Watch List
Plenty of players are worthy of being an add at this point in the season. In order to win the season a manager has to know when to pick the right player up.
Players on the list below are owned in less than 60 percent of ESPN leagues.
Mallex Smith- OF, Seattle Mariners, 59.9 percent
Smith was demoted to the minors last Tuesday due to a horrendous stat line. However since being in the minors he has hit 9-for-19. Smith could see a call up soon and looks to continue his hot streak, keep him on the watch list.
Matt Olson- 1B, Oakland Athletics, 57.9 percent
Olson broke his hamate bone during the second game of the year. He’s finally back and the owners that were patient look for big things from the first baseman. If Olson isn’t owned in a league he is a solid speculative add.
Dwight Smith- OF, Baltimore Orioles, 57.1 percent
Smith has already hit six home runs and is a perfect 4-for-4 on stolen bases. Smith should be owned over Ender Inciarte and Kyle Schwarber.
Yandy Diaz- DH, 1B, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays, 49.3 percent
Diaz started May off by going 0-for-15 but has recently broken out of the slump. Diaz is a streaky batter however he doesn’t strike out much which will allow him plenty of playing time.
Michael Chavis- 3B/2B, Boston Red Sox, 48.7 percent
A top power hitting prospect Chavis has done well since being called up in late April. He is batting anywhere from fourth to seventh and should see plenty of at bats with runners in scoring position.
Brandon Lowe- 2B, Tampa Bay Rays, 46.2 percent
Lowe is the second Tampa Bay Ray on the watch list however he has been more deserving of a roster spot. He is currently batting .311 with eight home runs. Lowe is one of the better second basemen in the MLB.
Clint Frazier- OF, New York Yankees, 39.9 percent
Frazier missed 11 games while on the injured list. With a Yankees team that is banged up Frazier is going to be playing but owners should be cautious before adding him and see what he does in his first week back.
Chris Taylor- SS/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers, 36.1 percent
Chris Taylor is another player getting plenty of opportunities due to injury. Taylor has six runs batted in during the last seven games and should continue scoring as long as he is in the lineup. Pick him up as a short term streamer.
Danny Santana- OF/2B, Texas Rangers, 32.4 percent
The Texas Rangers have been a top three team in terms of run production and Santana has 15 runs and 11 RBI through 70 at bats. The Rangers plan to keep Santana in the lineup and he should continue to score.
Alex Verdugo- OF, Los Angeles Dodgers, 25.9 percent
Verdugo has impressed so far in 2019 by hitting .337 and keeping his strikeouts down. With A.J. Pollack on the injured list Verdugo has a path to every day playing time.
Gregory Polanco- OF, Pittsburgh Pirates, 22.2 percent
Polanco started 2019 on the injured list and doesn’t quite look 100 percent yet. Polanco stays on the watch list for now but when he starts to be closer to his normal self he’ll be worth an add.
Mitch Garver- C, Minnesota Twins, 20.9 percent
Garver is one of two catchers on this list and he proved deserving of a roster spot by putting two impressive games on recently. This could be the start for extended playing time for Garver keep him on the watch list.
Didi Gregorious- SS, New York Yankees, 18.7 percent
Gregorious is currently on the injured list but is on pace to return around the All-Star break. He has belted 20 plus homers each of the past three seasons. Once back in the Yankees lineup Gregorious is a must add.
Willians Astudillo- C, Minnesota Twins, 13.6 percent
The second catcher on the list plays for the same team as Garver. Astudillo though has been on the injured list and figures to see playing time in the field even if Garver stays behind the plate.
Niko Goodrum- 2B/1B/OF, Detroit Tigers, 12 percent
Goodrum looked good early on but recently returned to Earth with below average numbers. The potential he showed though is enough to keep him on the watch list.
Yordan Alvarez- OF, Houston Astros, 4.1 percent
Alvarez has been the most impressive minor league batter in 2019. He leads all minor leaguers with 13 home runs while hitting .390. Alvarez should be on everyone’s watch list and needs to be added if he’s promoted to the majors.
Featured image courtesy of Getty Images
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