Waiver Wire Week 26: Time For Riches

This is always a sad day. This is my final waiver wire article of the season. The good news is that if you’re reading this, you’re in your fantasy championship, and there aren’t many more exciting weeks of the season. With that said, it’s one of the most disgusting weeks from a fantasy perspective. You’ll see numerous players rested and pitchers limited in this closing week. That sort of stuff is extremely unpredictable, but we’ll try our best to throw out some good waiver wire recommendations for this deciding week. I also want to thank all of you for reading and commenting throughout the season. With that said, let’s dive into this final week’s waiver wire!

The stats and roster rates below are updated on 9/18. 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

Shea Langeliers (ATH, 73% Rostership) – It’s funny that Langeliers is even in this waiver wire article, but he’s still sitting out there in shallow leagues. Most people dropped him after he had what appeared to be season-ending surgery a few months ago, but this A’s slugger is back for the final two weeks. He’s an easy add off the waiver wire if you’re struggling at catcher, with Langeliers posting a .272 AVG and .845 OPS since the start of last season. Only a handful of catchers are better than this guy, and he could have a big closing week since the A’s have a full week in Sacramento to close the year.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5-10%

QUICK HITS: Yainer Diaz (HOU, 42% Rostership), Alejandro Kirk (TOR, 39% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Rafael Flores (PIT, 9% Rostership) – I honestly don’t know much about this guy, but it’s tough to argue with production. Flores has been an everyday player for nearly two weeks now, rising to the cleanup spot at times with his hot hitting. He has a .284 AVG and .873 OPS over the last month. That’s hard to find from a catcher, and there’s no chance Pittsburgh pulls him out of the lineup with how weak the bottom half of their lineup has been.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

QUICK HITS: Leo Bernal (STL, 12% Rostership), Luis Campusano (SD, 2% Rostership)

INFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Chase Meidroth (2B/3B/SS, CWS, 41% Rostership) – This guy has been a sneaky good fantasy player this season. Being eligible at so many positions is already a bonus, but he’s also been switching off with Sam Antonacci as their leadoff hitter recently. That bump in the lineup is no surprise since Meidroth has a .289 AVG and .802 OPS over the last month. Having that roster versatility is also massive in the final week of the season with so many players sitting, and that’s unlikely to happen for Meidroth since the ChiSox are battling for a playoff spot.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3%

QUICK HITS: Maikel Garcia (2B/SS/3B, KC, 62% Rostership), Xander Bogaerts (2B/SS, SD, 31% Rostership), Travis Bazzana (2B, CLE, 33% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Richie Palacios (2B, TB, 5% Rostership) – The Rays are a funny team. They always have these random guys that go off for stretches, and Palacios is one of them right now. While he’s not an everyday player, Palacios has provided a .410 OBP and 1.198 OPS across his last 13 fixtures. He’s played in most of those in that two-week stretch, and you’d have to imagine Tampa keeps giving him at-bats with how hot he is right now. Palacios also plays for one of only two teams with seven games this week, which should make up for any games he might sit.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

QUICK HITS: Anthony Volpe (NYY, SS, 5% Rostership), Josh Jung (TEX, 3B, 21% Rostership), Christian Encarnacion-Strand (BAL, 1B/3B, 9% Rostership)

OUTFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Jakob Marsee (MIA, 48% Rostership) – Marsee just became the fourth player over the last 40 years to record 60 XBH, 35 stolen bases and 95 walks through his first 200 games. That’s hard to believe with how slow his start was this year, but Marsee is rolling right now. This Marlins outfielder has a .421 OBP and .945 OPS across his last 36 outings. That’s scary since the speed hasn’t even been anything special, but Marsee has the ability to steal 2-3 bases in this final week as well.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5%

