When it comes to deep leagues, managers must toss over every cushion when searching for productive waiver-wire bats.

In some cases, this simply means riding the hot hand in hopes of a fast start turning into a full-fledged breakout. Such an aggressive approach has worked wonders for those who already snagged Hunter Dozier, Christian Walker, Brandon Lowe, or Yandy Diaz. It could pan out for a platoon player coming off the best three-game run of his career.

On the flip side, pay close attention to players dropped after slow starts. While top hitters shouldn’t be discarded so soon in 15-team mixed leagues or larger, gamers will quickly grow bored of slumping preseason sleepers. One such player is slowly picking up steam.

Then there’s the avalanche of rookies reaching the majors. The likes of Michael Chavis and Nate Lowe should be long gone, but a lesser-hyped newcomer has enjoyed his big league welcome. With teams more willing to toss their young talent into the line of fire, deep-league managers should also plan a step ahead and stash premier prospects before the next line of call-ups.

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Derek Dietrich (1B/2B/OF – CIN): 5% Owned
Dietrich was quietly flourishing in a platoon, exiting April with a 118 wRC+ and .537 slugging percentage. He won’t fly under the radar any longer after crushing a pair of three-run homers (and stealing a base) Friday before touching them all again on Saturday and Sunday.

The 29-year-old utilityman is now slugging .686 with a 163 wRC+ through 83 plate appearances. While nobody should ever expect him to help much in batting average, his mark has risen from .196 to .257 — three points above his career clip — in four days. It could even climb a little more if he sustains an improved 16.9% strikeout rate concealed by a .188 BABIP.

His monster weekend carries a similar vibe to Scooter Gennett’s four-homer outburst from June 6, 2017. While it may just be a hot streak from a life-long bit player, those who ignore it entirely miss risking out on a meaningful breakout. Then again, Dietrich may not even occupy a timeshare when Gennett returns from a groin injury. The second baseman remains weeks, possibly a month or more away, so play for now and snag Dietrich for a matchup-orientated power jolt. Keep in mind, however, that he’s not a viable Week 6 play with the Reds scheduled to face four lefties. Although eligible at the time of writing, his ownership rate likely soared into the double digits by Monday once everyone digests his Herculean weekend.

Jeimer Candelario (3B – DET): 5% Owned
I admittedly am crossing my fingers for Candelario to break out after touting him often already. It hasn’t worked out for the Tigers third baseman, who’s batting .228/.338/.325 in 30 games. Most investors, myself included, have wondered whether it’s time to cut bait and grab the next hot hand. That’s reasonable in smaller mixed leagues, but stay the course in deeper formats.

As a punishment for his slow start, Detroit has moved Candelario … to the leadoff role. Topping the lineup card in each of the last 11 games, the 25-year-old has drawn 11 walks and scored nine runs. Although he’s hitting just 10-for-43 over that stretch, he finally went yard for the first time this season on Saturday.

Opportunity was part of the reason I targeted him in all deep formats. Also, let’s not forget that he notched a .283/.359/.425 slash line in 38 games in 2017 and started 2018 strong before suffering a wrist injury. Along with the rest of Detroit’s top sluggers, he should rediscover enough power to approach 20 home runs. Given his new role and gradual gains in contact rate, that could come with plenty of runs.

Kelvin Gutierrez (3B – KC): 1% Owned
Kansas City’s offense is no joke. As of Sunday, the Royals ranked just a tick below average — but ahead of the Nationals and Red Sox — with a 99 wRC+. Their sneakily adept lineup recently added another early contributor in Gutierrez, who has gone 12-for-36 with a homer and 10 RBIs in his first nine career MLB games.

Far from a top-shelf prospect, he hit .285/.347/.392 with 20 homers over 499 minor league contests. One can also easily find plenty of flaws in the early sample. He has drawn just one walk while striking out 11 times, and the .458 BABIP obviously won’t last. Those in 12-team mixed leagues can watch him from the waiver wire, but deeper managers shouldn’t wait on a newcomer who stole a base in Saturday’s four-hit performance.

Speed is Gutierrez’s main appeal, as he swiped 20 bags in Double-A last year and another two in Triple-A prior to his late-April promotion. Kansas City handily leads the majors with 49 steal attempts, so the 24-year-old should get the green light despite batting in the bottom half of the order. As long as the Royals keep riding the hot hand at third base, gamers in AL-only and 15-team mixed leagues might as well do the same.

Oscar Mercado (OF – CLE): 1% Owned
Cleveland’s starting outfield of Leonys Martin, Carlos Gonzalez, Willie “Mays” Hayes Tyler Naquin, and Jordan Luplow doesn’t cut it for a playoff contender no longer able to lean on a potent starting rotation. If only the Indians had a promising, polished prospect waiting for a promotion.

Oh hey, they do. Acquired from the Cardinals last summer, Mercado is slashing .284/.392/.461 in 26 games for Cleveland’s Triple-A affiliate. It’s not like he needs more seasoning; the 24-year-old spent all of last season at the same level. The former shortstop can help the reigning AL Central champions out offensively and defensively in center field. Fantasy investors, meanwhile, are signing up for the speed. After swiping 38 and 37 bags over the last two seasons, respectively, he already has 13 to commence 2019.

While Mercado has mustered just two of his 31 career home runs this season, he has flaunted some untapped power potential with nine doubles and a triple. The way balls are flying in the majors these days, he might be precisely the type of newcomer who actually brandishes more pop on the grand stage. A highly recommended add in AL-only and dynasty leagues, he could be worth stashing in deep mixed leagues for those who have ample bench spots and a need for speed. Don’t be surprised if he’s up within the next week or two.

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