It really saddens me that we’re getting this close to the end of the season. This is when all the noobs take over the fantasy community with stupid fantasy football hot takes, but we’re going to keep grinding the waiver wire in our baseball leagues. We fantasy baseball nerds need to stand strong against the fantasy football conglomerate because baseball is the ultimate fantasy sport. That’s an article for another day, but let’s dive into some of the great waiver wire pickups for this week!
The stats and roster rates below are updated on 8/20. 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
Alejandro Kirk (TOR, 39% Rostership) – Kirk is never a sexy fantasy option because of his lack of speed and power, but he’s a sexy man. Wait, this is a different type of article. Anyway, this big man is as hot as anyone right now, collecting a .365 AVG, .442 OBP and .995 OPS across his last 29 outings. That’s quite the month, but it’s not surprising since Kirk compiled a .282 AVG and .769 OPS last season. It’s rare to see a catcher who’s a plus in batting average, but Kirk is one of the best bat-on-ball players in the Big Leagues right now.
% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%
QUICK HITS: Ryan Jeffers (MIN, 47% Rostership), Agustin Ramirez (MIA, 34% Rostership)
Deep League Adds
Brett Sullivan (COL, 3% Rostership) – Hunter Goodman could return this week or be out the remainder of the season. No matter what happens, Sullivan is a savvy pickup in deep leagues until he returns. Sully has become the everyday catcher for the Rockies in the absence of the All-Star, generating a .280 AVG and 1.047 OPS across the last two weeks. This might just be a hot stretch, but Sullivan is available on nearly every waiver wire and benefits from hitting in the best park in baseball. Not to mention, the Rockies are one of the few teams with seven games this week!
% of Recommended FAAB: 1%
QUICK HITS: Eduardo Valencia (DET, 7% Rostership), Tyler Stephenson (CIN, 20% Rostership)
INFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Trevor Story (2B/SS, BOS, 34% Rostership) – Story is inching close to a return, and he’s been a must-roster fantasy player for most of his career. The injuries have always been a concern for Story, but he’s been productive when he’s healthy. In fact, Story had a .296 AVG and .844 OPS in the second half of last season. The talent is still there, especially since Story has a .262 career AVG and .809 OPS. He should be right back in the heart of Boston’s lineup once he’s activated, and he shouldn’t be sitting on the waiver wire with the potential he’s shown in the past.
% of Recommended FAAB: 3%
QUICK HITS: Vinnie Pasquantino (1B, KC, 54% Rostership), Kody Clemens (2B/3B/SS, MIN, 33% Rostership), Sam Antonacci (2B/3B, CWS, 33% Rostership)
Deep League Adds
Jackson Holliday (2B/SS, BAL, 25% Rostership) – Holliday was the top draft pick for a reason, and it feels like people have given up on him a bit too soon. This might be more of a recommendation for next season, but Holliday having a monster final month would be far from shocking. Baltimore is putting him in position to do that because he’s been their leadoff hitter recently. That’s led to Holliday posting a .289 AVG and .815 OPS across nine games before going hitless in the Yankees series. We’re just waiting for signs of a breakout because we’re talking about a guy who had a .441 OBP and .928 OPS in the minors before this season.
% of Recommended FAAB: 1%
QUICK HITS: Josh Bell (MIN, 1B, 27% Rostership), Andres Gimenez (TOR, 2B, 15% Rostership), Jeff McNeil (ATH, 2B, 12% Rostership)
OUTFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Lawrence Butler (ATH, 45% Rostership) – Butler was freefalling during drafts due to questions about his knee, and that speculation was clearly warranted. It’s a long fantasy season though, and Butler finally looks like the stud we saw two years ago. Butler has moved up to the heart of the A’s lineup with all of their recent injuries, amassing a .351 AVG and 1.090 OPS over the last two weeks. The best part about using Butler might be this schedule, though, because he has six games in Sacramento this week! Butler’s OPS is nearly 250 points higher at home this year, which is the second-best hitting park in the sport.
% of Recommended FAAB: 3%
QUICK HITS: Dylan Crews (WAS, 30% Rostership), Cole Carrigg (COL, 29% Rostership), Trent Grisham (NYY, 54% Rostership)
Deep League Adds
Griffin Conine (MIA, 22% Rostership) – The Marlins have one of the ugliest lineups in baseball, but they have some random sneaky bats. Conine is one of them, with the slugger hitting third or fourth for Miami every day. He’s earned that prominent lineup spot with the best stretch of his career, accruing a .384 OBP and .980 OPS since June 29. That’s nearly two months of All-Star averages, and we love that he has a series this week against a woeful Washington staff. Hitters always seem to be overlooked in Miami, and there’s no reason why Conine should still be on the waiver wire.