QUICK HITS: Henry Bolte (ATH, 43% Rostership), Max Clark (DET, 42% Rostership), A.J. Ewing (NYM, 32% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Jonah Cox (SF, 8% Rostership) – Who has the most steals in baseball over the last month? Yes, you guessed it, with Cox recording nine steals over his last 20 outings. It’s not like it’s empty speed either, with Cox compiling a .324 AVG and .768 OPS in that span. That’s why San Fran has moved him up to the leadoff spot, and he’ll probably play every game to close the season since this team is so desperate to find some hitters going into next season. Some late steals can be the difference in your league, and this guy is the best bet to lead the league in this closing week.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%

QUICK HITS: Dustin Harris (SD, 2% Rostership), Cole Carrigg (COL, 21% Rostership), Victor Mesa (TB, 27% Rostership)

STARTING PITCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Jared Jones (PIT, 55% Rostership) – It’s impossible to trust a two-start week, but Jones is the best option if he makes those two starts. This talented righty finally looks fully healthy, tallying a 2.56 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 12.5 K/9 rate across his last six starts. That would make him an easy option against anyone, but Jones is projected to face the Cardinals and Tigers in this two-start week.

% of Recommended FAAB: 10%

Corbin Burnes (ARI, 37% Rostership) – It’s been a slow build-up for Burnes, but this former Cy Young winner is building up his pitch count. Burnes was built up to 75 pitches in his last start and now has a 5.87 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. That ERA is inflated by one inning, and we’re talking about a guy with a 3.17 career ERA and 1.07 WHIP. They didn’t bring this guy back to sit on the bench, and we love that his final matchup of the season is a road game against a subpar San Diego lineup.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5%

QUICK HITS: Trey Yesavage (TOR, 37% Rostership), Roki Sasaki (LAD, 33% Rostership), Martin Perez (ATL, 30% Rostership), Jack Flaherty (DET, 45% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Keider Montero (DET, 24% Rostership) – It’s critical to grab waiver wire pitchers who might start two games in this deciding week. Montero is forecasted to do just that, matching up against the Nationals and Pirates. Those two offenses were the darlings early on, but both have collapsed in the second half of the season. That’s massive for a sneaky waiver wire guy like Montero, maintaining a 3.58 ERA and 1.05 WHIP this season. The only concern is that Detroit might limit him, but that also limits blow-up potential for your fantasy team.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3%

Zebby Matthews (MIN, 20% Rostership) – Any pitcher throwing in San Fran is always in consideration. That’s even more beneficial when looking at their lineup right now because it truly looks like one of the worst in baseball. That should be huge for a talented pitcher like Zebby, with the Twins righty totaling a 4.01 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 8.8 K/9 rate across his last nine starts. The only problem has been the dingers he’s surrendered, but that won’t be a problem in San Fran against this lackluster lineup.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3%

QUICK HITS: Andrew Alvarez (WAS, 22% Rostership), Jonah Tong (NYM, 14% Rostership), Seth Lugo (KC, 27% Rostership)

RELIEVERS

10/12 Team Adds

Cal Quantrill (TEX, 51% Rostership) – It’s funny that Quantrill is RP-eligible, but that’s how bad this guy was over the last few years. That’s all changed in Texas for whatever reason, with Quantrill collecting a 1.79 ERA and 0.80 WHIP across his last 11 starts. That stretch is hard to believe, but it should continue since he’s projected to face either the Mets or Twins in his final start of the season.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3%

QUICK HITS: Mason Montgomery (PIT, 52% Rostership), Justin Wrobleski (LAD, 41% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Rico Garcia (BAL, 23% Rostership) – There are not many saves on the waiver wire right now, but Garcia has grabbed this gig in Baltimore. He has three saves over his last four appearances while posting a 0.61 ERA and 1.02 WHIP since August 11. Matching up with Toronto in the opening series could get him one save, and then he could grab another in a finale series against the Yankees, who might be resting players.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3%

QUICK HITS: Ben Joyce (LAA, 16% Rostership), Jackson Jobe (DET, 26% Rostership)