Outfielder Jon Jay of the St. Louis Cardinals came out of the gates on fire this season, going 22-for-55 (.400 BA) in 15 April games with two doubles, two home runs, eight RBI, seven runs and a .986 OPS for a virtually undrafted player (ESPN ADP: ~260.0; Y! ADP 244.3; CBS ADP 268.02).

May, June and July were less favorable to Jay as he dealt with right shoulder issues which landed him on the DL for 36 games from mid-May to late-June. In 45 games played over those three months, Jay hit just .247 with no home runs and a .305 slugging percentage.  Fantasy baseball owners who felt smart for grabbing him in April bailed in droves as his fantasy numbers continued to fade.

The dog days of August have been anything but that for Jay as he’s heating up as the temperature continues to rise. In 17 games, he’s produced a robust 5×5 line of .365/10/2/8/3 and should be owned in all formats. As of now, he’s only owned in 47.4% of ESPN leagues, 25% of Yahoo! leagues and 37% of CBS leagues. The Cardinals are only two games back in the NL Wild Card race and you can expect Jay to be a fixture at the top of the lineup going forward.

Here are some other fantasy baseball players worth a look who may still be available on your league’s waiver wire:

SS Erick Aybar, Los Angeles Angels – Aybar returned from a recent stint on the DL on August 6th and has gone 20-for-50 (.400 BA) with a double, a triple, three home runs, seven RBI, 11 runs scored and four stolen bases in 13 games since. His ownership numbers are a bit high (58.3% ESPN; 41% Y!; 62% CBS) to be available on the waiver wire in any league worth a damn but make no assumptions. The Angels are only 4.5 games out of the AL Wild Card race and Aybar should get the majority of the starts at shortstop.

1B Brandon Belt, San Francisco Giants – Belt is finally seeing regular playing time and making the most of it. Since July 25th, when his average was at a season low .229, he’s hitting .378 with seven RBI, 11 runs scored and three stolen bases but lacks a single home run. If you don’t have a need for home runs, Belt could be a nice pick up as a corner infielder, infielder, utility or DH player (depending on your league’s depth) for the stretch run. Could a playoff run be enough to wake his power stroke up? I’m willing to take a chance on that. He’s only owned in 16.8% of ESPN leagues, 19% of Y! leagues and 29% of CBS leagues.

OF David Murphy, Texas Rangers – Since July 20th, Murphy is hitting .368 (35-for-95) with 12 doubles, two home runs, 14 RBI, 13 runs scored and a .971 OPS. He should continue to see the majority of starts in left field as long as his bat stays hot. With relatively low ownership numbers (13.3% ESPN; 13% Y!; 45% CBS), Murphy could provide some nice offensive numbers for a team looking to add some outfield depth.

OF Anthony Gose, Toronto Blue Jays – I’ll admit, my fantasy baseball credibility may be shot for recommending a player who’s hitting .203 in 74 at bats since his July 17th debut but there is a method to my madness. Over his last 13 games (10 GS), Gose is hitting .235 with eight stolen bases and just one caught stealing. If your team needs stolen bases and can absorb the hit against your team’s overall batting average, he may be the short-term fix you’re looking for. Owned in just 2.1% of ESPN leagues, 2% of Y! leagues and 11% of CBS leagues, Gose is proving to be a one-dimensional player (speed!). Be sure to check out our own T.J. McDonald‘s assessment of Gose’s future in the big leagues.

SP Jaime Garcia, St. Louis Cardinals – In his first game back from a lengthy stint on the DL due to a shoulder injury, Garcia pitched eight innings of five-hit ball, walking none and striking out 10 batters. I’d say he’s healthy and ready to contribute to the Cardinals run at the playoffs. He’s owned in 42.8% of ESPN leagues, 50% of Y! leagues and 74% of CBS leagues. Act now if he happens to be available on waivers. He won’t be there much longer.

RP Dale Thayer, San Diego Padres – If there is a save to be had for the Padres, one can assume Thayer will get the first crack at it. Huston Street is eligible to come off the DL on August 26th, so any pickup of Thayer should be considered a very short-term solution unless your league utilizes Holds, too. He’s owned in 34.8% of ESPN leagues, 22% of Y! leagues and 19% of CBS leagues.

Other than Thayer and Gose, all of the other players I suggested you give serious attention to picking up off waivers are on teams involved in the playoff race. These teams are going to stay committed to the players who’ve proven they can handle the stress and strain of a playoff race. As teams begin dropping out of the playoff race and start calling up players from the minors in September, a whole new batch of waiver wire options should start appearing as those teams begin preparing for 2013. Did someone say “keepers”?

