2019 Fantasy Baseball Week 1 Waiver Wire: Play Ball!
Which hitters should you pick up immediately? Who are the pitchers that Fantasy owners should add now? Anyone in deeper leagues? Well, I got you covered as well.
Find out the answers to each of these questions and a whole lot more in the 2019 Fantasy Baseball Week 1 Waiver Wire.
2019 Fantasy Baseball Week 1 Waiver Wire
Get customized Fantasy Baseball advice for your team using MyPlaybook from FantasyPros.
Hitters
Ryon Healy, 1B/3B, Seattle Mariners (36% owned in Yahoo)
Ryon Healy is off to a nice start for the Mariners this year: .294/.333/.824, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 17 ABs. Too early to read much into anything, but StatCast has his launch angle up to 12.9 degrees from 12.1 last year and his batted ball exit velocity up to 89.9 from 89.4 last year. pic.twitter.com/0SlFKA3IHh
— R.A. Rowell (@Oldschoolduels) March 30, 2019
With Kyle Seager out for another two months, Ryon Healy will be the Mariners' everyday third baseman. Healy has taken advantage of the increased playing time, hitting .310 over his first seven games of the 2019 season.
Seattle Mariners Manager Scott Servais credits adjustments Healy has made to his plate approach with the season-opening breakout.
"Ryon's really changed his approach," Servais said following the victory Sunday. "He's made a couple adjustments with his swing mechanically, really cut down his leg kick, which has made things simpler for him. Using the whole field to hit has been a big thing. He slapped a base hit to right field today with two strikes, not trying to pull the ball."
His defense is, let's say subpar at third base; the Mariners will live with those issues due to the substantial upgrade he provides at the plate over other players on Seattle's roster.
In 2018, Healy struggled in Seattle, slashing .238/.277/.412 with 24 homers and 73 RBI. The right-handed power hitter has legit 30-homer power and could end up breaking out this season. When Seager does return, Healy can move over to first base to keep his bat in the lineup while also providing an upgrade to the Mariners defense.
Healy would be an excellent pickup for owners looking for power but will kill your average. However, his power numbers should compensate for his average. Also, he will be an excellent replacement for a certain injured third baseman. Yes, I am talking to you, Miguel Andujar owners.
Kolten Wong, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals (35% owned in Yahoo)
Our guy @KoltenWong... AGAIN! ?? pic.twitter.com/AugkMdy2xX
— Hawaii Baseball (@HawaiiBaseball) April 1, 2019
St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong has three home runs through five games after hitting only nine in 127 games in 2018. He has hit safely in all five games this season while slashing .500/.550/.1056! No, that is NOT a typo! He has been the hottest hitter in the big leagues so far this season.
Fantasy owners have seen this movie before. Wong is notorious for having these type of hot streaks, but he also goes on prolonged slumps. Those slumps force owners to move on from Wong and rightfully so.
Will this streak be any different? It's hard to say as he is a lifetime .255 hitter with a .705 OPS. Are you able to live with highs and lows? In 2018, his first-half batting line was a woeful .182/.292/.321, then he was a hitting machine after July 1, slashing .319/.379/.466.
Fantasy owners need to ride the hot streak, for now.
Jorge Soler, OF, Kansas City Royals, (35% owned in Yahoo)
Royals Win Their First Series Of The Season After Jorge Soler Continues To Crush Baseballs https://t.co/91UovmxmZm
— Everything KC (@everythingkckc) March 30, 2019
Jorge Soler is 5-for-11 with five RBI in the first three games this season. In each of those games, he has occupied the cleanup spot for the Royals and expect him to spend the rest of the season there in the four hole.
Salvador Perez occupied the cleanup spot for the majority of games last season. However, he is lost for the season after being forced to undergo Tommy John surgery. Soler is the next man up, and the Royals desperately need him to stay healthy.
Soler started 52 games last season, hitting .265 with 18 doubles and nine homers with 28 RBI before he suffered a season-ending broken bone in his left foot in June.
Despite striking out four times in 11 at-bats already, he has displayed the ability to drive in runs. He should have plenty of RBI opportunities with Whit Merrifield and Adalberto Mondesi hitting in front of him in that Kansas City lineup. Soler should be picked up immediately in AL-Only leagues. Mixed league owners should also grab him now. How many cleanup hitters do you know that are still available? Plus he is free! Take the plunge!
Pitchers
Trevor Williams, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates (37% owned in Yahoo)
Trevor Williams had his first chance of 2019 to silence his critics — and that's exactly what he did.
From Cincinnati, @JPerrotto has the full report from the #Pirates' 5-0 victory over the Reds, courtesy of @StepOutsideUSA: https://t.co/eApKm1Sr95
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPghSports) March 31, 2019
Trevor Williams had a breakout performance last season. He posted a 3.11 ERA through 31 starts. However, his historic second half was what opened the eyes of Fantasy owners. He posted a ridiculous 1.38 ERA after the All-Star break.
In his second full season in the majors, Williams looked like Cy Young. His final marks of a 1.38 ERA/1.07 WHIP and 2.75 Strikeout-to-Walk ratio after the All-Star break were historical, but an advanced review of the stats exhibit some luck was involved. For example, his success had a great deal to do with his 76.6 LOB%, which was well above the league average of 72.8%. His ability to limit runners from scoring reached its apex during his second-half run when he stranded 90.8% of runners.
Williams introduced a new wrinkle during Spring Training, making more use of the curveball he only threw six times last season. He started the 2019 season by going six innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out six. The Reds didn't get a runner past first against him until they put two on with two outs in his last inning.
Williams is NOT as good as he was at the end of last season. However, he should be owned in more than 37% of leagues!
