Rotoworld’s brand-new Pickups of the Day column is designed to help fantasy managers uncover a handful of widely-available targets over the course of the season. It could be a breakout candidate, a prospect stash, an injury replacement, a pitcher with a favorable matchup or week, a player who is due some better luck, or any other number of scenarios. If there’s value to be found on the waiver wire, we will find it and bring it your way. Today’s edition features a defensive-oriented middle infielder in the midst of a potential offensive breakthrough for Tampa Bay, a temporary saves source in Los Angeles and an intriguing prospect worth stashing in Arizona.
Taylor Walls, 2B, 3B, SS, Rays
Available in 70 percent of Yahoo leagues
With an abundance of impactful early-season injuries at the shortstop position, Walls has unexpectedly emerged as a viable fill-in option for fantasy managers, especially in deeper mixed leagues. The 26-year-old switch-hitting infielder has gotten off to a sizzling-hot start at the dish this season, batting .350 (14-for-40) with 16 runs scored, three homers, eight RBI and one stolen base through 13 games. Perhaps more importantly than anything else, he’s been in Tampa Bays’ lineup for six of their last eight games, rotating between three infield spots.
He put together a monster performance during Tuesday’s blowout win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park, homering from both sides of the plate, and finishing 4-for-5 with four RBI. It was the first multi-homer game of his career and he’s gone deep three times in four games entering Friday’s series opener against the injury-riddled White Sox. Defensive wizardry has been his signature calling card throughout his career, which makes any offensive production a real bonus for Tampa Bay’s strong lineup. However, Walls appears to be making some legitimate strides at the plate and blossoming into a viable fantasy contributor. He’s at least worthy of a speculative roster spot in all fantasy formats.
Brusdar Graterol, RP, Dodgers
Available in 83 percent of Yahoo leagues
With Evan Phillips away on paternity leave for the next few days, Graterol is the most likely candidate to handle any save opportunities for Los Angeles in his absence. The hard-throwing 24-year-old right-hander was summoned to protect a four-run lead in the ninth inning on Thursday night against the Cubs and needed just seven pitches to retire the side in order. He struck out Trey Mancini and Tucker Barnhart on six pitches before coaxing a game-ending fly out from Nico Hoerner. It’s also worth noting that he was summoned on Tuesday to face the heart of the Mets’ lineup, in what would’ve been a save situation had the Dodgers not tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the prior frame, after Phillips tossed a scoreless eighth inning. He holds an impressive 3.12 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 10/1 K/BB ratio across 8 2/3 innings (nine appearances) this season. It certainly feels like Dodgers manager Dave Roberts enjoys having Phillips in more of a versatile fireman-type role, which means that Graterol could wind up getting a bunch of save chances over the rest of the year. It’s a situation fantasy managers should monitor closely.
Brandon Pfaadt, SP, Diamondbacks
Available in 86 percent of Yahoo leagues
On the heels of Arizona’s decision to jettison veteran southpaw Madison Bumgarner, Pfaadt authored a dominant performance for Triple-A Reno on Thursday evening, recording eight strikeouts over seven shutout innings. It’ll be Tommy Henry getting the first shot to take over Bumgarner’s spot in the Diamondbacks’ starting rotation, but it’s abundantly clear that Pfaadt possesses a much higher ceiling, especially from a fantasy perspective. The 24-year-old right-hander is one of the more intriguing pitching prospects in the game, thanks to his astronomical strikeout rate and might be worth a speculative stash for fantasy managers, especially in deeper mixed leagues, on the chance that he gets his opportunity for Arizona sooner than later.
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