Need a boost in batting average and on-base percentage for your fantasy baseball team? Try these two options who are likely available on the waiver wire.
Jose Iglesias
Detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias likely drives fantasy baseball owners nuts. It’s not that he doesn’t produce at a top-notch clip in batting average and on-base percentage; it’s that he doesn’t provide anything else.
Iglesias has played in 73 games for a total of 241 at-bats this year. He doesn’t match up well with other shortstops in that category, ranking 22nd among shortstops. To illustrate how far behind he is from other shortstops, Miami Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria is ranked 11th among shortstops with 300 at-bats.
It’s not that the Tigers want to keep Iglesias on the bench. The problem with Iglesias so far in his career is that he’s injury-prone, and has missed more time this year.
If he’s healthy, he’s shown he can get on base, but once he’s there, he doesn’t have much value. His season totals of 19 runs, one home run and 15 RBIs are well below the top spots for shortstops.
So why should fantasy baseball owners consider picking up Iglesias? He ranks in the upper echelon of shortstops in stolen bases, batting average and on-base percentage. His nine stolen bases are ranked fourth, while his on-base percentage of .376 and batting average of .324 are ranked first among shortstops.
He is elite in multiple categories for his position, so if he stays healthy, he may be a nice addition for the season’s second half.
Nick Markakis
Atlanta Braves outfielder Nick Markakis won’t provide fantasy baseball owners with power. So far this season he has no homers.
However, he can offer an upper tier batting average and on-base percentage.
Markakis is batting .296 with a .381 on-base percentage. He’s also likely available on the waiver wire in most fantasy baseball leagues.
His on-base percentage ranks seventh among outfielders in Major League Baseball, while his batting average is 12th. The players ahead of him are heavily owned in fantasy baseball leagues, so if owners are in a pinch for better production in those two categories, Markakis can provide quality statistics.
He also is providing these numbers while accumulating plenty of at-bats. He ranks fifth among outfielders in at-bats this season with 321.
To reap other benefits from Markakis will be a stretch. However, he does rank in the top 30 among outfielders with 12 RBIs in his 28 games.
Markakis should only be owned if fantasy baseball owners are in need of added production in batting average and on-base percentage. Otherwise, he can stay on the waiver wire.
