Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Additions (August 1)
If you're new to this feature, here are the ground rules.
No player in this space will be mentioned in back-to-back weeks, as we don't want to spam you with the same choices over and over again. We'll also limit the waiver wire suggestions to players owned in fewer than 40 percent of FOXSports.com leagues. Got it? Let's get to this week's pickups:
Catcher
Yasmani Grandal, LAD (37.4% owned)
He started off the season colder than ice, but Grandal is starting to really swing the bat well. In his last 30 games, Grandal is slashing .323/.443/.708. While he won't keep up that pace, Grandal does have a lot of pop in his bat and the Dodgers are starting to be more productive offensively around him. You won't find any better hitting catchers available on the wire.
First Baseman
Mitch Moreland, TEX (31.9% owned)
With Prince Fielder out, Moreland has stepped up in a big way. He's struggled most of the season, but you won't find a hotter bat in the league right now. Over his last seven games, Moreland is 10-for-22 with 5 HR. Over his last 30, he's slashing .346/.404/.788. Ride him until the wheels fall off.
Second Baseman
Steve Pearce, TB (21.3% owned)
He's a favorite in this space, and we're listing him here once again because there's a strong chance he ends up getting playing time on a real contender. Pearce is slashing .309/.388/.520 on the season, is still killing lefties and should be able to rack up more runs and RBI in a better offense, so long as he's dealt. He's worth a speculative add, if nothing else.
Third Baseman
Yasmany Tomas, ARI (37.5% owned)
There hasn't been a more popular addition in fantasy leagues over the last week than Tomas, as he's seen his ownership double. That's what happens when you slash .375/.388/.750 over your last 14 games and have dual 3B and OF eligibility. He's one of the hottest hitters in baseball, and now that he's an everyday option, he should be on your fantasy team.
Shortstop
Trea Turner, WAS (13.1% owned)
He's now an everyday player for the Nationals, and his dual 2B/SS eligibility can be helpful off your bench. Although he hasn't been lighting the world on fire yet, he was considered one of baseball's best prospects, and his .317 average and 7 stolen bases are more than enough to justify his addition.
Outfield
Cameron Maybin, DET (20.2% owned)
He returned from a back injury that sidelined him for a few games, and he's still absolutely raking. While his .329 average is a far cry from prior seasons, 225 at-bats is a pretty substantial sample size. Maybin offers a little speed (13 SB) as well, making him a decent pickup if you can afford the power drop.
Starting Pitcher
Tyler Skaggs, LAA (22.7% owned)
Skaggs went from being owned in 1.5% of leagues to being owned in nearly a quarter of them. In his two starts this season, he has yet to allow a run and has 13 strikeouts in 12 innings. This is all small sample size theatre, and Skaggs' 2014 numbers (4.30 ERA, 1.21 WHIP) aren't overly impressive, but he's young (25) and has good stuff for a lefty. There's no harm in giving him a spin.
Relief Pitcher
Tony Watson, PIT (17.1% owned)
Watson is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the closer shuffle around the league. With Mark Melancon now in Washington, Watson will take over the closer duties in Pittsburgh. The lefty has put up good numbers this year (2.64 ERA, 1.06 WHIP) and has a three-year average 1.93 ERA. Pittsburgh should give him a decent amount of save opportunities down the stretch, and he should absolutely be owned if you're in need of saves.
