This is the most unique week of all during the fantasy season. Many leagues split this period into two weeks due to the All-Star break. That doesn’t mean anything about the waiver wire idea, though, because the waiver wire never sleeps. It’s actually an important time to take a closer look when most fantasy bosses are asleep at the wheel. It’s also a good opportunity to hide the IL boys who will be back after the break. I want to remind you guys that most leagues have weekly pickup limits that will take up to two weeks, so be patient with your waiver-wire additions!
The stats and rankings below were updated on 7/9. All rostership percentages are at Yahoo.
Feel free to comment here or contact me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel if you have any questions!
Also, no Streamers article tomorrow due to a weird week.
THE CATCHERS
10/12 Team additions
Samuel Basallo (BAL, 50% Rostership) – It is still strange to see Basallo sitting in half the leagues outside, but he is in a group of 12 teams in shallow leagues. Some legendary managers question his playing time next to Adley Rutschman, but Basallo has started 21 of the last 26 games. Even the everyday actors don’t play that much, Basallo hit five and six for most. That top spot in the lineup is no surprise as Basallo has a .278 AVG and .826 OPS as of April 20th.
Recommended FAAB %: 3%
QUICK HITS: Gabriel Moreno (ARI, 45% Rostership), Yainer Diaz (HOU, 41% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Ryan Jeffers (MIN, 29% Rostership) – We’ve had Jeffers here a few times since he was placed by IL, but this may be your last chance to pick him up. The slugger started his rehab assignment a few days ago and will certainly be ready to return to the lineup by the end of the All-Star break. He was arguably the best bat in Minnesota before his injury, posting a .408 OBP and .949 OPS on the career year. That kind of production is a no-brainer for a catcher, and we love that he played two of his four games throughout his conditioning assignment.
Recommended FAAB %: 3-5%
QUICK HITS: Dalton Rushing (LAD, 21% Rostership), Kyle Teel (CWS, 17% Rostership)
THE INFIELDERS
10/12 Team additions
Nick Gonzalez (2B/3B/SS, PIT, 36% Rostership) – Surprisingly, Gonzalez has been sitting on the waiver wire all season. The merits at the position are already vastly improved, but this guy has been a beast at the plate as well. Gonzalez has a career high .311 AVG and .762 OPS. He’s been even better lately, registering a .500 OBP and 1.033 OPS over his last 17 outings. Seeing a guy with a .500 OPS on the waiver wire is absurd, especially since Gonzalez has moved up to the top of the order in recent weeks.
Recommended FAAB %: 3%
QUICK HITS: Zack Gelof (2B/3B, ATH, 50% Rostership), Kody Clemens (1B/2B, MIN, 44% Rostership), TJ Rumfield (1B, COL, 51% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Tommy Edman (2B/3B, LAD, 22% Rostership) – Edman used to be a must-roster player, but he’s sitting on a lot of waiver wire after IL’s long tenure. He actually didn’t start until three weeks ago, but he has a .431 OBP and .922 OPS in the 19 games since returning. We don’t expect him to play at that All-Star level all season, but he averaged 15 homers and 30 steals per year between 2021 and 2023. Such power makes him even more appealing as he suited up in multiple spots while batting between first and fifth in this shocking Dodger lineup last week.
Recommended FAAB %: 1-3%
QUICK HITS: Curtis Mead (WAS, 1B/2B/3B, 23% Rostership), Jake Cronenworth (SD, 2B, 6% Rostership), Nasim Nunez (WAS, SS, 27% Rostership)
OUTFIELDERS
10/12 Team additions
Jake McCarthy (COL, 58% Rostership) – McCarthy has been a tricky source of steals throughout his career, but Coors Field made him a worthy addition to the waiver wire. He has been a hit for one of the hottest players, and is one of the biggest reasons for their success. McCarthy is on pace for nearly 20 homers and 30 steals while maintaining a .326 AVG and .963 OPS over his last 35 games. Most importantly, he has at least 23 steals in three of the last four seasons and will pass that mark again if he continues to hit the mark.
Recommended FAAB %: 5%
QUICK HITS: Cole Carrigg (COL, 32% Rostership), Helito Ramos (SF, 46% Rostership), Carson Benge (NYM, 48% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
AJ Ewing (NYM, 29% Rostership) – We have a theme in this article. That there are too many leadoff hitters sitting on the waiver wire. This is one of the weirder percentages of the roster out there because Ewing has been so good since taking over the Mets’ leadoff spot. Ewing has a .417 OBP and 1.077 OPS over his last 15 games. The speed isn’t there yet, and we’re talking about a guy who had 90 steals in 154 games in the minors two years ago. If he becomes that type of guy, Ewing could be a league winner.
