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Top 10 Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 3 Fantasy Baseball

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Week 3 of the 2016 MLB season is here, which means fantasy baseball aficionados and novices alike are scrambling to make adjustments to their roster. Rather than giving you a number of obvious, highly-owned options, I’ve identified players who are under 40 percent owned so you actually have a chance to obtain their services. With that in mind, here’s a look at the top 10 waiver wire pickups you need to know about.

 

10. Nick Castellanos - 3B - Detroit Tigers

Nick Castellanos - 3B - Detroit Tigers Getty Images
Nick Castellanos is off to a hot start in 2016. He's batting .368 with two HRs and eight RBIs, and has scored a solid seven runs. Sure, he might not be worth a spot on your roster for the entire campaign, but he's hot now and should be useful until he cools down. Castellanos is owned in just 37 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Nick Castellanos is off to a hot start in 2016. He's batting .368 with two HRs and eight RBIs, and has scored a solid seven runs. Sure, he might not be worth a spot on your roster for the entire campaign, but he's hot now and should be useful until he cools down. Castellanos is owned in just 37 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

9. Drew Pomeranz - P - San Diego Padres

Drew Pomeranz - P - San Diego Padres Getty Images
Drew Pomeranz has yet to live up to the hype he carried as a prospect, but is getting a chance to start again with the San Diego Padres this season. In two starts, Pomeranz has been solid, going 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA and 1.18 WHIP, along with 15 strikeouts in just 11 innings. He's clearly worth a pickup in Week 3, and is just 21 percent owned in Yahoo! leagues.

Drew Pomeranz has yet to live up to the hype he carried as a prospect, but is getting a chance to start again with the San Diego Padres this season. In two starts, Pomeranz has been solid, going 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA and 1.18 WHIP, along with 15 strikeouts in just 11 innings. He's clearly worth a pickup in Week 3, and is just 21 percent owned in Yahoo! leagues.

8. Rajai Davis - OF - Cleveland Indians

Rajai Davis - OF - Cleveland Indians Getty Images
Rajai Davis doesn't offer much from a hitting perspective, but has stolen five bases already this season. There isn't much speed available on the waiver wire, so targeting Davis now in case of an emergency makes plenty of sense. Davis is owned in just six percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Rajai Davis doesn't offer much from a hitting perspective, but has stolen five bases already this season. There isn't much speed available on the waiver wire, so targeting Davis now in case of an emergency makes plenty of sense. Davis is owned in just six percent of Yahoo! leagues.

7. Brandon Finnegan - P - Cincinnati Reds

Brandon Finnegan - P - Cincinnati Reds Getty Images
Brandon Finnegan has been fantastic for the Reds thus far. In three starts, Finnegan is 1-0 with a phenomenal 2.04 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. He's struck out 16 batters in 17.2 innings for a solid 8.2 K/9 ratio as well. The southpaw was stingy against the Chicago Cubs last week, so don't let the fact he faces them again in Week 3 assuage your temptation to scoop him up on the waiver wire. Finnegan's currently owned in 34 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Brandon Finnegan has been fantastic for the Reds thus far. In three starts, Finnegan is 1-0 with a phenomenal 2.04 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. He's struck out 16 batters in 17.2 innings for a solid 8.2 K/9 ratio as well. The southpaw was stingy against the Chicago Cubs last week, so don't let the fact he faces them again in Week 3 assuage your temptation to scoop him up on the waiver wire. Finnegan's currently owned in 34 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

6. Chris Carter - 1B - Milwaukee Brewers

Chris Carter - 1B - Milwaukee Brewers Getty Images
You know the deal by now with Chris Carter: He's likely going to hit 25-30 HRs and bat around .200 for the season. It's what he does. Thus far, he's hitting .265 with three HRs and seven RBIs. If you need dingers and can handle a low-average hitter in your lineup, Carter's your guy. He's currently owned in just 21 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

You know the deal by now with Chris Carter: He's likely going to hit 25-30 HRs and bat around .200 for the season. It's what he does. Thus far, he's hitting .265 with three HRs and seven RBIs. If you need dingers and can handle a low-average hitter in your lineup, Carter's your guy. He's currently owned in just 21 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

