Waiver Wire Week 16: Made For Cade

The waiver wire picks are always volatile, but I’ve been pleased with the results. Mickey Moniak was our highlight player last week, and he might’ve single-handedly won people their leagues. Understanding the schedule is the most impactful factor on the waiver wire, and this is one of the most unique weeks of the season. The St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers are playing eight games this week. That means players from those teams will be amazing adds from a volume standpoint because we don’t get many eight-game weeks all year. With that in mind, let’s dive into this week’s waiver wire!

The stats and roster rates below are updated on 7/5. All rostership percentages are on Yahoo.

Feel free to comment here or reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel if you have any questions!

Also, check out my Streamers article dropping tomorrow. 

CATCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Carter Jensen (KC, 65% Rostership) – This is probably the most difficult section to write every week because only a few catchers even fit into this box. It’s almost like there are a dozen catchers rostered in every league, and then a bunch of deep-league guys. Jensen is one of the few fringe ones, but he needs to be added off of every waiver wire. He has a .260 AVG and .797 OPS since his call-up last season, but has been even better recently. Jensen has a .337 AVG and 1.000 OPS across his last 22 outings while playing nearly every day as KC’s leadoff hitter.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%

QUICK HITS: Samuel Basallo (BAL, 49% Rostership), Gabriel Moreno (ARI, 44% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Endy Rodriguez (PIT, 3% Rostership) – Deep-league catchers are always difficult off the waiver wire, but Rodriguez has been a nice find for the Pirates. He’s been playing in about 60 percent of the games over the last month and might see more playing time with the way he’s swinging the lumber. Rodriguez has a .355 OBP and .922 OPS since June 1, while generating a .398 OBP and .893 OPS for the season. If this guy is on the waiver wire in your two-catcher league, please pick him up immediately!

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

QUICK HITS: Kyle Teel (CWS, 19% Rostership), Joe Mack (MIA, 4% Rostership)

INFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Andrew Vaughn (1B, MIL, 30% Rostership) – I never try to do carryovers with my waiver wire and streamers article, but Vaughn will be in both. Sorry for the spoilers, but this is one of my favorite pickups of the season. We already discussed how Milwaukee has eight games this week, and it’s strange that Vaughn isn’t rostered in every league anyway. This guy flirted with an .850 OPS after he was traded to Milwaukee midseason last year, but has been even better this season. Vaughn has a .426 OBP and .954 OPS so far this year. The only reason he isn’t rostered everywhere is due to an IL stint, but Vaughn should have a big week since the Brewers are playing eight games, including five against a subpar St. Louis staff!

% of Recommended FAAB: 3%

QUICK HITS: Caleb Durbin (2B/3B, BOS, 40% Rostership), Brooks Lee (1B/2B/3B, MIN, 52% Rostership), Sam Antonacci (2B/3B, CWS, 51% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Kody Clemens (1B/2B, MIN, 23% Rostership) – This guy literally just went deep against Gerrit Cole as I was writing this article. It’s no surprise since Clemens has been one of the best Twins bats over the last month and has moved up to the three-hole in this lineup. That prominent lineup spot was earned behind a .252 AVG, .567 SLG and .858 OPS across the last month. He’s also got four homers and nine RBI over his last seven outings. That sort of form makes him a wonderful waiver-wire add this week, since they have six home games against the Angels and Guardians.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3%

QUICK HITS: Bryce Eldridge (SF, 1B, 26% Rostership), Curtis Mead (WAS, 1B/2B/3B, 19 % Rostership), Tommy Edman (LAD, 2B/SS, 20% Rostership)

OUTFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Esmerlyn Valdez (PIT, 39% Rostership) – This is one of the coolest first names in baseball. It reminds me of that hot chick from Hunchback when I was a kid, but that’s a story for another day. Valdez is living up to that outstanding name with some stellar play, posting a .316 AVG and 1.112 OPS since his call-up. The last 17 games have been even more impressive, with Valdez totaling a .346 AVG and 1.206 OPS. That’s why the Pirates have shifted him up to the cleanup spot in their lineup, but he could maintain that since he had a .388 OBP and .914 OPS at Triple-A. It’s rare to see such a quick ascension to fantasy relevance, but these are the sorts of guys who can win your leagues if they maintain for the remainder of the season.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5%

