Pirates Sean Rodriguez On Fire at the Plate: Waiver Wire Add?
By Brad Kelly
Sean Rodriguez is currently on fire at the plate for the Pirates. Should fantasy owners give him a look entering championship week?
As the MLB regular season draws closer to an end, it also welcomes in championship week for fantasy owners. While most owners have moved on to fantasy football, there are still owners left who are scouring the waiver wire in an effort to find that one bat that could lead them to glory. Those in search need not look any further than, Sean Rodriguez.
Sean Rodriguez is not your typical waiver wire add at this time of the season, as prospects usually dominate the recommended additions. But, Rodriguez is quietly having a career season and he currently sits with a, .266/17 HR/51 RBI/2 SB/.871 OPS line. The Pirates have disappointed this season, but to no fault of Rodriguez.
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Rodriguez reworked his swing when he got to Pittsburgh in 2015, allowing him more loft, thus serving as the base of his power surge. This has lead to his career high 22.2% LD, and 44% Hard contact rates. Rodriguez’s power looks to be legit, but the one thing holding his value back was his playing time.
Rodriguez has made a career for himself by being a utility man, and that has not changed this season, as he has played seven positions for the Bucs in 2016. With season ending injuries to both Josh Harrison, and Starling Marte, Rodriguez is now getting a steady does of playing time.
He has taken that playing time and taken off with it over the last two weeks or so, posting a healthy, .378/5 HR/12 RBI/1.226 OPS line. Both Rodriguez and Andrew McCutchen seemed to have heated up at the same time, allowing the lineup some semblance of consistent offense.
There is no reason to think that Rodriguez can not keep things going heading into next week, as his batted ball data solidifies his breakout this season. Fantasy owners can add Rodriguez, insert him nearly anywhere in the lineup, and can take advantage of a Pirates offense that is hitting better as of late.
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It is hard to find a hotter hitter left on the waiver wire, so those owners looking for one bat to put them over the top, he is the man to add. Make the move.