Waiver Wire: May 13th

Three guys will relatively low ownership that could help shore up some holes on your roster…

Orlando Hudson | 2B | Twins (36% owned)

Hitting in front of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau has it’s benefits, and no it doesn’t have anything to do with that stuff about getting more fastballs to hit and whatnot. The benefit is that if you get on base, you’re going to score a ton of runs. O-Dog’s getting on base just about 37% of the time, so it should be no surprise that he’s scored more runs than all but seven players in the game. His walk rate (9.9%) and BABIP (.310) are in line with his career marks (8.9%, .316, respectively), so there’s no fall off to be expected. As an added bonus, Hudson’s also stealing a little bit more, once every 15.6 times on first compared to once every 21.4 times previously in his career.

(In case you’re wondering, Hudson has seen more fastballs this year, 66% in fact. That’s up from his career mark of … 65%.)

Ian Kennedy | SP/RP | Diamondbacks (18%)

It’s only May, but the former Yankee hurler has easily surpassed Edwin Jackson as the most productive member of this winter’s blockbuster trade for Arizona. After two kinda ugly starts to begin the season, the one they call IPK has held opponents to a Milledgian .616 OPS with a 2.08 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP in his last five starts, and the matchups only get better: at Atlanta over the weekend, then at home against the Giants next week. He won’t maintain a .252 BABIP and an 82.9 LOB% forever, but a full season ERA right around 4.00 is well within reach. Just cross your fingers that the Diamondbacks’ bullpen can actually preserve some of Kennedy’s leads.

Aaron Rowand | OF | Giants (20%)

The gap between what Rowand is and what he’s perceived to be by the mainstream media types might be the largest in the game, but there’s no denying that the Giants’ centerfielder has been really productive in 2010. His .291 AVG is the second best he’s posted in the last six years, and there’s no BABIP funniness to worry about (.313 BABIP in ’10, .321 career). The power is the big difference; Rowand’s .221 ISO is well above his .169 career mark, and that’s because more than 18% of the balls he’s hit in the air have left the park. That is unlikely to sustain over the long-haul, especially considering home park.

Oddly enough, Rowand has a massive reverse split this year, but that’s something that should correct itself with time. I don’t like him as a top three outfielder in a standard 12-team league, but he’s a solid bench option to have around when one of your regulars has a day off.

Ownership rates based on Yahoo! leagues.