Welcome, RotoBallers, to the Week 20 edition of our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of August 5 – August 11, 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 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, August 3.
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 player data is from FanGraphs and Baseball Savant, with injury information pulled from the Roster Resource section on the former.
Fantasy Baseball First Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Michael Toglia, COL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 17%) – Toglia’s 255 APR in Week 19 is his worst scoring period since a 269 APR all the way back in Week 1, so let’s cut him a little slack, as he’s averaged a top-100 APR in the previous eight periods since he was recalled from the minors. With two series at home (vs NYM, vs ATL), this is an easy week to bet on a quick bounceback.
Mark Canha, SF, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 9%) – The bad news is that Canha has been traded to a platoon with LaMonte Wade Jr. in San Francisco, only starting one of his four games with the Giants. The good news is that in Week 20, San Francisco is scheduled to face LHPs in five of their seven games. Facing left-handers this year, Canha is slashing .292/.395/.458, with a .373 wOBA and .853 OPS – AKA the reason San Francisco traded for him to be their platoon guy vs LHP.
Next Choices
Carlos Santana, MIN, 1B (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 16%) – Santana has been downright mortal in Week 19 (206 APR) but even point gods have to rest occasionally. He’ll look to get back to deification in series at the Cubs and back home against the Guardians.
Spencer Horwitz, TOR, 1B/2B (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 5%) – Horowitz has yet to do much of anything exciting since getting called up but his playing time, lineup spot, and excellent plate discipline give him a compiler profile that usually won’t hurt you in a given scoring period.
Michael Busch, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 46%, ESPN: 21%) – Even with a 31% K%, Busch has still been usable even on leagues with a strikeout penalty, currently ranking #120 on ESPN (-1 per K) and #108 on CBS (-0.5 per K). The Cubs only have five games, though, in Week 20, with Busch nearly guaranteed to sit against fellow leftie, Garrett Crochet. But the other four matchups aren’t very friendly, with starts against Pablo Lopez and Joe Ryan scheduled.
Ryan O’Hearn, BAL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 44%) – No one goes back over and under our Roster% threshold than O’Hearn, partially due to his strict platooning that never sees him face a left-hander. He should get four games vs RHP this week but they also aren’t exactly slouches, with matchups against Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, and Jeffrey Springs on the books in Week 20.
Juan Yepez, WSH, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 24%) – The BABIP gods reminded us of the difference between what we saw from Yepez the last three weeks and what we saw in Week 19. IE when things come back down to regular land, Yepez remains what he’s mostly always been; a .240-.250ish hitter with limited pop but great plate discipline. That profile will play (as long as he’s playing every day) in many scoring systems, just don’t go thinking Yepez is a late-blooming superstar.
Desperate Choices
Josh Bell, ARI, 1B (Yahoo: 39%, ESPN: 35%) – Bell and his super-friendly points profile are now in a better hitter’s park with a better lineup surrounding him. He’s a steady producer but there is some tough pitching in Week 20 (@ CLE, vs PHI).
Nolan Schanuel, LAA, 1B (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 8%) – Oh no, Schanuel had his worst week in months…a 145 APR. Also known as, totally usable. We’ll repeat what we’ve said most of the season: Schanuel’s profile is uninspiring in Roto but is a high-floor killer under most point-scoring systems. But this is a dicey week for the left-hander, with the Angels set to face left-handers in four of their six games. Facing LHP this season, Schanuel is slashing .205/.302/.329, with a .283 wOBA and .631 OPS.
Kris Bryant, COL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 3%) – Bryant hasn’t done much of anything since returning from his most recent stint on IL in Week 18 but how is that any different from what’s he’s done in a few years? But like they always say; if you’re looking for a lotto ticket, might as well start at Coors.
On the IL
- Anthony Rizzo, NYY, 1B (fractured forearm – no timetable)
- Tyler Soderstrom, OAK, 1B (wrist bruise – no timetable)
- Alex Kirilloff, MIN, 1B/OF (back discomfort – no timetable)
- Wilmer Flores, SF, 1B/3B (knee tendonitis – 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: 7%, ESPN: 3%) – Wait, Brendan Rodgers? How’d you get in here? Oh wait, must be a Coors week. At home this season, Rodgers is slashing .329/.374/.472, with a .367 wOBA and .846 OPS. Hold your nose but we both know this is the proper play.