Be sure to leave a comment about which players you’re targeting for your playoff run or race to the finish line in rotisserie formats. Are you targeting specific players for specific categories? PS, you should be! Connect with me on Twitter @DJAubain to continue talking all things baseball (mostly) as the 2012 fantasy baseball season winds down. Good luck!

Many of the deadline trades made have changed the immediate fortunes of some players and increased their fantasy baseball value. Below, I’ll take a look at a handful of those players whose value has positively been changed due to a deadline deal being made.

Outfielder Travis Snider is a player the Toronto Blue Jays organization, their fans and fantasy baseball owners have been waiting since 2008 to burst on the scene and live up to the dreaded “hype” and “potential” of a player who recently had many thinking would only amount to nothing more than a Quad-A player.

After a relatively average Spring Training landed him back in AAA Las Vegas to start the 2012 season, fantasy owners may have finally written him off as a bust. He was called up to the Blue Jays July 20th for what, in hindsight, was a showcasing of his talents to move him prior to the trade deadline. Snider responded with a .250 batting average with three home runs and eight RBI in 10 games and found himself shipped off to the Pittsburgh Pirates for SP/RP Brad Lincoln.

Snider was immediately inserted into the starting lineup in right field and, in two games, has batted second and fifth, so far. He’s gone 3-for-9 with three runs scored, a walk and two strikeouts and should be a vital part of the Pirates’ offense down the playoff stretch. Not convinced? His 162-game averages for standard 5×5 scoring leagues would be .248/73/21/75/11 with 37 doubles.

He’s only owned in 8.6% of ESPN leagues, 6% of Yahoo! leagues and 23% of CBS leagues and should be a nice addition to your fantasy outfield as you make a run towards fantasy gold.

Here are some other players whose fantasy baseball value was positively impacted by a trade deadline deal:

RP Greg Holland, Kansas City Royals: Jonathan Broxton was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, opening up the closer’s role for Holland to inherit. He’s sporting a healthy 12.71 K/9 ratio but a troubling 1.56 WHIP. If there are saves to be had for the Royals, it looks like Holland will be guy earning the opportunities. (27.1% ESPN; 34% Y!; 33% CBS)

3B Chris Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks: In three games since his trade from the Houston Astros, Johnson is 6-for-11 (.545 BA) with a double, two home runs and  seven RBI. The D’Backs are surging and Johnson is thriving with his new team. If you’re still looking around for an Alex Rodriguez replacement, look no further. (22.4% ESPN; 24% Y!; 51% CBS)

OF Nate Schierholtz, Philadelphia Phillies: Schierholtz has been the odd man out in San Francisco for some time now and may finally get a chance to play regularly to prove his worth. He’s off to a good start, too. Batting second between Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, Schierholtz went 2-for-5 in his debut with a home run. (0.6% ESPN; 2% Y!; 4% CBS)

OF Denard Span, Minnesota Twins: Span was rumored to be on the move to the Reds right up to the 4PM EST deadline but wound up staying put. All he did was hit .361 (35-for-97) in July with 13 RBI, 13 Runs and four stolen bases (three caught stealings, UGH!). He’s also in the midst of a 10-game hitting streak. Do you think the Reds made a mistake not making this trade? (36.4% ESPN; 20% Y!; 53% CBS)

 2B/SS Marco Scutaro, San Francisco Giants: The Giants acquired Scutaro to fill the hole left by injured third baseman Pablo Sandoval and he’s hit in all five games since the trade and creeping toward gaining third base eligibility. He could be a valuable player to fill multiple positions down the wire. If your league has a max/min games played rule, be sure not to leave any games unused. (65.6% ESPN; 28% Y!; 71% CBS)

OF Domonic Brown, Philadelphia Phillies: This may be time to “put up or shut up” for Brown because with Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence being dealt, there’s no time like the present to show if he’ll be part of the future with the Phillies. He made a pinch hit appearance in his debut and singled but followed that up with an 0-for-4 performance. Deep and NL-only leaguers are the only ones who should be diving in this early. (0.8% ESPN; 4% Y!; 19% CBS)

How did trade deadline deals affect your fantasy teams, especially those of you in league-only types of ultra-deep keeper/dynasty leagues? I’d love to hear what players you’re targeting as we start winding down the fantasy baseball season. Does your head-to-head league have a playoff system in place? If so, what week do they begin? Feel free to leave a comment and/or hit me up on Twitter @DJAubain.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are making a run at the playoffs for the first time in nearly two decades and there’s no time like the present to call up their highly-touted outfield prospect Starling Marte. Marte was called up Thursday, immediately penciled in to start his first major league game in left field and inserted into the leadoff spot in the lineup. All Marte did was hit the first pitch he saw for a home run and finished Thurday night’s game 2-for-4 with a caught stealing.

