Top Fantasy Baseball Waiver Pickups for the Week of May 30th
These are the top 10 waiver wire trends for the week of May 30th. This week includes Leonys Martin, Jung Ho Kang, Michael Fulmer, Jeremy Hellickson, Joey Gallo, Carlos Beltran, Junior Guerra, Jurickson Profar, Archie Bradley, Eduardo Nunez. These Waiver Alerts have already gone out to our members over the past past week as soon as we spotted them.
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SEATTLE — Leonys Martin needed a few looks to figure out Ryan Madson's changeup, and then he solved the offspeed pitch in a big way.Martin hit a game-ending, two-run homer off the closer in the ninth inning to give the Seattle Mariners a 6-5 comeback victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night."I've faced him a few times and he's never thrown me a changeup," Martin said. "I don't even know what the action on the ball (is). ... I just see the ball and swing and don't get too aggressive." Ryan Madson ended up on a few of my rosters this March, and I feel fortunate through the first quarter of the season. He took control of an uncertain Oakland closing situation, racking up a quick 11 saves. He’s already earned far more than the buy-in cost.
Nonetheless, the save chase being what it is, there’s some blood in the water. It might be a good time to move on from Madson (preferably in a trade), or a good time to speculate on a new Oakland closer in the near future.Â
Madson’s latest appearance was the messiest one, a blown save at Seattle on Tuesday night. He served up a nothing change to Leonys Martin, and Martin deposited it over the right-field fence. No doubter. Game over. Party in the streets, Funston.Â
Leonys Martin continued his recent hot streak with an RBI single in the third inning of the Mariners game against the A's on Wednesday, but the center fielder was taken out the following frame after hurting his left hamstring while running the bases.
Spin: The Mariners said Martin "tweaked" the hamstring and is listed as day to day. The team is off on Thursday before resuming its homestand on Friday against the Twins. Martin, who hit a two-run walk-off homer to beat the A's on Tuesday, has been red-hot over the past week and was promoted to the Mariners' leadoff spot the past four games. He went 1-for-2 with an RBI and stolen base on Wednesday before being removed, putting him at 15-for-30 with six walks, seven RBIs and four home runs over his past nine outings. Trainers checked on Martin at that point, but he stayed in the game and was caught in a rundown between third and home moments later on a double-play grounder by Robinson Cano. Shawn O'Malley then replaced Martin in center field the following inning.
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +142.37%
Seeking further information on the way replay officials interpreted the home-plate collision rule on Jung Ho Kang’s play at the plate Saturday in a game against the Colorado Rockies, manager Clint Hurdle made some phone calls Sunday morning.PITTSBURGH -- Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang left a game Saturday against the Colorado Rockies because of discomfort in his left hand. Kang was apparently injured when he was thrown out sliding into home plate in the fourth inning while trying to
Kang belted his sixth homer in 17 games Friday -- a three-run shot, giving him a 1.097 OPS in 60 plate appearances.
He served as Pittsburgh's DH against the Rangers, with David Freese handling third base duties. Manager Clint Hurdle said he's trying to keep Kang off his feet as much as possible, though he likely doesn't mind him trotting around the bases after hitting home runs.
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +22.72%
Fulmer (4-1) threw 7.2 scoreless innings in a win against the Athletics on Friday, allowing only three hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
After struggling in the first four starts of his career, Fulmer seems to have settled down with only one run allowed in the last 14.2 innings. He has struck out 14 and walked two over that span, so things are definitively looking up for him. He will look to keep it going in his next start against the Yankees on Thursday.Nick Castellanos homered, and Michael Fulmer held the A's to three hits across 7 2/3 innings to help the Tigers secure a 4-1 victory in Friday's series opener at the Coliseum.
Fulmer (4-1) threw 7.2 scoreless innings in a win against the Athletics on Friday, allowing only three hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
After struggling in the first four starts of his career, Fulmer seems to have settled down with only one run allowed in the last 14.2 innings. He has struck out 14 and walked two over that span, so things are definitively looking up for him. He will look to keep it going in his next start against the Yankees on Thursday.
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +89.28%
Jeremy Hellickson has been a pleasant surprise in Philadelphia, but the Phillies may be willing to deal him elsewhere for the right price. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports the Phils "will jump if they get the right offer," on the 29-year-old riPhillies right-hander Jeremy Hellickson lost after allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in seven innings against the Tigers on Tuesday.
