Fantasy waiver wire: Jose Berrios gets another shot with Twins

Pitching once again takes center stage this week as fantasy owners have a number of options to (hopefully) improve their staffs.

The highest-profile additions are the newly minted closers, which we've already covered in some detail earlier this week. However, the biggest values on this week's waiver wire may come from the starters -- including one extremely talented prospect who's had trouble breaking through on the big stage.

DOUBLE CHECK: Last week's waiver wire recommendations

Suggested bid values based on $100 FAAB (free agent acquisition budget). Feel free to exceed the recommendation if league dynamics or team needs warrant. (All stats through Thursday's games.)

BEST BETS

RP Addison Reed, New York Mets
($30 NL, $21 Mixed)

We don't know how long Mets closer Jeurys Familia will be out because of a blood clot in his shoulder, but it could be months if surgery is required. Reed (3.00 ERA, 22:0 K/BB ratio, 4-for-4 in save chances) filled in admirably while Familia served a 30-game suspension to start the season and will return to the closer's role for the foreseeable future.

RP Justin Wilson, Detroit Tigers
($22 AL, $13 Mixed)

Can Wilson take a temporary gig as closer and turn it into a permanent one? It all depends on how soon Francisco Rodriguez can return to form. (Considering there were signs K-Rod was starting to decline last year, the answer may be never.) Owners in AL-only leagues will be more inclined to take a shot on Wilson since he's been outstanding so far (1.23 ERA, 0.55 WHIP).

SP Jose Berrios, Minnesota Twins
($15 AL, $9 Mixed)

To this point in his career, the 23-year-old right-hander has been a mysterious enigma -- dominant in the minors, but overmatched in the majors. In six starts at Class AAA Rochester, he's 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings. However, his ERA in 14 starts with the Twins is a ghastly 8.02. He's being called up to start Saturday against the Indians. How well he does could affect FAAB bids by $10 -- or more -- either way.

RP Corey Knebel, Milwaukee Brewers
($14 NL, $8 Mixed)

A pure saves speculation, Knebel is next in line should Neftali Feliz falter. In 18 innings this season, Knebel has 29 strikeouts and a 1.00 ERA. In leagues that count holds, he's tied with Colorado's Adam Ottavino for the major league lead with 11. Feliz allowed a game-winning three-run homer to Boston's Mookie Betts last time out that elevated his ERA to 6.19. Perhaps a chance comes sooner rather than later.

UPDATE: Brewers manager Craig Counsell said late Thursday he was removing Feliz from the closer's role. With Knebel getting the night off after pitching the day before, Jacob Barnes was called upon to protect a five-run lead in the ninth of Friday, but allowed a pair of runs and had to be bailed out by Jared Hughes. As if you needed any further proof, Knebel's the guy to own right now.

SP Nathan Karns, Kansas City Royals
($10 AL, $7 Mixed)

The offseason acquisition from Seattle has been mostly unremarkable in his new home -- until his last two starts. Granted, those starts came against the White Sox and Rays, but Karns has begun to show some swing-and-miss ability that was absent earlier in the year. He won both of those starts, giving up a total of two runs in 12 1/3 innings, while striking out 17 batters and walking three. His bid value may depend on how he fares in his start on Saturday against a much more potent offense, the Baltimore Orioles.

OF Jayson Werth, Washington Nationals
($5 Mixed)

Over the past week, we've gotten a better idea of how the Nationals batting order will look without Adam Eaton. Werth is reaping the benefits of hitting second in front of Bryce Harper -- and over the past week, he's raised his season average from .244 to .299 while hitting three homers and scoring seven runs. As long as he stays healthy, his numbers should as well.

1B Tommy Joseph, Philadelphia Phillies
($5 Mixed)

Yes, we had Joseph on our preseason All-Breakout team and he's done very little so far to justify that pick. However, he has started to warm up a bit with homers in consecutive games against the Mariners. Over the past week, he's hitting .409/.500/.818. After clouting 21 homers in 107 games last season, he's shown he can hit them in bunches.