Luis Garcia, WSH, 2B (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 17%) – Luis Garcia continues being ridiculous, posting a 29 APR in Week 19 after putting up a 45 APR in the week prior. In fact, of the last seven periods, Garica has finished in the top 75 six times and in the top 50 three times. That’s good, right? I’d say be careful because the Nationals are scheduled to face LHP in three of their seven games but Garica just keeps trucking points, regardless of pitcher handedness.
Next Choices
Brandon Lowe, TB, 2B (Yahoo: 38%, ESPN: 10%) – Lowe has been sneakily underrated since returning from the IL in Week 9 and is now up to a .860 OPS and .369 wOBA for the season. With no left-handers scheduled in Tampa Bay’s seven games, expect Lowe to pile up some PAs.
Spencer Horwitz, TOR, 1B/2B (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 5%) – Horowitz has yet to do much of anything exciting since getting called up but his playing time, lineup spot, and excellent plate discipline give him a compiler profile that usually won’t hurt you in a given scoring period.
Desperate Choices
Gavin Lux, LAD, 2B (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 11%) – Everyone was getting back to huffing some of that Lux hype after he had back-to-back APR in the top 100 but let’s cool those fumes. Lux’s talent remains replacement-level and a .300 OPB, .657 OPS, and .290 wOBA shouldn’t be getting anyone too excited.
On the IL
- Thairo Estrada, SF, 2B/SS (sprained wrist – no timetable)
- Vaughn Grissom, BOS, 2B/SS (strained hamstring – rehab assignment)
- Nick Gonzales, PIT, 2B (strained groin – no timetable)
- Miguel Rojas, LAD, 2B/SS (forearm tightness – no timetable)
- Chris Taylor, LAD, 2B/3B/SS/OF (strained groin – no timetable)
- Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist/ankle – rehab assignment)
- Richie Palacios, TB, 2B/OF (sprained knee – no timetable)
- Jorge Mateo, BAL, 2B/SS (elbow sprain – no timetable)
Fantasy Baseball Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Oooh, third base is continuing to look rough, kids, just like it did for most of the past two summers. Word to the wise – make sure to handle your hot corner properly in 2025 drafts because the waiver wire likely won’t be your friend later.
Best Choices
Coby Mayo, BAL, 3B (Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 12%) – You know the deal; right, babes? Mayo is one of the best prospects in baseball and a top-five condiment in the fridge, recently getting his call-up card for the big club. Relying on rookies first coming up isn’t a position you should usually relish but Mayo has put enough mustard on the ball at Triple-A to make everyone else just do their best to catch up. There, is that enough puns? I hope so because I’m done.
Next Choices
Michael Busch, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 46%, ESPN: 21%) – Even with a 31% K%, Busch has still been usable even on leagues with a strikeout penalty, currently ranking #120 on ESPN (-1 per K) and #108 on CBS (-0.5 per K). The Cubs only have five games, though, in Week 20, with Busch nearly guaranteed to sit against fellow leftie, Garrett Crochet. But the other four matchups aren’t very friendly, with starts against Pablo Lopez and Joe Ryan scheduled.
Whit Merrifield, ATL, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 3%) – Merrifield might be a shell of his former self but Atlanta ended the Nacho Alvarez Jr. experiment, optioning him back to the minors, with Merrifield starting the last five games at second base. And even shells should be considered when getting to play three games on the Colorado moon in Week 20.
Desperate Choices
Matt Vierling, DET, 3B/OF (Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 10%) – Vierling has had his worst period (#240) in Week 19 since he was #323 in Week 13, with every week in between living in the top-50. He’s not a play for the ceiling but has a high enough floor to serve as a band-aid in what continues to be a super-weak position on the waiver wire.
