Welcome, RotoBallers, to the Week 17 edition of our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of July 15 – July 21, looking at players below ~50% rostered on ESPN or Yahoo.
We’ll be doing this points league roundup every week here at RotoBaller because we know points players get neglected and we’re here to help. Player values can vary wildly from platform to platform, so we’ll make sure to highlight where players are the best and worst fits, with waiver-wire targets being evaluated in terms of the different scoring systems on ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, Fantrax, and NFBC.
Position eligibility is taken from Fantrax and players are grouped by their most valuable fantasy position, using a hierarchy of C > 2B > OF > 3B > 1B > SS. Stats and rankings are calculated using games through Saturday, July 13.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and weekly lineup resources:
Waiver Wire Caveats and APR Explanation
Roster% Thresholds
We use a combination of Roster% to assess who is in our target pool, relying mostly on Yahoo and ESPN. For some players, you’ll notice a wide discrepancy between the two. This is because ESPN’s Roster% is heavily weighted by points players, with guys who don’t do well in their system (often because of an inflated K% but also sometimes, who really knows?) lagging behind the Yahoo Roster%.
For this reason, you’ll sometimes see players (especially early) who might make you question my sanity in including them in a waiver-wire article but don’t worry, it’s just a necessary glitch for coverage purposes.
APR stands for „Average Platform Rank” and is the average hitter rank between the four major point platforms: ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, and Fantrax.
**All-Star Week Caveats**
Waiver wire analysis can be a little trickier during the All-Star week, as teams only play a maximum of three games and we have to mostly guess about which pitchers will be starting. And those best guesses can quickly be rendered useless depending on how starters get used during the ol’ midsummer classic. All-Star game usage can quickly cause some big ripples, both in which pitchers are started over the weekend and how that might change the handednesses of the three-game set your possible streamer might face. IE. An All-Star who gets heavily used in the game might not pitch over the weekend, while one who doesn’t make it in the game likely will get a start. These things make rotations shuffle and a streamer might not suddenly be appealing if the handedness of the starters he’ll be facing gets flipped around.
With that said, our recommendations this week will be broader (and shorter ; ) plays that aren’t necessarily dependent on handedness splits. But let this be your disclaimer to double-check rotations for the weekend after the game on Tuesday.
Happy All-Star Week!
Fantasy Baseball First Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Michael Toglia, COL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 2%) – Since being recalled on June 6, Toglia has averaged a 104 APR (min: #52, max: #155) over those six periods, starting every game for Colorado in the process. Toglia might only have a .213 AVG and .288 OBP over his 139 PA since being recalled but those light ratios have come with 9 HR, including three in his last five games. With a series at home against shaky San Francisco pitching, Toglia’s Roster% is unconscionable.
LaMonte Wade Jr., SF, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 5%) – Wade Jr. hasn’t done much of anything since returning from the IL a few weeks back but three games in Colorado against all RHP is a recipe for points success.
Next Choices
Nolan Schanuel, LAA, 1B (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 3%) – Ho-hum, ho-hum – no big deal, just another top-100 week for Schanuel, who is the #61 hitter headed into Sunday. Since coming in at #369 in Week 10 (his lowest of the season), Schanuel has averaged a 105 APR, with four of those six periods coming in the top 100.
Spencer Horwitz, TOR, 1B/2B (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 24%) – It’s looking like another top-100 week for Horwitz, his second in a row and third of the last five. After mostly sitting vs LHP for the season, he did get a start against one last week, though, he headed back to the bench for the next. Even if he continues to mostly sit against them, Horwitz’s spot in the top-third of the lineup and a very pointy profile make him a good bet for a continuing high floor.
Desperate Choices
Rowdy Tellez, PIT, 1B (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 24%) – After looking like Piper last week with a 16 APR, Rowdy turned in a performance more like Rhonda in Week 16 but it’s not like being #106 is anything to be too sad about. Before this year’s disastrous start, Tellez has always had a good points profile for a first baseman, as his low-K rate usually served him well.
Jake Burger, MIA, 1B (Yahoo: 42%, ESPN: 15%) – Burger has been relatively better as of late but don’t think you’re getting an advantage with him being scheduled to face two left-handers over the weekend – Burger has a .219 wOBA and 37 wRC+ vs LHP, compared to a .329 wOBA and 112 wRC+ vs RHP.
