2023 Fantasy Baseball Week 1B Waiver Wire Pickups: Adam Duvall, Zach Eflin Lead The Way!
As the 2023 MLB season enters its second week, fantasy baseball owners are already scrambling to find the best waiver wire pickups to improve their teams. Injuries, slumps, and unexpected performances can all lead to unexpected opportunities for fantasy managers to improve their rosters. In this article, we will take a look at the top fantasy baseball pickups heading into the second half of Week 1 of the 2023 season.
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Top Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups
OF Adam Duvall, Boston Red Sox (69% Owned)
Duvall’s roster percentage has jumped more than 20% after a big weekend. He’s currently the No. 1 ranked player in all of fantasy baseball., Duvall is on an absolute tear in his debut season with the Red Sox. He was named the American League Player of the Week after slugging two homers, producing eight RBIs, and scoring six runs while hitting .571 from the plate over his first three games against the Baltimore Orioles. He may not hit 35+ homers as he did back in his prime but a new environment was absolutely what the doctor ordered for Duvall. He’s absolutely worthy of a roster spot after his red-hot start to the season.
SP Zach Eflin, Tampa Bay Rays (48% Owned)
Eflin should be owned across all league formats so if he’s somehow still available, go scoop him up immediately, even in the shallowest of formats. Although health is a worry with Eflin, he has flashed potential many times and appears to be poised for a breakout season with the Rays. Tampa Bay’s coaching staff is known for improving pitchers and Eflin absolutely dominated in his season debut. The soon-to-be 29-year-old allowed just four base runners in five innings while striking out five batters and issuing one walk. He allowed one run in the 12-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers. With a strong lineup, Eflin should get a ton of run support this year, allowing him to rack up wins with solid peripheral stats.
3B Yoan Moncada, Chicago White Sox (43% Owned)
Moncada was expected to break out when he first entered the league but things have taken a bit longer than anticipated for him to get used to the big leagues. Heading into today, Moncada was hitting .444 with two homers, four RBIs, and three runs scored. Moncada could be ready for that breakout season so don’t hesitate to add him to your roster.
2B/3B Nolan Gorman, St. Louis Cardinals (37% Owned)
The young second baseman out of St. Louis is off to a strong start in 2023. He has moved up from seventh to sixth in the Cardinals’ potent lineup and is batting .444 through the first three games of the season. Through that stretch, he has two longballs (both of which he hit yesterday against the Blue Jays) and six RBIs. Considering the lack of depth at the position, Gorman is absolutely worthy of a speculative add, particularly in 12-team leagues.
OF Trayce Thompson, Los Angeles Dodgers (26% Owned)
Thompson may be a platoon player but after missing the first two games of the season, he went bonkers on April 1 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The kid hit three homers while logging eight RBIs in a single game. That’s something to write home about. He followed that up with an 0-4 performance yesterday but clearly, Thompson has some serious upside. He’s worth adding if you have an extra spot on your roster.
SP Mike Clevinger, Chicago White Sox (21% Owned)
Clevinger hasn’t been the same since he left Cleveland but he was unhittable in his first start of the season against the powerhouse Houston Astros. Clevinger threw five innings of no-run ball while issuing eight strikeouts. Clevinger averaged 94.7 mph with his fastball, up from 93.6 mph last year in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. It's a sign that he might offer some mixed-league value this year, and he certainly makes for an intriguing streaming option with a start against the Pirates (and Vince Velasquez) on deck.
SP Tylor Megill, New York Mets (18% Owned)
With Justin Verlander injured to begin the season, Megill is back in the fantasy baseball landscape. In his first six starts of the 2022 season, Megill had a 2.43 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP with a 9.7 K/9 rate before he imploded. That said, he entered Spring Training down 15 pounds and put up solid stats in his first start of the season against the Miami Marlins. He pitches at Citi Field, one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in baseball, and plays for a team that is expected to win at least 90 games. Megill could be a diamond in the rough this year after allowing two runs in five innings in his first win of the season.
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In conclusion, this week of the 2023 MLB season presents a great opportunity for fantasy baseball owners to add some valuable players to their rosters. From top prospects to under-the-radar performers, there are plenty of options available on the waiver wire to help you improve your team's chances of success. Be sure to keep an eye on these top pickups and act quickly to add them to your team before someone else beats you to it. Don't forget to utilize the Fantasy Assistant for more waiver wire recommendations!
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