Kuzul

Once upon a time Tim Lincecum was one of the elite pitchers in the game…

When you say it like that it feels like ages ago, doesn’t it?  Of course, that’s far from the case.  Lincecum was one of the best pitchers in the league as recently as last season and viewed by most as a Top 5 option entering 2012.  So, when you see these types of numbers through 8 starts, you obviously have to be curious as to what is going on:

2 Wins
43.2 Innings
5.77 ERA
1.56 WHIP
48 Strikeouts (9.89 K/9)
22 Walks (4.53 BB/9)
.346 BABIP

Yes, there has been enough bad luck at play (his BABIP as well as his 60.4% strand rate) to make us think that better days are definitely ahead.  That’s definitely a fair stance to take, but we need to look at the other numbers as well.  Unfortunately, there are things that have got to be concerning.

The first one is his control.  Prior to this season his worst career BB/9 was 4.00, and that came in his rookie season of 2007.  In the four subsequent seasons he’s posted marks of:

• 2008 – 3.33
• 2009 – 2.72
• 2010 – 3.22
• 2011 – 3.57

In other words, we know he has better control then what he’s shown thus far this season.  You would have to think that, if healthy, things would rebound in this department.

The other major concern is two-fold.  Opponents are teeing off on Lincecum, with a 24.8% line drive rate (career mark is 19.3%) and, at least in part, we can point to a major drop-off in his velocity as a reason why.  Just look at his average fastball speed since making his Major League debut:

• 2007 – 94.2
• 2008 – 94.1
• 2009 – 92.4
• 2010 – 91.3
• 2011 – 92.3
• 2012 – 90.0

It’s obvious that we shouldn’t expect him to be averaging 94 mph, like he did over his first two years.  Whatever the reason (if he simply changed his approach), he had dialed it back and was still among the most successful starting pitchers in the league.  However, seeing the drop once again, coupled with the line drive rate, is obviously eye opening.

There is going to be speculation that he’s injured, but until there’s news from San Francisco that is just pure speculation.  Whatever the reason, Lincecum is throwing his fastball softer (though still throwing it 51.9% of the time) and opponents are ripping it.

Would I think that he’s going to get things turned around?  I would, but there obviously have to be a few caveats like if he’s healthy and if he can get his velocity back up.

That said, I’d be willing to roll the dice on him if an owner in your league has grown frustrated and is willing to part with him on the cheap.  If I had to pay a premium for the pitcher he was from 2007-2011, or at least that upside, then I’m not buying.  There is too much risk and too many things that need to change for him to get back to that pitcher.

If I can get him at the price/risk his 2012 numbers provide, then I’m willing to roll the dice.  Unfortunately, based on what we’ve seen thus far, I’m not so comfortable that he’s going to return to the pitcher that he was.

What are your thoughts on Lincecum?  Would you be willing to take the chance on him?  What would you be willing to give up to acquire him?

Make sure to check out Rotoprofessor’s recent rankings:

Make sure to check out some of our other recent rankings:

• Catchers (as of 5/10/12)
• Second Basemen (as of 5/19/12)
• Third Basemen (as of 5/11/12)
• Closers (as of 5/16/12)

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The “Fabulous Foursome” is a new column here at Rotoprofessor that we are going to run once a week focusing on four players fantasy owners should be looking to acquire for various reasons (for example, a new closer, prospect on the verge of a recall, buy-low candidates, etc.). 

Let’s take a look at who you should be targeting this week:

1) Eric Hosmer—Kansas City Royals—First Baseman
He was impressive in his rookie season (.293, 19 HR, 78 RBI, 66 R, 11 SB in 523 AB).  That’s what makes his early season struggles so surprising.  Would anyone have expected him to open the year hitting a measly .174 over his first 144 AB?

Yes, he’s added 5 HR, 18 RBI and 16 R, but it’s not hard to imagine owners in your league not being willing to overlook the pathetic average that is staring them in the face.  You know some people will equate this to a sophomore slump, which could provide you with an opportunity to cash in.

