Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds: Week 7
No team is safe from injuries, not even the defending World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Addison Russell have all missed some time on the field over the past few days.
But before we settle in too comfortably, even the biggest stars continued to get impacted -- Mike Trout missed some time with a hamstring injury, and the New York Yankees placed Aroldis Chapman on the DL with a shoulder injury. Things are starting to pile up as if this were an NFL season.
If you're lucky to have escaped the bug, consider it a huge win -- but if not, here are some players that can help spell your rosters if there are some holes in need of filling.
Alex Wood - Los Angeles Dodgers (SP)
ESPN Percentage Owned: 59.1%
The Los Angeles Dodgers have certainly not been immune to the injury bug, as they've seen starters Brandon McCarthy, Hyun-jin Ryu, Rich Hill, Kenta Maeda, and Scott Kazmir all get bitten by the injury bug. You read that right -- five starters, or enough to comprise one entire team's rotation, has hit the disabled list.
One extremely bright spot for the Dodgers is Alex Wood -- who's been nasty and whiffing every batter in sight. Okay, well not every batter. Limited to only 60 1/3 innings pitched last year as he battled getting healthy, he's fired 35 2/3 innings while posting a 2.43 SIERA and a 33.1% strikeout rate.
When Wood isn't striking someone out, hitters are just struggling -- a quick glance at his batted ball profile reveals only a 22.1% hard-hit rate.
The southpaw has performed like an elite starter, and if he can stay healthy, he's shown to be one of baseball's best hurlers.
Addison Reed - New York Mets (RP)
ESPN Percentage Owned: 51.0%
The roller coaster season continues for the New York Mets, as closer Jeurys Familia, who already missed some time this year due to suspension, will be sidelined again for quite a while.
After feeling some tingling in his hand following a blown save, further examination of his right arm revealed a blood clot, which will now force him to miss the next few months.
That creates an opportunity for Addison Reed, who started the year as New York's closer and will now resume that role presumably for the rest of the year.
Since the start of 2016, Reed has been lights out in a crucial bullpen role. As mostly the set-up man last year, he posted a 2.56 SIERA and a 29.9% strikeout rate in 77 2/3 innings pitched. He's been even more effective through 18 2/3 this year -- he's rocking a 1.90 SIERA and has bumped that strikeout rate to 31.5%.
Go grab Reed while you still can and lock up some saves.
Justin Wilson - Detroit Tigers (RP)
ESPN Percentage Owned: 50.8%
The rumblings had been coming that the Detroit Tigers were going to be part of the closer carousel, and it finally happened. Francisco Rodriguez has really struggled in 2017, blowing four saves in 13 1/3 innings pitched while posting a 3.80 SIERA and allowing a 42.2% hard-hit rate.
Enter Justin Wilson, who doesn't have a ton of saves or closing experience at any level, and only has three saves in the majors.
What Wilson does have is some awesome peripherals -- he's struck out a staggering 46.4% of batters this season while allowing a .077 opponent batting average.
If you missed out on Reed or just need to add some additional relief depth, go out and grab Wilson.
Logan Morrison - Tampa Bay Rays (1B)
ESPN Percentage Owned: 22.3%
Playing in a park that has severely depressed power over the last three seasons, Logan Morrison's power numbers may surprise you a bit.
Through 141 plate appearances in 2017, Morrison hasn't just been good -- he's been one of the league's best. That's highlighted with this grand slam off Cy Young winner Rick Porcello.
He's already ripped 10 jacks while posting a .274 ISO, which currently ranks 22nd in the league. His marks against right-handed pitching don't hurt, either -- he's the proud owner of a .313 ISO and a 142 wRC+ with the platoon advantage.
Morrison is still very low-owned, but is absolutely tearing the cover off the ball. If you need some help at the corner, go take a long look at him.
Ben Gamel - Seattle Mariners (OF)
ESPN Percentage Owned: 15.8%
A name you may be somewhat familiar with but for different reasons is Seattle Mariners outfielder Ben Gamel, the younger brother of former can't-miss prospect Mat Gamel.
Gamel was flipped to the Mariners for two pitching prospects last August and didn't even start 2017 at the majors, but after a tough start to the year for Leonys Martin -- who was designated for assignment -- along with an oblique injury to Mitch Haniger, some playing time opened up.
Gamel hasn't just seized the opportunity -- he's broken the door down.
In 79 plate appearances, Gamel has posted a .402 wOBA and 165 wRC+, and a lot of that has to do with the damage he does against right-handers. He owns a .975 OPS and 180 wRC+ in that situation, and that wRC+ ranks 15th among hitters with at least 60 plate appearances against righties this year.
While Gamel may be an unknown to most, he's definitely worthy of some attention, especially if you are looking for outfield help.