In 99 games at AAA Indianapolis this season, Marte had 21 doubles, 13 triples, 12 home runs and 21 stolen bases. YES, PLEASE! My friend Mike Gianella (@MikeGianella) pointed out on his blog, Roto Think Tank, that Marte “could be worth blowing most or all of your remaining FAAB depending on your needs”.

I expect these numbers to change by time this article goes live but he’s currently owned in just 3.6% of ESPN leagues, 15% of Yahoo! leagues and a whopping 35% of CBS leagues. He was already gone in two of the five leagues I’m participating in this season (which made me realize I’m in three crappy leagues). Don’t wait to make a bid or use a waiver wire pick up for Marte much longer because he’ll probably be gone very, very soon.

Here are some other fantasy baseball players worth a look who may still be available on your league’s waiver wire:

 SP Matt Harvey, New York Mets: Harvey made his debut on Thursday night, too, and was equally as impressive as Marte. In 5.1 innings, he allowed just three hits, no runs, walked three and struck out 11 Diamondbacks. He threw 106 pitches (65 strikes) and also uncorked two wild pitches. He’s only owned in 5.5% of ESPN leagues, 1% of Yahoo! leagues but a hearty 38% of CBS leagues. For a complete breakdown of Harvey’s minor league history and major league potential, check out Full Spectrum Baseball’s own T.J. McDonald’s article from yesterday.

SS Josh Rutledge, Colorado Rockies: The Rockies may have found a temporary replacement for the injured Troy Tulowitzki who can actually provide some level of offensive production. In 12 games since his call up, he’s hit .356 (16-for-45) with five doubles, two triples and a home run. He’s also had six runs, six RBI and three stolen bases. He should be in the mix for the second base job once (if) Tulo is healthy. Owned in 29.5% of ESPN leagues, just 9% of Yahoo! leagues and 38% of CBS leagues, I wouldn’t wait much longer to decide if you should pick him up.

OF Jayson Werth, Washington Nationals: Werth is about a week away from returning to the Nationals and could be a nice addition to your roster in deeper mixed leagues or NL-only ones. Talk is he’ll split time in center field and right field at first, so don’t give up too much for him yet. In 98 at bats before the injury, he had a 5×5 line of .276/10/3/12/3. He’s owned in 41.2% of ESPN leagues, 52% of Yahoo! leagues and 72% of CBS leagues.

OF Justin Ruggiano, Miami Marlins: When Omar Infante was traded to the Detroit Tigers, the Marlins decided to move Emilio Bonifacio to second base and all but guaranteed Ruggiano a spot in the outfield for the rest of the season. And why not? All he’s done so far in 2012 with his 137 plate appearances is put up a slash line of .367 /.430/.683 with seven home runs and seven stolen bases. If you’re in need of a low-risk power/speed guy, Ruggiano is worth a look. He’s owned in 45.1% of ESPN leagues, 25% of Yahoo! leagues and 29% of CBS leagues.

SP A.J. Griffin, Oakland Athletics: Griffin has made the first six starts of his career in 2012 and pitched exactly six innings in each of those games and recorded a quality start in all six, too. In those 36 innings, he’s allowed just 27 hits and eight walks while striking out 29. He has a 2.25 ERA (3.56 FIP; 3.92 xFIP) with a 0.97 while batters are hitting just .205 against him. Owned in just 13.2% of ESPN leagues, 13% of Yahoo! leagues and 49% of CBS leagues, he’s definitely worth streaming while continuing to perform.

How much did Marte and/or Harvey go for in your FAAB league(s)? How are league-only owners dealing with trade deadline moves in which players change leagues? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below. Also be sure to follow me on Twitter @DJAubain for daily fantasy baseball nuggets, news and links. I’m always available to discuss anything and everything related to the game of baseball.

I’ll run through a few of my own comparisons (using standard 5×5 categories) for your fantasy baseball viewing pleasure and hopefully give you something to mull over as you assess your roster(s).

Player A: .275 BA (84/305), 48 R, 14 HR, 44 RBI, 12 SB
Player B: .292 BA (85/291), 42 R, 15 HR, 60 RBI, 1 SB
Player C: .249 BA (77/309), 48 R, 18 HR, 57 RBI, 5 SB
Player D: .279 BA (96/344), 59 R, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 15 SB

A quick glance at these statistics shows distinct advantages for one player over the others depending on which category you choose to compare but, overall, Yahoo! ranks these four players as having “similar” value; all four being separated by only 12 places in their rankings. To be fair, all four of these players qualify at the same fantasy baseball position for 2012: outfield.

