Welcome Fantasy friends and foes to the first edition of the 2020 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire.
MLB games are finally here. A shortened season, who cares? We have baseball, and all of those Fantasy drafts and auctions you conducted this past spring will ultimately mean something.
Now we can concentrate on Fantasy Baseball. Please take a look at the up to date Fantasy Six Pack Fantasy Baseball Rankings and the weekly content here at Fantasy Six Pack.
I will be presenting the weekly Waiver Wire. Players for you to pick up and dominate your leagues, using only players available in less than 40 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.
Who stood out in the first weekend of MLB action? Which players took advantage of an opportunity that now makes them Fantasy relevant? Find out the answers to those questions and a whole lot more in the 2020 Fantasy Baseball Week 2 Waiver Wire!
2020 Fantasy Baseball Week 1 Waiver Wire
Are you looking for a Fantasy advantage? Get the ultimate in-season edge with customized Fantasy Baseball advice for your team using MyPlaybook from FantasyPros.
Hitters
Ian Happ, 2B/3B/OF, Chicago Cubs
Ian Happ: the longest-ever, back to back, NL player of the week. Who says no? @ihapp_1 @DMekkes7 @zshort_20 pic.twitter.com/3uNimdTSWZ
— BleedCubbieBlue (59-1) (@CubbieBlue2016) July 26, 2020
Ian Happ was having a great spring before the MLB went on its pandemic-forced leave. He was hitting .481 and a 1.264 OPS with two homers and 11 RBI. More importantly, in those ten games, he struck out only four times. His encouraging spring performance continued from his late surge last season.
In the final 25 games last season, Happ slashed .311/.348/1.021 with six home runs and 17 RBI on his way to an impressive 58 games for the Chicago Cubs. The switch-hitting Happ finished the 2019 season with a healthy 126 OPS+, 11 home runs, and drove in 30 runs. However, he was still a frequent traveler between Triple-A Iowa and Chicago’s North Side due to his alarming strikeout ratios. The versatile Happ owns a vulgar career strikeout percentage of 37.9 percent. However, he improved his strikeout rate last season by nearly 10 points, finishing at 27.8 percent.
Happ has gotten off to a blistering start with two homers and 1.264 OPS through three games, all of which he started in center field. Several Fantasy analysts were predicting a breakout year for the outfielder and second baseman. His ability to play multiple positions and his development is forcing his way in the Cubs everyday lineup and into your Fantasy lineups.
Enrique Hernandez, 2B/SS/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Kiki Hernandez was doing work last night. @kikehndez — 4 for 5 with 5 RBI including a two-run HR ⚾️ He also had this to say about Dustin May @d_maydabeast: "He wasn't nervous or intimidated by the amount of cardboard we had in the stands tonight." 💥 pic.twitter.com/HO9N5qS5n9
— The Azul (@TrueBlueDoyers) July 24, 2020
Enrique Hernandez is better known as “Kiké” and was named the Los Angeles Dodgers starting second baseman to start the 2020 season following the demotion of hot prospect Gavin Lux.
Hernandez is a utility player, qualifying at second, third, and the outfield who is more valuable to the Dodgers than he will be to Fantasy managers. However, he does have pop in his bat, hitting 21 homers in 2018 and followed that up by hitting 17 long balls last season.
His batting average is a deterrent, but if you need some help in your power categories, pick up Kiki and slot him in your middle infield spot.
Pitchers
Corbin Burnes, SP/RP, Milwaukee Brewers
What a 1-2 punch from Corbin Burnes to get Contreras:
– 96 mph FB with arm side run
– 86 mph SL away pic.twitter.com/EPXIZudPHu— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) July 25, 2020
Corbin Burnes started the second game of the season against the Chicago Cubs after the Brewers placed southpaw Brett Anderson on the Injured List due to a blister. Burnes pitched reasonably well, striking out six batters in 3.1 innings. However, he continues to have control issues, as evidenced by his three walks.
Adam Wainwright, SP, St.Louis Cardinals
You can’t convince me that Adam Wainwright is not in the upper echelon of Cardinals pitchers. A gem by the veteran today. You love to see it. pic.twitter.com/w4Yf1cd4p6
— Matthew Miller (@mightymatt96) July 25, 2020
The veteran right-hander earned the win in his first start of the 2020 season. He allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out five batters over six innings. He was sitting at 91 mph with the fastball and continued to make great pitches on his way to an 83-pitch outing.
Wainwright is not exciting. However, he keeps the ball in the ballpark and averages nearly a strikeout per inning with an ERA around four.
Fantasy owners should also take notice that when pitching at Busch Stadium last season, his ERA dropped from 6.22 to 2.56. Adam Wainwright screams streaming starting pitcher and should be owned more than 18 percent of Fantasy leagues.
Brandon Kintzler, RP, Miami Marlins
Brandon Kintzler Earns The 50th Save Of His Career https://t.co/4ZJya37N4z
— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) July 25, 2020
Brandon Kintzler was one of the few bright spots for the Chicago Cubs last season. Kintzler recorded a 2.68 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and a 48/13 K/BB ratio in 57 innings out of the bullpen for the Cubs.
Kintzler signed a one-year deal this offseason with the Miami Marlins and was expected to be the Marlins’ closer. He had experience as a closer when he was closing games for the Minnesota Twins in 2016 and 2017.
The main caveat with Kintzler is how many opportunities he will get in Miami. The Marlins are a young team that is not projected to win many games this shortened season. It is difficult to rely on that uncertainty at any position, but it does happen with the closer role.
The veteran right-hander was able to close the door and earn a save on his opportunity. However, the volume won’t be there for Kintzler. Saves are saves, and if you are toward the bottom of the standings, Kintzler is a low-risk, low-reward player who can put a few digits in your saves category.
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