When I started this article a few months ago, I was hesitant to recommend the same players in consecutive weeks. I’ve read that it’s mandatory to have a waiver wire, though, because people need to be reminded when a player is sitting on multiple waiver wires. With that said, I’m not recommending a player three times in a row just because that guy is always taken in multiple leagues during that time, despite what the roster numbers say. We have a few carryovers from last week, and it’s a good time to get some gems on the waiver wire. With that in mind, let’s get started with the phone holders to quit!
The stats and rankings below were updated on 6/25. All rostership percentages are at Yahoo.
Feel free to comment here or contact me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel if you have any questions!
Also, check out my Streamers article coming out tomorrow.
THE CATCHERS
10/12 Team additions
Samuel Basallo (BAL, 50% Rostership) – Basallo was already playing every day when Adley Rutschman was healthy, but he has taken his game to another level since Rutschman arrived in the IL. The catcher had his first two-homer game on Wednesday and now has a .290 AVG and .856 OPS since April 24. Not many catchers have ratios like that, and we love that he has a matchup against the White Sox and Reds this week.
Recommended FAAB %: 5%
QUICK HITS: Carter Jensen (KC, 64% Rostership), Gabriel Moreno (ARI, 51% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Kyle Teel (CWS, 17% Rostership) – We had Teel in this category last week, and he could become the first person to be in three consecutive weeks if he continues to be underdrafted. The catcher was a key part of the Garrett Crochet trade for a reason, hitting cleanup in his return to the Chicago lineup. It’s no surprise that he has such a dominant position in the program because Teel has achieved a .374 OBP and .778 OPS across 80 games at this level. He also had a .405 OBP and .871 OPS during his minor league career, so this guy could develop into one of the best catchers in baseball.
Recommended FAAB %: 5%
QUICK HITS: Francisco Alvarez (NYM, 18% Rostership), Alejandro Kirk (TOR, 27% Rostership)
THE INFIELDERS
10/12 Team additions
Bryce Eldridge (1B, SF, 44% Rostership) – Why is Eldridge still sitting on so many waiver wires? This is truly one of the most confusing percentage lists I have ever seen. Thought managers must have been excited when the 6’7″ guy who had a .445 OBP and .963 OPS in Triple-A, but was underserved at the time, was called up. What makes it even more unknown is that he has a .378 OBP and .859 OPS in 39 games at this level. That includes a .337 AVG and a 1.030 OPS over his last 24 games, so there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be listed in every single league out there. This week’s schedule couldn’t be better, with San Fran playing Arizona and Colorado on the road.
Recommended FAAB %: 10%
QUICK HITS: Willi Castro (1B/2B/SS/3B, COL, 52% Rostership), Sam Anonacci (2B/3B, CWS, 43% Rostership), Paul Goldschmidt (1B, NYY, 36% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Kody Clemens (1B/2B, MIN, 25% Rostership) – It’s hard to believe that Roger Clemens produced anything great outside of his game, but here we are! Clemens has become one of the Twins’ best bats this season, hitting third nearly every day over the past month. Clemens earned that promotion by providing a .273 AVG and .841 OPS over his last 39 games. That includes an easy 1-for-18 over the last few games, but he was unstoppable before that. We expect him to pick up his previous form again when he tests this program, Minnesota is drawn against Houston and New York this week. The Stros are 25th in wOBA and 26th in ERA.
Recommended FAAB %: 1-3%
QUICK HITS: Curtis Mead (WAS, 1B/2B/3B, 18% Rostership), Nasim Nunez (WAS, 2B/SS, 29% Rostership), Nick Gonzalez (PIT, 2B/3B/SS, 23% Rostership)
OUTFIELDERS
10/12 Team additions
Mickey Moniak (COL, 44% Rostership) – Moniak was the player to be selected before the ankle issue kept him out for a month. A number of fantasy managers moved him to the waiver wire after that, but it sounds like they’re slow to bring him back. That’s hard to fathom because Moniak has a .282 AVG and a .935 OPS this season. He also came up with a .270 AVG and .824 OPS with the Rockies last year while flirting with a 1.000 OPS at home in that two-year span. His numbers against righties are also in line with those, which is amazing since Colorado has all seven games at home this week, and six of them are against right-handers!