Granted, Hosmer is not hitting the ball with as much authority as he did in 2011 (15.2 percent vs. 18.7 percent), which is a little bit concerning.  However, that drop-off should not equate to a complete collapse in production.  He has the ability to hit for a much higher average and, sooner or later, things would indicate that he’s going to get there:

• He is continuing to make great contact, with an 11.5 percent strikeout rate
• When he puts the ball in play, he has had awful luck with a .165 BABIP (the worst number among players with at least 100 plate appearances)

Does anyone really think that he’s going to continue to be this bad?  It’s hard to imagine.  The Royals have begun moving him around the lineup a little bit in order to get him going, but you know once he starts to hit he’ll settle right back into the middle.

Could the Royals opt to send the 22-year old back to Triple-A to try and snap out of this struggle?  It’s possible, but don’t let that deter you.  If other people are talking about that, his value is only going to fall a little bit more.  And, the fact is, a stop in the minors could easily help him get things back on track.

Now is the perfect time to try and get him at a discount from another owner.  The luck is going to turn around and you may not get a better opportunity to acquire him.  Remember, he is the same player who hit .293 in 2011 and .312 for his minor league career.  Stay patient.

2) Jerry Sands—Los Angeles Dodgers—Outfielder/First Baseman

Even before the Dodgers lost Matt Kemp to the 15-day disabled list, one could argue that they needed offensive help at first base (in place of James Loney) or in the outfield (in place of Bobby Abreu/Tony Gwynn Jr. who are seeing time due to Juan Rivera being on the DL). 

So, the fact that they are giving Sands an opportunity should not surprise anyone.  Also, if he hits during this current audition, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he sticks around in the everyday lineup.

Over Sands’ minor league career (1,421 AB) he’s hit .284 with 100 HR and 300 RBI.  The power has really been burgeoning in recent years:

• 35 HR in 2010 (between Single & Double-A)
• 33 HR in 2011 (between Triple-A & the Majors)

The fact that he’s shown power at every level helps to stop the complaint that he’s a product of the Pacific Coast League (he has 36 HR in 506 AB at Triple-A).  The fact is, Sands showed his power potential when he got a shot to play with the Dodgers in 2011.  Yes, he had just 4 HR, but he also added 15 doubles in 198 AB.

He may strikeout a decent amount (20.5 percent over his minor league career), but it shouldn’t be a crippling number.  Just assume that he’s going to hit in the .260ish range and you shouldn’t be disappointed.

Even with that concern, how often can you find a player with his type of power potential on the waiver wire in the middle of May?  The Dodgers certainly didn’t call him up to sit on the bench, so look for him to be in the lineup regularly until Kemp returns.  If he hits, he’s going to be there much longer than that.  Now is the perfect time to try and cash in.

3) Adam Wainwright—St. Louis Cardinals—Starting Pitcher

Wainwright has struggled after missing the entire 2011 season.  To an extent it’s not surprising, though I think we all were willing to stomach a few bumps.  Is anyone willing to deal with a 5.77 ERA and 1.53 WHIP?  Probably not, though you should because there are plenty of reasons to do so.

First off, most pitchers struggle with control in their first year back.  For Wainwright his “struggles” have been a 3.30 BB/9 (and the first time he walked more than two in a game was in his start on 5/12).  Nothing not to like there.

Next, you have to love the fact that he’s still generating groundballs.  In fact, his current 55.6% groundball rate is a career high.

He’s also striking batters out at a career best rate, with an 8.24 K/9.  That’s right where he was prior to the injury.

So, with these factors working in his favor, how are his numbers so bad?  It’s just bad luck.  Look at these three key numbers:

• .341 BABIP
• 63.6% strand rate
• 21.9% HR/FB

It’s a near lock that he improves on all three and, with the other numbers working in his favor, there should be plenty of optimism.  He was awful in his last few outings and now may be the best chance you have to capitalize on your league mates frustrations.  See if you can get him now, as there should be significantly better days ahead.

