Now six weeks into the 2013 season, Week Seven is a good time to re-examine your roster top to bottom, especially if your totals have plateaued. If your lineup is marred with injuries or underperforming stars, there are both dependable veterans and exciting young rookies available on the waiver wire now to help power through the doldrums. While, by all means, if your league hasn’t savvied to the recent performances of Brian McCann or Kevin Gregg, you can’t miss the opportunity to pick up these well-knowns on the comeback trail. However, if you’re panning the waiver wire for an under-the-radar steal, the following players may spark your team’s success in the coming weeks.
Dee Gordon, Shortstop, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dee Gordon saga with the Dodgers took a turn for the New Mexico desert when Spring Training concluded, when the speedster who hadn’t quite discovered the knack of stealing first base was banished to Triple-A Albuquerque. Now, with Hanley Ramirez expected to miss several weeks with a strained hamstring, Gordon finds himself a starter once again. In Pacific Coast League play, Gordon batted a respectable .314 with a .397 On-Base Percentage and 14 steals in 16 attempts. Through his first seven games back with the big club, he has seven hits, three steals and one home run. Currently owned in roughly 35 percent of ESPN leagues, the Dodgers' faith in Gordon combined with marked improvement in his first week back indicate good things to come for the young shortstop.
Zach McAllister, Starting Pitcher, Cleveland Indians
The past few weeks have been somewhat of a showcase for Cleveland starting pitching, between surprise performances by Ubaldo Jimenez and the triumphant return of Scott Kazmir. Former Yankee farmhand McAllister has been steady, if not spectacular, through the beginning of the 2013 season, compiling a 3-3 record and a scant 2.63 Earned Run Average. In his first 37.2 innings pitched, he has fanned 28 batters, hardly a ratio to scoff at. McAllister is owned in roughly 15 percent of all leagues, and his ability to eat innings and limit baserunners make him a very desirable “buy low” option.
Andrew Cashner, Starting Pitcher/Relief Pitcher, San Diego Padres
The conversion of fireballing relievers into starting pitchers has been a hot topic in recent years, between the failed attempts at stretching out Joba Chamberlain and Neftali Feliz, and the Reds reluctance to pull Aroldis Chapman from his ninth-inning role. Cashner began the season as a force out of the ‘pen with his 100-MPH heater in the late innings, where he struck out batters at a clip of one per inning. Asked to fill in for an ailing Clayton Richard, Cashner stepped into the rotation on April 20, and hasn’t turned back. In 21.1 innings pitched over four starts, he has allowed 17 hits and only seven earned runs while striking out 15, a ratio far below his norm but expected to rise with more innings. Owned in roughly seven percent of leagues, the risk of picking up a converted late-inning man is outweighed by the potential his ungodly heat has to wreak havoc on lineups going forward.
Didi Gregorius, Shortstop, Arizona Diamondbacks
Fantasy general managers are on to the rookie shortstop, owned in roughly 35 percent of leagues and moving fast. Gregorius got off to a torrid start after being called up in mid-April, going 11 for his first 27 at bats, and adding pop with two home runs and eight doubles. The Dutch native was knocked out of action by a concussion, though he returned from the 7-day disabled list with no ill effects reflected in his numbers. To date, Gregorius’ Batting Average/On Base Percentage/Slugging Percentage slash line is a hearty .358/.404/.623. With his production at the shortstop position, you would be well-advised to pick up Gregorius now and ride this hot hand as far as it will take your team.
Nate Schierholtz, Right Fielder, Chicago Cubs
The least-flashy player on this list has been none the less dependable in the Chicago Cubs lineup so far. Schierholtz has racked up four home runs and 12 doubles, and driven in 17 on a team with little to cheer about this season. He won’t dazzle you in any category, and his aversion to drawing walks leaves something to be desired, but if your outfield is currently hurting, Schierholtz may be your man. Owned in roughly 30 percent of leagues, picking up the 29-year-old now won't bring your team down.