Michael Wacha, SP, St. Louis Cardinals (36% owned in Yahoo)
Michael Wacha ends his day with a strike out of Hernan Perez
a #scopic breakdown of the at bat
Curve = Pink (ball)
Cutter = Blue (foul tip)
4Seam = Yellow (called strike)
4Seam = Red (foul tip K)#timetofly pic.twitter.com/1XcP1pT9DP— Birds on the Black (@birdsontheblack) March 31, 2019
Wacha made his first start since June 20 of last year when he suffered a strained left oblique muscle swinging the bat. He threw six lights-out innings while only allowing four base hits and one earned run. He also struck out seven batters showing that he is healthy to start the 2019 season.
The right-hander had some injury troubles but still had an excellent 2018 with an 8-2 record and 3.20 ERA over 15 starts.
Wacha is hitting free agency for the first time in his career after the season, so you know he will do his best to stay on the mound so he can cash in on a large contract. Wacha should be owned in all NL-Only leagues. Fantasy owners should be willing to give Wacha an opportunity in mixed formats as he would be a great fourth or fifth pitcher on your roster who may blossom into a Top 3 pitcher for your Fantasy team.
Michael Pineda, SP, Minnesota Twins (20% owned in Yahoo)
https://twitter.com/MaxWildstein/status/1112419637319385088
Michael Pineda looked sharp in his first start since 2017. The veteran right-hander missed over a season following Tommy John surgery and procedure to repair his right knee.
Pineda allowed just two batters to reach base while firing 28 of 40 pitches for strikes. He only worked four innings, allowing just one hit, and a walk while striking out five. The Twins wanted to ease him into action, so they elected to keep his first start brief considering his extended layoff.
The early signs are positive, and Fantasy owners should be encouraged about this outing. He has appeal in deeper mixed leagues. Pineda is worth an add in AL-Only leagues, especially in Minnesota's pitcher-friendly home park.
Deep Dive
Kole Calhoun, OF, Los Angeles Angels (7% owned in Yahoo)
Kole Calhoun gave the Angels their first home run of the season. pic.twitter.com/hwYRCyz9Bk
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) March 31, 2019
Looking for a fourth or fifth outfielder that could blow up? Look no further than Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun. The 31-year-old outfielder hit a horrible .208/.283/.369 with 19 homers and 57 RBI in 137 games for the Angels in 2018.
The Angels' leadoff hitter hit his first long ball on Sunday, and he is undoubtedly a bounce-back candidate who has the potential to score 80 runs and hit 20 homers and he is free. He batted just above the Mendoza line last season. However, his career batting average is .252.
A repeat of that average will result in a nice addition to your deep outfield and did I mention that he is free. Sign me up!
Sandy Alcantara, SP, Miami Marlins (17% owned in Yahoo)
Final line for #Marlins' Sandy Alcantara:
8 IP
0 R
4 H
0 BB
6 K1st time in @Marlins history & just the 10th in #MLB history that a pitcher has gone ≥ 8 shutout innings with 0 BB, ≤ 4 H and ≥ 6 K within his first 7 career games.
Top prospects' stats: https://t.co/SjUDSIloUD pic.twitter.com/ctwK2Fcc8f
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 31, 2019
The 23-year-old Sandy Alcantara, who came to the Marlins as part of the Marcell Ozuna trade, is now the team's number two starter. Along with the development of the other three young arms in the rotation, Alcantara looks to harness his power arm to become the ace of the Marlins staff.
The right-hander dominated the Colorado Rockies in his first start to earn his first win of the 2019 season. He threw eight shutout innings, allowing four hits with six strikeouts and zero walks. He tossed 92 pitches, 66 for strikes!
Alcantara is the hardest throwing of the young Marlins hurlers but still needs to work on his control. The Marlins decided to go with Alcantara even though he didn't have a great Spring. He walked 11 batters in 15 innings, but he did strike out 21 batters.
He is definitely worth an add along with the remaining members of the Marlins rotation. Of course, the Marlins won't win many games, so I hope you are in quality starts leagues. Also, pay attention to where Alcantara gets his starts. He is dynamite at home in Marlins Park with a 2.25 ERA over 16 innings of work.
Frankie Montas, SP, Oakland A's (4% owned in Yahoo)
Frankie Montas' breakthrough: How one text conversation changed everything for the A's starter @JulianMack105https://t.co/czOhCTbmLY
— The Athletic (@TheAthleticSF) April 1, 2019
The 26-year-old Montas bounced between Oakland and Triple-A last season and went 5-4 with a 3.88 ERA in 13 games with the A's, including 11 starts.
Starting last year, he messed around with a splitter. After working on it all offseason, he introduced the splitter in Spring Training games. Montas pitched in five spring training games, starting two, and went 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA in a team-high 16 innings. He held opponents to a .224 batting average, mostly due to his adding a new splitter to his already impressive combination of a 97-mph fastball and hard slider.
In his first start this season, the right-hander earned the win over the Los Angeles Angels. He allowed one run, a solo shot to Kole Calhoun and three hits while striking out six in six innings. Montas has earned another turn in the rotation and looks to be finally living up to his former top prospect status.
Good Luck with your adds and don't forget about adding me on twitter @CALL_ME_SOS. Let's do this again next week.....
Check out the rest of our 2019 Fantasy Baseball content from our great team of writers.
2 comments
[…] has the best waiver wire players for your fantasy baseball […]
[…] initially mentioned Royals’ outfielder Jorge Soler way back with the Week 1 Waiver Wire. Remember Week 1? Yeah, me either! Not surprisingly, nothing has changed. Soler still strikes out […]