% of Recommended FAAB: 1%
QUICK HITS: Abimelec Ortiz (WAS, 20% Rostership), Dominic Canzone (SEA, 18% Rostership), Zac Veen (COL, 15% Rostership)
STARTING PITCHERS
10/12 Team Adds
Aaron Nola (PHI, 54% Rostership) – Many of the youngins might not realize this, but Nola was an ace not that long ago. He had a 3.70 ERA and 1.14 WHIP through the first decade of his career before falling off in the last two years. A guy like that can become great once again at any point, and that’s what we’re seeing with Nola. He’s allowed one run in three of his last five starts while posting a 2.51 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 10.7 K/9 rate in that span. We can’t overlook that sort of stretch from a guy like this, especially since he faces a Seattle team that has the fewest runs in baseball.
% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%
Sean Manaea (NYM, 33% Rostership) – Manaea is actually in a similar boat as Nola. This guy has looked elite at times but has also lost it over recent years. The good news is that this southpaw is scorching right now, sporting a 3.64 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 9.1 K/9 rate since May 1. He actually hasn’t allowed more than four runs in any of those and needs to be rostered until we see something different. Not to mention, Citi Field is arguably the best pitcher’s park in MLB.
% of Recommended FAAB: 1-3%
QUICK HITS: Noah Cameron (KC, 57% Rostership), Kyle Leahy (STL, 48% Rostership), Landen Roupp (SF, 44% Rostership), J.T. Ginn (ATH, 34% Rostership)
Deep League Adds
Corbin Burnes (ARI, 17% Rostership) – This is a waiver wire addition I didn’t expect to see this year. It sounds like Burnes wants to make his return in the final month, and someone of this ability shouldn’t be overlooked. We’re talking about a former Cy Young winner who has a 2.86 ERA and 1.03 WHIP since 2020. Only a handful of pitchers can compete with that, and it sounds like Burnes will be ready to return in a few weeks to make his season debut. Getting a few starts out of him in fantasy playoffs could be game-changing, and it’s worth waiting the 3-4 weeks
% of Recommended FAAB: 1-3%
Anthony Kay (CWS, 15% Rostership) – Kay has quietly had a nice season in Chicago. This lefty has allowed three runs or fewer in 11 straight starts while posting a 3.16 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in that span. You really can’t ask for much more from a player available on nearly every waiver wire, especially when looking at his matchup this week. Kay has a home meeting against Texas, with the Rangers ranked 21st in wOBA and 26th in runs scored. He allowed just two runs across five innings in their last matchup just a month ago.
% of Recommended FAAB: 1%
QUICK HITS: Seth Lugo (KC, 26% Rostership), Joe Musgrove (SD, 23% Rostership), Brady Singer (CIN, 21% Rostership), Kade Anderson (SEA, 23% Rostership)
RELIEVERS
10/12 Team Adds
Griffin Jax (TB, 44% Rostership) – Jax was dropped in most leagues after an IL placement, but it sounds like the Tampa starter won’t miss much time. He’s projected to start this weekend and could be activated after that. Fantasy managers have to be ecstatic about that because Jax had a 2.97 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 10.6 K/9 rate in 11 starts before that IL placement. That even includes one shelling, but a home matchup against a 22nd-ranked San Diego offense should have him right back on track.
% of Recommended FAAB: 5%
QUICK HITS: Kodai Senga (NYM, 30% Rostership), Tanner Scott (LAD, 49% Rostership)
Deep League Adds
Mason Montgomery (PIT, 15% Rostership) – This is one of the most underrated waiver wire pickups right now. Everybody thought Luke Weaver would be the closer in Pittsburgh, but Montgomery is undeniable right now. Montgomery has three saves over his last six appearances while posting a 2.31 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 18.5 K/9 rate since mid-June. That K rate is ridiculous, but it’s clearly not a fluke over a two-month sample.
% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%
QUICK HITS: Steven Cruz (KC, 11% Rostership), Ben Joyce (LAA, 19% Rostership)
