MLB FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

This FAAB article is in addition to the AL and NL FAAB articles that run Sunday. Bids are based on a $100 FAAB budget. Throughout the season, this column will have two goals:

1. Identify FAAB targets for fantasy managers in leagues with Thursday FAAB.

2. Offer a preview of FAAB targets ahead of Sunday's columns.

The Rays called up another top prospect in Vidal Brujan to serve as the 27th man in Wednesday's doubleheader. Although he was sent down following the twin bill, he could return at some point and is one of several position players who could offer fantasy value ahead of the All-Star break. A handful of teams have also shuffled their closers recently, so there are plenty of relievers who could provide additional saves, at least in the near future.

Starting Pitcher

Kwang Hyun Kim, Cardinals: Kim had been charged with losses in five of six starts between mid-May and mid-July, but he's been more effective recently and has picked up back-to-back wins in his last pair of starts. During that time, the southpaw has allowed one run on six hits and five walks while striking out seven in 12 innings. Kim should make one more start against the faltering Cubs prior to the All-Star break and could provide value during the second half of the season. FAAB: $7

Shane Baz, Rays: Fantasy managers searching for a starter to stash for the second half could find one in Baz, who was promoted to Triple-A Durham in mid-June. He's made four starts since and has dazzled with a 1.42 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB in 19 innings. The 22-year-old righty could secure a rotation spot sometime in the 2021 season, especially if Tyler Glasnow remains sidelined late into the year. FAAB: $4

Alex Cobb, Angels: Cobb has been relatively inconsistent in the first half of the season, but he posted his longest outing of the year Saturday and has now picked up five wins in his last seven starts. He's had three outings in which he gave up at least five runs during that time, but he still had a 4.12 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 39.1 innings in those seven outings. The right-hander has had polarizing results in 2021, but his flashes of dominance make him worth considering ahead of the second half of the year. FAAB: $4

Wily Peralta, Tigers: Prior to being called up by the Tigers in mid-June, Peralta hadn't made a major league appearance since 2019. The right-hander has made five appearances (four starts) since joining the big-league roster, and his stat line has been slightly skewed by his June 19 start in which he gave up five runs in five innings. He's been much more effective since then, as he's allowed one unearned run on six hits and two walks while striking out 11 in 14.2 innings in his last three outings. Peralta isn't guaranteed to keep his rotation spot after the All-Star break once Matthew Boyd returns from his forearm injury, but he's made a strong case to stick around recently. FAAB: $3

Tyler Anderson, Pirates: Anderson has a 4-8 record along with a 4.39 ERA and 1.19 WHIP to begin the season, but he ended the Brewers' recent winning streak by tossing seven scoreless innings Sunday, his first scoreless outing of the season. The southpaw has now recorded quality starts in two of his last three appearances, and he's posted a 2.41 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in 18.2 innings during that time. Anderson has been relatively unreliable throughout much of the first half of 2021, but he's been more effective recently and has a favorable matchup against the Mets ahead of the All-Star break. FAAB: $3

Relief Pitcher

Joakim Soria, Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks have the worst record in baseball and aren't in position for many saves as a result, but Soria has been called upon in high-leverage situations after Stefan Crichton was outrighted to Triple-A Reno in late June. Soria hasn't allowed any runs in five innings across his last five appearances, and he's picked up a win and two saves during that time. The right-hander could be included in trade talks prior to the end of July if he continues to pitch well, but he appears to have a fairly secure role as Arizona's closer. FAAB: $8

Cole Sulser, Orioles: Sulser gave up two runs in a third of an inning to take the loss in his most recent appearance, but he had earned saves in two of his previous three outings. The Orioles have shuffled through closers during the first half of the season, but Sulser now appears to be the slight favorite after he posted a 2.61 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 31 innings across 28 outings this year. While the right-hander could be removed from the role if he struggles, he could at least be an option for short-term saves. FAAB: $6

Chad Green, Yankees: Yankees relievers not named Aroldis Chapman tend to have limited fantasy value, but Green picked up his third save of the season Wednesday amid Chapman's recent struggles. Chapman has posted an 18.90 ERA and 3.90 WHIP in 6.2 innings in his last 10 appearances, so it's possible that Green could be used as a short-term closer, at least until Chapman returns to form. Across Green's last 10 outings, he's posted a 0.57 ERA, 0.45 WHIP and 21:1 K:BB with three wins, a save and three holds in 15.2 innings. The right-hander has been a dominant reliever during the first half of the season and could be an option for saves, at least in a short-term capacity. FAAB: $5

Heath Hembree, Reds: The Reds have also rotated through a committee approach during the first half of the season, but Hembree has earned saves in three of his last four outings. Although the right-hander was charged with the blown save Tuesday, he was still called on Wednesday to earn his fourth save of the season by striking out one in a perfect ninth inning. Hembree's long-term outlook for saves is somewhat questionable, but he appears to have manager David Bell's trust. FAAB: $5

Catcher

Eric Haase, Tigers: Haase still has had to compete for playing time with Jake Rogers at catcher recently, but he also started in left field and has been dominant the last week. Although he went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts as the designated hitter Wednesday, he had gone 7-for-18 with four home runs, a double, 11 RBIs and seven runs in his previous five appearances. The 28-year-old could see an uptick in playing time during the second half of the season if he remains productive at the plate. FAAB: $3

Elias Diaz, Rockies: Diaz is hitting just .205 this season, but he's still served as the Rockies' primary catcher recently. The 30-year-old has been dominant across his last six appearances, as he's gone 8-for-21 with three home runs, two doubles, six RBIs and four runs during that time. While his batting average to begin the year has left something to be desired, Diaz has the advantage of playing his home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field, and he's certainly showcased increased power recently. FAAB: $2

