Waiver Wire Pickups: Fantasy Baseball Edition- Week of 3/25
This week is the introduction to Fantasy Baseball, and there are obviously some guys that are going under the radar. Our job here at Strictly Fantasy is to tell you what guys that aren't getting drafted, and why you should pick them up. THIS IS ONLY FOR REDRAFT LEAGUES, NOT DYNASTY.
#5- Shota Imanaga
Shota Imanaga is a Starting Pitcher on the Chicago Cubs, and he is only rostered in 35% of leagues. The main reason he is getting picked up now in leagues and why you should pick him up is because the Cubs have just announced him to be the #2 starter for them this year, as they have him starting the home opener. Imanaga will be competing with Kyle Hendricks for the second spot in the rotation behind Justin Steele. He has almost unlimited potential this year as he has thrown 19 strikeouts in only 9.2 innings in Spring Training
#4- Jackson Holiday
Jackson Holiday plays shortstop and second base for the Baltimore Orioles. Our experts are confused why is only rostered in 44% of leagues, as he was the #1 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. He is also widely considered to be the best prospect in the league right now, and is expected to be called up this year. Holiday batted .300 in Spring Training with 6 extra base hits in 13 games. Holiday isn't expected to be a Opening Day starter, but he is expected to be called up in the first two months, and thats why you should add him to your roster.
#3- A.J. Puk
A.J. Puk is a 29 year old pitcher for the Miami Marlins, and he is only rostered in about 10% of leagues, and we expect that to increase soon. The reason we didn't say starting or relief pitcher, is because Puk is a relief pitcher converting into a starter. In his four starts in Spring Training as a starter, Puk he pitched a total of 13.2 innings and had 23 K's for a K/IP ratio of 1.7. He also had a ERA of 1.32 and a WHIP of 1.17. Puk has been playing excellent so far into Spring Training and thats why he needs to be on your roster.
#2- Oneil Cruz
Cruz is the starting shortstop of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he has been excellent in Spring Training and he is red hot right now. Cruz season in 2023 ended early because of a leg injury just nine games into the season. Coming back this year, many people were concered that he wouldn't be the same player he was in the 2022 season, when he hit 17 home runs in just 87 games, going along with 13 doubles. The concern for Cruz has always been his chase rate, and his strikeouts. True enough, in that 2022 season, he had 126 strikeouts. This year though, he is looking to diminish those concerns as in 37 AB in Spring Training, he has been batting .324, with a OBP of .405 and a OPS of 1.324. He also has seven home runs, with four of those being in his last three games. Cruz is making his case to be a breakout star, and also to be added to your roster.
#1 -Wyatt Langford
Wyatt Langford is a Outfielder for the defending champs, and he is making a mark on his name so far in Spring Training. Langford has "done everything he can" to make the Opening Day roster, according to his manager. Langford has been playing extremely well in Spring Training games, with leading all batters in slugging percentage and being tied for first in RBI's, with Freddie Freeman. He is also fourth in batting average with .361. If I were any leagues where this guy isn't on my team, I would pick him up right now.
Key: RBI-Runs Batted In. AB- At Bats. OBP- On Base Percentage. OPS- On Base Percentage + Slugging Percentage.