We had a solid showing last week and I can’t tell you how much this article has helped me throughout the year. I’ve never tried to focus on each category so vividly, but it’s opened up a different mindset when approaching head-to-head leagues. I hope it’s helped you guys in the same way, so let’s go ahead and get into this week’s picks.
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.
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- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 14)
Home Runs
Paul DeJong is not a player I expected to have in this piece at the beginning of the season, but this former St. Louis shortstop is having a bounce-back season in Chicago. He’s been batting cleanup for the White Sox recently, connecting on seven dingers over his last 20 games. That’s one of the highest totals in baseball in that span, but we’ve seen DeJong average over 20 homers per year when he plays at least 100 games. That recent form makes him enticing in these matchups, facing a Rockies team that ranks last in ERA and WHIP while avoiding Tyler Glasnow, Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw in the Dodgers rotation.
RBI
Ryan O’Hearn (1B, OF – BAL): 44%
We always have Ryan O’Hearn in here when Baltimore has a week full of righties. That’s what we’re looking at for this upcoming schedule, with the O’s projected to face six right-handers in this seven-game week. O’Hearn always bats third or fourth when they match up with a righty, registering a .360 on-base percentage (OBP) and .860 OPS against them this season. Having that optimal spot in one of the deepest lineups makes O’Hearn a safe bet for an RBI, picking up seven RBI over his last three outings. It’s not like these are scary pitching staffs, with Texas and Cleveland missing their aces.
Runs
Masyn Winn has finally been moved up to the leadoff spot in the Cardinals lineup. That’s the optimal spot for a run producer, with Winn scoring seven runs over the last five games. He’s been productive for most of the season, though, tallying a .328 batting average (AVG) and .844 OPS across his last 35 games. Any leadoff hitter getting on base at a near 40% clip is a must-roster player, especially when evaluating this schedule. The Cards have seven home games, facing guys like Frankie Montas, Spencer Schwellenbach and Carson Spiers.
Batting Average
We just talked about how the Cards have one of the best schedules in a seven-game week. Alec Burleson should continue to bash baseballs in the heart of their lineup. He’s been hitting second almost every day recently, hitting .281 this season. He doesn’t walk much, but anybody who can flirt with a .300 AVG will help you in that category. He’s been even better since a slow start, hitting .297 across his last 57 games. We didn’t even mention that Burleson and Winn face five righties, with Burleson hitting over .300 with the platoon advantage in his favor.
Steals
Jake McCarthy has always been a talented player, and it’s exciting that he’s finally starting to play nearly every day. He’s started in 10 of Arizona’s last 13 games, batting sixth in most of those. He’s showcased what makes him so valuable, recording five steals in that span. It’s not empty speed either because McCarthy is maintaining a .488 OBP and 1.034 OPS in that stretch. He is now up to 12 steals this season and has at least 23 steals in back-to-back years despite playing fewer than 100 games in both. If this guy plays every game, McCarthy can be a 40-steal player. In addition, we love that he faces Oakland, who is ranked 23rd in ERA and 24th in WHIP.
ERA
Griffin Canning (SP – LAA): 9% (vs. OAK, vs. DET)
Griffin Canning is quietly having a solid two-month stretch for the Angels, accruing a 3.66 ERA and 1.28 WHIP across his last eight starts. That’s the guy we saw at times last season, with Canning compiling a 4.32 ERA and 1.24 WHIP. We also love that he has two home starts against two of the worst offenses in baseball. Oakland ranks in the bottom three in runs scored, OBP, wOBA and strikeout rate since the start of last season, while Detroit sits 23rd in strikeout rate, 26th in wOBA and 27th in OBP this season. Canning faced these offenses four times last season, allowing four runs or fewer and striking out at least seven batters in each.
Strikeouts
Taj Bradley (SP – TB): 50% (vs. SEA, vs. WAS)
Taj Bradley is an inconsistent pitcher, but this guy has always been a strikeout machine. The righty has 182 career strikeouts across 149 innings, picking up 11 strikeouts just last week. One nine-run nightmare is the only thing that’s held him back from being a must-roster player, providing a 2.41 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 11.0 K/9 rate if you take out that stinker against Baltimore. Seattle and Washington are nowhere near Baltimore’s offense, with the Mariners ranked last in strikeout rate and Washington sitting 24th in runs scored and 27th in wOBA.
WHIP
Tyler Anderson (SP – LAA): 54% (vs. OAK, vs. DET)
Not much needs to be said here because we already talked about how L.A. has the best matchups of the week. Oakland and Detroit are two disastrous offenses, with Tyler Anderson totaling a 3.23 ERA and 1.17 WHIP at home over the last three years. His numbers are even better this year, allowing no more than seven hits in any game and generating a 2.48 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. He also had a 1.00 WHIP just two years ago and shouldn’t allow much damage against these offenses.
Wins
Spencer Schwellenbach (SP – ATL): 11% (at STL, vs. PIT)
There weren’t many great options for wins this week, but we’re willing to use any two-start pitcher on a team like this. Atlanta is one of the best teams in baseball and they should be favorites against St. Louis and Pittsburgh. The Cardinals rank 26th in runs scored, while the Pirates rank 22nd in runs scored and 28th in both strikeout rate and wOBA. Rookie Spencer Schwellenbach has also been impressive in limited time this season, allowing three runs or fewer in three of his four starts after posting a 2.05 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in the minors.
Saves
Toronto can’t keep a closer healthy right now, with Jordan Romano and Yimi Garcia both on the injured list (IL). That leaves Chad Green as the only guy left because Erik Swanson was demoted last month. He’s earned this closer’s gig when looking at the statistics, providing a 1.72 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. We haven’t seen him record a save yet, but he’s been featured in the ninth inning in close games since those two went down.
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.