Ryan Ludwick (OF, Padres) – 39% owned.  Ludwick has been creeping up ownership boards for a few weeks now (nicely done on the part of the early adopters!), but six multi-hit games in his past ten has pushed it over the edge for me.  He’s fallen short of his great 2008 season (.299/37/113), even though he hit 22 homers and drive in 97 runs in 2009.  Although he hit a wall after a midseason trade to the Friars last year (.211 with 6 homers in 209 at bats after the deal), he seems to have found a groove this year.  Hitting an even .300 in May, Ludwick’s BABIP currently sits 50 points below his career average, so we should see a rise in his .241 average, and hopefully, the power numbers will come too.

Jason Bartlett (SS, Padres) – 10%.  All Padres, All the time here on Wired and Baked!  Bartlett is another in a line of players who did very well in 2009 but for one reason or another, could not repeat their success in 2010 (Asdrubal Cabrera and Adam Lind come to mind) – Jason batted .320 with 14 homers, 66 RBI and 30 steals for the Rays in 2009, but managed just 3 homers and just 11 steals in 2010.  This year, however, it looks like Bartlett has found whatever he was looking for – he’s stolen 8 bases without being caught, and has really turned it on in May, with an average right around .300, 13 RBI and 3 steals.  You could do worse from the super shallow shortstop spot.

Joe Mather (OF, Braves) – 0%.  No, this is not an NL-only pick.  In the last two days, the Braves have lost 2/3 of their starting outfield – Jason Heyward hit the DL with a shoulder problem and Nate McLouth strained his oblique and may be DL-bound.  The beneficiary of these injuries looks to be Mather, who has multi-hit games in four of his last five starts (and already looking better than he did with two cups of coffee with the Cardinals in 2008 and 2010).  Considering the Braves’ other options – Eric Hinske? Wilkin Ramirez? – Mather seems to have earned himself some playing time.  Keep your eye on him.

BFBC (Big Fat Bartolo Colon, SP, Yankees) – 34%.  Will it last?  Who knows!  But for now, Colon is turning back time – averaging 6 2/3 inning per start, striking out nearly a batter an inning, keeping his ERA and WHIP down (3.16 and 1.13, respectively) and keeping his fatness out of the way of his pitching.  I can’t believe I’m actually recommending that you pick up BFBC, but his K/9 alone makes him worth owning (indeed – every pitcher ahead of him in K/9 is owned, as are many behind him).

Wilson Ramos (C, Nationals) – 8%.  Though he holds the same ownership percentage as Bryce Harper, Ramos is actually worth owning this year.  The linchpin of the Matt Capps-to-Minnesota trade last summer, Ramos is showing that he belongs in the majors – so much so that he’s taken over the starting catcher spot from Pudge Rodriguez and ran with it.  A solid .280 average, 17 runs, 3 homers a 11 RBI – and this from a 23 year-old who started exactly 21 games prior to this season.  It may be on the early side, but Ramos could be special.

AL Only Special (tie) – Josh Outman (SP, Athletics – 0%) and Alfredo Aceves (SP, Red Sox – 2%).  With Tyson Ross out for a few weeks, Outman has been called up to take his spot in the rotation and indeed, is slated to start tonight’s game against Los Angeles.  Because of injuries he last pitched in the majors in 2009, but showed promise, posting a 4-1 record, with 53 Ks in 67 innings to go along with a 3.48 ERA and 1.16 WHIP (and a very solid .212 BAA).  In a league where starting pitching is difficult to find, Outman is a good candidate…and so is Aceves.  He won’t be spectacular, but will be good enough to keep you in ballgames and give you some quality innings (in his one start of 2011, he gave up 3 hits, 2 walks and a lone run in 5 innings against the Cubs).  Used as a combination middle reliever/spot starter, he’s worth a look with Dice-K and John Lackey on the DL and Josh Beckett’s recent back and neck pain.

NL Only Special – Jon Jay (OF, Cardinals) – 3%.  He’s now started seven straight games (and hit a pinch-hit 3-run home run in the game before the streak started), and is hitting .306 with an .835 OPS and 3 homers and 2 steals on the year.  With Berkman and Holliday both banged up, Jay could see a serious spike in playing time – and regular at-bats are king in a single league.

P.S. Kendrys Morales and Fernando Rodney are owned in 36% 37% of leagues, respectively.  Morales won’t play at all this year, and will still probably hurt you less than Rodney… if you own either one, cut him for someone who will help you!

And the weekly question – Submit a comment with some of  YOUR top pickups for this week, and why?

Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire, Waiver Wire, 2011 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Advice, Fantasy Baseball Rankings, NL Only, AL Only, Jesse Mendelson, Ryan Ludwick, Bartolo Colon, Jason Bartlett, John Jay, Wilson Ramos, Joe Mather, Josh Outman, Alfredo Aceves