With the first weekend of baseball in the books, teams like the Mets and the defending World Series Champion Giants are ready to play in front of their fans and get some must needed home cooking. With injuries already piling up, everyone is looking for replacement hitters and starters to bring their team back from a dreadful first week. Here is a list of players to will impact Saturday and Sunday, and are likely sitting on your waiver wire.
Mitch Moreland – With the Rangers having so much offense Moreland can easily get overlooked, but this weekend in Baltimore is not the time to do it. Moreland is likely to sit out Friday night, but he should be in the lineup Saturday and Sunday against Jake Arrieta and Jeremy Guthrie. Moreland is held back by playing time in Texas, but when in the batter’s box he shines. A lefty with immense power, even in 450 at bats, Moreland should hit 20 homeruns. This weekend, happens to be one of those weekend where he should be relied on in all mixed leagues with two righties on the mound.
Brennan Boesch – Just like in 2010, Boesch is off to a hot start with a .421 BA, 1HR and 5RBI through 19 at bats. While I don’t like the long term outlook on Boesch, hitting in front of Miguel Cabrera or behind Victor Martinez will have the 25 year old seeing a great pitch selection. On Sunday, Boesch is a must play in AL only leagues with the erratic Luke Hochevar taking the mound and his career 5.61 era. Boesch is one of the players who you must ride when the iron is hot, so get him into your lineup before he cools down mid-summer.
Anibal Sanchez – There is a myth throughout baseball that Minute Maid Park is made for hitters, but history has proved otherwise. Knowing this, Sanchez who’s healthy for consecutive seasons, is a safe bet for stellar performance on Sunday. In 2010, Sanchez put together a healthy season for the Marlins sporting a 3.55and a 7.2 K/9. Sanchez is likely owned in NL only leagues, but in mixed leagues he makes for a nice back of the rotation starter. The Astros lack lefties 1-9, so Sanchez should breeze by one of baseball’s worst lineups.
Chris Young – Over the past five seasons Chris Young at Petco Park was money in the bank for a quality start. The veteran right hander posted a 2.85 era in Petco, and with the move to the Mets, his home dominance should continue. The swap of stadiums could benefit Young as a fly ball pitcher. Mets starters have a HR/FB rate of 7.4% is the best in the majors over the last two seasons, With the Nationals coming to Citi Field with a predominantly right handed lineup, Young is worth taking a flier on if you are chasing era while needing a win in head to head leagues.
Barry Zito -, Barry Zito’s matchup with the Cardinals on Sunday on paper reads like a bad idea, but it could turn out to be one of the weekends dominant performances. St. Louis comes into this three game series ranked 28th in runs and 23rd in BA, in what could be a season long dilema. Zito on the other hand dominated April in 2010 with a 1.53 era, and tossed a quality start in Los Angeles last weekend, going six strong, striking out five and allowing three runs. Like Young, Zito is worth the gamble in head to head leagues pitching in a favorable park vs. a subpar offense.