Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 22

It’s Fantasy Baseball Week 22, the final week for a lot of leagues. Time to scour the waiver wire for roster upgrades or replacements that can tilt the balance of victory in your favor. We’ll try and look at suitable pick-ups for each spot in the lineup. We’ll select players who have been hot in the last week to month, and will be typically owned by half of the leagues or less out there. Taking a look at batting first:

*(positions in brackets are possible other eligible spots)

First Base
Gaby Sanchez – Fla: Has been available all year by just over 50% percent of fantasy leagues. A solid .289 Avg, 16HRs, 60Rs and 70RBIs are his season line at this point, he has 4 bombs, 17 RBIs and a .300 Avg over the last 14 days.
Russell Branyan – Sea: There isn’t much to pick at the 1B position lately, but Branyan is a decent power play with 5 dingers, 6Rs and 9RBIs over the last two weeks. His BAvg is horrendous though. So only pick up if really desperate for power.
Todd Helton – Col: If you are looking from a slight bump in BAVG and a hint of pop in the bat, Helton is your man. Owned is less than 25% of leagues.

Second Base
Ryan Raburn – Det: The second baseman has batted .320 with 12Rs, 3HRs and 9 RBIs over the last 14 days. (1B,OF)
Eric Young – Col: Looking for a speed boost, EY2 has 6 steals in two weeks, but no power at all. (OF)
*If you solely need help in BAVG look at Freddy Sanchez, Ian Desmond and Alberto Callapso.

Third Base
Casey Blake – LAD: Has found his timing lately and has kept his BAVG over .300 for two weeks while knocking in 10 runs, with 2HRs and 8 Rs.
Wilson Betemit – KC: Has been hitting very well lately. Batted .289, 8Rs, 5HR, and 11RBIs over the last two weeks. The BAVG has dipped a bit for a month, but the power is still there.

Short Stop
Jhonny Peralta – Det: Has had a great half month batting .313, 7Rs, 4HRs, and 14RBIs. (3B)
Yuniesky Betancourt – KC: The SS has a two week line of 3Rs, 3HRs, 11RBIs and has batted .302 with no steals.
Ian Desmond – Was: A highly touted rookie who hasn’t provided eye-popping stats, but plays a scarce position and will provide some steals. a possible consideration for keeper in those formats. Batting almost .400 for two weeks. (2B)

Outfield
Coco Crisp- OAK: Very under-owned, 11Rs, 2HRs, 5RBIs, 6SBs, and .268 AVG over last two weeks. BAVG has been slowly dropping each week, but the steals keep on coming.
Jose Tabata – Pit: He makes the list again delivering a line of: 8Rs, 2HRs, 5RBIs, 2SBs while batting .444 for the last half month.
Roger Bernadina – Was: This is a new name out of Was. He has played well lately, two week line: 8Rs, 3HRs, 9RBIs, SBs, and BAVG .265.
*Hideki Matsui – LAA and Wil Venable – SD have also played worthy of your consideration lately.

Catcher
Rod Barajas – LAD: How does he make the list owned in less than a quarter of league, when he was a household name near the start of the season. Anyway, he has some nice power potential and has been batting .375 with 2HRs in his few at-bats so far with the Dodgers.
Other decent pickups at catcher are: A.J. Pierzynski, Jonathan Lucroy and Ramon Hernandez.

Now let’s switch to pitching:

Starters
Daniel Hudson – Ari: 4Ws, 42Ks, 1.85ERA and 0.87WHIP over last month. This guy is money!
Dallas Braden – Oak: 4Ws, 21Ks, 2.15ERA and 0.80 WHIP last 46 innings.
Brian Duensing – Min: Last months line looks like: 3Ws, 21Ks, 2.72ERA, 0.99 WHIP.
Brian Matusz: 3Ws, 20Ks, 2.32ERA, 1.06WHIP, not bad an barely owned, Bal offense always an issue though.
*I want to list Brandon Morrow, but reports have it, he hit his innings limit for the year. He is shut down for the season.

Closers
Brandon Lyon – Hou: Has been collecting saves when the team has been able to get a lead.
Koji Uehara – Bal: The latest closer on a very bad team.
Hisanori Takahashi – NYM: Has replaced K-Rod and looks to have the job for the rest of the year.
Hong-Chih Kuo – LAD: Joe Torre may go with both Kuo and Broxton in the ninth, but Kuo certainly hawking saves.
Evan Meek – Pit: Also has been given opportunities in the ninth inning.