Which of these four players would you guess is the most widely owned? Well chicks and fantasy baseball owners truly love the longball because Player C comes in at 97% owned yet has the lowest batting average of the group at .249. Player D is the least owned at 72% but leads this group in hits, runs and stolen bases. Player A seems to be the most balanced player in this group and, deservingly so, is also the highest ranked at #58 overall with a 93% ownership rate. Player B leads this group in batting average and RBI and eeks in at third place in ownership numbers at 73%.

Any idea of who all four of these players are yet? Drum roll, please. Player A is 58th-ranked Jason Heyward of the Atlanta Braves. Player B is 66th-ranked Jason Kubel of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Player C is 67th-ranked Jay Bruce of the Cincinnati Reds. And Player D is 70th-ranked Alejandro De Aza of the Chicago White Sox.

My fantasy perspective: With ownership numbers of over 70% for each of these four players, they probably aren’t readily available on waivers in any league worth a damn at participating in here at the midway point. So let’s focus on what name recognition could do for you on the trade market. You’d probably think I was smoking something whacky if I offered you my Kubel for your Heyward in a deal. But think of the reverse for a moment. What if you owned Heyward or Bruce. You could possibly pry a Kubel or De Aza plus a second player from an owner who weighs a deal on name recognition rather than what truly counts in fantasy baseball…statistics! Obviously if your league is a keeper or dynasty format you may value certain players differently for their long-term value but the average fantasy baseball player ins’t in a league of these types. You may only have a few weeks left to make a trade in your league so start doing your homework. Now may be the time to trade away some of your “big name” players for multiple pieces to help you in your drive for a fantasy baseball championship.

***

Player A: .246 BA (82/334), 46 R, 12 HR, 44 RBI, 12 SB
Player B: .269 BA (88/327), 41 R, 10 HR, 45 RBI, 10 SB

For comparison purposes again, I picked two players who qualify at the same fantasy baseball postion for 2012: third base. Player A also qualifies at shortstop. A quick look at the statistics of these two players shows each are within a close enough margin to deserve comparison. Only 14 players have accomplished a 10 HR/10 SB or better line so far in 2012 and each of these players fall into that rare group at the midway point. Player A is the 110th-ranked player on Yahoo! while Player B is close behind at 115th. So can you explain to me why Player A is owned in 98% of all Yahoo! leagues and Player B is only 51% owned? I can. Name recognition and “potential”. Have you guessed the players yet? Well, Player A is Hanley Ramirez of the Miami Marlins and Player B is Chase Headley of the San Diego Padres.

My fantasy perspective: Headly is a player possibly on the move before the July 31st Trade Deadline and now might be a good time to pick him up in fantasy baseball. If he is traded away from PETCO Park to a contender with a hitter’s park, his fantasy value instantly jumps. Come to think of it, a trade to any other team in any other park increases his fantasy value. HanRam, on the other hand, is probably NOT getting traded in real life (although the Marlins would be smart to explore all offers) but could bring in a haul if someone in your league believes he’ll have a big second half (I don’t). Play up that he was a second round pick with third base and shortstop eligibility. Unfortunately he’s been pretty awful lately (last 33 gmaes: .192 BA, 1 HR, 7 RBI). If he gets hot, MOVE HIM!

***

Player A: .286 BA (98/343), 43 R, 6 HR, 46 RBI, 0 SB
Player B: .299 BA (59/197), 29 R, 13 HR, 40 RBI, 2 SB

In over 40% LESS at bats, Player B is providing comparable  offensive numbers to Player A. Unfortunately, Player A was ranked 9th overall on Yahoo! to start the season, cost you a 1st round pick to draft him and is currently ranked 162nd while Player B was ranked 494th overall, went virtually undrafted and is currently ranked 170th. Yet Player A is 98% owned while Player B is just 53% owned. Any guesses who these two players are? Player A is Adrian Gonzalez of the Boston Red Sox and Player B is Tyler Colvin of the Colorado Rockies.

My fantasy perspective: In no way am I suggesting that you should drop Gonzalez and pick up Colvin off waivers if he’s available. But what we see here is a fantasy owner handcuffed by Gonzalez and his struggles. There’s not a lot of people out there willing to trade away Gonzalez at this point because you’d probably wind up having to accept less than market value. And if that’s the case, why not simply hold on to him in hopes he heats it up in the second half while you’re trying to make a run at a title. Colvin, on the other hand, is a player who should see more real-world opportunities in Colorado and continue to provide fantasy value in the second half and should continue to see ownership numbers rise. If only the Rockies had the huevos rancheros to trade away Todd Helton and Jason Giambi. IF ONLY…

Winning at fantasy baseball is determined by which team accumulates the most statistics to earn the most points in categories that matter not by collecting your favorite players or the players whose names you hear on Sports Center the most (PS, if you watch ESPN for baseball news you’re doing fantasy baseball wrong). If you’re able to look at the numbers it takes to get back into the race or keep your team ahead of the pack while removing the personal connection we all have to our perception of a player’s value based on name and/or past performances then there are opportunities to be had to be successful in building and maintaining a winning team.

