Fantasy Baseball 2012: Waiver-Wire Picks for Week 4

Here we sit at Week 4, and I'll bet the giddiness you felt on draft day has diminished a bit. I mean, who saw Tim Lincecum and Francisco Liriano falling off a cliff, not to mention season-ending injuries to Brian Wilson and Ryan Madson?

The season is still in its infancy, so there is no need to press the panic button just yet, but some of that lower-tier talent who are asleep on the field need to get swept out with the trash.

Here are a few interesting guys hitting above their weight class who appear to have some real staying power. My criteria for weekly waiver-wire selections are players owned in less than 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues who look interesting for the week ahead, as well as some long-term plays.

OF Cody Ross (Boston Red Sox)

The Red Sox have been mired in a funk since Opening Day, but they found a distinct ray of light last night.

Cody Ross had his coming-out party against the Twins, driving in two homers to secure the win for Red Sox Nation. Last night wasn't just a flash in the pan, either. On the season, Ross is batting .283 and leads the BoSox with 13 RBI and five home runs.

As the Red Sox try to find any answer to their flailing season, expect Ross to be given room to run.

Owned in 28 Percent of Yahoo! Leagues | 14 Percent Change from Last Week 

SP Jarrod Parker (Oakland A's)

Graham Godfrey got the big demotion to the minors on Saturday following his 0-3 start to the season. The open rotation spot left the door open for the A’s to bring up hot pitching prospect Jarrod Parker.

Parker went 5.2 scoreless innings last season in his only start for the Diamondbacks. This year to date, Parker has a 2.18 ERA with 21 Ks over 20.2 innings pitched in Triple-A ball.

He's a rising star in the A's organization, so he's not a bad grab here on the pure speculation that he materializes into something special.

Owned in 13 Percent of Yahoo! Leagues | 11 Percent Change from Last Week 

SP Kyle Drabek (Toronto Blue Jays)

Kyle Drabek won two out of his three starts, pulling down 15 Ks, a 2.00 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP against the Red Sox, Rays and Royals to start the season. Not a bad haul for the 24-year-old.

The biggest knock about him is that he’s struggled with his pitches at times, but he’s a big arm with a hefty upside. He’s well worth locking down, as he's backed by a strong Blue Jays lineup.

Owned in 30 Percent of Yahoo! Leagues | 2 Percent Change from Last Week 

OF Alex Rios (Chicago White Sox)

Alex Rios isn’t exactly an unknown quantity after his ugly showing last season. He comes in this week just a shade below our 50-percent threshold, but that lingering bad taste in your mouth has left him on many waiver wires.

He’s heated up, turning in two games with three hits as well as logging an impressive 10-game hit streak. That has been good for a .360 average, four runs, seven RBI, a homer and a steal. Rios is a very intriguing player going forward.

Owned in 49 Percent of Yahoo! Leagues | 4 Percent Change from Last Week 

2B Mark Ellis (Los Angeles Dodgers) 

So what is Mark Ellis' superpower? Getting on base.

Batting second in the Dodgers' lineup before the powerhouse that is Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier is what really makes him an interesting add.

He has corralled 14 runs while hitting .264. Granted, his RBI, home run and steal statistics leave much to be desired (2/0/1), but if you are in need of runs, take a look at the coattail-rider of one of the most lethal bat combos in the league. 

Owned in 5 Percent of Yahoo! Leagues | 1 Percent Change from Last Week 

OF Luke Scott (Tampa Bay Rays)

If Mark Ellis is the runs king of the waiver wire, then Luke Scott is the RBI champ with 14. The key to his domination seems to be a rock-solid bat. He's knocked in three homers, including a grand slam last Wednesday.

Scott presents a lot of power sitting smack in the middle of the potent Rays lineup, so expect the homers and RBI to keep rolling in. 

Owned in 28 Percent of Yahoo! Leagues | 2 Percent Change from Last Week

SP Andy Pettitte (New York Yankees)

How many fantasy recommendations start out with the words “Fresh out of retirement?” That is the case with Andy Pettitte. A year on the sidelines seemed to give him the tinge of nostalgia, as Pettitte is set to once again don the pinstripes and take over the No. 5 starter role for the club.

He’s currently down with AA Trenton sharpening his pitches, but he is due to make his first start in the majors around May 10. He’s not going to overwhelm you with strikeouts, but the wins will be there—supported by the Yankees bats—and he posted a very respectable 3.28 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 2010. Not a bad stash if you have room on your roster.

Owned in 5 Percent of Yahoo! Leagues | 1 Percent Change from Last Week 

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