4) Frank Francisco—New York Mets—Relief Pitcher

Really?  Considering his struggles and the instability at the position, is he really a player you want to try and acquire?

Actually, the answer is yes.

Mets manager Terry Collins has come out and said that he wants to keep Francisco in the closer’s role, because he doesn’t want to disrupt the rest of the bullpen.  Obviously, if he blows his next save in spectacular fashion that could change, but for now his job is safe.

However, does your league mate believe Francisco is on the verge of coughing up the job?  That could lead to him giving him up at a discount, just so he gets something for him before his value becomes nil.  If his trade value is down and you are in need of saves, now is the perfect time to strike.

I am not about to say that Francisco is going to stay in the job all year long.  At this point, that would actually surprise me.  However, he is a closer now and the indication is that he is going to remain there.  That gives him value, especially if you can get him at a discount.

Make sure to check out some of Rotoprofessor‘s recent rankings:

• Catchers (as of 5/10/12)
• Second Basemen (as of 5/19/12)
• Third Basemen (as of 5/11/12)
• Closers (as of 5/16/12)

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Unlike some other positions around the league, second base has not been ravaged by injuries.  Sure, you have two well-known options on the DL, but at this point in their careers can they really be counted on? That means, despite some struggles, we have the full slate of stars to chose from.  Let’s take a look at how things currently rank:

1. Robinson Cano – New York Yankees
2. Dustin Pedroia – Boston Red Sox
3. Ian Kinsler – Texas Rangers
4. Dan Uggla – Atlanta Braves
5. Ben Zobrist – Tampa Bay Rays
6. Jason Kipnis – Cleveland Indians
7. Brandon Phillips – Cincinnati Reds
8. Rickie Weeks – Milwaukee Brewers
9. Kelly Johnson – Toronto Blue Jays
10. Howie Kendrick – Los Angeles Angels
11. Jemile Weeks – Oakland Athletics
12. Jose Altuve – Houston Astros
13. Daniel Murphy – New York Mets
14. Omar Infante – Florida Marlins
15. Mike Aviles – Boston Red Sox
16. Dustin Ackley – Seattle Mariners
17. Aaron Hill – Arizona Diamondbacks
18. Neil Walker – Pittsburgh Pirates
19. Danny Espinosa – Washington Nationals
20. Marco Scutaro – Colorado Rockies

Currently on the DL – Chase Utley, Brian Roberts

Thoughts:

• Robinson Cano hasn’t performed as expected.  It’s a statement I don’t think anyone would argue.  That said, we all know what he’s capable of and he’s already started to turn things around.  The numbers should be there by year’s end and I can’t move him out of the top spot.
• I was extremely high on Jason Kipnis prior to the season and thus far he’s making myself and all the others who grabbed him look like geniuses.  In his first 157 AB of the year he is hitting .268 with 6 HR, 23 RBI, 26 R and 6 SB while settling into the second spot of the order.  The only thing that you can point to for a possible regression is his strikeout rate (15.3%), but the rest of the numbers are for real (.288 BABIP, 13.3% HR/FB).  In other words, it’s become clear that he’s one of the best options in the league at the position.  If he keeps doing what he’s doing, he’ll be in the Top 5 the next time these rankings are released.
• I know Howie Kendrick has shown some power early on (4 HR in 139 AB), but he continues to simply drive the ball into the ground way too much.  Thus far he’s carrying a 56.9% groundball rate, up from last year’s 51.6% (a career low).  He’s just never going to be a big source of power with that type of number, so keep that in mind.  It would seem like 15-18 HR would be his ceiling, and I wouldn’t anticipate even that many (despite his 18 HR last season).
• Jose Altuve was an option that we discussed as a sleeper prior to the season.  Thus far he’s making us look like geniuses, isn’t he?  Over his first 35 games he’s hitting .315 with 2 HR, 13 RBI, 22 R and 9 SB.  However, before we thrust him too far up the rankings, keep in mind that he’s not going to hit for much power and is currently benefitting from a .355 BABIP.  Those are two red flags, both of which cap his potential value moving forward.
• Don’t buy into the power surge for Omar Infante thus far.  His career HR/FB is 5.2%, though this season he’s at 12.0%.  Can he be breaking out?  Maybe, but until we see him do it for a little bit longer you will want to temper expectations.

