We are officially two months into the season and some bizarre stars are popping up around the league. Mookie Betts is suddenly the hottest outfielder in all of baseball while guys like Prince Fielder and Justin Upton can hardly warrant owning anymore. At this point in the season, trends start to become something more. It's unlikely the Boston Red Sox lineup will collectively cool off and fall back to league averages.
The same goes for slumping superstars who can't seem to pull it together. Don't be afraid to cut bait on high draft picks who continue to underperform. There is plenty of talent on the waiver wire to propel your team to victory.
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.
Week 10 Outfield Targets
Adam Duvall, Cincinnati Reds
Owned in 31% of Fleaflicker Leagues
Over the past few weeks, there's been no slugger seeing the ball better than Adam Duvall. One of the few bright spots on the Reds roster these days, Duvall is sporting a .268/.293/.786 line with nine long balls and 19 RBI in his last 15 games. His strong play as of late has quickly lifted him into the elite power ranks in the league. Among all MLB outfielders, the rookie now ranks second in home runs (16) and first in qualified slugging percentage (.608). True, Duvall is a somewhat one dimensional player. While his .265 average is certainly respectable, his .298 OBP is hard to swallow considering his K:BB ratio currently sits at 57:7. With the type of power Duvall is flashing right now, that can definitely be forgiven.
Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
Owned in 51% of Fleaflicker Leagues
It's interesting to see that Byron Buxton is the most commonly owned player on this list, as he's shown the least production of anyone here. In his somewhat brief stint with the Twins back in 2015, Buxton was a major disappointment. Aside from the fact that he shuffled back and forth between the DL and the starting lineup, the promising rookie failed to perform for his Big League club even when healthy. In 2016, Buxton looks refreshed. Though he again struggled in the first weeks of April, an assignment to Triple-A Rochester proved fruitful. With the minor league club, the 22 year-old posted a .336/.403/.603 line with six dingers and four swipes in just 29 games. That level of play earned him a call up. In the six games since, Buxton has hit safely in all six contests and currently sits at 10-for-23 in that span. The power and speed has yet to translate. Make no mistake--the counting stats will follow as Buxton continues to build confidence against MLB pitching.
Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians
Owned in 29% of Fleaflicker Leagues
Jose Ramirez began the season among the Brock Holts of the world--a marginally effective hitter who holds inherent value due to his positional eligibility. Now, through the first two months of the season, Ramirez has been a consistent producer in the five-spot for the Indians. He's been especially efficient lately, lighting up every column of the stat sheet. In the past two weeks, Ramirez has 2 homers, 5 RBI, 11 runs scored, eight walks and three stolen bases to go with his dreamy .360/.458/.580 slash line. That is pretty good stuff for an outfielder and infinitely more valuable when you can plug him in at every position in the infield besides first base.
Hyun Soo Kim, Baltimore Orioles
Owned in 4% of Fleaflicker Leagues
Hyun Soo Kim has only been given a handful of chances by the Baltimore Orioles this year. Thus far, he has delivered in those sparse opportunities, evidenced by a .377/.449/.493 line in 69 at bats. The power hasn't quite shown up yet, as Kim has swatted just one tater. He slugged 28 in 141 games in Korea last year, so he should pick up the pace soon enough. The main concern here is Kim's involvement in a platoon with Nolan Reimold. Fortunately, Kim finds himself on the more favorable side. He's played exclusively against righties this year, with just three plate appearances against left-handed pitching. The Hitting Machine may not be an everyday contributor, but he's a pretty good bet to rack up the stats when he's on the field.
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