Were you able to guess any of these players’ names while you were reading this article? If so, which ones? Leave me a comment below or connect with me on Twitter @DJAubain to continue the conversation.

NOTE: All statistics quoted are accurate through games played through July 15th unless otherwise noted.

If your team is in need of an outfielder who can provide a three-category spark to your offense than look no further than Quintin Berry of the Detroit Tigers. Berry has been a mainstay near the top of the Tigers lineup since being called up to the majors in late May and producing nicely for savvy fantasy owners who picked him up.

In nine games in the month of May, Berry hit .333 (13-for-39) with nine runs scored and five stolen bases. His 15 strikeouts and .542 BABIP would normally but signs for concern but he followed up with a very productive month of June, too. In 20 starts (26 total games), he batted .293 (24-for-82) with a home run, 10 RBI, 15 runs and seven stolen bases. His 10 walks led to a nice .389 OBP, as well. Negatively, though, he struck out 20 times and another inflated BABIP of .377 could lead to some regression. Positively, Berry is 12-for-12 in stolen bases and projects to be a 50+ stolen base guy per 162 games played.

Berry is owned in just 25.1% of ESPN leagues, 12% of Yahoo! leagues and 19% of CBS leagues. Consistently getting at bats at the top of the potent Detroit Tigers lineup should lead to continued fantasy baseball success.

Here are some other fantasy baseball players worth a look who may still be available on your league’s waiver wire:

OF Norichika Aoki, Milwaukee Brewers: If you’re desperate for stolen bases, Aoki could help your team as much as Berry. Since June 8th, Aoki has gone 8-for-10 in stolen bases with a .263 (21-for-80) batting average with 12 runs scored and a .352 OBP. He’s owned in just 7.2% of ESPN leagues, 8% of Yahoo! leagues and 18% of CBS leagues.

1B/OF Carlos Lee, Houston Astros: I’m not suggesting you pick up Lee from waivers from what he’s done so far this season (.285/22/5/29/0) but for what numbers he might put up the rest of the way if he were to be traded to a contending team. He’s well-owned in ESPN (94%) and CBS (82%) leagues but only 49% owned in Yahoo! leagues. Keep an eye of trade talks and your league’s waivers until July 31st.

3B Pedro Alvarez, Pittsburgh Pirates: Alvarez produced a June 5×5 line of .262/16/7/20/0 and should be worth a look if you’re team is dealing with injuries or in need of some offensive pop. He’s been the #1 fantasy player on ESPN Player Rater over the last 15 days. The Pirates are hot as a team and Alvarez should continue to be in the mix for offensive success. I was surprised he was only owned in 55.1% of ESPN leagues, 33% of Yahoo! leagues and 56% of CBS leagues. Could Alvarez finally be providing the offensive numbers we’ve all been waiting years for him to produce? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

1B Ike Davis, New York Mets: Since June 9th (yes, I selected an arbitrary date bases on small sample size), Davis is hitting .333 (21-for-63) with six home runs, 24 RBI and 14 runs with a .730 SLG and a 1.133 OPS. His ownership numbers (ESPN 41.2%; Yahoo! 47%; CBS 69%)  are on the rise and now may be the time to pick him up if you’re a believer.

RP Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs: Marmol seems to have won the role of closer back and he’s getting the job done. He’s gone 6-for-6 since June 15th with a 10:4 K:BB ratio over six innings pitched. He’s only owned in 54.8% of ESPN leagues, 53% of Yahoo! leagues and 43% of CBS leagues, so now would be the time to pick him up…if you have the stomach for the roller coaster ride he takes fantasy owners on with each outing.

1B/3B Wilson Betemit, Baltimore Orioles: If you’re digging deep for offense, look no further than what Betemit has done lately. Since May 30, he’s batting .394 (28-for-71) with five doubles, three home runs, eight RBI and 11 runs. He’s putting up surprisingly decent 5×5 numbers (.275/29/10/31/0) this season and with his multi-positional eligibility could be a nice addition in extremely deep or AL-only leagues. He’s only owned in 1.9% of ESPN leagues, 7% of Yahoo! leagues and14% of CBS leagues.