Make sure to check out some of our other recent rankings:

• Catchers (as of 5/10/12)
• Third Basemen (as of 5/11/12)
• Closers (as of 5/16/12)

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The following slideshow touts the 15 best fantasy players who currently reside on the disabled list (15 days/30 days/60 days).

This countdown doesn’t necessarily run in concert with a player’s preseason ranking or overall standing at the time of his injury. It’s merely an educated guess as to which DL-based stars will yield the most productivity from this point forward.

It goes without saying, but Mariano Rivera, Joakim Soria, Danny Duffy and Mat Gamel—all victims of season-ending injuries—were not considered for this listing.

Enjoy the show!

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The 2012 Fantasy Baseball season is a month-and-a-half old. Since the opening series in Japan, fantasy owners have been over-analyzing statistics to determine which players they want to start for their team. While fantasy teams appear flawless on draft day, weaknesses begin to emerge as the season goes on. Injuries happen and players can slump at any time. Sometimes the best place to turn to is the waivers to fix a problem on your team.

I’ve compiled a list of eight players who should be available on the waiver wire. If you are dealing with injuries or just need to drop an ice-cold player, look for the following names to help your team out.

Catcher: A.J. Ellis (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Now, A.J. Ellis is not a name that is going to bring about a ton of fantasy excitement, but he’s riding a bit of a hot streak recently. He’s belted two home runs since the turn of the month and has eight RBI  during that stretch. He has a .314 batting average and an even more impressive .954 OPS that is second among all starting catchers. Ellis is also third among all active catchers in walks with 21. That puts him behind only Carlos Santana and Joe Mauer in that category.

Ellis is a reliable backstop that isn’t going to hurt your fantasy squad anywhere and there is a good chance you can find him on your waivers.

First Base: Todd Helton (Colorado Rockies)

Now believe it or not, Todd Helton is still a fantasy-relevant name. I know he’s been in the league for a long time, but the Rockies first baseman is still a worthy plug-in. Helton has a career .322 batting average and still calls Coors Field his home. He ranks eighth among all first basemen in RBI with 21 six weeks into the season. While he’s not drawing the walks he used too, he’s also not striking out a lot at the plate.

You can expect Helton’s average to rise from the .250 it currently stands at, while he’ll continue to be a steady source of RBI and carry the potential to hit 20 home runs.

Second Base: Mark Ellis (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Now I didn’t want to pick two players that play for the same team (and they have same last name for that matter), but the second base pool is pretty thin. Jemile Weeks is currently getting over a minor injury and I’d like to see more out of Gordon Beckham before I recommend him to my readers. So in my opinion, that leaves Mark Ellis as the best pickup available.

Ellis has 25 runs so far this season, ranking him fourth among all second basemen behind Dustin Pedroia, Dan Uggla and Ian Kinsler. As long as Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier are batting behind Ellis, there is no reason to believe that number will falter at all during the season. Ellis has a respectable .272 batting average that he should be able to sustain throughout the year.

Third Base: Chris Johnson (Houston Astros)

Chris Johnson has really turned it on since the beginning of May. He’s hit four home runs with 20 RBI, two stolen bases and has raised his batting average to .298. Johnson is 27 years old, so theoretically he’s entering his prime years.

The Astros are having no problem putting up runs to start the 2012 season, so it may be a good idea to scoop up some of their streaky young players while they’re hot. Time is running out to pick up Johnson though, as his own percentage is on the rise. If you need a temporary third baseman, grab Johnson while you still can.

Shortstop: Alcides Escobar (Kansas City Royals)

If you’re looking to add a shortstop, it may as well be Escobar. He’s swiped seven bags so far this year, putting him on pace to surpass last year’s total of 26. His average is sitting at an impressive .297 for the year, but that may be a little harder to maintain. Escobar’s career average is a lot closer to .250, so you can expect his average to decline as the year goes on.

