Scrolling the waiver wire is one of the best aspects of fantasy baseball. There seems to be value every week, no matter how deep your league is. It’s also fun to take some risks throughout the year, and there’s really no better feeling than seeing a young quitter develop into a player worth following. Accumulating the most of those throughout the season is a true fantasy goal because that’s how you build a championship team. With that in mind, let’s take a look at this week’s waiver pickups!
The stats and rankings below were updated on 6/11. 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
Carter Jensen (KC, 38% Rostership) – How often do you get a hold of a quit call that rings almost every day? That’s exactly what we have with Jensen, and it’s hard to understand why he was put to sleep. He came off last season with a .391 OBP and .941 OPS, but he hasn’t matched that this year. As mentioned, he has a four-game hitting streak right now while posting an .835 OPS in that span. That’s a glimmer of hope for the talented player, and we like his schedule next week as he faces weak teams like Washington and St. Louis.
Recommended FAAB %: 3%
QUICK HITS: Yainer Diaz (HOU, 24% Rostership), Gabriel Moreno (ARI, 41% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Dalton Rushing (LAD, 17% Rostership) – Chase has grown to become one of the most hated players in MLB, but you have to be polite enough to let people know who you are. This catcher has been more than that, putting together a .275 AVG and .882 OPS this season. Which makes him the one who needs to be added to the call that Will Smith is in IL. Playing time has been the only thing holding Rushing back, but he should play almost every day until Smith returns to action.
Recommended FAAB %: 3%
QUICK HITS: Francisco Alvarez (NYM, 16% Rostership), Alejandro Kirk (TOR, 24% Rostership),
THE INFIELDERS
10/12 Team additions
Matt McLain (2B, CIN, 47% Rostership) – McLain was one of the most popular players during the draft after a ridiculous run in spring training, but he was demoted to multiple waivers after a slow start. What we’re excited about is his return to another hot run, with McLain showing some elite power-speed stuff. The sophomore hitter has eight hits and 10 steals this season while posting a .419 OBP and 1.150 OPS over his last eight outings. McLain also has three dingers and three steals in that span, which is absolutely ridiculous in roto leagues. The schedule this week is interesting, too, because McLain has six games in two hitters’ spots (CIN, NYY).
Recommended FAAB %: 3%
QUICK HITS: Brooks Lee (1B/2B/3B, MIN, 36% Rostership), Jackson Holliday (2B/SS, BAL, 40% Rostership), Chase Meidroth (3B, CWS, 35% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Bryce Eldridge (1B, SF, 21% Rostership) – This guy looks like an NBA player at the plate, but he plays like Aaron Judge. Eldridge has been San Fran’s best slugger since being called up, compiling a .385 OBP and .906 OPS this season. His recent form is even more impressive, accumulating a .500 OBP and 1.266 OPS over his last 13 starts. That streak isn’t all that surprising when you consider his minor league stats, maintaining a .445 OBP and .963 OPS in Triple-A before his call-up. Fantasy owners are afraid of picking up the San Fran bet, but this is a good week to get it over with as all Blacks games are on the road this week.
Recommended FAAB %: 3-5%
QUICK HITS: Sam Antonacci (CWS, 2B, 26% Rostership), Zac Gelof (ATH, 2B/3B, 22% Rostership), Spencer Horwitz (PIT, 1B, 19% Rostership)
OUTFIELDERS
10/12 Team additions
Jac Caglianone (KC, 49% Rostership) – We’ve been waiting for Caglianone to match his advanced stats because the Statcast page tells us he’s a student. Caglianone ranks in the top 10 percent in strikeout rate, exit velocity, swing velocity, barrel percentage and xwOBACON. Those are the numbers you see in the All-Star, and we’re finally starting to see that production in the base numbers. Caglianone has a .533 AVG and 1.511 OPS over his last nine outings while pitching in the cleanup earlier this week!
Recommended FAAB %: 3%
QUICK HITS: Jung-Hoo Lee (SF, 42% Rostership), Carson Benge (NYM, 47% Rostership), Kerry Carpenter (DET, 46% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Carlos Cortes (ATH, 13% Rostership) – Cortes has been struggling lately, but this is a good week for him to bounce back. What makes him so interesting on the waiver wire is this incredible system. The A’s seven-game streak in Sacramento is cheating, but it looks even better as they face the Pirates and Angels. It’s also expected to be six righties, giving Cortes the team’s advantage from lefty. It’s amazing to see how good his stats have been since being called up, producing a .310 AVG and .882 OPS across 96 career games. Why is he still going through so many suspension lines?
