Nate Springfield
Under the Radar - AL/NL Only Leagues
Thursday September 13th, 2012
John Lannan should add to his win column the rest of the way. (US Presswire)
This week's AL/NL-only waiver wire pickups features players who can provide some early season help to owners in need of stopgaps and youngsters with upside. Whether your fantasy team needs home runs, steals, or strikeouts, or even if you're just chasing wins, this mix of players has you covered.
* Owned percentages via Yahoo!
AL-Only Players
Chris Archer - SP, Tampa Bay Rays (3% owned)
Chris Archer has just been short of dominant in this first three major league starts with the Tampa Bay Rays this year. The 23 year-old righthander is carrying a 3.38 ERA and 0.86 WHIP over his 18.2 innings pitched, while striking out 25 batters. Eleven of those 25 strikeouts came in his last outing against the Rangers, where he went seven innings, allowing four hits, two walks, and two earned runs. Archer has filled in for some of Tampa's ailing starters along the way, and has not secured himself a spot in the rotation, but look for Joe Maddon to march him out there any time the situation presents itself because he has proven to be very effective at the major league level so far.
Russ Canzler - UTIL, Cleveland Indians (0% owned)
Making a positive impression at the start of spring training this year, Russ Canzler faded as opening day drew near, causing the Indians to place him at Triple-A to start the season. While at Columbus, Canzler posted a respectable triple-slash line of .256/.328/.487, while hitting 22 home runs, and plating 79 RBI, but it was never enough for the Indians to give him the call. After being promoted on August 30th, manager Manny Acta felt like Canzler could give the team quality at-bats, and expects to give him as many at-bats as he can the rest of the way. The only downside to picking up Canzler is his current position eligibility. Since he has primarily DH'd for the Indians, he only qualifies at the utility position in standard Yahoo! Leagues. Over his first 30 at-bats he is carrying a .333 batting average and hit one home run, showing there is potential there if you have room for him in your lineup.
NL-Only Players
John Lannan
- SP, Washington Nationals (3% owned)AL-Only Players
Chris Archer - SP, Tampa Bay Rays (3% owned)
Chris Archer has just been short of dominant in this first three major league starts with the Tampa Bay Rays this year. The 23 year-old righthander is carrying a 3.38 ERA and 0.86 WHIP over his 18.2 innings pitched, while striking out 25 batters. Eleven of those 25 strikeouts came in his last outing against the Rangers, where he went seven innings, allowing four hits, two walks, and two earned runs. Archer has filled in for some of Tampa's ailing starters along the way, and has not secured himself a spot in the rotation, but look for Joe Maddon to march him out there any time the situation presents itself because he has proven to be very effective at the major league level so far.
Russ Canzler - UTIL, Cleveland Indians (0% owned)
Making a positive impression at the start of spring training this year, Russ Canzler faded as opening day drew near, causing the Indians to place him at Triple-A to start the season. While at Columbus, Canzler posted a respectable triple-slash line of .256/.328/.487, while hitting 22 home runs, and plating 79 RBI, but it was never enough for the Indians to give him the call. After being promoted on August 30th, manager Manny Acta felt like Canzler could give the team quality at-bats, and expects to give him as many at-bats as he can the rest of the way. The only downside to picking up Canzler is his current position eligibility. Since he has primarily DH'd for the Indians, he only qualifies at the utility position in standard Yahoo! Leagues. Over his first 30 at-bats he is carrying a .333 batting average and hit one home run, showing there is potential there if you have room for him in your lineup.
NL-Only Players
The Washington Nationals shut down Stephen Strasburg this week as a precautionary measure to protect the health of his arm. His replacement in the rotation is lefthander John Lannan. Lannan has made two spot starts for the Nationals this season, doing well in both outings. In his 13 innings pitched, the 27 year-old has allowed nine hits, seven walks and struck out seven batters. This is definitely not Strasburg type production, but he is currently carrying a respectable 3.46 ERA and 1.23 WHIP at the major league level. Because he has been able to limit the damage while on the bump, and the Nationals have a great offense, Lannan could be a great late season target to help move up in your league's win column, but it is likely his ERA and WHIP will increase the rest of the way as well.
Matt Dominguez - 3B, Houston Astros (1% owned)
Matt Dominguez, who was acquired from the Marlins earlier this season, has shown some life at the plate since being recalled to the Astros on August 30th. The 23 year-old prospect hit safely in seven of his first 10 games since being recalled, four of which were multi-hit games, and he has reached base safely in nine of those 10 contests. Dominguez has also shown some pop, making five of his 12 hits go for extra bases, including three home runs. This type of production does not mirror what he accomplished at the minor league level this season, and eclipses his career minor league numbers as well, but if he continues on this hot streak the rest of September he could be very useful as a corner infielder, or as a fantasy team's utility player the rest of the way.
Chris Carpenter - SP, St. Louis Cardinals (28% owned)
Most fantasy owners wrote Chris Carpenter off this season after he underwent surgery to fix a nerve problem in his neck, but he is hoping to pitch again in 2012. He recently completed his second simulated game, totaling 70 pitches over four innings, which was an increase from his first three-inning simulated game. The veteran righthander declared himself ready to rejoin the rotation the day after his most recent simulated game, but the team will have him throw at least one more before considering activating him. Since the trip to the disabled list and surgery stemmed from issues with his nerves and numbness in his arm, not soreness, it is just a matter of Carpenter knocking the rust off and building up arm strength again before he comes back. The veteran was nails for the Redbirds down the stretch last year, and could give them, and fantasy teams, a nice bump in stats over the last few weeks of the season.
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