We had a successful opening week of pickups for these categories, but we were much more pleased with the pitchers’ results than the bats. That will likely be a common theme all season because predicting pitching is much easier than predicting hitting. The sample sizes are larger for the hitters, but they are just way more volatile because they have to deal with different variables every day. We don’t have that much with the pitchers, but we’re going to keep at it and try to build off of the success from Week 1.
The following list is comprised of the 10 main categories in roto leagues. Under each category, you’ll find a player who can specifically help you with that individual stat. Most players will offer help in more ways than one, but their primary contributions should come under the category in which they are listed. I’ll be putting out a similar piece every week, so check back every Sunday. I’ll have a new list of players not previously mentioned.
Without further ado, here are this week’s waiver additions based on Categories.
We had a successful opening week of pickups for these categories, but we were much more pleased with the pitchers’ results than the bats. That will likely be a common theme all season because predicting pitching is much easier than predicting hitting. The sample sizes are larger for the hitters, but they are just way more volatile because they have to deal with different variables every day. We don’t have that much with the pitchers, but we’re going to keep at it and try to build off of the success from Week 1.
The following list is comprised of the 10 main categories in roto leagues. Under each category, you’ll find a player who can specifically help you with that individual stat. Most players will offer help in more ways than one, but their primary contributions should come under the category in which they are listed. I’ll be putting out a similar piece every week, so check back every Sunday. I’ll have a new list of players not previously mentioned.
Without further ado, here are this week’s waiver additions based on Categories.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 2)
Home Runs
Eugenio Suarez (3B – ARI): 58%
Suarez is available in about half the leagues I play in, but it won’t last beyond this week. Arizona has some of the best matchups all week, facing the Cardinals and Rockies. Anyone against Colorado is enticing because they have the worst ERA in baseball. These are also games in Coors Field, which is impressive since he faces the backend of the Cards rotation as well. We didn’t even mention that three of them are lefties, with Suarez posting a .852 career OPS against southpaws. Not to mention, Geno has a .910 OPS through the opening 10 days of the season!
RBI
Jeremy Pena (SS – HOU): 65%
Pena has seen his strikeouts plummet this season, providing a .344 AVG, .562 SLG and .945 OPS through his first nine games. That’s the form that made him a stud in the postseason two years ago, and we’re not worried about his low spot in this lineup. That actually might help bump his RBI because having guys like Kyle Tucker, Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve should clog up the bases for some RBIs. He also gets seven games this week, facing a weak Royals staff and a Rangers rotation missing three of its starters.
Runs
Sal Frelick (OF – MIL): 18%
Frelick has hit leadoff in a handful of games this year, and we’d love him if that continues. The sophomore had a .341 OBP in a breakout rookie campaign and has hit leadoff in four of his last seven outings. Hitting atop this lineup puts Frelick in an excellent spot for some runs, especially since he gets seven games this week. Four of those are in Cincinnati as well, which is one of the most hitter-friendly environments in baseball. It’s not like he’s facing any aces either, squaring off with Graham Ashcraft, Frankie Montas, Nick Lodolo, Hunter Greene, Tyler Wells, Dean Kremer, and Cole Irvin.
Batting Average
Will Benson (OF – CIN): 31%
This is risky, but Benson has been a great source of batting average and OBP since his call-up. In a breakout rookie season, Benson had a .275 AVG and .365 OBP. He also has the profile of a 20-20 player and could be bumped in this lineup if things continue in the right direction. The matchups are what really make him enticing, facing the backend of the Brewers rotation and a subpar ChiSox staff in a seven-game week.
Steals
Johan Rojas (OF – PHI):6%
This guy isn’t rostered anywhere, but he’s been a sneaky source of steals since becoming an everyday player. He’s recorded 15 steals in 67 games since his call-up. The minor league numbers are way more impressive, with Rojas recording 126 steals in 302 games at the minor league level. We just need this guy to get on base because he’s running once that happens. All of that makes him a good bet for a few steals since he gets seven games against Pittsburgh and St. Louis.
ERA
Sean Manaea (SP – NYM): 31%
Manaea was showing some of the best form of his career at the end of last season, but it’s carried over with the Mets. He had a 2.61 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over the final two months of 2023 and has a 0.82 ERA and 0.73 WHIP through the first two starts this year. We don’t believe those numbers are sustainable, but another quality start seems likely since he gets a home start against the Royals. Not only is Citi Field a pitcher’s park, but KC was 26th in xwOBA last season.
Strikeouts
James Paxton (SP – LAD): 27%
We had Paxton in this section this past week, and we have to go back to him during a two-start week. The talented lefty has a 26 percent K rate throughout his career and recorded five Ks across five scoreless innings in his first start with LA. We expect Paxton to have a renaissance season with the Dodgers as long as he stays healthy, and he should be in line for 10-15 strikeouts in a two-start week. In addition, Minnesota had the worst K rate in baseball last season, while San Diego parted ways with their best hitter!
WHIP
Reese Olson (SP – DET): 21%
Olson was a sneaky streamer at the end of 2023, tallying a 1.51 ERA and 0.87 WHIP across his final six starts. He carried that into his first start, allowing just five baserunners across 5.2 scoreless outings. This Tigers staff has developed into one of the best in baseball, and we don’t anticipate Olson struggling against the Pirates. Pittsburgh was 22nd in runs scored and 23rd in wOBA last season. This could be a low-scoring series in PNC Park, and we wouldn’t mind using any of these pitchers in it.
Wins
Logan Allen (SP – CLE): 38%
It was sad to see Shane Bieber go down for the season, but Allen should help to fill that void. The lefty has a 2.31 ERA and 1.11 WHIP through two starts, shutting out a dangerous Seattle lineup in his most recent start. His opposition is far from scary here, squaring off with the Chicago White Sox. The ChiSox had the worst wOBA in MLB last season and could be a disaster with Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert on the IL right now. Don’t be surprised to see Allen enter this matchup as a -200 favorite, and they’ll likely be a home favorite at the end of the week in a home matchup with New York as well.
Saves
Chad Green (RP – TOR): 8%
This section can be challenging because most closers have been picked up already, but we’ll go with Green because he recorded the first save in the absence of Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson. Both of those guys are expected to miss another week, and Green should be in line for at least two save chances since Toronto will get six home games this week, with three of them against the Rockies. Look for the Jays to be favored in at least four of those, which puts Green in a good spot for some save chances.
If you want to dive deeper into fantasy baseball, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Baseball Tools as you navigate your season. From our Lineup Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and by how we’ve got you covered this fantasy baseball season.
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