On the IL
- Anthony Rizzo, NYY, 1B (fractured forearm – no timetable)
- Brandon Drury, LAA, 1B/2B (strained hamstring – rehab assignment)
- Tyler Soderstrom, OAK, 1B (wrist bruise – no timetable)
- Kris Bryant, COL, 1B/OF (rib contusion – no timetable)
- Wilmer Flores, SF, 1B/3B (knee tendinitis – no timetable)
- Alex Kirilloff, MIN, 1B/OF (back discomfort – no timetable)
- Joey Gallo, WSH, 1B/OF (strained hamstring – no timetable)
Fantasy Baseball Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Brendan Rodgers, COL, 2B (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 3%) – You generally don’t want to put too must trust in Rodgers but this is a good weekend to do it. And not just because it’s a series at home. There’s also the fact that he’ll face an LHP in two of his three games; Rodgers has a .384 wOBA and 135 wRC+, with a 15% K% vs LHP, vs a .280 wOBA, 64 wRC+, and 24% K% vs RHP. Sweet Jeebus, am I really going to put Brendan Rodgers on the cover??? If there’s a bigger kiss of death, I dare you to name it – process don’t fail me now!
Luis Garcia, WSH, 2B (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 19%) – So this is definitely the last week that Garcia is below our Roster% threshold, right? Garcia is following up his #6 performance last week with a 72 APR in Week 16, his fourth week in a row in the top 75. Averaging a 54 APR over his last four weeks, this is officially his last call, me thinks.
Xavier Edwards, MIA, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) – Edwards was called up for three games in early June but since being recalled on July 2 (and starting every game since) one of Tampa Bay’s former top prospects has really started to shine. In the 11 games since he returned, Edwards is slashing .333/.404/.412 over 57 PA, getting at least one hit in every game but one, collecting multiple hits five times. Edwards has the profile to be a points star, showing elite plate discipline and an ability to get on base virtually everywhere he’s been. Combine that with blazing speed (Edwards stole 37 bases at Triple-A/MLB last season), Edwards could be a waiver-wire steal.
Next Choices
Colt Keith, DET, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 16%) – Colt Keith is lava – the rookie is the #5 hitter in Week 16 after finishing at #19 in Week 15. The growth spurts have made his production inconsistent but Keith has a good compiling floor with enough pop and speed to also rate him a big upside in any given week.
Zack Gelof, OAK, 2B (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 12%) – Gelof coming to the end of another great scoring period, coming in at #44 heading into Sunday. Over his last four weeks, Gelof has averaged a 74 APR, with a spread of #32 to #121. A 35% K% makes him untenable in leagues with a strikeout rate (hence 12% rostered on ESPN lol) but he’s a usable starter in those without one.
Spencer Horwitz, TOR, 1B/2B (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 24%) – It’s looking like another top-100 week for Horwitz, his second in a row and third of the last five. After mostly sitting vs LHP for the season, he did get a start against one last week, though, he headed back to the bench for the next. Even if he continues to mostly sit against them, Horwitz’s spot in the top-third of the lineup and a very pointy profile make him a good bet for a continuing high floor.
Brandon Lowe, TB, 2B (Yahoo: 25%, ESPN: 4%) – Lowe is only at a 149 APR this week but he’s been very consistent since returning from the IL in Week 9. Over the last seven periods, Lowe has averaged a 117 APR, finishing near the top-50 twice and in the top 100 five times.
Desperate Choices
Brett Wisely, SF, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) – Wisely has now started nine games in a row and looks to continue his starting ways, even with the return of Thairo Estrada from the IL, as the Giants recently DFA’d Nick Ahmed. Nothing spectacular here but he has been in the top-125 three times in the past five periods and should start every game in their series in Colorado.
Nick Gonzales, PIT, 2B (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 9%) – My fellow Nick has mostly been unspectacular as of late but still brings a compiler profile that generally won’t hurt you much in a given week.
On the IL
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa, TOR, 2B/3B/SS/OF (sprained knee – no timetable)
- Brandon Drury, LAA, 1B/2B (strained hamstring – rehab assignment)
- Abraham Toro, OAK, 2B/3B (strained hamstring – no timetable)
- Vaughn Grissom, BOS, 2B/SS (strained hamstring – no timetable)
- Adam Frazier, KC, 2B/OF (sprained thumb – no timetable)
Fantasy Baseball Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Colt Keith, DET, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 16%) – Colt Keith is lava – the rookie is the #5 hitter in Week 16 after finishing at #19 in Week 15. The growth spurts have made his production inconsistent but Keith has a good compiling floor with enough pop and speed to also rate him a big upside in any given week.
Noelvi Marte, CIN, 3B (Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 8%) – You’re betting on potential, as Marte has done a whole lot of nothing since returning from his suspension but he’ll get a trio of manageable matchups in a series in Washington.
