Hot wire: 10 players to pick up in fantasy

April 26th, 2017

Could your fantasy team use more power? What about steals? Runs, RBIs or wins?
Regardless of your holes, the fantasy waiver wire has a plug or long-term fix to pick up today. Check the following 10 players -- all sitting in waivers in many leagues, and all ready to help you win.
, catcher, Padres
Hedges was a popular sleeper in 2017 drafts after hitting .326 with 21 homers and 82 RBIs across 313 at-bats in Triple-A last season. The 24-year-old has shown plus power thus far in his debut season (six homers across 63 at-bats), and his .175 batting mark will likely rise when he experiences better batted-ball fortune (.128 BABIP).
Consider in: 12-team mixed leagues
Cody Bellinger, first baseman, Dodgers
With 61 homers and 189 RBIs since the outset of 2015, Bellinger represents one of the top power prospects in all of baseball. The lefty slugger may not hit for a high average out of the gate if his swing-and-miss tendencies carry over from the Minors, but he nonetheless should be added in all leagues given his potential to mash from the middle of a formidable Dodgers lineup.
Consider in: 10-team mixed leagues

, first baseman, Mariners
Like Hedges, Vogelbach entered 2017 Spring Training as a popular fantasy sleeper. The slugger seemed set to hold the heavy side of a first-base platoon with Danny Valencia before hitting .228 in Spring Training and being optioned to the Minors on March 23. Recalled on April 23 after opening the season with a .309/.409/.473 slash line with Triple-A Tacoma, Vogelbach -- who compiled 23 homers and 96 RBIs across 459 at-bats in the Minors last season -- is now set to receive regular playing time in the coming weeks.
Consider in: 15-team mixed leagues
, second baseman, Braves
Phillips is off to a terrific start this season, hitting .343 with two homers and five steals across 74 plate appearances. His April success, combined with early-season struggles by youngster Dansby Swanson, has prompted manager Brian Snitker to move the 35-year-old to a premium lineup spot in recent days. Phillips will likely never match the elite production from his prime years with the Reds. But he can provide shallow-league teams with a helpful batting mark and double-digit totals in homers and swipes.
Consider in: 10-team mixed leagues

, second baseman, Blue Jays
A lifetime .301 hitter prior to 2017, Travis is batting just .125 this year while dealing with the unfortunate outcomes of a .140 BABIP. With an Expected Batting Average of .249, the 26-year-old could be set to reverse course and produce a respectable batting mark the rest of the way. And a few base knocks could prompt manager John Gibbons to return Travis to the leadoff spot he held at the outset of the year.
Consider in: 12-team mixed leagues
, outfielder, Rays
Perhaps overshadowed by his own defensive wizardry, Kiermaier has not received a great deal of offensive acclaim in fantasy circles. But since Sept. 1 of last season, he has hit .272 with six homers and 12 steals across 205 plate appearances. According to MLB.com's rest-of-season projection, Kiermaier should produce more than 10 homers, 80 runs and 25 steals as the Rays' regular No. 2 hitter.
Consider in: 12-team mixed leagues
, outfielder, Reds
Schebler is sitting on waivers in most mixed leagues as a result of his .186 average thus far in 2017. But those who take a closer look will note that he has shown plus power skills (five homers across 70 at-bats) and is likely to post a better batting mark once he experiences a normalization of his .170 BABIP.
Consider in: 15-team mixed leagues

, starter, Blue Jays
Liriano has bounced back from a disappointing season debut, posting a 2.08 ERA and a 9.4 K/9 rate across his past three outings. With a 9.3 K/9 rate and a 3.36 ERA since joining the Blue Jays on Aug. 1 of last year, the left-hander could help those in shallow formats as long as he avoids inconsistency in the coming weeks.
Consider in: 10-team mixed leagues
, starter, Cardinals
Lynn has shown little sign of rust after missing all of 2016 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, posting a 2.70 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP across his initial four outings this season. With a lifetime 3.35 ERA and an 8.7 K/9 rate, the right-hander should be given the benefit of the doubt by owners who are wondering if he can produce consistent results after such a long layoff.
Consider in: 12-team mixed leagues
, reliever, Giants
Last year, Blach posted a solid 3.43 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP in Triple-A before aiding the Giants' postseason push by logging a 1.06 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP across 17 stretch-run innings in the Majors. Set to hold 's rotation spot for at least two months, the left-hander could use his pitcher-friendly home venue and quality battery-mate (Buster Posey) to provide solid ratios for mixed-league teams.
Consider in: 15-team mixed leagues

, reliever, Phillies
Phillies manager Pete Mackanin reversed course quickly after naming as the team's closer Week 1, giving Neris a pair of save chances last week. The right-hander converted both opportunities, and he has shown the necessary skills since the outset of last season (2.48 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 11.2 K/9 rate) to offer hope that he is ready to run with the ninth-inning gig.
Consider in: 10-team mixed leagues