Los Angeles Dodgers Enrique Hernandez: Deep Waiver Wire Add
By Bill Pivetz
Dodgers utility player Enrique Hernandez has hit well so far this season. While his playing time is limited, he is worth adding for bench depth.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of two teams competing in the National League West (sorry Arizona). The team made a lot of moves in the offseason, adding pitching depth and bolstering their offense. With injuries to three of their outfielders, Andre Ethier, Carl Crawford and Scott Van Slyke, a shift in the defensive alignment needed to be made. One player that will get extended playing time is Enrique Hernandez. He is worth an add in deeper leagues.
More from Fantasy Baseball
- 5 fantasy baseball waiver wire pivots to replace Triston McKenzie
- Fantasy baseball mock draft 2023, 12-team: Aaron Judge over Trea Turner?
- 3 fantasy baseball sleepers being drafted too late
- NBA DFS picks December 25: Merry Bucking Christmas
- Fantasy Baseball: Hot pitchers worthy of starting this weekend
Hernandez started three straight games from Thursday to Saturday. In that span, he had six hits with two home runs and seven RBI. On the season, he is hitting .400 with five runs and eight RBI. He sat Sunday and the recently healed Howie Kendrick took his place in left field.
Kike Hernandez hit leadoff in four games, giving him a higher chance to get on base and score runs. In those deeper leagues, any player with an opportunity to score some runs becomes a waiver wire add.
Van Slyke was expected to return in a couple of weeks. But that doesn’t seem to be the case now. Manager Dave Roberts expects the outfielder to miss more than the 15-day minimum required of his DL stint, according to J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles News Group. This gives Hernandez extended time to prove himself and force his way into the Dodgers lineup on a more consistent basis.
Enrique Hernandez played well in limited time last season. In 76 games, he hit seven home runs, 22 RBI and .307 with a 46:11 K:BB ratio. He is the ultimate utility player and can fill in whenever the Dodgers need to give someone a day off.
Next: Corey Kluber Will Be Just Fine
The waiver wire, more specifically in ESPN leagues, is filled with a lot of talented batters. It’s mostly because fantasy owners are overreacting and dropping struggling star players. On the other hand, it is also filled with deep sleepers that can give you an edge on a weekly basis, one of them being Enrique Hernandez. As long as they have a hole in left field, he will continue to get at bats.