5. Mat Latos - SP - Chicago White Sox

Mat Latos - SP - Chicago White Sox Getty Images
There's no way to know for sure if he can keep it going, but Mat Latos has looked like the Mat Latos of old thus far this season. Through two starts, Latos is 2-0 with an otherworldly 0.75 ERA and 0.50 WHIP. He's not striking batters out at a high rate (six in 12 innings) but will help you in three categories if he continues pitching at a high level. Latos is owned in just 20 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

There's no way to know for sure if he can keep it going, but Mat Latos has looked like the Mat Latos of old thus far this season. Through two starts, Latos is 2-0 with an otherworldly 0.75 ERA and 0.50 WHIP. He's not striking batters out at a high rate (six in 12 innings) but will help you in three categories if he continues pitching at a high level. Latos is owned in just 20 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

4. Erasmo Ramirez - P - Tampa Bay Rays

Erasmo Ramirez - P - Tampa Bay Rays Getty Images
After starting the season in the bullpen for the Tampa Bay Rays, Erasmo Ramirez tossed 5.2 scoreless innings in his first start against the Chicago White Sox this weekend. Ramirez has a 1.54 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 10 strikeouts in 11.2 innings thus far, and should be a useful starter throughout the entire campaign. He's owned in just 12 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

After starting the season in the bullpen for the Tampa Bay Rays, Erasmo Ramirez tossed 5.2 scoreless innings in his first start against the Chicago White Sox this weekend. Ramirez has a 1.54 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 10 strikeouts in 11.2 innings thus far, and should be a useful starter throughout the entire campaign. He's owned in just 12 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

3. Jose Berrios - SP - Minnesota Twins

Jose Berrios - SP - Minnesota Twins Getty Images
The Twins are off to a putrid start, and as a result, will likely be calling on Jose Berrios to make his MLB debut before long in efforts to fortify their rotation. Berrios has a 1.80 ERA and 11.7 K/9 ratio over his first two Triple-A starts this season, and should showcase immediate upside once he reaches the show. Stash Berrios now while you still can, as he's only 19 percent owned in Yahoo! leagues.

The Twins are off to a putrid start, and as a result, will likely be calling on Jose Berrios to make his MLB debut before long in efforts to fortify their rotation. Berrios has a 1.80 ERA and 11.7 K/9 ratio over his first two Triple-A starts this season, and should showcase immediate upside once he reaches the show. Stash Berrios now while you still can, as he's only 19 percent owned in Yahoo! leagues.

2. Nick Markakis - OF - Atlanta Braves

Nick Markakis - OF - Atlanta Braves Getty Images
Nick Markakis is off to a fast start with the lowly Atlanta Braves this season. Markakis is hitting .341 with 12 RBIs, eight doubles and six runs scored. Markakis hasn't gone deep yet this season, but should be one of Atlanta's top-three run producers all season. He's currently owned in just 17 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Nick Markakis is off to a fast start with the lowly Atlanta Braves this season. Markakis is hitting .341 with 12 RBIs, eight doubles and six runs scored. Markakis hasn't gone deep yet this season, but should be one of Atlanta's top-three run producers all season. He's currently owned in just 17 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

1. Nick Ahmed - SS - Arizona Diamondbacks

Nick Ahmed - SS - Arizona Diamondbacks Getty Images
Nick Ahmed has been one of the very few bright spots for the Arizona Diamondbacks this season. Ahmed's batting .300 with three HRs, seven RBI and seven runs scored. That's an excellent stat line for a shortstop through just 12 games, so take advantage of his streak and pick Ahmed up on the waiver wire now while you still can. He's currently owned in just 20 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Nick Ahmed has been one of the very few bright spots for the Arizona Diamondbacks this season. Ahmed's batting .300 with three HRs, seven RBI and seven runs scored. That's an excellent stat line for a shortstop through just 12 games, so take advantage of his streak and pick Ahmed up on the waiver wire now while you still can. He's currently owned in just 20 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Timothy Downs is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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