Paul DeJong, KC, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 3%) – DeJong is still useful in daily leagues but he’ll be trickier to use in weekly-move leagues, as it looks like he’ll get most starts vs LHP but will be sharing time with Michael Massey vs RHP, for the time being. With the Royals only having five games in Week 20 (and one vs LHP), there is a strong possibility that DeJong only gets three (or maybe even two) starts this period.
Ernie Clement, TOR, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 1%) – You know things are getting desperate when Ernie Clement enters the chat. Serious question; are we even making Ernies anymore? Regardless, beggars can’t be choosers and Clement has an everyday job with just a 7% K%. Yes, 7%.
On the IL
- Chris Taylor, LAD, 2B/3B/SS/OF (strained groin – no timetable)
- Yoan Moncada, CHW, 3B (strained groin – no timetable)
- Jon Berti, NYY, 3B/SS (strained calf – no timetable)
- Wilmer Flores, SF, 1B/3B (knee tendonitis – no timetable)
- Anthony Rendon, LAA, 3B (back strain – no timetable)
Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Masyn Winn, STL, SS (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 17%) – Cool, cool, cool – looks like it’s time for ol’ Nicklaus to start chugging some of those crazy pills. Winn has been one of our best choices for weeks but his Roster% stays stubbornly stuck down way too low, rising exactly 0% since last week, even though his 65 APR in Week 19 remained superlative. He’s averaged a 67 APR over the last five scoring periods and has finished in the top 50 in six of his last 12. Look, y’all, I’m starting to think he’s pretty decent.
Orlando Arcia, ATL, SS (Yahoo: 35%, ESPN: 15%) – Arcia has been red-hot in Week 19 (#16 entering Sunday) but we all know the real reason he’s a top-add for Week 20 and it rhymes with „series at Coors”.
Next Choices
Wenceel Perez, DET, SS/OF (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 3%) – Another quiet performer, Perez has averaged a 92 APR over his last five periods, with his 144 APR this week the lone outlier outside of the top-100. Perez has six games this week (@SEA, @SF), with two coming vs LHP, against whom he’s posted a .357 xwOBA and .298 xBA.
Desperate Choices
Paul DeJong, KC, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 3%) – DeJong is still useful in daily leagues but he’ll be trickier to use in weekly-move leagues, as it looks like he’ll get most starts vs LHP but will be sharing time with Michael Massey vs RHP, for the time being. With the Royals only having five games in Week 20 (and one vs LHP), there is a strong possibility that DeJong only gets three (or maybe even two) starts this period.
Angel Martinez, CLE, SS/OF (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 3%) – Martinez has done very little from a Roto-perspective but has compiled his way to some fairly usable numbers in point leagues, with four of his five scoring periods finishing in the top-125. Just don’t expect much ceiling and you won’t be disappointed.
Ernie Clement, TOR, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 1%) – You know things are getting desperate when Ernie Clement enters the chat. Serious question; are we even making Ernies any more? Regardless, beggars can’t be choosers and Clement has an everyday job with just a 7% K%. Yes, 7%.
On the IL
- J.P. Crawford, SEA, SS (fractured pinkie – no timetable)
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa, TOR, 2B/3B/SS/OF (sprained knee – no timetable)
- Vaughn Grissom, BOS, 2B/SS (strained hamstring – rehab assignment)
- Jacob Wilson, OAK, SS (strained hamstring – no timetable)
- Miguel Rojas, LAD, SS (forearm tightness – no timetable)
- Chris Taylor, LAD, 2B/3B/SS/OF (strained groin – no timetable)
- Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist/ankle – rehab assignment)
- Jon Berti, NYY, 3B/SS (strained calf – no timetable)
- Jorge Mateo, BAL, 2B/SS (elbow sprain – no timetable)
Fantasy Baseball Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Michael Toglia, COL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 17%) – Toglia’s 255 APR in Week 19 is his worst scoring period since a 269 APR all the way back in Week 1, so let’s cut him a little slack, as he’s averaged a top-100 APR in the previous eight periods since he was recalled from the minors. With two series at home (vs NYM, vs ATL), this is an easy week to bet on a quick bounceback.