If Anthony Rizzo is available on the waiver wire of your fantasy baseball league at this point, here’s a suggestion. Give up on that league because everyone else in your league obviously already has.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter at @DJAubain to continue this conversation and others. You can also follow Full Spectrum Baseball at @FullSpectrumBB and connect with us on Facebook, too.

NOTE: All statistics are through June 30th unless otherwise noted.

From 2004 through 2009, Roberts averaged 152 games played, 175 hits, 46 doubles, 4 triples, 12 home runs, 62 RBI, 101 runs and 35 stolen bases with a .290/.365/.438 slash line. Over the last two season, he’s totaled only 98 games played with 100 hits  with a less than stellar slash line of .254/.321/.366 but was not far off his 162 game averages when healthy (see links).

In his first game of the 2012 season, Roberts was 3-for-4 with three singles and a sacrifice fly. Not a bad start for a guy who’s been out of the majors for nearly 13 months. He’s only owned in 1% of ESPN leagues, 9% of Yahoo! leagues and 32% of CBS leagues. I recommend those of us in very deep, mixed leagues or those of you in shallow AL-only leagues take a chance Roberts still has a lot left in his tank and plenty to prove to the fans of Baltimore caught up in the midst of an exciting season. I know I’ll be rooting for a guy who’s always played the game the only way he knows how…hard! Now just stay healthy, Brian.

Here are some other fantasy baseball players worth a look who may still be available on your league’s waiver wire:

OF Michael Saunders, Seattle Mariners: Over the last 15 days (12 games), Saunders has been on an absolute tear. He’s gone 21-for-50 (.420/.453/.660/1.113) with six doubles, two home runs, six RBI, nine runs scored and two stolen bases, making him the 15th-ranked player over this span according to ESPN’s Player Rater tool. His ownership numbers have risen to 41.5% in ESPN leagues, 24% in Yahoo! leagues and 40% in CBS leagues.

OF Ben Revere, Minnesota Twins: If you’re outfield could use a little spark of speed, Revere deserves a look. Since May 26th (13 games), he’s hitting a cool .400 (22-for-55) with 10 runs scored and seven stolen bases. He’s only owned in 10.9% of ESPN leagues, 10% of Yahoo! leagues and 25% of CBS leagues.

RP Tom Wilhelmsen, Seattle Mariners: Wilhelmsen has gone 3-for-3 in save opportunities since replacing Brandon League as the team’s closer. All closers in all formats should be owned. He’s 41.2% owned in ESPN leagues, 30% in Yahoo! leagues and 34% in CBS leagues.

SP Clay Buchholz, Boston Red Sox: Over his last four starts (including 6/12/12), Buchholz has gone at least seven innings with 6+ strikeouts, 2 or less walks and 2 or less runs allowed and a 3-0 record. If he’s sitting on your league’s waiver wire, grab him now because he looks like he’s figured out what was wrong earlier in the season and corrected it. He’s owned in 66.5% of ESPN leagues, 54% of Yahoo! leagues but a whopping 86% of CBS leagues.

1B Brett Wallace, Houston Astros: Since his call up, Wallace has hit safely in all seven games played with a .400/7/2/4/0 5×5 line with a 1.260 OPS. Could this be the Wallace we’ve all been waiting to show up in the majors? Owners in very deep, mixed leagues or NL-only ones should be paying attention. He’s only 1.8% owned in ESPN leagues, 3% of Yahoo! leagues and 10% of CBS leagues.

SS Everth Cabrera, San Diego Padres: Since starting his season 0-for-17, Cabrera has gone 20-for-59 (.339 BA) with seven doubles, two home runs, six RBI, eight runs scored, seven walks and 5-for-5 in stolen bases. Owned in just 1.4% of ESPN leagues, 3% of Yahoo! leagues and 12% of CBS, he could provide your roster with a little boost while he’s hot.

Note: All statistics are accurate through games played as of 6/11/2012 unless otherwise noted.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter @DJAubain and our site @FullSpectrumBB as well as “liking” us on Facebook to help spread the word about all the great content our baseball writers are producing each day. Feel free to share some thoughts about this article in the comments section. I’d love to hear from you.

Adams was tearing it up at AAA Memphis with a .340 batting average and a .603 slugging percentage with 10 doubles and nine home runs in 37 games. Add in his 54 home runs and 189 RBI over his previous two seasons at A/AA and you’re looking at a player who could have a serious impart for the Cardinals at the major league level. Had Berkman not been injured, we probably wouldn’t have seen Adams in the majors until a September call up or until 2013.

Shallow league owners probably have time to wait and see if Adams produces immediately (2-for-8; 1 Run in 2 games) or not but those of us in deeper mixed leagues or NL-only ones have to pounce immediately. He’s only owned in 3.5% of ESPN leagues (surely that is on the rise as I type this artilce), 14% of Yahoo! leagues and 48% of CBS leagues (already that high?).