REPLACEMENTS

SP Alex Wood, Los Angeles Dodgers
($9 NL, $5 Mixed)

The Dodgers are one of the few teams with a stable closer situation and a starter carousel. This week, Wood took over when Brandon McCarthy went on the DL. Then Hyun-Jin Ryu came off the DL to start after Kenta Maeda went on it. Next week, blister-prone Rich Hill will return from the DL to start on Tuesday. Lost in the shuffle has been how well Wood has pitched (3-0, 2.73 ERA, 38 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings). Although he's had health issues of his own in the past, Wood looks like one of the safest members in the rotation right now, especially after striking out 11 Pirates in five shutout innings on Monday.

NEW: 2B Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs
($8 NL, $3 Mixed)

Faced with a rash of injuries, the Cubs promoted the 22-year-old Happ from Class AAA Iowa because he can play any number of positions. He's started 16 games at second base and played in 13 others in the outfield this season -- and the Cubs immediately put him in their lineup on Saturday, batting second and playing right field.

Happ is solid offensively, hitting .298 with nine homers and 25 RBI in just 26 games at Iowa. And don't forget, he had a strong showing this spring with a .383/.441/.750 line in 60 at-bats. While he'll likely head back to Iowa once some of the other Cubs get healthy, he could also be a nice trade chip later in the season (since the Cubs already have two other versatile 2B/OF guys in Ben Zobrist and Javier Baez already on the roster). A new team -- or continued Cubs injuries -- could give Happ an extended opportunity to shine.

NEW: SP Eddie Butler, Chicago Cubs
($7 NL, $3 Mixed)

Butler got a call-up and a spot-start on Friday when the Cubs put Brett Anderson on the DL. He was off to an outstanding start in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, with a 1.17 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 30 2/3 innings. He's never been a big strikeout guy (5.1 K/9 at Iowa), but he tossed six scoreless innings against the Cardinals and whiffed five to get the win. That performance should earn him another start at least, and make him an option if Anderson's health issues continue.

SP German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
($7 NL, $2 Mixed)

Being a Rockies pitcher may not be the automatic disqualifier it once was for fantasy owners. Antonio Senzatela, Kyle Freeland, Tyler Chatwood and Tyler Anderson have all had excellent outings recently. Marquez continued the trend on Wednesday by blanking the Cubs at Coors Field for eight innings and striking out eight. Give all of them at least a cursory look.

RP Derek Law, San Francisco Giants
($5 NL, $2 Mixed)

Mark Melancon is eligible to return from the disabled list early next week, so Law may not have much more time in the closer's seat. However, he does have decent skills and could be valuable in deeper leagues even if he isn't getting save chances. On the other hand, Melancon's elbow could flare up again -- and Law would once again be first in line for saves.

C Ryan Hanigan, Colorado Rockies
($3 NL, $1 Mixed)

With Tony Wolters out with a concussion, Hanigan got a call-up this week and drew rave reviews from Rockies pitchers for his excellence behind the plate. He wasn't too bad offensively either, with seven hits (including a homer) in his first 20 at-bats -- mostly against left-handed pitching. They aren't scheduled to face any southpaw starters next week, however, so don't get too excited.

3B Jeimer Candelario, Chicago Cubs
($3 NL, $0 Mixed)

There's a very good chance Candelario is sent back to the minors within the next few days (and almost certainly once Jason Heyward returns from the disabled list). However, keeper league owners may want to strike while he's available. The 23-year-old switch-hitter was tearing up the Pacific Coast League when he was promoted, hitting .340/.443/.649 with four homers and 22 RBI at Class AAA Iowa.

SPECULATIVE PICKUPS

OF Bradley Zimmer, Cleveland Indians

Injuries could open the door to a call-up for Zimmer, who's hitting a tidy .281/.357/.509 at Class AAA Columbus. Outfielders Michael Brantley (ankle) and Abraham Almonte (shoulder) are both day-to-day, but not hurting enough to go on the disabled list. If things take a turn for the worse, Zimmer could be an option.

OF Lewis Brinson, Milwaukee Brewers

Likewise in Milwaukee, Ryan Braun going on the disabled list means utilityman Hernan Perez or first baseman Eric Thames will fill his spot in the outfield. If the Brewers suffer any more injuries, Brinson has performed well enough at Class AAA Colorado Springs (.333/.393/.527) to merit consideration. However, he's unlikely to make his MLB debut until after the Super Two cutoff sometime next month.