This has been my favorite article to write all season. The puzzle pieces make it so fascinating. I love to dig deep and look for players who can help in all of these categories because there are players on every waiver wire who can assist you with each individual statistic. That’s what makes fantasy baseball the most unique fantasy sport and my personal favorite to play.
This list comprises 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, as I’ll have a new list of players not previously mentioned. Without further ado, here are this week’s category-based waiver additions.
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- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 8)
Home Runs
Eugenio Suarez (3B – ARI): 41%
Eugenio Suarez isn’t the power stud we remember, but this guy can still hit bombs with anyone. The veteran has 232 dingers over the last nine seasons, generating a .460 SLG and .212 ISO in that span. That sort of power potential is tough to find on the waiver wire. We love it since Suarez has a 1.262 OPS across his last three outings. Getting six games at home only adds to his arsenal, generating a .472 SLG and .221 ISO at home throughout his career.
RBI
It’s hard to believe Jon Singleton is even on a roster, playing fewer than 100 games over the last decade. He’s back and better than ever, hitting fifth for the Astros right now. That prominent lineup spot has led to Singleton sporting a .576 SLG and .883 OPS across his last 10 games. He also has 10 RBI in that 10-game stretch and should have plenty of chances in this seven-game week, especially since five of those games are against right-handers.
Runs
Having Tommy Pham in this section is hard to believe but he has recently become Chicago’s leadoff hitter. That’s always the best spot to score runs, with Pham providing a .308 AVG, .481 SLG and .814 OPS since signing with the White Sox. He’s also scored nine runs across 13 games and should get plenty of chances this week. Pham faces four lefties, with the lefty masher maintaining a .379 OBP and .833 OPS against them throughout his career.
Batting Average
Luis Garcia (2B, OF – WAS): 42%
Luis Garcia is steadily getting picked up across all formats. It’s easy to understand why. He’s been moved up to the three-hole in Washington’s lineup, tallying a .318 AVG, .370 OBP and .861 OPS this season. He’s got a .333 AVG since going hitless after the opening weekend, recording a .520 OBP across his last five fixtures. Only a handful of hitters are getting on base at this clip, and we’re not scared of the White Sox pitching staff. We also like him for the next section, recording six steals over his last 17 games.
Steals
Willi Castro (2B, SS, OF – MIN): 59%
We had to get Willi Castro in here because this is the final week he’ll be available as a streamer. He’s being picked up in every league right now, accumulating a .320 AVG, .560 SLG and .921 OPS across his last 27 games. What we care about is the speed, with Castro collecting five steals in that span. He’s also been caught three times, but attempting eight steals tells you everything you need to know. He had 33 steals in a breakout 2023 campaign and could rip off 10 steals in a month with the way he’s swinging the bat right now.
ERA
We try to get two-start streamers in this section, but there aren’t many reliable options out there. We will use Reese Olson against Miami for your ERA because it seems unlikely he’ll allow more than two runs. The Tigers righty has a 2.52 ERA this year, allowing two runs or fewer in six of his seven starts. He’s allowed just one run or fewer in five starts and should mow down Miami. The Marlins rank 29th in OBP, OPS and wOBACON while scoring the fifth-fewest runs in baseball. That’s terrifying in a pitcher’s park like Comerica.
Strikeouts
This guy had one ugly showing in Coors Field but has a 1.93 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 8.7 K/9 rate in his other two starts. What we care about is that he had a 25% strikeout rate in the minors and gets a two-start week. The home matchup with Colorado is what’s most exciting, with the Rockies ranked last in xwOBA while posting the worst road statistics in three straight seasons. They also rank 29th in strikeout rate. The matchup with Atlanta isn’t as bad as you may think. The Braves are 28th in runs scored and 22nd in strikeout rate over the last 15 days. If this guy strikes out 25% of the batters he faces, Vasquez should record double-digit strikeouts.
WHIP
Andrew Heaney has been killing it over the last few weeks. The left-hander has a 0.88 WHIP across his previous four starts. That might look like an outlier, but we saw Heaney put together a 1.09 WHIP just two years ago. The ERA hasn’t been quite as good, but the ability to limit runners is all that matters for this statistic. That’s much more likely in a revenge game against the Angels because they rank 24th in OBP over the last 30 days and are playing without Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon and Luis Rengifo.
Wins
Michael Lorenzen (SP – TEX): 16%
We always have to include a two-start streamer when talking about wins! It’s always better to get two chances at a win, and it’s much more likely from a guy who gets two home starts. That likelihood skyrockets when you talk about a home pitcher for the World Series champs because Michael Lorenzen will likely be a -150 favorite in both of these home starts. It’s not like the Angels or Guardians have terrifying lineups, with Lorenzen recording a quality start in his last two matchups with these teams. What’s also an underrated asset is that Lorenzen always gets deep enough into the game to record a win, going at least five innings in 23 of his last 24 starts.
Saves
Milwaukee has been trying to find a fill-in for Devin Williams all season. It looks like Trevor Megill is the guy. Abner Uribe has been demoted to Triple-A, while Joel Payamps has pitched in lower-leverage situations. That has allowed Megill to record four saves in his last five outings. We always knew this guy had the nastiest stuff in this pen, allowing just one run all season. Megill should get all the saves until Willians returns or until he falters.
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