Here are some other fantasy baseball players worth a look who may still be available on your league’s waiver wire:

1B/OF Yonder Alonso, San Diego Padres: Since April 25th, Alonso has gone 30-for-84 (.357 BA) with 11 doubles and a home run. He’s not going to bring you the power numbers you’d want from your first base position but could be a nice option at a CI, IF or DH/UTL in mid-sized mixed leagues. He’s only owned in 36.1% of ESPN leagues, 26% of Yahoo! leagues and 56% of CBS leagues.

OF Gregor Blanco, San Francisco Giants: In the month of May, Blanco has earned 14 games started and hasn’t disappointed. He’s gone 17-for-54 (.315 BA) with 13 walks (.448 OBP), three stolen bases and 14 runs scored with the majority of those at bats coming from the leadoff position. If you’re hurting for outfield help, give Blanco a look. He’s only owned in 20% of ESPN leagues, 8% of Yahoo! leagues and 16% of CBS leagues.

RP Brian Fuentes, Oakland Athletics: Stop me if you’ve heard this one before…Fuentes is a closer, again! Over his last six appearances, he’s recorded a win and three saves (in three chances) with six strikeouts in seven innings. Saves are saves and all closers should be owned in all formats. He’s owned in 40.1% of ESPN leagues, 41% of Yahoo! leagues and 45% of CBS leagues.

SP Derek Lowe, Cleveland Indians:  In nine starts this season, Lowe has compiled a 6-2 record with eight quality starts, allowing two runs or less in seven starts. Unfortunately, he’s only struck out 15 batters in 58.2 innings pitched (2.3 K/9, UGH!). A career 5.9 K/9 isn’t great but I can’t imagine he’s now a 2.3 K/9 pitcher. I’d look to use him as a streaming option in shallow leagues but it may be time to consider owning him if you’re desperate for starting pitching. He’s owned in 44.8% of ESPN leagues, 32% of  Yahoo! leagues and 54% of CBS leagues.

C  J.P. Arencibia, Toronto Blue Jays: In 14 games in the month of May, Arencibia has gone 17-for-52 (.327 BA) with six home runs, 16 RBI and 12 runs scored while slugging .731. Over the last 30 days, he’s the second-ranked catcher on ESPN’s Player Rater tool. His ownership numbers are a little confusing to me. Why is he only owned in 37.5% of ESPN leagues but 66% of Yahoo! leagues and 77% of CBS leagues. Odd. Grab him if he’s available especially while he’s hot.

And down on the farm:

1B Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs:  Rizzo is tearing it up at AAA Iowa. In 41 games, he’s produced a 5×5 fantasy line of .346/27/14/39/2 and would probably be in the majors if not for the hot start of Brian LaHair. The Cubs are vowing to be patient but it’s only a matter of time before they find a way to dump Alfonso Soriano and move LaHair to the outfield. If you have room on your roster and are willing to be patient, very deep mixed league and NL-only owners may need to make a bold move sooner than later. He’s virtually unowned in all formats (except maybe dynasty/keeper leagues.

Be aware, these recommendations are for mostly owners who are in the deeper mixed leagues or NL-only types. Shallow league owners have the luxury of picking up nearly all-star caliber players off waivers, so they may have no interest or need to look as deep as those of us who prefer more challenging formats. Two of my Twitter buddies, Mike Gianella (@MikeGianella) and Chris McBrien (@cmcbrien), recently discussed the different perspectives of the Vernon Wells injury.

I’d love to hear how you are dealing with all the injuries that seem to be hitting baseball these days as well as all the changes taking place with team closers. Are you a “never pay for saves” person and laughing at those who invested early while you grab saves wherever and whenever you can get them? Feel free to use the comments section below and follow me on Twitter @DJAubain to continue this discussion and anything baseball-related.

Over the span of 15 games (13 games started), Dirks has gone 19-for-49 (.388 BA) with four doubles, a triple, three home runs, nine RBI and 10 runs scored. Toss in a .455 OBP and a .694 SLG and you got the makings of a player who deserves to be owned in more than just 56.9% of ESPN leagues, 28% of Yahoo! leagues and 41% of CBS leagues. He’s settling in quite nicely to the number two hole in the batting order of a high-powered offense, so don’t hesitate. Check your league’s waiver wire and make the necessary adjustments to get him into your lineup. But hurry.  Over the last seven days, Dirks has been the most added player in ESPN leagues, going from a minuscule 0.3% owned to his current 56.9% (+56.6% change).