Still, Escobar is finding ways to get on base, and when Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler can both put it together, Escobar will turn into a reliable source of runs and steals.

Outfield: Daniel Nava (Boston Red Sox)

Daniel Nava may take a backseat to Will Middlebrooks as Boston’s most coveted prospects (it doesn’t help that Nava is 29 years old), but Nava is making his name known. Ever since being called up this year, Nava is 7-for-12 at the plate with one home run, six RBI and one steal. It also helps that he is a part of one of the most potent lineups in the majors.

Nava should be able to resume routine playing time in the Sox outfield until Jacoby Ellsbury returns from his shoulder injury, which isn’t expected for another month. Until then, feel free to pick up Nava from your waivers and play him with confidence.

Starting Pitcher: Jerome Williams (Los Angeles Angels)

Williams has an unimpressive ERA of 4.19 and a WHIP of 1.29, the reason being two rough starts on the road at New York and at Texas where he gave up 11 runs.

Subtract those two starts against tough teams, and Williams has a 3-0 record over 29.1 innings with only seven earned runs allowed and 22 strikeouts. Williams has his next scheduled start Wednesday against a very beatable White Sox lineup. After that, he’ll pitch against Oakland. If the matchup is right, I say grab Williams as a spot starter whenever you can.

Relief Pitcher: Scott Downs (Los Angeles Angels)

Downs is still the Angels closer the last time I checked, but you wouldn’t guess that based on his own percentage. He’s available in most leagues and appears to be healthy once again. He suffered an injury on May 8th, but he recorded a one-out save just three days ago.

Downs is a solid relief pitcher with great stuff, and he’s yet to let up an earned run this year. The Angels are going to start winning games sooner or later, and that will give Downs a lot of save opportunities down the road.

I appreciate any comments people want to leave, and if you enjoyed my article please follow my Fantasy Baseball Twitter account. @FantasyMLB_2012

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

After getting knocked around by Oakland (of all teams) on Sunday, Matt Moore comes into today’s start with a 1-2 record, a robust 5.71 ERA and a troubling 1.64 WHIP.

Not only are opponents batting .289 against him, he has had issues with control walking 18 batters in 34-2/3 innings. He has also yielded six long balls.

Obviously, the 22-year-old phenom who set the league on fire wrapping up the regular season with a 2.89 ERA in 9-1/3 innings and posting a 0.90 ERA in ten playoff innings, isn’t going to be on the chopping block for fantasy owners, but he could be on the trading block.

The elephant in the room—when it comes to Matt Moore’s 2012 fantasy outlook—is the potential innings cap. Tampa Bay figures to be in the playoffs or at least in the chase, but they could still monitor Moore’s innings to protect their investment.

If you believe in Matt Moore, and why wouldn’t you, that is certainly something you should be in the ear of his fantasy owner with. Plant that seed and hope it grows.

I would also play up the fact that he has yet to face the Blue Jays, Orioles or the Yankees and got bombed in his lone appearance against the Red Sox.

He plays in a tough division that features five of the top ten home run totals in the league. That is cause for concern and could also play into your favor.

Moore has really been smacked around in two of his starts. In the other four he has a 3.04 ERA. Obviously he’s going to have some bad starts, but he’s way better than his numbers would lead you to believe.

His owner may still be reluctant to sell low on Moore, but it’s certainly worth exploring.

Also check out:

• Should You Be Streaming Gerardo Parra?
• Can James McDonald Keep Fantasy Owners Saying “I’m Lovin’ It”?
• Can Edwin Encarnacion Continue to Swing a Hot Bat?
• Fantasy Feast Closer Report – 5/12/12
• Are You High on Smyly?

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The following slideshow touts four unsung hitters from 12-team leagues who may experience fantasy nirvana on May 8.

There’s one more tie that binds this foursome: Each player would be an excellent buy-low option in trade talks right now.

However, Omar Infante would probably have to be included in a larger deal involving name-brand superstars.

