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MLB Fantasy Baseball: All Star Break Waiver Wire Options

By Ricky Olshansky

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JULY 6: Joe Mauer #7 of the Minnesota Twins hits an RBI single as Caleb Joseph #36 of the Baltimore Orioles catches and umpire Vic Carapazza #19 calls balls and strikes during the fourth inning of the game on July 6, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JULY 6: Joe Mauer #7 of the Minnesota Twins hits an RBI single as Caleb Joseph #36 of the Baltimore Orioles catches and umpire Vic Carapazza #19 calls balls and strikes during the fourth inning of the game on July 6, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 6: Joe Mauer #7 of the Minnesota Twins hits an RBI single as Caleb Joseph #36 of the Baltimore Orioles catches and umpire Vic Carapazza #19 calls balls and strikes during the fourth inning of the game on July 6, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) MLB Fantasy Baseball: All Star Break Waiver Wire Options
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 6: Joe Mauer #7 of the Minnesota Twins hits an RBI single as Caleb Joseph #36 of the Baltimore Orioles catches and umpire Vic Carapazza #19 calls balls and strikes during the fourth inning of the game on July 6, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) MLB Fantasy Baseball: All Star Break Waiver Wire Options /

MLB Fantasy Baseball: All Star Break Waiver Wire Options

Hello and welcome back for another MLB Fantasy Waiver Wire Options! We at Fantasy CPR are here to provide you with a myriad of lesser owned players that could have a major impact on your team. It is important to sift through the waiver wire to find a gem that could give your team a boost for a late season push to the playoffs. Maybe you need someone to help put you over the top and hold onto that lead.

We are currently at the All-Star break and hope you had a chance to watch some of the exciting young sluggers in the Home Run Derby. A huge congrats to the hometown and fan favorite, Bryce Harper for taking down the Cubs Kyle Schwarber in the championship round.

Now at this point, many of you likely flipped the channel after looking at Harper’s father and his forearms. But in case you stayed for the Celebrity/Legends softball game, you had the opportunity to watch Torii Hunter go down on strikes, and Jamie Foxx talk about Riboflavin. Real riveting stuff!

But let’s get back to business. For those of you that are new to MLB Fantasy “Waiver Wire Options” posts, take a look below to see how it works!

  • Regarding league-wide ownership, you will be provided the website(s) that applies to the player listed (i.e. Byron Buxton is 33.7% owned on ESPN and 56% owned on Yahoo!).
  • Stat line if it applies.  A rookie being called up to the bigs for the first time may not have a line yet.  In this scenario, you’ll find a description of their minor league stats.
  • Long-term or short-term help.  Some players listed may only help in short-term.  Others may fill long-term needs.
  • Advanced statistics to help determine potential success

INF/OF Chad Pinder OAK (ESPN 2.1% – Yahoo! 2%)

Pinder is one of those utility men that can play all over the field. As long as someone on the A’s is hurt, you can be sure he’ll play. Pinder is currently covering for Matt Joyce and has taken advantage of that time. He may not offer you much in the way of batting average, but he has pop in his bat with double-digit home runs.

In 2018, Pinder has an ISO of .204 and a .325 BABIP. He is making a ton of hard contact, 49.3% of the time and medium contact 38.2% of the time. Pinder has also improved statistically each year and has continued that trend.

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INF Joe Mauer MIN (ESPN 7.4% – Yahoo! 7%)

This is a blast from the past. Joe Mauer is not the hitter he used to be, and we shouldn’t expect him to be. But if you have followed him at all, you would see the hitting talent is still there. The former number one overall pick, and current 35-year-old Mauer still hits for a decent average and makes a ton of contact.

Mauer has been swinging a hot bat as of late and could offer you short-term help until he cools off.  In his last 10 games, he has a .341 batting average, one home run, eight RBIs and eight runs scored. If you are looking for a little help in the hit and average category, look no further than Mauer as he is available in a majority of leagues.

SP German Marquez COL (ESPN 14.9% – Yahoo! 15%)

It is never ideal to pick up a Colorado starter because of the Coors effect. It is THE ultimate hitter’s ballpark. This is proven by DFS picks revolving around whether or not the Rockies are playing at home. With that in mind, avoid Marquez at home and play him on the road.

Marquez at home has a 7.31 ERA and gives up a batting average around .319. He is a completely different pitcher on the road however. He sports a 2.62 ERA and drops the batting average against to .197. The Rockies starter has a career high 9.26 K/9 and induces a lot of ground balls 46.2% of the time.

RP Matt Barnes BOS (ESPN 7.7% – Yahoo! 13%)

Matt Barnes is a reliever for arguably the top team in baseball. Relievers tend to have higher K/9 with less exposure to hitters. Barnes certainly has not wasted that opportunity with a K/9 of 13.29. In 42 innings of work for the Red Sox, he is 3-2 with 19 holds and two saves.

He mainly relies on a 97 mph fastball and a hard breaking curveball. He has sprinkled in splitter, and in July, introduced a slider. Barnes has an xFIP of .266 and a 2.95 K/BB ratio. What he doesn’t offer you in innings, he provides consistent strikeout numbers, with a low WHIP and ERA.

Next: How does Le'Veon Bell's holdout affect his fantasy value?

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