This has always been one of my favorite articles to put together, but this week was brutal. Streamers usually stand out in each category, but it took me some time to pick the guys I wanted to help in each statistic. That could be a good sign, but it doesn’t feel like any team out there has excellent matchups.
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 fantasy baseball waiver wire additions.
- Weekly Trade Value Chart
- Weekly Waiver Wire Advice
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
- Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 10)
Home Runs
Fry could fit into any one of these sections because he’s quietly one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now. The slugger has been moved into the heart of the Guardians lineup, homering in five of the last 11 games he’s started. The numbers in that stretch are tough to overlook, obtaining a .578 OBP, .909 SLG, and 1.487 OPS in that span! That sort of potential would make him enticing against anyone, but Fry gets three games in Coors Field this week and three against a weak Washington pitching staff!
RBI
Joey Ortiz (2B. 3B – MIL): 45%
Ortiz has been hitting fifth and sixth for Milwaukee recently, and it’s easy to understand why. The utility man has a .382 OBP and .886 OPS so far this season. He’s also got a .393 OBP and 1.021 OPS across his last 22 fixtures, providing 13 RBI in that span. Hitting fifth and sixth is the prime RBI spot for a deep lineup like this, with the Brewers ranked Top 10 in nearly every offensive metric. That looks even better since they have seven home games against subpar pitching staffs this week. The Cubs rank 21st in xwOBA, while the White Sox are 28th in ERA!
Runs
Davis Schneider (2B, OF – TOR): 22%
Schneider is our favorite streamer of the week, and we expect his roster percentage to double by next week. This guy has been hitting leadoff for Toronto recently, recording a .369 OBP and .822 OPS across his last 22 games. His career averages are even more amazing, compiling a .372 OBP and .888 OPS. That’s nearly 100 games of raking, and it’s rare to see a leadoff hitter with that type of OBP sitting on so many waiver wires. That’s what we’re looking for when searching for runs, especially since he faces Martin Perez, Mitch Keller, Bailey Falter, Mike Clevinger, Chris Flexen, and Nick Nastrini this week!
Batting Average
Kepler has quietly been Minnesota’s best hitter this season. He’s typically a platoon player who only faces right-handers, but that doesn’t matter this week since Minnesota is matched up with five righties in this seven-game week. That means Kepler should have no problem receiving 25 at-bats, which should help your batting average with how he’s swinging the lumber. Kepler has collected a .311 AVG and .912 OPS this season, totaling a .365 AVG and 1.080 OPS since coming off the IL on April 22.
Steals
Mateo was a must-roster player at times over the last two years, and it’s all due to his speed. He broke out with 35 steals in the 2022 season and backed it up with 32 steals across 116 games last year. Not many players have 67 steals over the last two years, especially in such few games. That’s scary when looking at his base running recently, recording four steals over his last six outings. He’s also been an everyday player for two weeks now and should get plenty of chances to run since the O’s are projected to match up with six righties this week! Mateo has 43 of his 77 steals against righties since the 2022 season.
ERA
Robert Gasser (SP – MIL): 20% (vs. CWS)
What a name for a pitcher! This guy doesn’t have the stuff to live up to that last name, but he’s been an effective pitcher. The lefty has a 2.65 ERA and 1.12 WHIP through three starts, allowing just five runs all year! That’s what we’re looking for when discussing an ERA helper because the six strikeouts through 19 innings won’t help you in that category. His ability to limit runs should be easy to duplicate against a woeful offense like the White Sox, with Chicago sitting last in runs scored, OBP, OPS, wOBA, and xwOBA.
Strikeouts
Tylor Megill (SP – NYM): 5% (vs. LAD, vs. SF)
We rarely recommend pitchers against the Dodgers, but we’re looking for strikeouts, and Megill should mow down a bunch of batters in this two-start week at home. That’s what’s most important here because Citi Field has been the best pitcher’s park in baseball for a handful of years now. Megill has shown that by maintaining a 3.42 ERA and 1.28 WHIP at Citi Field over the last three years. He’s also got a 28 percent K rate so far this season, which is no surprise since he posted a 14.8 K/9 rate in four starts during his rehab assignment. The strikeout stuff is there for Megill to pick up at least 10 Ks in these two home starts this week!
WHIP
Zack Littell (SP – TB): 32% (vs. OAK, at BAL)
The Rays consistently churn out solid starters, and Littell is another one of them. The righty has a 3.84 ERA and 1.20 WHIP since the start of last season, allowing two runs or fewer in seven of his 10 starts this year. That ability to limit runs should be beneficial when looking at these parks because Tropicana Field and Camden Yards are two of the most pitcher-friendly environments in baseball. Baltimore’s lineup can be challenging to navigate, but Littell should obliterate an Oakland team that ranks 27th in OBP and runs scored! Not to mention, he allowed just two runs across 7.2 innings against the O’s last year!
Wins
Gavin Stone (SP – LAD): 48% (at NYM, vs. COL)
We had Stone in this section last week, and we’re going back to the well for all the same reasons. The most important factor when looking for wins is evaluating the team behind the pitcher and LA might have the best lineup in baseball. That should put Stone in line for wins all season, recording a win in four of his last seven starts. He’s also got a 2.57 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in that seven-start stretch and should continue that form in these matchups. New York ranks 18th in runs scored while Colorado has the worst road numbers in baseball in three straight years. Don’t be surprised if Stone is a -250 favorite in that Rockies matchup!
Saves
It sounds like Evan Phillips will miss one more week, which means Hudson should get the bulk of the saves for LA. We just discussed how they have solid matchups this week, and Hudson should be in line for at least one or two saves. The veteran reliever has two saves in his last five appearances, allowing no runs and just one baserunner in that sensational stretch. There aren’t many options for saves on the waiver wire, but you could sneak in a couple by picking up Hudson until Phillips returns.
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