Recommended FAAB %: 3-5%
QUICK HITS: Jung-Hoo Lee (SF, 49% Rostership), Carson Benge (NYM, 48% Rostership), Kerry Carpenter (DET, 39% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Daniel Canzone (SEA, 20% Rostership) – I can’t see this word without thinking of one of my favorite foods. Obviously that’s a calzone, but Canzone was really good. This slugger has been hitting between the fourth and sixth in recent weeks. He earned that top spot in the program behind his .275 AVG and .895 OPS. We actually saw similar ratings last season, and we can’t ignore his .417 OBP and 1.171 OPS last month. He also has a .400 OBP and a 1.015 OPS at home, which is amazing considering he has all six games in Seattle this week!
Recommended FAAB %: 1%
QUICK HITS: Samad Taylor (SD, 19% Rostership), Jake McCarthy (COL, 16% Rostership), Jasson Dominguez (NYY, 15% Rostership)
STARTING BEAMS
10/12 Team additions
Kris Bubic (KC, 46% Rostership) – Bubic struggled in his last two games before coming to the IL, but he was on fire before that. The lefty averaged a 3.32 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 9.3 K/9 over his first seven starts this season after posting a 2.55 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 last year. Most fantasy managers sent him to the waiver wire after an elbow injury, but he began his rehab last week. It may take him a few starts to build up a full field count, but Bubic needs to be listed in every league just because of the power he’s put in over the past two years.
Recommended FAAB %: 5%
Logan Henderson (MIL, 38% Rostership) – Let’s pick up another damaged container from the waiver wire! Everyone gave up on Henderson for the long absence, but it seems that this is right about his back issue. He is expected to begin his rehab assignment sometime this weekend and looked like he was in school before the injury. That’s what Milwaukee has been doing with every pitcher in recent years, with Henderson compiling a 2.74 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 11.7 K/9 average over his first five starts. He also allowed two or fewer runs in all of that and needs to be picked up from the waiver wire after posting a 3.08 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and a 34 percent K average throughout his minor league career.
Recommended FAAB %: 3-5%
QUICK HITS: Jack Flaherty (DET, 42% Rostership), Peter Lambert (HOU, 36% Rostership), Aaron Nola (PHI, 51% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Kumar Rocker (TEX, 8% Rostership) – There’s a reason why Rocker was once one of the top prospects in baseball. Rocker has shown some of that raw stuff lately, allowing two or fewer runs in four of his last five starts. That doesn’t include two scoreless starts at the end of last month, when Rocker registered a 3.46 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 8.2 K/9 average in that span. That’s nothing special, but it’s a worthy addition to the waiver wire considering how great this guy’s pedigree was early in his career. A home game against Detroit is another opportunity to add to those averages, where the Tigers rank 20th in wOBA, 22nd in K’s and 25th in earned runs.
Recommended FAAB %: 1%
Reynaldo Lopez (ATL, 8% Rostership) – Atlanta demoted Lopez to the bullpen after a slow start this season, but he’s re-entering the starting rotation this week! Seeing him sit on the waiver wire in the major leagues is a little surprising at this point because Lopez had a 2.11 ERA and 1.14 WHIP as a starter over the past two years. He’s also thrown 7.1 scoreless innings over his last four starts, so a return to that form in 2024 is within the realm of possibility. There’s also a chance he starts at home against the Mets this week, which is surprising since New York ranks 29th in wOBA.
Recommended FAAB %: 1%
QUICK HITS: Anthony Kay (CWS, 14% Rostership), Joey Cantillo (CLE, 27% Rostership), AJ Smith-Shawver (ATL, 1% Rostership)
THE LIBERATORS
10/12 Team additions
Emilio Pagan (CIN, 63% Rostership) – Barbarian’s season appeared to be over when he was sidelined with a pulled hamstring two months ago, but it sounds like he is on the way back. The Cincy closer is expected to begin rehab in about a week and should be able to get the closer gig back as soon as he is reinstated. He is one of the league leaders with 38 saves since the start of last year!
Recommended FAAB %: 3-5%
QUICK HITS: Carlos Estevez (KC, 42% Rostership), Griffin Jax (TB, 44% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Alex Lange (KC, 23% Rostership) – There’s a chance Estevez can come back in a few weeks and recapture this close track, but Lange is the one for now. He has six saves in his last 10 games and has 26 saves for the Tigers over the past few years. He also has a 1.93 ERA and 1.11 WHIP since April 29, so they can’t move him from this role until the strikeout happens.
Recommended FAAB %: 1-3%
QUICK HITS: Javier Assad (CHC, 19% Rostership), Caleb Kilian (SF, 9% Rostership)