Victor Robles, SEA, OF (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 4%) – I don’t know what Robles needs to do to see his Roster% rise but apparently it’s not „finish in the top 75 for three straight weeks”. We’ve seen a different version of Robles for quite a bit now and it’s high time we start taking the change seriously. Robles gets six games in Week 20, with three scheduled vs LHP; for the season, Robles has a .379 xwOBA and 14.3% Brl% against them.
Mark Canha, SF, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 9%) – The bad news is that Canha has been traded to a platoon with LaMonte Wade Jr. in San Francisco, only starting one of his four games with the Giants. The good news is that in Week 20, San Francisco is scheduled to face LHPs in five of their seven games. Facing left-handers this year, Canha is slashing .292/.395/.458, with a .373 wOBA and .853 OPS – AKA the reason San Francisco traded for him to be their platoon guy vs LHP.
Wilyer Abreu, BOS, OF (Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 7%) – Everyone forgot about Abreu after an IL stint that was followed by three terrible periods in a row (#283, #278, #363) but he’s quietly been fairly awesome recently. Abreu has a 41 APR in Week 19, after a 62 APR in Week 18, and a 29 APR in Week 16. Only 18% rostered on Yahoo, Abreu will get a chance to keep the train rolling in Week 20, with five of his six games (@KC, vs HOU) scheduled vs RHP.
Alex Verdugo, NYY, OF (Yahoo: 46%, ESPN: 46%) – Verdugo was a dumpster long enough to drop below our Roster% threshold but he’ll probably be gone next week. Not that he’s some superstar but his profile has always been made for points, even when his Roto contributions are in the basement.
TJ Friedl, CIN, OF (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 29%) – Friedl has been pretty good in the short bursts that he hasn’t been on the IL, and, for now, he’s healthy. But more importantly for Week 20, all seven of his games (@MIA, @MIL) are scheduled vs RHP. While Friedl has technically been better vs LHP in this short-sample season, his career numbers are very clear; Friedl vs RHP is the bet you want to make.
Tommy Pham, STL, OF (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 5%) – Tommy Pham is back, baby! And by back, I mean he’s back to living within driving range of me and that means I’ll never say anything that can even be remotely misconstrued as an insult. Pham has a 17 APR with his new (old) team and is easily (!!!) the best pickup you can make, whether today, tomorrow, or for the rest of the season. He’s simply the best; he’s better than all the rest. And if you don’t agree, don’t be surprised to wake up with a Pham-shaped handprint across your cheek. You’ve been warned.
Next Choices
Charlie Blackmon, COL, OF (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 7%) – Easy money. The old man is at home this week and that pretty much guarantees he’ll finish as a top-150 hitter with plenty of room for more ceiling. It’s what he does.
Joc Pederson, ARI, OF (Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 10%) – He’s not going to play vs LHP but Pederson will get five games (@CLE, vs PHI) vs RHP to try and continue his recent run of points power, finishing in the top-125 in four of the past five weeks, including two periods in the top-50.
Jesse Winker, NYM, OF (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 18%) – Since attaining a fresh coat of Mets-stank, Winker has faded right back into the obscurity he’d previously lived in but Week 20 is a solid week for a bounceback, considering the three games in Colorado. Counterpoint: Mets stank cannot simply be defeated by thin air.
Jarred Kelenic, SEA, OF (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 8%) – Maybe Kelenic will never fulfill the promise of his prospect pedigree but he’s certainly good enough to take a flier on in a week where Atlanta travels to Colorado for a three-game set. Whenever a left-handed hitter gets a chance to face Kyle Freeland at Coors, you gotta take the chance, right?
Ryan O’Hearn, BAL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 44%) – No one goes back over and under our Roster% threshold than O’Hearn, partially due to his strict platooning that never sees him face a left-hander. He should get four games vs RHP this week but they also aren’t exactly slouches, with matchups against Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, and Jeffrey Springs on the books in Week 20.
Juan Yepez, WSH, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 24%) – The BABIP gods reminded us of the difference between what we saw from Yepez the last three weeks and what we saw in Week 19. IE when things come back down to regular land, Yepez remains what he’s mostly always been; a .240-.250ish hitter with limited pop but great plate discipline. That profile will play (as long as he’s playing every day) in many scoring systems, just don’t go thinking Yepez is a late-blooming superstar.
