Bravesworld.com | Atlanta Braves News, braves Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div>Fantasy baseball waivers and the acquisition of fantasy baseball free agents can make or break a season. You may have adjusted your fantasy baseball cheat sheets over and over during spring training. If your team remains the same after Opening Day, though, you'll probably have trouble competing in your rotisserie baseball league.</div><p></p>Do you need to add players to replace your fantasy baseball busts? Which players can you ignore? KFFL.com's <i>Diamond Market</i> series gives you the fantasy baseball tips and advice you need to sort through the masses quickly.<p><h3>KEY</h3><p><b>Acquire</b> - Add player (in most circumstances)<br><b>Watch</b> - Track player; consider adding if trend continues<br><b>Pass</b> - Do not add player (in most circumstances)<p><h3>Third Basemen</h3><p><h4>Ryan Zimmerman, Washington</h4><p>Out since late May with a small labral tear in his left shoulder, Zimmerman (shoulder) has been taking batting practice and could begin a minor league rehab assignment as soon as next week. He is a career .295 hitter in the second half and is a viable option in all leagues when healthy. He could even be worth picking up now and stashing in shallow formats.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Watch<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Acquire<br><i>NL-only</i>: Acquire<p><h3>Shortstops</h3><p><h4>Ivan Ochoa, San Francisco</h4><p>The Giants summoned Ochoa from Triple-A Fresno on Friday, July 11, where he was batting .318 with six home runs, 32 RBI and 20 stolen bases on the season. Ochoa is expected to fill a reserve infield role, but he is viewed as a potential long-term replacement for current shortstop <B>Omar Vizquel</b>. Those in deep NL-only leagues can consider taking a flier on him, but otherwise just keep an eye on the situation. He's a non-factor in mixed setups.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Pass<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Pass<br><i>NL-only</i>: Watch<p><h3>Outfielders</h3><p><h4>Gregor Blanco, Atlanta</h4><p>Blanco's been hitting well over the past couple of weeks, compiling 19 hits in 54 at-bats (.352) during his last 13 games. He's not a power threat but is a decent basestealer and could score some runs batting atop the Braves lineup. Whenever outfielder <b>Matt Diaz</b> (knee) makes his way back to the majors it could create a logjam and cut into Blanco's at-bats, but for now he should be owned in NL-only leagues and is a short-term option in deep mixed setups.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Pass<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Watch<br><i>NL-only</i>: Acquire<p><h4>Juan Rivera, Los Angeles Angels</h4><p>A hot bat has found Rivera in the starting lineup ahead of outfielder <B>Gary Matthews, Jr.</b> recently, much to Matthews' chagrin. Rivera is 6-for-15 in July with three home runs and seven RBI and has proven he can be a quality major league hitter in the past. Manager Mike Scioscia has not stated anything other than Rivera will start for the time being. He's merely a speculative add in AL-only leagues at this juncture, but monitor the situation.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Pass<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Pass<br><i>AL-only</i>: Acquire<p><h3>Starting Pitchers</h3><p><h4>Dave Bush, Milwaukee</h4><p>Bush authored his fourth masterpiece in five starts Thursday, July 10, when he held the Rockies to one run on four hits in eight innings while fanning a career-high 13. In those five outings, Bush is 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 28 K's in 36 innings. Bush's numbers at home (4-2, 2.64 ERA) have been vastly superior to those on the road (1-6, 6.95 ERA) this season. So much so that manager Ned Yost has mentioned the possibility of using Bush as the team's fifth starter at home and pitcher <b>Seth McClung</b> in that role on the road. Add Bush in mixed leagues but be sure to only activate him for home starts until further notice.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Pass<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Acquire<br><i>NL-only,/i>: Acquire<p><h4>Jaime Garcia, St. Louis</h4><p>Considered one of the Cardinals' top pitching prospects, Garcia (4-4, 4.59 ERA in 68 2/3 innings with Triple-A Memphis) is getting a shot with the big-league club after pitcher <b>Mark Mulder </b>(shoulder) suffered his latest setback. Garcia has been a starter in the minors, but the team has indicated he'll be available out of the bullpen for now. He's an intriguing option to grab and stash on the bench of deep NL-only rosters.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Pass<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Pass<br><i>NL-only</i>: Watch<p><h3>Relief Pitchers</h3><p><h4>Manny Corpas, Colorado</h4><p>Despite speculation that reliever <b>Taylor Buchholz </b>would get first dibs on the closer's role if reliever Brian Fuentes were to be traded, general manager Dan O'Dowd has stated that Corpas would be given another shot before Buchholz. Corpas began the year as Colorado's closer but flamed out and was replaced by Fuentes after blowing four of his first eight chances. He has managed to put things back together, recently having a nine-inning scoreless streak, although it was snapped. He saved 19 games a year ago and would be a nice stash option for owners looking for saves as Fuentes could be dealt at any time.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Acquire<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Acquire<br><i>NL-only</i>: Acquire<p></p>

Fantasy baseball waivers and the acquisition of fantasy baseball free agents can make or break a season. You may have adjusted your fantasy baseball cheat sheets over and over during spring training. If your team remains the same after Opening Day, though, you'll probably have trouble competing in your rotisserie baseball league.