QUICK HITS: Jung Hoo Lee (SF, 50% Rostership), Luis Robert (NYM, 40% Rostership), Mickey Moniak (COL, 36% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Trevor Larnach (MIN, 9% Rostership) – Larnach has always been a dangerous option whenever Minnesota matches up with a right-hander, but he’s developed into an everyday player. They’ve actually shifted him to their leadoff spot over the last 18 games, producing a .431 AVG and 1.130 OPS across his last 13 fixtures. Those absurd averages are backed by some stupendous splits, with Larnach sporting a .400 OBP and .860 OPS against right-handers this year. Matt Wallner was a similar player for the Twins, and it feels like people are overlooking Larnach for whatever reason.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

QUICK HITS: Sal Frelick (MIL, 8% Rostership), Noelvi Marte (CIN, 30% Rostership), Domonic Canzone (SEA, 16% Rostership)

STARTING PITCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

J.T. Ginn (ATH, 42% Rostership) – Ginn has been a waiver wire option all season because many fantasy managers don’t trust him. It’s difficult to understand why, because he’s been a breakout for the A’s this season. He has a 3.04 ERA and 1.23 WHIP through 19 appearances this year. He’s also allowed three runs or fewer in all but two outings, and has never done so on the road. In addition, Ginn has a 2.31 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 9.5 K/9 rate on the road this year. That’s optimal since he has a road matchup with the Tigers this week, who have one of the most pitcher-friendly parks and one of the weaker lineups in baseball.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5%

Logan Henderson (MIL, 41% Rostership) – We actually had Henderson in this section last week, but he needs to be added off of every waiver wire now. The general public is close to learning that Henderson will return to this rotation in about a week, as he’s projected to make his final rehab appearance today! He struck out seven batters across three scoreless innings in his first rehab start. Henderson also has a 2.23 ERA and 1.01 WHIP, while striking out 63 batters over 48.1 innings with the Brewers. It’s rare to find this type of talent on the waiver wire, especially since the Brewers are the best team in baseball at developing pitching.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5%

QUICK HITS: Brandon Young (BAL, 32% Rostership), Roki Sasaki (LAD, 43% Rostership), Taj Bradley (MIN, 56% Rostership), Landen Roupp (SD, 38% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Cade Cavalli (WAS, 29% Rostership) – You’d think most fantasy managers would’ve picked up Cavalli after his last start, but a seven-game suspension has people slow to react to the waiver wire. We’ll go ahead and swallow that short absence because Cavalli looked like an ace in that gem. He struck out 13 batters against the Red Sox and now has a 3.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 10.7 K/9 rate since the opening month. Cavalli is one of the only players with three 10-strikeout games this year, joining guys like Cristopher Sanchez, Paul Skenes, Jacob Misiorowski, Dylan Cease, Kyle Harrison and Jesus Luzardo. If he’s in line with those guys all year, Cavalli shouldn’t be sitting on any waiver wires.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%

Kumar Rocker (TEX, 9% Rostership) – This is a risky recommendation, but Rocker is an interesting waiver wire add. There’s a reason why he was once the top pitching prospect in baseball, but it’s been a rocky road for Rocker to get to this point. Much like his career, it’s been a volatile run for this righty this year. Rocker has actually allowed no runs in four of his last nine starts, while surrendering three runs or fewer in 13 of 16 appearances this season. He’s also got a 1.64 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 11.5 K/9 rate over his last two starts while matching up with the Angels this week. Los Angeles has the worst K rate against righties this year, while Rocker held them to a 1.06 WHIP in two starts against them last year.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

QUICK HITS: Zebby Matthews (MIN, 18% Rostership), Jeffrey Springs (ATH, 14% Rostership), Eric Lauer (MIL, 16% Rostership), Reynaldo Lopez (ATL, 9% Rostership)

RELIEVERS

10/12 Team Adds

Troy Melton (DET, 45% Rostership) – We typically try to recommend closers in this section, but Melton is sitting on way too many waiver wires. This guy has been one of the Tigers’ best starters this season, tallying a 2.05 ERA and 0.80 WHIP through seven starts. What’s even more miraculous is that he’s allowed two total runs over his last three starts, despite facing the Astros, Yankees and White Sox. Those are some of the most dangerous lineups in baseball, and Melton has cruised right through them.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%

QUICK HITS: Jacob Latz (TEX, 62% Rostership), Joey Cantillo (CLE, 50% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Rico Garcia (BAL, 22% Rostership) – Who knows who will close for Baltimore, but Garcia is the best reliever in this pen. He picked up four saves when Ryan Helsley was out earlier, and he now has a 2.52 ERA and 0.84 WHIP for the year. It sounds like Helseley could be out for an extended period, and finding the O’s closer off the waiver wire could be a heck of a find.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3%

QUICK HITS: Alex Lange (KC, 23% Rostership), Yoendrys Gomez (MIN, 26% Rostership)