Aybar & Anibal: Waiver Wire

Your Monday morning waiver wire features a shortstop and a starting pitcher, so let’s dive in…

Erick Aybar | Angels | SS | 31% owned

An oblique injury robbed Aybar of 15 team games in April, but he’s been on an absolute tear since returning. The switch-hitting shortstop has the third most hits (24) in baseball since returning on April 20th (17 games played), and his seven steals (in seven attempts) are the most in the game during that time. Aybar’s triple slash line is up to .356/.374/.460 with a gaudy .397 BABIP, but the swipes alone are worth a roster spot, especially at a position lacking depth. ZiPS forecasts a .279/.323/.375 line with 15 steals the rest of the way, on par with a bigger name like Austin Jackson at a more valuable spot on the roster.

Anibal Sanchez | Marlins | SP | 37% owned

Forget about yesterday’s dominant start (7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K) and flirtation with a no-no (didn’t give up his first hit until the seventh), Sanchez was worthy of ownership before that. His 4.15 ERA and 4.34 FIP in his first six starts were hardly spectacular, but his .333 BABIP was a touch high and his 4.41 BB/9 was inflated by one disaster start against the Cardinals (six walks in 4.1 IP). Yesterday’s dominant outing dropped his ERA to 3.46 and his FIP to 3.42, right in line with what he did over 195 innings in 2010. ZiPS sees him maintaining a similar level of production from here on out (3.95 ERA, 3.51 FIP), which is rock solid for a back-end fantasy option. Pick and choose his starts wisely, and his contribution to your team will be even greater. Anibal’s next start will come against the same Nats he shut yesterday, then he lines up for dates with the Cubs and Giants.

Ownership rates based on Yahoo! leagues.