Over the course of the season I’ll be giving you two players at second base and shortstop per week who I think can help your team. These players are usually widely available in any format, and should turn nice profits in the weeks to come.
As always, feel free to reach out to me directly @Roto_Dubs with any questions about the middle infield or fantasy baseball in general.
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Second Base (2B) Waiver Wire Pickups
Javier Baez (2B, SS, 3B - CHC) - Owned in 25% of Fleaflicker leagues
It seems Baez has finally locked down a full-time role with the Cubs, and so far he's thrived. In his last 15 games he's hit .333 with three homers and 12 RBI. Baez's power has always been his main attribute, and predictably a bevy of strikeouts are a big weakness. In points leagues Baez will still have plenty of value as he drives in runs in the potent Chicago offense, but it's important to keep in mind that he'll likely whiff a ton--he's got a 3:25 walk-to-strikeout ratio in 2016. A good comparison is Trevor Story--above average power from the shortstop position, but not without his flaws. Still, as long as he's hitting in that lineup he's an immediate add.
Yangervis Solarte (2B, 1B, 3B - SD) - Owned in 19% of Fleaflicker leagues
Solarte has been quietly great since returning from the DL in late May. His stats from last year are pretty indicative of what I expect out of him in 2016 (.270/.320/.428) even though he's currently slashing .284/.383/.506 in 2016. With that said, there's no rule against improvement, and with a guy who makes as much contact as Solarte does (56 K in 526 AB in 2015) I could see him pushing .280 all season. There's not much he brings to the table in the speed department, but 15 homers and 75 RBI are well within his grasp. His multi-positional eligibility is another boon, and he makes for a great bench guy who you can plug-and-play when someone has a day off.
Shortstop (SS) Waiver Wire Pickups
Ketel Marte (SS - SEA) - Owned in 24% of Fleaflicker leagues
After a very slow start and a brief DL stint, the switch-hitting Seattle speedster's bat has come roaring back to life. His best asset is his speed, and he should be a great source of stolen bases and runs scored for the remainder of the season if he can maintain a batting average around or above the .275 mark. He's not a superstar by any means (yet), so many owners will have abandoned him thanks to the injury he dealt with in late May. He's stolen three bags since returning on June 8th, and any owner would do well to snatch him up immediately and reap the rewards in the coming months.
Tim Anderson (SS - CHW) - Owned in 28% of Fleaflicker leagues
After two dreadful months at the plate, the White Sox finally gave up on Jimmy Rollins and designated him for assignment. The move cleared a path for their top prospect, Tim Anderson. He should be the primary shortstop for the rest of the season (providing he doesn't struggle too severely) and with good reason. The highly-touted youngster maintained a .301 batting average in the minors and has 50-steal capability, although somewhere in the 30-40 range is more likely. Given that we're already in June I wouldn't anticipate him swiping any more than 25 bags the rest of the way, but that still provides plenty of value to prospective owners. While you're rolling the dice on him adjusting well to major league pitching, Anderson has the pedigree to make an immediate impact on a team that desperately needs a spark.
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