John Hicks, Rangers: Like Haase, Hicks has had to compete for playing time with Jonah Heim behind the dish recently, but the Rangers entered him into the lineup as the designated hitter Wednesday. The 31-year-old went 1-for-4 with a strikeout Wednesday, but he's now gone 7-for-16 with four home runs, six RBIs and six walks across his last six starts. He could lose out on his roster spot once Jose Trevino return from a forearm injury sometime after the All-Star break, but he could be worth adding in deeper leagues for teams in need of a short-term catcher. FAAB: $1

First Base

Garrett Cooper, Marlins: Cooper has been dominant recently and has now posted four multi-hit performances in his last 11 appearances. He put up one of his most productive games of the season in Wednesday's loss to the Dodgers when he went 3-for-3 with two solo home runs and a walk, and he's now hit .483 with four homers, two doubles, nine runs, nine RBIs and a stolen base across his last 11 games. The 30-year-old has carved out more consistent at-bats recently, and he could be worth rostering, especially in deeper leagues. FAAB: $4

Second Base

Vidal Brujan, Rays: Brujan made his major league debut in Wednesday's doubleheader against Cleveland and went 1-for-6 with a run, an RBI and a stolen base. Although he was the 27th man for the twin bill, the 23-year-old could return to the the major league roster in the near future, especially while Manuel Margot is on the injured list. Brujan is among the Rays' top prospects, and he's a versatile fielder who could secure a regular role in the lineup during the second half of the season. FAAB: $10

Cesar Hernandez, Cleveland: Hernandez was unable to generate much offensive production in Wednesday's twin bill, but he had homered in two of his four games prior to the doubleheader. He put up a pair of multi-hit performances during that time and went 5-for-16 with two home runs, a double, five RBIs and four runs. The 31-year-old's .223 batting average at this point would be the lowest of his career if the season ended today, but his 14 home runs rank one behind his season-high 15 that he set with the Phillies in 2018. Hernandez's ability to produce runs is limited as the leadoff man, but he's displayed increased power during the first half of the 2021 campaign. FAAB: $2

Third Base

Starlin Castro, Nationals: Castro turned in a dominant performance Wednesday when he went 2-for-6 with a double, three RBIs and a run in the win over the Padres. He extended his hitting streak to 10 games, and he's recorded multiple hits on five of those occasions. During his hitting streak, the 31-year-old has hit .429 with a homer, three doubles, 10 RBIs and seven runs. Castro has only three home runs in his first 83 games of the season, but he has a .321 on-base percentage and has been an everyday player for the Nationals. FAAB: $6

Jeimer Candelario, Tigers: Candelario hasn't displayed stellar power this year with just five home runs across his first 77 games, but he's gone 7-for-15 with a home run, three doubles, five runs and two RBIs in his last four appearances. The 27-year-old has a .331 on-base percentage with 36 runs and 24 RBIs this year, and he's been a modest fantasy contributor who has shown increased results recently. FAAB: $4

Shortstop

Jose Iglesias, Angels: Iglesias has demonstrated modest power and the ability to produce runs early in the 2021 campaign, as he's slashing .273/.306/.392 with seven homers, 35 runs, 27 RBIs and five stolen bases to begin the year. The 31-year-old has been especially productive recently, as he's posted a .394 on-base percentage with two home runs, a double, six runs, six RBIs and a stolen base across the last nine games. Iglesias has been quite productive at getting on base this season. He's also displayed modest counting stats and is a worthwhile pickup in deeper leagues. FAAB: $3

Elvis Andrus, Athletics: Andrus didn't have any home runs the first three months of the season, but he's now homered twice in the last five games. He's also recorded hits in two of those appearances and has gone 7-for-21 with two home runs, a double, four RBIs, four runs and a stolen base during that time. The 32-year-old is hitting only .234 this year, but he's recorded 17 runs, 14 RBIs and five stolen bases since June 1. Andrus had a slow start to the year but has shown signs of turning things around recently. FAAB: $2

Outfield

Eloy Jimenez, White Sox: Jimenez has been out since spring training due to a pectoral injury that required surgery, but he'll begin a rehab assignment Friday and could rejoin the White Sox relatively early in the second half of the season if all goes well. The 24-year-old likely will have consistent playing time as an outfielder and as the designated hitter once he's cleared to return after he slashed .296/.332/.559 with 14 home runs, 41 RBIs and 26 runs in 55 games last season. If Jimenez is available in your fantasy league, he's worth rostering ahead of the All-Star break, especially if you have an expendable bench player or an open spot on the IL. FAAB: $13

Ben Gamel, Pirates: Gamel went 0-for-10 with five strikeouts across his final three games in June, but he's hit the ground running to begin July. The 29-year-old has a seven-game hitting streak since July 1, and he's posted a .500 on-base percentage with four home runs, two doubles, eight RBIs and eight runs during that time. Gamel has only six homers, 19 runs and 14 RBIs this season, but his recent surge in production makes him worth considering in deeper leagues. FAAB: $3

Gavin Sheets, White Sox: Sheets gained a much more consistent path to playing time Wednesday when Adam Eaton was designated for assignment by the White Sox. The 25-year-old now appears to be in line to serve as the primary right fielder, and he's drawn nine consecutive starts. Sheets has flashed some power during that time, as he slashed .267/.343/.567 with two home runs, three doubles, eight RBIs and three runs. His outlook for playing time could be more complicated once Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert return to action, but he's been trusted with consistent playing time recently. FAAB: $3