This is one of my favorite weeks of the season. The trade deadline is on Tuesday, and it feels like we might see a wild one. One thing you need to remember is to save some of your weekly moves because there are going to be some great players on the waiver wire who step into prominent roles.
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 18)
Home Runs
Colton Cowser was one of the best players in baseball through the opening two months, but a midseason slump shifted him to waiver wires. It looks like he’s recaptured that early-season form, tallying a .500 on-base percentage (OBP) and 1.250 OPS over his last seven outings. What we really love is that the O’s get eight games this week, with seven of them against right-handers.
That should have Cowser playing nearly every day, compiling a .336 OBP, .468 slugging rate (SLG) and .804 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor. Flirting with a .500 SLG should have him in line for at least one or two dingers in this eight-game week.
RBI
Ryan O’Hearn (1B, OF – BAL): 43%
Ryan O’Hearn always bats cleanup for the O’s when they match up with a righty, and that’s a massive boost since they face seven of them in this eight-game week. The fact he’s a platoon player is the only reason he’s sitting on waiver wires because O’Hearn has a .348 OBP, .475 SLG and .823 OPS against righties this year. He also comes into these matchups rolling, registering a .455 OBP and 1.031 OPS over his last nine games.
Getting the 30 at-bats is intriguing because he should have plenty of RBI opportunities in an eight-game week as the cleanup hitter for one of the best lineups in baseball.
Runs
Jarred Kelenic (OF – ATL): 42%
We had Jarred Kelenic in this section last week and we’re returning to him for all the same reasons. He’s struggled recently, but he’s still the leadoff hitter for one of the most potent lineups in the sport. Hitting leadoff is the optimal spot to snatch some runs, and it should continue since Michael Harris and Ronald Acuna are both out with long-term injuries.
The most impactful factor is that Atlanta faces all righties this week. That’s beneficial for Kelenic, collecting a .322 OBP and .731 OPS against righties since the start of last year. That’s nothing special, but it’s enough for a leadoff hitter since Atlanta matches up with guys like Bryse Wilson, Colin Rea, Kyle Tyler, Edward Cabrera, Max Meyer, Trevor Rogers and a struggling Freddy Peralta.
Batting Average
Many people might forget this, but Jeff McNeil has been one of the best sources of batting averages (AVG) over the last decade. This guy is still just shy of a .300 career average, providing a .290 AVG, .352 OBP and .782 OPS. His AVG has been creeping around the Mendoza Line all year, but we’re seeing flashes of him returning to the contact stud we’ve become accustomed to.
McNeil has a .371 AVG and 1.252 OPS over his last 10 outings and is regaining his role as an everyday player in the heart of this lineup. He also faces at least five righties this week, maintaining a .291 AVG and .797 OPS against them throughout his career.
Steals
Pete Crow-Armstrong (OF – CHC): 4%
Pete Crow-Armstrong is a glove-first player, but he’s also showcased some elite speed. The speedster is still hitting below .200 but has 18 steals this year. More importantly, he’s playing every day as one of the best fielders in baseball and should get some chances for steals since Chicago is one of the few teams that gets seven games this week.
It’s not like they’re scary matchups either, squaring off with St. Louis and Cincinnati. If Crow-Armstrong doesn’t provide some value with the bat and his speed this week, don’t be surprised to see him demoted with the way he’s playing right now.
ERA
David Peterson (SP – NYM): 20% (at LAA)
The Mets have been one of the hottest teams in baseball and David Peterson has been a massive boost at the back of their rotation. The lefty has allowed two runs or fewer in eight of his nine starts, generating a 3.14 ERA. He’s also got a 2.53 ERA across his last six starts and is elite at limiting runs despite having a WHIP above 1.40.
That’s why he fits perfectly in this section. He shouldn’t have any issues against a Los Angeles Angels team missing Mike Trout. The Angels rank 26th in runs scored, 24th in OBP and 25th in wOBA.
Strikeouts
Alec Marsh (SP – KC): 12% (at CWS, at DET)
It isn’t easy to get excited about a guy like Alec Marsh, but you really couldn’t ask for better matchups than these. Let’s start there because the White Sox sit last in runs scored, OBP, OPS, wOBA and xwOBA, while Detroit ranks 20th in strikeout rate, 24th in wOBA and 27th in OBP.
It’s simply two of the worst lineups in the league, and they might get even worse with the trade deadline looming. That should guarantee Marsh double-digit strikeouts because that’s one thing this guy has been crushing. Marsh has maintained a 9.4 K/9 rate since May 10, recording at least seven strikeouts in six of those 13 starts. If Michael Wacha is available in your league, he has the same matchups and is the superior option.
WHIP
Spencer Schwellenbach (SP – ATL): 30% (vs. MIA)
We usually like to include a two-start streamer in this section, but we will use Spencer Schwellenbach because of how sparse the selections are this week. This rookie has been a pleasant surprise in Alanta’s rotation, registering a 3.44 xFIP and 1.06 WHIP. That WHIP excites us, with Schwellenbach posting a 0.99 WHIP across his last seven starts after throwing seven scoreless innings in his most recent appearance.
That’s tough to find off the waiver wire, but this guy has had a 2.05 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in the minors over the last two years. That’s massive against Miami because their lineup looks like a Triple-A lineup without Jazz Chisholm. They rank 29th in runs scored, OBP, OPS, wOBA and xwOBA.
Wins
Jordan Montgomery (SP – ARI): 51% (vs. WAS, at PIT)
Jordan Montgomery was horrid in his first few starts after a late signing, but he will inevitably be better over the closing months. He had a 3.34 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over the last two years and comes into this two-start week allowing two runs or fewer in three of his last four starts.
That’s an encouraging sign for such a talented pitcher, especially when examining these matchups. Washington ranks 21st in runs scored, 22nd in OBP and 26th in wOBA, while Pittsburgh sits 22nd in runs scored, 23rd in strikeout rate, 26th in OBP and 27th in wOBA. He’s faced these teams five times over the last two years, surrendering just seven total runs in those gems.
Saves
We will have some new closers next week, but this is the only true development this week. Victor Vodnik has taken over as the Rockies closer, recording the last three saves for Colorado. He’s been their best reliever all season, totaling a 2.51 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 10.0 K/9 rate across his last 10 appearances.
It’s not like anyone else in this pen has done anything to steal this job back. Colorado could be in for some close games since they’re on the road all week against some poor pitching.
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
