Fantasy baseball: Looking at Logan Morrison, Jayson Werth, Chase Anderson

As we approach the halfway point of the season, it can be a challenge for struggling owners to find help on the waiver wire. One method that can help you uncover hidden gems is to make use of split stats. All caveats about sample size aside, at the end of the day all we’re trying to do to accumulate numbers. It can be a big boon to your team to keep a few spots at the end of your roster earmarked for players currently on a hot streak. Here are a few who currently fit the bill and are available in at least 75 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Logan Morrison, 1B, Tampa Bay Rays

Morrison’s Rays career got off to a horrendous start, as he posted a .290 OPS in April. That’s not a typo, folks. He collected just six hits in 60 at-bats, striking out 25 times. Tampa stuck with him, though, and they’ve been rewarded for their patience. Over the past month, Morrison is hitting .347/.431/.611 with seven homers, 20 runs, and 18 RBI. He’s even chipped in three stolen bases. That production has made him of the best first basemen in baseball – real or fantasy – during that time. Fantasy owners have been reluctant to embrace LoMo, as he’s only recently crept above 20 percent ownership.

Jayson Werth, OF, Washington Nationals

Yes, Werth is still playing…and yes, the beard is still glorious. The hirsute veteran just turned 37, but you wouldn’t know it by how well he’s played of late. He’s hit .349/.451/.698 with four homers, 10 runs, and 15 RBI in his last 12 games. Firmly slotted into the No. 2 spot in the Nationals’ lineup ahead of a guy you might have heard of (Bryce Harper), Werth should continue to rack up the counting stats. Given the quality of his contact, it’s reasonable to expect his batting average to keep rising as well. He’s pulled it from just below the Mendoza line up to a much more palatable .246.

Chase Anderson, SP, Milwaukee Brewers

Even after a lackluster effort in his last start, Anderson is 3-1 with a 2.75 ERA and 0.75 ERA over the past month. He’s struck out 30 batters and walked just five in those 36 innings. He’s too prone to the long ball to be a consistent fantasy asset, but Anderson will almost certainly spend most of the season on the waiver wire in your league. Keep him in mind as a streaming option going forward.

Kyle Bishop is a lead MLB columnist at RotoBaller.com. His articles are your secret weapon for winning fantasy leagues.