Is it really almost September? It seems like just yesterday that we were all expecting the tandem of Byung Ho Park and Miguel Sano to lead the Twins to the promised land...or at least hit a laughable amount of homers.
Okay, so maybe that was just me. Regardless, we're bearing down on the end of another season, and time is running out for those of us who need to make a run at fantasy gold. These five players can help. So can a bunch of other guys, about whom you can read more by clicking over to RotoBaller's weekly waiver wire rankings.
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Week 21 Corner Infield Waiver Wire Targets
Brandon Moss, 1B/OF, St. Louis Cardinals (43 percent owned)
Since returning from an ankle injury, Moss has picked up right where he left off in a resurgent 2016. He’s hitting .282/.312/.606 with six homers and 28 R+RBI in 18 August contests. Overall, he’s produced a .912 OPS and hit 23 homers in just 93 games. The veteran isn’t a perfect player by any means. He usually sits against southpaws and struggles when he doesn’t, and is currently running a strikeout rate north of 30 percent. But it’s surprising that this kind of power production is simply sitting on the wire in so many leagues.
Alex Bregman, 3B/SS, Houston Astros (42 percent)
As often happens with top prospects, Bregman’s failure to immediately set the world on fire led to many fantasy owners souring on him. But after going just 2-for-42 to open his major league career, `Bregman has shown the form that had so many riding the hype train before his arrival. He’s hitting .328/.370/.567 over that span, and nearly half of his 22 hits have gone for extra bases. The recent promotion of Yulieski Gourriel could cut into Bregman’s playing time, but his recent performance would seem strong enough to keep him in the lineup. With Luis Valbuena suffering a setback in his rehab, third base should remain Bregman’s domain.
Howie Kendrick, 1B/2B/3B/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers (41 percent)
Kendrick got off to a brutal start this year, but he’s long since recovered from that initial stumble. The veteran has been sneakily excellent since the break, slashing .314/.382/.508 with four homers and 33 R+RBI. That impressive resurgence has helped the Dodgers overtake the Giants in the NL West race, and helped some fantasy owners as well. Kendrick remains unowned in plenty of leagues, though, and he offers eligibility at four positions.
Yangervis Solarte, 1B/2B/3B, San Diego Padres (31 percent)
Solarte has cooled a bit recently, but he still deserves to be more widely owned than he is right now. Prorate his current numbers to a full season and here’s what you get: .285, 26 homers, 88 runs, 104 RBI. That’s borderline elite production at either corner, and he’s eligible at second base to boot. Yet you can still acquire him for absolutely nothing in over two-thirds of leagues. I’ve been telling people about this guy for the better part of two years now. He remains one of the best-kept secrets in baseball.
Pedro Alvarez, 1B/3B, Baltimore Orioles (20 percent)
Alvarez might be a part-time player, but he provides enough power when in the lineup to justify a roster spot in many formats. He’s smacked 10 homers in just 92 at-bats since the break, hitting .283/.313/.641 during that time. Like Moss, he strikes out a ton, and he’s even more useless against lefties. Still, if you’re prepared for a bit of maintenance, Alvarez can be a positive contributor for you down the stretch.
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