Recommended FAAB %: 5%
QUICK HITS: Domonic Canzone (SEA, 17% Rostership), Luis Lara (MIL, 10% Rostership), Heriberto Hernandez (MIA, 3% Rostership)
STARTING BEAMS
10/12 Team additions
Jack Flaherty (DET, 54% Rostership) – If you’ve been reading my articles over the past few weeks, you know I’m bullish on Flaherty. This guy deserved to be sent all the way to the waiver wire after his slow start, but some good downs were inevitable. That’s what we’ve seen lately, Flaherty has allowed three or fewer runs in seven straight starts. He also has a 2.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and an 11.4 K/9 average over his six starts. That’s the form we’ve become accustomed to in the past, with Flaherty putting up a career ERA of 3.85, 1.22 WHIP and a 10.3 K/9 rate.
Recommended FAAB %: 3-5%
Landen Roupp (SF, 42% Rostership) – Roupp has been stubborn in mid-June but has been pretty remarkable otherwise. He had a 7.14 ERA throughout that bad month, but had a 3.30 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 10.2 K/9 average in the opening two months before that. An encouraging sign is that the calendar has turned to July, and Roupp has given the best start to his career. He allowed one run in eight innings in his most recent start against Toronto. Roupp also averages a 3.80 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 10.2 K/9 at home, which should be a safe haven for how great San Fran can be.
Recommended FAAB %: 3-5%
QUICK HITS: Reynaldo Lopez (ATL, 32% Rostership), Jake Bennett (BOS, 47% Rostership), Logan Henderson (MIL, 47% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Jared Jones (PIT, 24% Rostership) – Jones got off to a rough start in his IL return, but that was always inevitable after missing a full season. The good news is that he appears to be healthy now, throwing six perfect innings in his most recent start. He did that against a talented Atlanta team and now averages a 3.48 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 10.2 K/9, except for his one sub start in Sacramento. We are determined to do that as it is one of the most admired parks, especially since Jones looked like a beast before the arm injury.
Recommended FAAB %: 3%
Christian Scott (NYM, 17% Rostership) – Picking up Mets pitchers off the waiver wire worked as long as I played fantasy baseball. Citi Field being a pitcher-friendly park is a big reason why, but Scott is not a product of that park. The youngster has allowed four runs or less in all 12 starts this season while posting a 3.17 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 10.8 K/9. He also has a 2.62 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 10.5 K/9 average over his last six starts. This is a top prospect who averaged a 2.59 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 12.8 K/9 between Double-A and Triple-A before this season. The ingredients are there for Scott to be a stud, and we may be seeing that breakout right now.
Recommended FAAB %: 1-3%
QUICK HITS: Jackson Jobe (DET, 4% Rostership), Bailey Ober (MIN, 17% Rostership), Dustin May (STL, 28% Rostership)
THE LIBERATORS
10/12 Team additions
Ian Seymour (TB, 49% Rostership) – This is an unlikely time to get a save on a waiver wire, so let’s get an RP starter here. The Rays have developed more of these former relievers into starters than any team in baseball, and they’ve stumbled into one with Seymour. The lefty recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts in his most recent start and now has a 3.38 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 10.6 K/9 since struggling in the bullpen. More importantly, he has a 2.00 ERA, 0.56 WHIP and 13.5 K/9 average over his last three starts.
Recommended FAAB %: 3%
QUICK HITS: Joey Cantillo (CLE, 53% Rostership), JT Ginn (ATH, 45% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Caleb Kilian (SF, 15% Rostership) – This San Fran pen has been a nightmare all season, but Kilian seems to be the guy right now. He has three saves in his last four games, with one coming when he entered the ninth with a four-run lead. That’s the role you want around you, as Kilian is averaging 13.5 K/9 since May 13. Those hits should lead to better peripherals as the season progresses, and Kilian looks like a tricky source of saves on the waiver wire.
Recommended FAAB %: 1%
QUICK HITS: Grant Taylor (CWS, 20% Rostership), Yoendrys Gomez (MIN, 25% Rostership)