Spin: Hellickson pitched well but was overmatched against Justin Verlander, who outdueled him for the win with eight shutout innings. Like Verlander, Hellickson has been on a roll lately with three straight quality starts, allowing five earned runs over his past 20 innings. He also sports a strong 57:14 strikeout-to-walk ratio on the season. The 29-year-old will look to stay hot vs. the Nationals on May 30.
Game features good pitching matchup between Justin Verlander and Jeremy Hellickson.
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +52.43%
Gallo was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Monday.
Gallo was recalled to replace OF Drew Stubbs, who was placed on the 15-day DL with a toe sprain Monday. The 22-year-old prospect appeared in the majors briefly in 2015 and showed flashes of his power potential with six home runs in 36 games but returned to the minors after he accumulated a .204 batting average. The six-foot-five lefty now has another shot to display his skills at the major league level but will likely return to Round Rock once Stubbs returns from the DL.
Gallo is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Angels.The Rangers are refusing to rush Gallo, one of their most prized prospects, into the lineup despite recalling him Monday. He'll be available off the bench Tuesday while Jared Hoying gets the start in left field for the Rangers.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Texas right-hander Yu Darvish has been activated from the disabled list to make his first major league start in nearly 22 months. The Rangers reinstated Darvish before Saturday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Third baseman/outfielder Joey Gallo was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock to make ...
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +69.61%
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Starlin Castro broke out of a slump with three hits, Carlos Beltran singled twice to keep up his recent tear and the New York Yankees beat the Oakland Athletics 5-1 on Saturday to win their season-high fourth straight game. Masahiro Tanaka pitched seven innings to win ...Yankees outfielder Carlos Beltran can block trades to 15 clubs under the terms of his limited no-trade clause, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, who explores the possibility of a deal involving the veteran. Among the teams to which Beltran could be dealt without consent are the Indians, Nationals, Royals, Cardinals, Rays, Tigers, and Dodgers, per…
Beltran went 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs in Tuesday's 6-0 win over the Blue Jays.
Beltran plated the game's first two runs, including a solo blast off the Jays' R.A. Dickey to give him his 10th homer of the season. We're just over a quarter of the way through the current campaign, but Beltran already has more than half of last season's home run total (19). The 39-year-old has had more opportunities of late to rest his legs while serving as the Yankees' primary DH, but he'll move back to a regular role in the outfield once Alex Rodriguez (hamstring) returns from the DL, which could happen over the weekend.
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +33.35%
Junior Guerra has a backstory that puts the odd in odyssey.  The Braves signed him as a 16-year-old catcher out of Venezuela.  In 2006, he had position reassignment surgery and became a pitcher.  As a herbathrowdite in Georgia, bathrooms and strike zones were hard to find, so he was released.  He found courage from the support group, "PAC IO," which is Pitchers And Catchers Input/Output, and tried his hand at Independent leagues.  Eventually, he played in Mexico, Spain, and Italy.  In Italy, it was especially difficult to be a pitcher because every time a hitter came up to the plate a large, mustachioed woman umpire would say, "Guerra, you hafta throw the meatballs.  C'mon, the hitter's starvin' over here."  And Guerra's cheeks would constantly be pinched.  But, miraculously, Robin Ventura found him in Italy, while mistakenly thinking that's where Jim Rome taped his show, and signed him.  Of course, the White Sox had no place for Guerra, and his journey took him to Milwaukee, allowing him to be the first person with an Italian stamp on his passport in Milwaukee since Arthur Fonzarelli.  Yesterday, he went 7 IP, 3 ER, 8 baserunners, 11 Ks to move his record to 3-0.  He's touched 99 MPH with his fastball, averaging around 92-95 and has a split-finger change that falls off the map like an explorer in the 1400's.  Is he more than a streamer?  Hard to say at this point.  He will get strikeouts and faces the Braves next so I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and grab him for that start.  Anyway, here's what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:Atlanta – With four quality starts and a 3-0 record to his credit since joining the Milwaukee Brewers, starter Junior Guerra will look to keep his personal hot streak going tonight against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.
