Every Sunday, theScore's MLB editors will shed light on three potential targets to claim on the waiver wire in your fantasy league in a player-versus-player format. *Players must be owned in 30 percent or less of Yahoo fantasy leagues to qualify.
Mark Buehrle vs. CC Sabathia
Mark Buehrle has been the beneficiary of the Toronto Blue Jays' league-leading offense, as the 36-year-old has picked up four wins through his first six starts despite sporting a gaudy 6.00 ERA and 1.85 WHIP - worst among qualified starting pitchers. Buehrle allowed just one run off six hits in his last start, but was limited to just five innings and 77 pitches, as he's reportedly dealing with a sore back. He's allowed three or fewer runs in four of his six starts and has managed a sub-4.00 ERA in three of his last four seasons, so the inflated number to start the season is sure to settle down, though he's unlikely to give you much value in strikeouts.
While Buehrle has been lucky to collect wins, CC Sabathia has been a hard-luck loser, as the southpaw is 0-5 to start the season. The Yankees' offense has given him just 13 runs of support across six starts, though his 5.45 ERA isn't helping his case. The 34-year-old's typical strikeout numbers have been lowered by a decrease in velocity and he appears to be right where he left off a season ago before undergoing knee surgery.
Player
W
K
ERA
WHIP
Buehrle
4
14
6.00
1.85
Sabathia
0
29
5.45
1.45
Pick: Buehrle has shown signs of putting things together despite a pair of shaky starts and is the better bet to get a handle on his season after a couple of rough outings. Sabathia is coming off major knee surgery, and his past three seasons show the former six-time All-Star's career and confidence are fading.
Yangervis Solarte vs. Justin Turner
Yangervis Solarte has used his defensive versatility to get his bat into the San Diego Padres' lineup and could become a permanent fixture if Will Middlebrooks and Jedd Gyorko continue to disappoint. Solarte, who's hitting .311/.354/.378 with nine RBIs over his last 12 games, is no stranger to hot starts. Last season with the Yankees, he hit .299/.369/.466 with six home runs and 26 RBIs through his first 49 games before seeing his average plummet to .237/.317/.312 with four home runs over the following 82 games. Justin Turner has made a nice home with the Los Angeles Dodgers as manager Don Mattingly has found success bringing the veteran infielder off the bench over the past two seasons. The 30-year-old is hitting .389/.500/.944 with three home runs over the past week and could see more time should Juan Uribe continue to scuffle. Turner managed 322 plate appearances last season and is on pace to likely equal that number this year.
Player
R
HR
RBI
SB
AVG
Solarte
8
2
18
1
.297
Turner
9
4
10
0
.314
Pick: Both players offer three-position eligibility, which is a nice perk for owners, but Solarte appears destined for more playing time with more of his Padres teammates struggling. Turner's role seems to be as the extra infielder, so ride Solarte's strong start now in case it fizzles out like last season.
Carlos Beltran vs. Michael Morse
After a 11-for-68 (.161) start, Carlos Beltran has begun to heat up in May, hitting .267/.267/.400 since the turn of the calendar. Still searching for his first home run of the season, Beltran has collected four doubles over his last eight games and manager Joe Girardi hasn't wavered in his confidence in the 10-time All-Star, continuing to pencil him into the lineup. Michael Morse has been terrible in his first month with the Miami Marlins. The first baseman has already been benched after hitting .204 with just four extra-base hits. Despite hitting in the middle of the order, Morse is 5-for-27 with runners in scoring position while striking out eight times. The last time the 33-year-old had such a poor start was 2011 - when he went on to have a career year.
Player
R
HR
RBI
SB
AVG
Morse
4
2
8
0
.204
Beltran
6
0
12
0
.194
Pick: Morse still gets the benefit of the doubt that he'll snap out of his funk as his opportunities to hit fourth and fifth in the lineup should give him ample chances to drive in runs. While Girardi has shown confidence in Beltran, Chris Young continues to impress with his bat and could eventually take over the starting job.