Enjoy the show!

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Man, things are rough in Anaheim.

Imagine only four and-a-half-months into 2012, and the Orange County city has had not one, but two $250 million dollar investments go kaput.  Back in March, Walt Disney’s interplanetary sci-fi dud, John Carter, was DOA at the box office, and things are anything but heavenly for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, as their newest superstar and future Hall of Famer, Albert Pujols, is off to quite the uncharacteristically sluggish start. 

When talking in terms of such a high-profile name, there’s little doubt he’ll eventually right the ship.  Players can fall off, but not this bad, this soon and especially not to this player, right?  The flat-line has slight signs of life, as he finally hit his first home run this past weekend.  Think about it though—it took till May 6th for Albert Pujols to finally go yard.  It’s nice to think this homer may finally bust the floodgates open, but honestly that’s only one more home run than I have, and I don’t even play baseball.

That comforting thought of a hot July and August does little to help your fantasy team right now though.  In mid-May, things are kinda grey.  We’re in a weird area fantasy-wise: it’s too soon to push the panic button, but a bit too far in to sit and watch your team tread water while your big-name investment spins his million-dollar wheels in the mud. 

So, what do you do when number five is playing like number two?   If you’re an Albert owner like myself, it’s unfortunately nothing more than a painstaking waiting game to see when Pujols can be the slugger we expected when he went as a top-five fantasy draft pick just a couple short months ago.  In the meantime, though, we can take some slight comfort in the fact that there is actually a slew of other big-name fantasy busts so far this season, maybe someone that you blew a first or second-round pick on, someone who’s producing more goose eggs than the flock at the park, someone who’s turning you prematurely grey, someone who’s lucky enough Prince Albert decided to snooze through the first six weeks as well. 

So, who is it?  Who is baseball’s second biggest fantasy bust? The player sending Albert a fruit basket for being the bigger name with a painfully slow start? 

JOSE BAUTISTA (.183 AVG, 19 H, 5 HR)

Joey Bats, the home run machine of the past two seasons, has gotten off to a frustratingly rough start to 2012.  His walk-rate is up, possibly as a result of seeing bad pitches. But for a player picked to crush the leather into the cheap seats, walks are the fantasy sport equivalent of kissing your sister. Considering the sudden rise of power he had back in 2010, there’s always that slight fear for owners that he is regressing just as quickly.   

ROBINSON CANO (.261 AVG, 8 RBI, 2 HR)

Robbie Cano…don’t ya know!  Well, if he’s taking up residence at the 2B position for your team, what you do know so far is that he’s not the guy you thought you drafted.  Cano’s getting the hits, but as the centerpiece of a strong New York Yankees lineup, we were all expecting the power he had showcased over the past three seasons.  Few expect his early season struggles to last much longer, but when the most productive player on his team is eight years his senior, it seems clear that the un-Canoish numbers we are seeing will not help your fantasy team out of the cellar.  

TROY TULOWITZKI  (.266 AVG, 13 RBI, 3 HR)

A Rocky Mountain low. For another player who was ranked in or near the top 5 going into the season, Tulowitzki’s streaky start has owners scratching their heads.  Benching Tulo clearly isn’t an option, especially at a power-starved position.  If you can take the bad with the good for the time being, it will pay off, as his eventual power surge should come.

JOSE REYES (.234 AVG, 4 RBI, 8 SB)

The Good News:  It’s the second week of May, and Jose Reyes still hasn’t gotten hurt yet.

The Bad News:  At least a hurt Reyes won’t bog your team down the way he is right now. 

Jose Reyes controversially sat out most of the last game of the 2011 season, and has never come back.  The defending NL batting title champion is batting an anemic .234 so far this season, down over .100 points from last year’s final tally.  That’s surely not what the Miami Marlins expected out of their brand new shortstop.  Marlins Park is not playing nice with batters, so don’t expect Reyes to go deep too often. His stolen base total is quite alarming for fantasy owners.  With just 8 snags thus far, he’s not even close to being the leader for the Fish; teammate Emilio Bonifacio is closing in on nearly doubling Reyes’ total. 