Next Choices
Rece Hinds, CIN, 3B (Yahoo: 46%, ESPN: 16%) – Hinds came up this week and announced himself in a big way, hitting five home runs in his first six games, with seven runs, 11 RBI, and two stolen bases. However, hitting home runs has never been his problem – no, that belongs to making contact. Hinds has a 38% K% at Triple-A this year and had a 33% K% at Double-A last season. Buyer beware, especially if your league has a strikeout penalty. But hey, ain’t no harm in riding a hand this hot, especially since he’ll be facing subpar pitching in Washington this weekend.
Eugenio Suarez, ARI, 3B (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 8%) – He’s alive! Sweet doctor, Eugenio is a-liveeeeee! Okay, let’s not get carried away. But Suarez’s 15 APR this week is his best of the season after hitting three home runs, with six runs and 7 RBI, so we gotta give the former slugger some props….Just in time for this big week to serve as the fuel to get him traded out of town, ushering in Devison De Los Santos SZN. Thank you, Eu-Genio. Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.
Desperate Choices
Anthony Rendon, LAA, 3B (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) – Listen, I don’t want to list him either. But we can’t deny that even the worst versions of Rendon are very points-friendly and prior to his injury, he’d been turning things around, posting back-to-back weeks in the top 75. Also, he’ll probably be hurt before I finish typing this.
On the IL
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa, TOR, 2B/3B/SS/OF (sprained knee – no timetable)
- Abraham Toro, OAK, 2B/3B (strained hamstring – no timetable)
- Yoan Moncada, CHW, 3B (strained groin – rehab assignment)
- Jon Berti, NYY, 3B/SS (strained calf – no timetable)
Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Xavier Edwards, MIA, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) – Edwards was called up for three games in early June but since being recalled on July 2 (and starting every game since) one of Tampa Bay’s former top prospects has really started to shine. In the 11 games since he returned, Edwards is slashing .333/.404/.412 over 57 PA, getting at least one hit in every game but one, collecting multiple hits five times. Edwards has the profile to be a points star, showing elite plate discipline and an ability to get on base virtually everywhere he’s been. Combine that with blazing speed (Edwards stole 37 bases at Triple-A/MLB last season), Edwards could be a waiver-wire steal.
Zach Neto, LAA, SS (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 9%) – Neto continues to get no respect, even as he’s in the midst of yet another top-50ish week – since Week 5, Neto has averaged a 93 APR, with seven periods in the top-75. That should warrant a higher Roster%.
Next Choices
Masyn Winn, STL, SS (Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 13%) – Winn keeps turning it on, posting a 96 APR in Week 16, after finishing #40 the week prior (and #42 two weeks before that). He’s very light on power but excellent discipline should continue to serve him well.
J.P. Crawford, SEA, SS (Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 46%) – The low-budget points-King continues to compile his way to relevance, with a 64 APR moving him to an average of a 109 APR since returning from injury in Week 9. A .209 AVG might scare you away but Crawford don’t care about all that and will probably just keep quietly compiling away.
Desperate Choices
Brett Wisely, SF, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) – Wisely has now started nine games in a row and looks to continue his starting ways, even with the return of Thairo Estrada from the IL, as the Giants recently DFA’d Nick Ahmed. Nothing spectacular here but he has been in the top-125 three times in the past five periods and should start every game in their series in Colorado.
Max Schuemann, OAK, SS (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 2%) – After finishing with a season-high 22 APR last week, Scheumann followed it up with a solid 95 APR this period. It’s usually hard putting eggs in the Oakland basket but Schuemann is at least usable in the right situations.
On the IL
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa, TOR, 2B/3B/SS/OF (sprained knee – no timetable)
- Vaughn Grissom, BOS, 2B/SS (strained hamstring – no timetable)
- Jon Berti, NYY, 3B/SS (strained calf – no timetable)
Fantasy Baseball Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Michael Toglia, COL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 2%) – Since being recalled on June 6, Toglia has averaged a 104 APR (min: #52, max: #155) over those six periods, starting every game for Colorado in the process. Toglia might only have a .213 AVG and .288 OBP over his 139 PA since being recalled but those light ratios have come with 9 HR, including three in his last five games. With a series at home against shaky San Francisco pitching, Toglia’s Roster% is unconscionable.
Charlie Blackmon, COL, OF (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 7%) – Old man Creaky refuses to stop hitting – Blackmon has a 93 APR in Week 16, his fifth top-100 period in his last seven. With three games at home, this is as easy-peasy of a stream as it gets.