Do you need to add players to replace your fantasy baseball busts? Which players can you ignore? KFFL.com's Diamond Market series gives you the fantasy baseball tips and advice you need to sort through the masses quickly.

KEY

Acquire - Add player (in most circumstances)
Watch - Track player; consider adding if trend continues
Pass - Do not add player (in most circumstances)

Third Basemen

Ryan Zimmerman, Washington

Out since late May with a small labral tear in his left shoulder, Zimmerman (shoulder) has been taking batting practice and could begin a minor league rehab assignment as soon as next week. He is a career .295 hitter in the second half and is a viable option in all leagues when healthy. He could even be worth picking up now and stashing in shallow formats.

Shallow mixed: Watch
Deep mixed: Acquire
NL-only: Acquire

Shortstops

Ivan Ochoa, San Francisco

The Giants summoned Ochoa from Triple-A Fresno on Friday, July 11, where he was batting .318 with six home runs, 32 RBI and 20 stolen bases on the season. Ochoa is expected to fill a reserve infield role, but he is viewed as a potential long-term replacement for current shortstop Omar Vizquel. Those in deep NL-only leagues can consider taking a flier on him, but otherwise just keep an eye on the situation. He's a non-factor in mixed setups.

Shallow mixed: Pass
Deep mixed: Pass
NL-only: Watch

Outfielders

Gregor Blanco, Atlanta

Blanco's been hitting well over the past couple of weeks, compiling 19 hits in 54 at-bats (.352) during his last 13 games. He's not a power threat but is a decent basestealer and could score some runs batting atop the Braves lineup. Whenever outfielder Matt Diaz (knee) makes his way back to the majors it could create a logjam and cut into Blanco's at-bats, but for now he should be owned in NL-only leagues and is a short-term option in deep mixed setups.

Shallow mixed: Pass
Deep mixed: Watch
NL-only: Acquire

Juan Rivera, Los Angeles Angels

A hot bat has found Rivera in the starting lineup ahead of outfielder Gary Matthews, Jr. recently, much to Matthews' chagrin. Rivera is 6-for-15 in July with three home runs and seven RBI and has proven he can be a quality major league hitter in the past. Manager Mike Scioscia has not stated anything other than Rivera will start for the time being. He's merely a speculative add in AL-only leagues at this juncture, but monitor the situation.

Shallow mixed: Pass
Deep mixed: Pass
AL-only: Acquire

Starting Pitchers

Dave Bush, Milwaukee

Bush authored his fourth masterpiece in five starts Thursday, July 10, when he held the Rockies to one run on four hits in eight innings while fanning a career-high 13. In those five outings, Bush is 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 28 K's in 36 innings. Bush's numbers at home (4-2, 2.64 ERA) have been vastly superior to those on the road (1-6, 6.95 ERA) this season. So much so that manager Ned Yost has mentioned the possibility of using Bush as the team's fifth starter at home and pitcher Seth McClung in that role on the road. Add Bush in mixed leagues but be sure to only activate him for home starts until further notice.

Shallow mixed: Pass
Deep mixed: Acquire
NL-only,/i>: Acquire

Jaime Garcia, St. Louis

Considered one of the Cardinals' top pitching prospects, Garcia (4-4, 4.59 ERA in 68 2/3 innings with Triple-A Memphis) is getting a shot with the big-league club after pitcher Mark Mulder (shoulder) suffered his latest setback. Garcia has been a starter in the minors, but the team has indicated he'll be available out of the bullpen for now. He's an intriguing option to grab and stash on the bench of deep NL-only rosters.

Shallow mixed: Pass
Deep mixed: Pass
NL-only: Watch

Relief Pitchers

Manny Corpas, Colorado

Despite speculation that reliever Taylor Buchholz would get first dibs on the closer's role if reliever Brian Fuentes were to be traded, general manager Dan O'Dowd has stated that Corpas would be given another shot before Buchholz. Corpas began the year as Colorado's closer but flamed out and was replaced by Fuentes after blowing four of his first eight chances. He has managed to put things back together, recently having a nine-inning scoreless streak, although it was snapped. He saved 19 games a year ago and would be a nice stash option for owners looking for saves as Fuentes could be dealt at any time.

Shallow mixed: Acquire
Deep mixed: Acquire
NL-only: Acquire