TIM LINCECUM (2-2 RECORD, 5.68 ERA, 1.52 WHIP) 

The only things freaky about Lincecum’s 2012 are his sobering numbers.  The two-time NL Cy Young winner has stumbled out of the starting gate, with a diminishing velocity and a .500 record to show for it.  We can pin it on a haircut jinx that’s got the better of him, but that seems like a stretch.  Barring any kind of unknown injury, Big Tim Timmy Jim could be a great buy-low candidate from a quick-trigger owner who’s sick of his ERA being blown up. 

Who else do you feel is the biggest non-Pujols fantasy bust so far this year?  Perhaps perennially slow-to-start Mark Teixeira?  The Queen City’s newest long-term investment Joey Votto?  Slumping Brewers infielder Rickie Weeks?  Boston’s power-starved Adrian Gonzalez?  The Beantown ace Jon Lester?  The Rays highly-hyped rookie pitcher Matt Moore? 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

First base may be one of the most loaded positions in fantasy baseball, but if you haven’t managed to land one of the spot’s many superstars, you may want to consider some of these guys.

Sure, their names aren’t the biggest in the game, but their early production could provide a serious boost to any fantasy owner.

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Third base is typically a thin position in fantasy baseball, so any injuries to top options quickly drain what little depth there is. Third baseman have been dropping all across the league with stars like Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers, Evan Longoria of Tampa Bay Rays, Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals, Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox, and Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants all going down over the past week.

There are some emerging options that can help you get through your star’s down time. Check out these five options available in many leagues still:

Pedro Alvarez: 3B-Pittsburgh Pirates

Alvarez is now owned in almost half of ESPN leagues after being available in 99% of them seven days ago. He started the season dreadfully going 2-30, but now has two hits in five of his last seven games. He’s hit seven home runs on the season with three coming in the last week. His current average of .257 doesn’t reflect how well he’s been hitting since his awful open to the season. If you need offensive production from your fantasy 3B, he’s the top option available in most leagues. 

Jed Lowrie: SS-Houston Astros

While Lowrie is playing SS everyday for the Astros, he maintains 3B eligibility from his utility-role in Boston last year. Since returning from the DL, he’s been on fire hitting .329 with 3 home runs with 11 runs scored and 10 RBI. The sample size is small, but he’s a key part of Houston’s offense whether he bats second or third and should continue to provide production at least short-term. His ownership has shot up during the past week as well and is now at 47% in ESPN leagues.

 Jack Hannahan: 3B-Cleveland Indians

Hannahan is available in over 90% of ESPN leagues, but has had a great first 21 games of the season for Cleveland. He’s currently hitting .306 with 5 doubles, 6 runs scored, 2 home runs, and 16 RBI. He won’t provide any speed or the power from Alvarez, but Hannahan will contribute with runs, RBI, and average. 

Cody Ransom: 3B-Arizona Diamondbacks

If all the above options are gone, Ransom probably isn’t. He’s owned in under 0.5% of ESPN leagues but has been earning playing time away from Ryan Roberts in the desert. Ransom is a high-risk, high-reward Mark Reynolds-type player for the snakes with 3 home runs, 10 RBIs, 5 runs scored, and 9 strike outs. The most surprising aspect of his first 8 games this year is his .345 batting average. His lifetime .226 average means that he probably won’t maintain that pace. He’s worth a look though as a fill-in for a injured 3B while he’s swinging a hot bat.

Will Middlebrooks: 3B-Boston Red Sox

Middlebrooks got the call when Youkilis was sidelined and projects to be the 3B of the future in Fenway. He had a strong debut going 2-3 with a double and stolen base on May 2nd and will get to start everyday while Youk recovers. He will most likely end up back in the minors since the Red Sox have been committed to getting him at bats and not letting him sit on the bench. If you own Youkilis or another need a temporary fix, Middlebrooks is a hot commodity right now who is owned in 5% of ESPN leagues.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com