Masataka Yoshida, BOS, OF (Yahoo: 41%, ESPN: 48%) – Still apparently available, Yoshida’s profile absolutely should be rostered in most point leagues. His Roster% might have dropped off because of the injuries and the poor performance that came after but a 63 APR in Week 15 and 53 APR in Week 16 are getting back to what you can generally expect from him and his 15% K%.
Joc Pederson, ARI, OF (Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 11%) – What do we do when Joc Pederson isn’t going to face any LHP? We start him, Timmy…we start him.
Next Choices
Michael Conforto, SF, OF (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 15%) – Conforto came back from the IL in Week 11 with a dumpster strapped to his back but has been serviceable over the last three weeks, averaging a 104 APR. With three games in Coors, that’s probably good enough.
LaMonte Wade Jr., SF, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 5%) – Wade Jr. hasn’t done much of anything since returning from the IL a few weeks back but three games in Colorado against all RHP is a recipe for points success.
Desperate Choices
Mike Yastrzemski, SF, OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 1%) – Yastrzemski has been sneakily decent over the last few months, averaging a 146 APR over his last eight periods. With a 101 APR in Week 16 and a series at home after the break, that might be enough upside for those with big needs.
Jesus Sanchez, MIA, OF (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) – Sanchez continues to hit like a man who desperately wants to be traded out of Miami, with a 53 APR in Week 16, after finishing at #34 in Week 13 and #44 in Week 15. But this will be a tough mini-week to keep the good times rolling as the left-handed Sanchez will face lefties in two of Miami’s three games – facing LHP, Sanchez is slashing .109/.146/.196, with a .152 wOBA. Yes, those numbers are correct.
Lawrence Butler, KC, OF (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) – Butler has blown up with some July fireworks, slashing .286/.324/.657 over 37 PA, with 4 HR and a .413 wOBA. But this is still a big-whiff profile and one that’ll sit vs LHP.
On the IL:
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- Starling Marte, NYM, OF (bone bruise – expected to miss 4 weeks)
- Kerry Carpenter, DET, OF (stress fracture – no timetable)
- Heston Kjerstad, BAL, OF (Concussion – no timetable)
- TJ Friedl, CIN, OF (strained hamstring – no timetable)
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa, TOR, 2B/3B/SS/OF (sprained knee – no timetable)
- Esteury Ruiz, OAK, OF (strained wrist – rehab assignment)
- Mike Tauchman, CHC, OF (strained groin – no timetable)
- Kris Bryant, COL, 1B/OF (rib contusion – no timetable)
- Alex Kirilloff, MIN, 1B/OF (back discomfort – no timetable)
- Parker Meadows, DET, OF (strained hamstring – no timetable)
- Joey Gallo, WSH, 1B/OF (strained hamstring – no timetable)
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Fantasy Baseball Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Patrick Bailey, SF, C (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 9%) – Bailey has been a column favorite all season, as he brings a very points-friendly profile to a position that doesn’t always welcome one. Coming off a top-50 period in Week 16 and with a series at Colorado, this is an easy play to make.
Elias Diaz, COL, C (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 10%) – Diaz has been pretty stinky since returning from the IL but I’ll bet on history if needing a Week 17 stream. Oh, and I’ll also bet on the thin air that he’ll be hitting in all weekend that usually makes the ball play like it’s perpetually 2019.
Next Choices
Tyler Stephenson, CIN, C (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 9%) – Longtime personal man-crush/heartbreaker, Stephenson, turned in his best period of the season in Week 16, coming in as the #3 hitter after just a bonkers week. Stephenson has four home runs in 26 PA, slashing .346/.346/.923 entering Sunday’s action. He’s again a solid bet in a weekend that we’ll see him face a trio of subpar pitchers in Washington.
Shea Langeliers, OAK, C (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 15%) – Shea Langeliers continues to do what he usually does – IE he almost always puts up a usable top-150 week but it generally comes with a pretty hard cap around the top-100. Case-in-point; over his last five periods, Langeliers has gone: #90, #164, #158, #52, #106. Oakland has three games against the Angels this weekend, with none of the starting matchups looking overly onerous.
Desperate Choices
Austin Wells, NYY, C (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 2%) – Wells’s results have looked fairly serviceable lately, putting up three straight top-100ish periods, though, his part-time role meant he wasn’t very useful in a practical sense. But with Jose Trevino hitting the IL, Wells will seen an uptick in playing time and that makes him a possible catching band-aid if you’re in need in Week 17.
Hunter Goodman, COL, C (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) – Point 1: Goodman has pretty much had two good weeks all season. Point 2: Out of Colorado’s three games this weekend, recent history tells us he’ll only likely play a maximum of two of them. Point 3: Those two games will be played on the moon.
On the IL
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