Alright we’re back here for another week of #2xSP. We’re off to a pretty good start halfway through week seven. Here’s what we’re working with: 17-10 record 3.48 ERA 7.9 K/9 2.9 K/BB 1.29 WHIP 24 quality starts And now here’s who we’re working with this week (with team wRC+ in parentheses): RHP Junior Guerra […]
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +554.51%
The Rangers will call up Jurickson Profar from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.
That's when Rougned Odor will begin serving his seven-game suspension for punching Jose Bautista in the face. Profar is a shortstop by trade but will handle second base in Odor's absence. The 23-year-old hasn't appeared in a major league game since 2013. Profar could boost his trade value with a strong showing over the next week. He's played reasonably well for Round Rock this year, hitting .284 with five homers and four steals.Jurickson Profar went 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored in Saturday's win over the Pirates.
In just his second game back with the Rangers, Profar made his presence felt, hitting a one-out triple and scoring in the seventh inning. He has three hits in nine at-bats since being recalled, and he's expected to fill in at second base -- and atop the Rangers' order -- while Rougned Odor is serving his suspension. If Profar performs well during the audition, he could force Rangers' brass to make a tough decision when Odor returns.
Profar will be recalled from Triple-A once Rougned Odor's suspension starts, MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports.
This was widely expected, especially given the fact that Profar shifted to second base recently with Round Rock. According to Sullivan, Odor will receive a slight reduction to his initial eight-game suspension, and he will begin serving the suspension Friday, so Profar should join the Rangers for the first game of the weekend series against the Pirates. Profar would be a top-10 fantasy shortstop if he was playing every day for a big league team, but given the Rangers' middle infield depth, and their financial commitment to Elvis Andrus, Profar is still expected to spend most of this season at Triple-A. He's a worthwhile short-term add in deeper leagues and shallow leagues with daily roster moves.
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +164.04%
Bradley did not make his scheduled start for Triple-A Reno on Thursday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.
His scratch suggests Bradley is on his way to Arizona for another look in the major league rotation. Shelby Miller (finger) is currently slated to start Sunday, but manager Chip Hale suggested the team could end up changing plans. Bradley has been excellent at Triple-A Reno this season, going 5-1 with a 1.99 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 47:18 K:BB in seven starts, but his minor league success has yet to translate to the highest level.
Bradley did not make his scheduled start for Triple-A Reno on Thursday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.His scratch suggests Bradley is on his way to Arizona for another look in the major league rotation. Shelby Miller (finger) is currently slated to start Sunday, but manager Chip Hale suggested the team could end up changing plans. Bradley has been excellent at Triple-A Reno this season, going 5-1 with a 1.99 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 47:18 K:BB in seven starts, but his minor league success has yet to translate to the highest level.
Archie Bradley had the finest outing of his big league career and Paul Goldschmidt contributed a pair of RBIs as the D-backs beat the Padres, 6-3, on Sunday afternoon to claim the series win.
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +230.09%
Twins third baseman Eduardo Nunez went 3-for-5 with a solo homer, two RBIs and a double on Wednesday against the Royals.
Spin: Nunez, who hit leadoff for the 13th time this season, has been a surprise contributor for the Twins, with a .314/.347/.482 batting line, four homers, nine doubles, 19 RBIs, 17 runs scored and eight steals in 37 games. To put those power and speed numbers into perspective, Nunez tallied just four homers and eight steals in 72 games last season. Nunez's average should fall as his .358 BABIP regresses, but he is still worth a flier in deep mixed leagues.Nunez went 4-for-5 with a home run, his fifth of the season, in Saturday's game against the Mariners.
The infielder pushed his average up another 16 points to .333. Nunez is enjoying a nice May -- all five of his homers have come this month, and he's notched 12 RBI and 11 runs over his 88 at-bats in May. His batting average has remained above .300 all season.
Eduardo Nunez continued his dream season in Saturday’s 6-5 win over the Mariners, pounding out four hits, including his fifth homer of the year.
Nunez is now hitting .333/.363/.510 in one of the more unexpected performances of the year. He’s bounced around from third base to shortstop to second base defensively, which has helped his playing time remain high. Although his .366 BABIP suggests that his batting average should drop, he has an outside chance to hit double-digit homers and steal 20-plus bases. No shortstop did that in 2015.
Own Percentage Change Compared to Last Week: +31.04%
These are just some of the trends over the past week. We have plenty more real-time Waiver Trends for you to check out.