Here are some other fantasy baseball players worth a look who may still be available on your league’s waiver wire:

3B Kyle Seager, Seattle Mariners: Seager is now the Mariners’ third baseman and not disappointing. He’s racked up a 5×5 fantasy line of .284/13/4/21/3 in 31 games and needs to be owned in more than 54% of ESPN leagues and 50% of Yahoo! leagues.

RP Dale Thayer, San Diego Padres: Need saves (don’t we all?)? Thayer seems to be the closer du jour in San Diego. He’s gone 3-for-3 with four strikeouts in three innings of work and looks to be a safe “add” at this point. His ownership numbers are rising quickly, so don’t wait much longer if your team’s relievers are dropping like flies. He’s owned in just 36.6% of ESPN leagues, 31% of Yahoo! leagues and 29% of CBS leagues.

SP Carlos Zambrano, Miami Marlins: I can’t believe I am about to recommend picking up Zambrano off waivers. I’ve sworn to myself so many times not to own players I can’t stand watching on TV but his numbers are hard to ignore. Other than wins (just a 1-2 record), he’s giving fantasy owners what they need. In 48 innings, he’s struck out 39 (7.31 K/9) with a 1.88 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. In seven starts, he’s compiled six quality starts. Owned in just 54.9% of ESPN leagues and 52% of Yahoo! leagues, it’s time to take a serious look at adding Zambrano to your fantasy pitching stuff.

C Jonathan Lucroy, Milwaukee Brewers: What’s not to love about a catcher putting up a 5×5 fantasy line of .323/8/2/16/0? ESPN’s Player Rater Tool ranks him as the 13th-best catcher this season. He’d make a great backup in single-catcher leagues to fill in on days your primary catcher is rested to not miss out on statistic scoring opportunities. He’s only owned in just 17.7% of ESPN leagues, 31% of Yahoo! leagues and 56% of CBS leagues, take a look at him if you’re struggling at the catcher position.

RP Casey Janssen, Toronto Blue Jays: If you are still looking for saves, Janssen deserves a look on a short-term basis. He’s 2-for-2 in save opportunities but, overall, he’s only walked one batter (0.89 WHIP) while striking out 13 in 12.1 innings pitched (9,49 K/9). Act now since he’s currently only owned in 29.9% of ESPN leagues, 30% of Yahoo! leagues and 34% of CBS leagues.

Shallow league players probably have many more options than those of us playing in deeper leagues. Imagine the scarcity of playing in a league-only league. Wow. I’d love to hear what your league’s waiver wire is looking like this far into the season and how you are surviving all the injuries and closer changes taking place. Feel free to use the comments section below or contact me on Twitter @DJAubain.

Line: 3 AB | 0 R | 1 H | 1 RBI; 2B | SF

My fantasy perspective: Harper was a guy I avoided in my drafts this offseason because 1) only one league so far was a keeper and he was protected; 2) I wasn’t willing to use a draft pick as high as teams were grabbing him; and 3) I truly didn’t think he’d be called up this soon in the season to make an impact on my fantasy roster.

I watched his debut on the MLB Network last night and I have to say I was impressed with his composure and am disappointed I didn’t grab him in at least one league. Oh well. So what now? Does he stay on the major league roster once players like Mike Morse and Ryan Zimmerman come back from injury? Is Rick Ankiel the odd man out and either Harper or Jayson Werth move to center field? Is Harper simply up for good and the team will deal with any ups and downs he goes through this season?

With all of these (and more) question marks surrounding Harper’s fantasy value, it’s hard to say what’s in store. But know this, fantasy baseball owners will be watching carefully. As an fantasy owner of Harper, what are your fantasy expectations for 2012 now that he’s made it to the major leagues already?

Agree with my pick? Disagree? Check out ESPN’s formula for determining the best daily performances and nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section below and/or hitting me up on Twitter @DJAubain.

Line: 8 IP | 6 H | 1 ER | 2 BB | 7 K; W (4-0) | QS

My fantasy perspective: Lynn continued his surprising season in the Cardinals’ rotation, increasing his record to 4-0 with a 1.33 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP. He’s only allowed 16 hits in 27 innings pitched while holding opponents to a .176 BAA (Batting Average Against) with 24 strikeouts (8.00 K/9) and a 4.00 K/BB ratio.

His latest gem put him atop ESPN’s Player Rater tool as the top starting pitcher in the game. It may not last long, but fantasy owners who grabbed him off waivers (since he was virtually undrafted in all formats) aren’t complaining.

Agree with my pick? Disagree? Check out ESPN’s formula for determining the best daily performances and nominate your own Line of the Day player using the comments section below and/or hitting me up on Twitter @DJAubain.