Desperate Choices
Jake Fraley, CIN, OF (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 2%) – Fraley has three top-150 periods in a row and the left-hander will see RHP in all seven of Cincinnati’s games (@MIA, @MIL)
Hunter Renfroe, KC, OF (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 5%) – Hunter Renfroe – he of the 11% Roster% – has a 35 APR in Week 19, after finishing #57 and #65, respectively, in the previous two periods. Nothing exciting, just a discipline-laden profile that racks up a lot of PAs (and points). Unfortunately, the Royals only have five games this week (vs BOS, vs STL) and only one is scheduled against the lefties that Renfroe handles much better.
Jesus Sanchez, MIA, OF (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 1%) – Sanchez finally came back down to earth in Week 19 but being #165 isn’t exactly the basement and he should continue to return a high floor. But be careful in Week 20, with the left-handed Sanchez set to face LHP in three of Miami’s seven games.
Kris Bryant, COL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 3%) – Bryant hasn’t done much of anything since returning from his most recent stint on IL in Week 18 but how is that any different from what’s he’s done in a few years? But like they always say; if you’re looking for a lotto ticket, might as well start at Coors.
JJ Bleday, OAK, OF (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 14%) – Playing an Athletic is rarely cause for excitement but Bleday still has a top-100 APR for the season, compiling his way there on the back of a pile of PAs and a 19% K%/10% BB%. Plus, he won’t see any left-handed starters in his six games, against whom he has a .215 AVG and .282 OBP.
Matt Vierling, DET, 3B/OF (Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 10%) – Vierling has had his worst period (#240) in Week 19 since he was #323 in Week 13, with every week in between living in the top-50. He’s not a play for the ceiling but has a high enough floor to serve as a band-aid in what continues to be a super-weak position on the waiver wire.
On the IL:
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- Evan Carter, TEX, OF (lower back tightness – no timetable)
- Kerry Carpenter, DET, OF (back stress fracture – no timetable)
- Esteury Ruiz, OAK, OF (strained wrist – no timetable)
- Chris Taylor, LAD, 2B/3B/SS/OF (strained groin – no timetable)
- Richie Palacios, TB, 2B/OF (sprained knee – no timetable)
- Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist/ankle – rehab assignment)
- Alex Kirilloff, MIN, 1B/OF (back discomfort – 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: 19%, ESPN: 7%) – Bailey has basically contributed nothing in Week 19 (354 APR) but he remains a high-floor points profile and gets seven games (@WSH, vs DET) in Week 19, with five scheduled vs LHP (plus Patrick Corbin!). Facing lefties this season, Bailey has a 60% HH% compared to a 38% HH% vs RHP.
Austin Wells, NYY, C (Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 11%) – Wells had a disappointing Week 19 relative to how good he’s been over the past month-plus but a 174 APR is still usable at catcher, so it’s not like it was a complete disaster. Playing full-time while batting cleanup with a 20% K% and 13% BB% is a good way to keep producing a high floor.
Shea Langeliers, OAK, C (Yahoo: 42%, ESPN: 18%) – Langeliers has posted just a 215 APR in Week 19 headed into Sunday but let’s give the guy a break; a 215 APR is his worst period since Week 11 (#358) and he’s averaged a 68 APR over the past four weeks.
Next Choices
Keibert Ruiz, WSH, C (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 43%) – Ruiz has been very usable recently, averaging a 121 APR over the last five weeks but the switch-hitter will face LHP in three of his seven games (vs SF, vs LAA), against whom he’s posted a .208 AVG and .247 OBP.
Desperate Choices
Elias Diaz, COL, C (Yahoo: 17%, ESPN: 7%) – Diaz simply hasn’t been the same since returning from the IL in Week 15, so maybe it shouldn’t be surprising that he wasn’t moved at the trade deadline, as many assumed he might be. But even with those struggles, it’s hard to resist streaming a catcher at Coors, if you’re in need.
On the IL
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