FANTASY FURNACE

The season is now 1/3 over and we will be headed into the All-Star break before we know it. Here are a few of our waiver wire pickups entering week #10 and as a little bonus, we’ve thrown in some 2-start pitchers for the week so those that are in weekly leagues can have a head start and a head’s up…

Gordon Beckham-2B-White Sox-Surprised that this former 1st round pick in the 2008 draft is still so unowned. While riding a ten-game hitting streak, Beckham has batted .348, hit three home runs and has eight RBI. Although he is still batting just above the ‘Mendoza Line’ at .238, his average has risen 30 points during his streak. He is on course to surpass his career high in HR (14) as he presently is holding at 8 with 2/3 of the season to go. Owned only in around 15% of leagues, he should be owned in 12+ team leagues and deeper.

Lightly owned #15 Gordon Beckham is on track to eclipse his career HR mark. Photo: Warren Wimmer/The Chicago Sports/Icon SMI

Justin Smoak-1B-Mariners- Another former 1st rounder in the same draft as Gordon Beckham above, is Justin Smoak who has been ‘smoking’ at the plate. He has hit safely in 11 out of his last 14 games good for a .333 clip to go along with 6 home runs and 17 RBI. He won’t hit for average over the course of a full season, but his current numbers projected over the rest of the season, shows Smoak finishing with 20 HR and 75 RBI which, for the Mariners, would make him ‘Ruth-Like’…Highly touted when he first came into the league with the Texas Rangers, Smoak was the 3rd most picked up player over the past four days. Only owned in 25% of leagues, we’re recommending him in deeper or A.L. only leagues.

Felix Doubront-SP/RP-Red Sox- This 24 year old southpaw is our ‘Must-Add’ player of the week! In his first full season with the Red Sox, Doubront has been the most dependable starter on Boston’s staff by far. He has the most strikeouts (66) in 62 1/3 innings pitched and has the lowest ERA (3.75) of any other starter. Over his last six starts, Doubront is 5-1, which rivals any other team’s ace on their staff. He has been prone to giving up the long ball, 5 over the past three games, but 66 K’s to 25 BB indicates to us that he has excellent control. Doubront is owned in 40% of leagues and has been getting grabbed by savvy team owners at high rates since his last win on Saturday. He should be owned in all leagues.

SP/RP Felix Doubront has become Boston’e most reliable starting pitcher so far this season. The Furnace’s ‘Must Add’ this week. Photo: Mike Stobe – Getty Images

Quintin Berry-OF-Tigers- Since being named the Tiger’s starting center fielder on May 23rd, Berry had played in 11 games and the speedster has taken advantage of the opportunity by hitting safely in all but one of the 11. He’s batting .362, has scored 11 runs and stolen 6 bases. In his last four games he’s an unbelievable 8-18, .444, and has shown no signs of letting up. He has had 3 hits in a game three times in his last 7 games. It’s a small sample to be sure for this rookie who has spent several years in the minors before getting this chance, but we suggest at least taking out a flier on Berry or at best, picking him up in A.L. leagues only for the moment. Owned only in less than 10% of leagues, he’s worth the watch…

Recommended Pitchers with 2 Starts in Week 10:

Jason Vargas: @LAA (Richards), LAD (Billingsley)

Jon Lester: BALT. (Arrieta), WASH. (Jackson)

Homer Bailey: PITT. (Morton), DET (Scherzer)

Jeff Smardzija: @SF (Vogelsong), @MIN. (Diamond)