Week 1 Waiver Wire Targets
Quick analysis on a bunch of different players to consider on the waiver wire this week!
There are only a few games in the books while I’m writing this, so it’s a tough one to get out there. These articles will be a lot easier to write in a few weeks when we have data to use. But I did my best - check it out below!
Closer Situations
We have a few really messy closer situations right now. There are a handful of teams where it’s not clear where the saves are going to go. Let’s take a look at those situations to try to find you guys some saves this weekend.
Red Sox: Liam Hendriks has begun the year on the IL. That was a surprise, and it makes Aroldis Chapman (64% owned on Yahoo) and Justin Slaten (6%) more much more valuable in saves leagues. Slaten recorded the first save of the year on Opening Day. Chapman came in to face the meat of the order in the 8th inning in a tie game. The Red Sox put up three runs in the 9th which gave Slaten the save opportunity. It’s going to be a mix of saves there, but most of them will go to these two. I’d prefer Chapman, but Slaten is a viable pickup in deep (or holds) leagues.
Reds: Who knows, man! They had a save opportunity on Opening Day, and they gave it to Ian Gibaut. That was the last person anybody expected, and it didn’t work out as he got blown up and cost the Reds the game. It’s safe to say he won’t get the next one, but I have no idea who will! If I had to pick somebody, I’d go with Tony Santillan (3%).
Tigers: It’s either Brieske, Holton, and Kahnle for now. If I’m forced to pick one, I’d take Brieske. But it’s still a “wait and see” situation. I wouldn’t be spending any money here.
Rangers: I thought it was between Robert Garcia and Chris Martin, but then there’s some news that Luke Jackson (25%) is the guy. He did come in where you’d expect the closer in the first game, entering in the 9th in a 2-2 game. But he gave up three runs and took the loss. So there might be chances of Garcia, Martin, or someone else soon.
Dodgers: It looks like they’re going to do what we should have expected, mix it up. They’ve had three saves in their first three games, and they all came from different players. First it was Tanner Scott (96%), and then it was Ryan Brasier (1%), and then it was Blake Treinen (19%). Scott and Treinen seem to be the guys to own. They are probably the most trusted, and they both already have notched one save and one hold. In a league that only counts saves, I don’t want anybody from this bullpen. But at least two of these guys (including Kirby Yates) should be owned in all holds leagues.
The only real recommendation here from me is Aroldis Chapman.
Cam Smith (41% Owned)
He hit 7th in the lineup on Opening Day. And he was removed late for defensive reasons. We aren’t going to have the kind of data we want to make a judgment on him for a few more weeks, so for now I’d just say the same thing I have been saying. I personally doubt he’ll be very good at the beginning of the season here, but the upside he brings is worth a shot. I would not be giving up 10% of my FAAB budget for him, but if you aren’t losing much to get him - go for it.
Kristian Campbell (34%)
He hit sixth in the Opening Day lineup for the Red Sox. That’s a good sign that he’ll play every day. David Hamilton did pinch run for him late and then stayed in as a defensive replacement, but that was after Campbell had seen four plate appearances. They’re going to give him a look, and he’s worth owning right now just to see what he can do.
Dustin May (35% Owned)
He’s probably owned in your league, but if he’s not, I’d probably go ahead and change that. He’s officially in the Dodgers rotation, and we know what this guy is capable of. The stuff is great, and the team context couldn’t get much better.
Given the fact that he missed all of last year and with how the Dodgers are going to manage their season, I don’t think you’ll be getting 90+ pitches from him any time soon. But the thing about May is that he can be insanely efficient. He pitches to contact and doesn’t walk guys, so I do think he’ll breeze through 5-6 innings often enough to matter this year. He’s fun to watch, and we’ll keep a close eye on him in his first few outings here just to make sure he’s not functioning like a glorified opener or something like that.