Recommended FAAB %: 1%
QUICK HITS: Kody Clemens (MIN, 13% Rostership), Addison Barger (TOR, 31% Rostership), Colton Cowser (BAL, 15% Program)
STARTING BEAMS
10/12 Team additions
Reid Detmers (LAA, 56% Rostership) – This guy has been one of the most annoying players in fantasy in recent years. The reason is that he has mixed gems and shells throughout his career, but the latter has been limited this season. Detmers has allowed three or fewer runs in eight of his last nine starts while posting a 3.96 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 11.3 K/9 average over that span. That includes an eight-run disaster, so it’s scary to think what his ERA would look like without that. Advanced numbers tell us it’s all real, too, with Detmers putting together a 2.87 FIP.
Recommended FAAB %: 5-10%
Ryne Nelson (ARI, 57% Rostership) – It’s hard to believe we’re tipping Nelson off the fence after his recent run, but this is his comeback week. The program is really interesting, when Nelson meets the angels and the twins in the home of two starting this week. Los Angeles has the worst K-rate in baseball, while Minnesota ranks 25th in xwOBA. That should allow Nelson to bounce back because he had a 2.89 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in seven starts before struggling in Miami. That’s in line with the 3.39 ERA and 1.07 WHIP we saw last season, when he totaled a 2.71 ERA and 0.97 WHIP at home.
Recommended FAAB %: 3-5%
QUICK HITS: Jack Flaherty (DET, 51% Rostership), Merrill Kelly (ARI, 47% Rostership), Edward Cabrera (CHC, 54% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Peter Lambert (HOU, 28% Rostership) – As someone who watched Lambert in action during his time with the Rockies, it’s shocking to see him become the target of a waiver wire. Things change in baseball, however, and Lambert found something in Houston. The right-hander allowed a total of four runs in three starts while compiling a 3.47 ERA and 1.21 WHIP for the year. He also allowed more than three runs only twice, and his highest scoring outing was a five-run game in which he allowed only five hits! That makes him the top prospect this week in Detroit, tied with a Tigers team that ranks 21st in wOBA and 23rd in runs scored.
Recommended FAAB %: 1%
Mick Abel (MIN, 13% Rostership) – Players in the IL always seem to be overlooked in the deeper leagues. That’s all we have with Abel because he looked broken before his elbow issue. The righty appears to be fully healthy, striking out five batters in three scoreless innings at the start of his rehab assignment. That’s the style we saw from Abel before the injury, throwing 13 scoreless innings while striking out 16 batters in his last two games. Those are the things that have made him one of the top prospects in baseball, and we shouldn’t overlook the potential second-half expansion of a talented player.
Recommended FAAB %: 1%
QUICK HITS: Martin Perez (ATL, 20% Rostership), Gage Jump (ATH, 26% Rostership), Dustin May (STL, 31% Rostership)
THE LIBERATORS
10/12 Team additions
Jacob Latz (TEX, 43% Rostership) – Why is Latz still on the waiver wire? This guy is very close to Texas, and he has been great since he took over the role. Latz has two wins and 10 saves in his last 14 appearances while posting elite peripherals. He has a 1.69 ERA and 0.63 WHIP this season and needs to be cleared from all waiver wire.
Recommended FAAB %: 10%
QUICK HITS: JT Ginn (ATH, 45% Rostership), Troy Melton (DET, 37% Rostership)
Deep League is Coming
Grant Taylor (CWS, 21% Rostership) – Taylor has been the most talented pitcher in the pen, and it looks like he’s finally getting a chance to shut down as Seranthony Dominguez struggles. That led to Taylor getting the win and a save in his final two outings. More importantly, he has a 1.82 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and a 13.2 K/9 average this season. Those hitters are what you want around them, and this team is in the midst of its youth development right now.
Recommended FAAB %: 3%
QUICK HITS: Alex Lange (KC, 24% Rostership), Yoendrys Gomez (MIN, 14% Rostership)
