This week’s fantasy baseball second baseman review will help you identify second basemen available in 50% or more of Yahoo! fantasy baseball leagues. For deep league players, the third is available in 85% or more of Yahoo! leagues.
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Neil Walker, Mets (36% owned)
Walker had a rough April, hitting a low of .195 on April 30, but since then he’s rocked a 1.046 OPS with a .352 average. In May, Walker has averaged nearly a RBI a game, coinciding with the Mets running a bit hot offensively. Still, Walker’s last couple of weeks can’t be denied. Walker is with pedigree, as he has an OPS over .750 in seven-of-eight seasons. He hit a career-high 23 home runs last year. If his May is more indicative than his April, then he should match that again this season. His average should tick up, as well, given his below-average (for him) BABIP right now. He’s hitting the ball as hard as he usually does, but he’s pulling it more. This portends legitimacy in average, and despite it not being a category, he leads the position in total bases in the last 14 days.
Ian Happ, Cubs (24% owned)
The Cubs insist their latest in a never-ending line of super-prospects will head back down to the minors after injuries resolve themselves. The Dodgers said the same thing about Cody Bellinger. While it’s entirely possible you’re relegating Happ back to the waiver wire in a week, he’s worth snatching up just in case. He profiles as a 15-15 or 20-20 guy, who should it for a decent average. He’s already smacked two dingers in fifteen plate appearances so far. He may force the Cubs’ hand, so grab him in case he’s his status as Next Great Cubs Prospect™ comes through in production.
Steve Pearce, Toronto (4% owned)
It doesn’t make much sense to recommend someone who is currently on the disabled list, but no player under 15% ownership was swinging a hotter bat. Pearce left Sunday’s contest with a hamstring injury that doesn’t appear too serious. If you can spare a DL slot (that’s a big if), he should be a steal when he gets back, which should be sooner rather than later. Before he went down with injury, he smacked four home runs with a .276 average in May. It should be a minimal delay for Pearce, who has a bit of pedigree to back this up.