over the past four seasons. Again returning from the DL, Crawford makes this list because, ironically, he is one of the few healthy outfielders the Dodgers have at this moment. If he can get on base, he can score some runs, even if the stolen base threat is no longer present.

Chris Owings (ARI, 2B/SS/OF) - 7% owned - Surprisingly, ownership of Owings has not gone up since Socrates Brito was demoted. Owings has proven to be consistent enough to man center field on a daily basis. He won't wow with power or speed, but expect a high average and modest amount of runs scored. Versatility across the field helps in particularly shallow leagues where owners need to fill in for injuries without having to reach for rookies.

Jedd Gyorko (STL, 2B/SS) - 14% owned - Gyorko has started seeing an increase in playing time over the past week, starting the last three games. So far, his 18.2 SO% is down from last year's 23.4 SO%.His .610 SLG is an encouraging sign as well. Gyorko certainly has 20+ HR potential, but will need to keep making consistent contact to prove this small sample size is no fluke. He is worth a flier given his natural power.

Domingo Santana (MIL, OF) - 14% owned - While CF has been a mess for Milwaukee, Domingo Santana has done an admirable job holding down RF. With a slash line of .275/.359/.449 in 19 games, Santana has chipped in two homers and nine runs batted in. Santana is a solid performer and can fill a third outfield spot for NL owners.

Freddy Galvis (PHI, 2B/SS) - 7% owned - Galvis is more of a streaming/fill-in option than a starter. He chipped in 50 RBI and 10 SB last season, but that was over 603 plate appearances. Consider him a safe backup.

Pitchers

Adam Conley (MIA, SP) - 8% owned - Adam Conley's current line doesn't tell the whole story. A fifth starter with a 5.12 ERA, 1.50 WHIP on a losing team don't seem particularly appealing. Look more closely and you will see that seven of the 11 runs Conley has given up have come in two tough innings. Those include a rough first inning of the season in a rain-shortened start where he didn't get a chance to recover. The other was the sixth inning of a start in which he had pitched five scoreless before wearing down and then watching the bullpen give up a Bryce Harper grand slam. Conley has flashed talent; all he needs is some consistency, which will come in time.

Robbie Ray (ARI, SP) - 11% owned - Ray finished 2015 with a 5-12 record, but that was a tad misleading. His 3.52 ERA was certainly respectable, although he faded slightly in the second half (4.40 ERA). Ray posted three consecutive quality starts out of the gate this season until getting rocked for five runs in three innings against Pittsburgh. He is striking out a batter per inning and should turn his record into a positive if he continues to show improvement.

Tony Cingrani (CIN, RP) - 3% owned - Somebody has to close game for the Reds, right? J.J. Hoover's not-altogether-surprising implosion has opened the door for basically anybody. With no "closer of the future" looming, Cingrani is being given the chance to save games until he proves otherwise. Of course, blowing his first opportunity against the Rockies doesn't inspire much confidence. He had some success as a spot starter in 2013-14 but was moved to a relief role last season. If you're feeling lucky, roll the dice with Cingrani and see if you can squeeze a few saves out of him.

Aaron Blair (ATL, SP) - 4% owned - This has been quite a week for rookie debuts. Aaron Blair, Blake Snell and Jose Berrios all had their number called early this season, but Blair is the only one who can help NL owners. His first start was not quite as impressive as Snell, but his best days are definitely ahead of him. He managed to last five and one-third innings, allowing three runs on six hits with only one strikeout. A concern with Blair could be pitch counts and innings limits that may restrict his chances to earn victories. That and playing for the Braves.

Matt Wisler (ATL, SP) - 7% owned - Wisler is perhaps the least-heralded of an underwhelming Braves rotation, but to this point has been one of the most effective. Like most Braves pitchers this year, he is winless, but his ratios can be useful to fantasy owners. In particular, a 0.93 WHIP and 4.9 BB% show the command he has displayed. Wisler also is one of the few starters who has earned a save in relief, for what it's worth.

Caleb Cotham (CIN, RP) - 2% owned - If Cingrani falters or the Reds feel they need a left-hander in a long relief role, Cotham may be next man up. He has a 1.69 ERA in 10.2 innings thus far. With a FIP of 3.17, however, his effectiveness may be questioned. The value here comes with the potential for holds and/or saves if Cingrani loses the job.

J.C. Ramirez (CIN, RP) - 0% owned - That's right - nobody owns J.C. Ramirez right now and deservedly so. He was just called up from Triple-A Louisville recently and has given up two runs in five innings. His 6.15 ERA in 40 appearances isn't inspiring, but then again neither is anyone else in the Reds bullpen. Don't use a roster spot on Ramirez, but keep an eye out to see if the 27-year-old can take advantage of this situation.

Bartolo Colon (NYM, SP) - 19% owned - The ageless wonder is still doing his thing. All you need to know is he is in the Mets starting rotation and has a 2.89 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Don't deny it - you want him. You need him.

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