Welcome Fantasy friends and foes to the 2022 Fantasy Baseball Week 3 Waiver Wire.
I hope you took advantage of last week's recommendations where Fantasy managers were left smiling about the Fantasy production of outfielder Jesus Sanchez and pitchers Nestor Cortes, Nick Lodolo, and Merrill Kelly.
Find out which five hitters and four pitchers I advocate Fantasy managers to add in the 2022 Fantasy Baseball Week 3 Waiver Wire.
2022 Fantasy Baseball Week 3 Waiver Wire
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Hitters
Zack Collins, C, Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays swapped catchers with the Chicago White Sox before the season. So who would have thought Zack Collins would be hitting cleanup for the Blue Jays?
Collins is hitting .286/.310/.571 with two home runs and four RBI in his first eight games for the Blue Jays. He has been essential to the lineup, which is missing catcher Danny Janssen to an injury and Alejandro Kirk hitting only .250 so far this season.
I am always searching for catcher options on the waiver wire, targeting Collins in all of my leagues. He is an attractive Fantasy commodity at the dismal catcher position.
Alec Bohm, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies
Alec Bohm is one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now. He is currently slashing .393/.417/.571 with one homer, nine RBI, and a .988 OPS in 13 games this season.
Bohm is coming off a disappointing 2021 season, but they stuck with their young third baseman to the Phillies' credit. He is struggling to defend the hot corner, but now his hitting disguises those defensive issues.
Fantasy managers should trust Bohm as much as the Phillies are right now and add Bohm in all leagues.
Brandon Marsh, OF, Los Angeles Angels
The release of veteran outfielder Justin Upton opened the door for more playing time for outfielder Brandon Marsh. He has taken full advantage of the opportunity to the tune of slashing .306/.400/.556 with two homers, 13 RBI, seven runs scored, and a .956 OPS over 13 games.
Marsh is also producing an above-average 20 percent strikeout rate, an impressive 51.7 percent hard-hit rate, and a 37.9 percent line-drive rate.
Marsh has earned his spot in the Angels' everyday lineup. However, he should have also earned more confidence from Fantasy managers to be rostered in more than 30 percent of Yahoo leagues.
Pitchers
Paul Blackburn, SP, Oakland A's
I recommended Paul Blackburn in my Deep Dive section in last week's Waiver Wire. His roster percentage increased to 30 percent, but more Fantasy managers need to start believing in the A's right-hander.
Blackburn earned the win in his start this past week. He pitched five innings and allowed only one earned run while striking out four and allowing three hits.
In his three starts this season, Blackburn owns a 2-0 record with a 1.80 ERA and an 0.80 WHIP with 14 strikeouts and only one walk across 15 innings. Blackburn should be in your starting lineup this week.
Jorge Lopez, RP, Baltimore Orioles
Jorge Lopez came out of nowhere to take over as the Baltimore Orioles' primary closer. Lopez is posting a 2.00 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP with a 13/4 K/BB and is 4-for-4 in save opportunities this season.
Hitters are only hitting .188 against the right-hander, and he is limiting batters to a 20.0 percent hard-hit rate.
With no other Orioles reliever recording a save this season, Lopez is entrenched as the Orioles preferred option to close out ball games. Every Fantasy manager is looking for saves, and you can find some here with Lopez to boost that category.
Miles Mikolas, SP, St. Louis Cardinals
Miles Mikolas currently looks like he is in 2018 form when he won 18 games for the Cardinals. Mikolas is off to an excellent start to the season, producing a 1-0 record with an outstanding 1.76 ERA and 1.043 WHIP across 15 innings in his three starts.
Mikolas has yet to allow a home run, and batters are only hitting .224 and slugging .259 against the veteran right-hander.
His peripherals don't scream dominant pitcher, but Mikolas is pitching well by mixing pitches and keeping the ball in the ballpark. Fantasy managers should ride the hot arm and add Mikolas to the back end of your deep pitching lineup.
Deep Dive
Sheldon Neuse, 2B/3B, Oakland A's
The Oakland Athletics claimed infielder Sheldon Neuse off waivers before the season, and he made his way onto the Opening Day roster. Injuries across the A's infield helped open up everyday at-bats for Neuse, and he is taking full advantage of the opportunity.
Neuse is hitting .311/.380/.400 with a .780 OPS on the strength of a .419 BABIP. He also has one home run, eight RBI, and a stolen base in his 14 games this season. However, his peripheral stats of 34.4 percent hard-hit rate and a 26 percent strikeout rate makes you wonder if his production is sustainable.
Neuse does provide position flexibility to slot at either the MI or CI spot. So pick up Neuese and enjoy the ride until the wheels come off.
Michael Wacha, SP, Boston Red Sox
Michael Wacha ended the 2021 campaign on a promising note with the Tampa Bay Rays. Wacha has a 0.47 ERA in his last four regular-season starts while allowing only one earned run. The right-hander ended the season with ten straight scoreless innings against the New York Yankees and Houston Astros.
In his first three starts this season, he has a 1.88 ERA and an 0.91 WHIP across 14 innings. In addition, he has held opponents to a .125 batting average and .486 OPS.
Wacha is producing at a high level, and this elite production might not be sustainable. However, Wacha is a viable candidate to be added and streamed in favorable matchups while he is at his peak.
 Bruce Zimmermann, SP, Baltimore Orioles
Bruce Zimmermann is a Baltimore native that made his first start of the 2022 season in his hometown during the Orioles' home opener. The southpaw went four scoreless innings and gave up three while striking out four in a no-decision against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Zimmermann continued his scoreless streak to 14 total scoreless innings. The lefty owns a 1-0 record and is producing a 1.20 ERA, and hitters have an OPS of .620 and .231 batting average against him.
Zimmermann won the No.4 spot in the rotation to start the season and looks to be a part of the Orioles' future core. He is a starter that Fantasy managers should trust in deeper formats as a streamable option.
Check out more Fantasy Baseball content from the F6P team!
