Last week wasn’t my best showing, but that will happen at times. It was one of the most bizarre weeks of the season because of the trade deadline, and I’m looking forward to bouncing back this week!
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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- Weekly Waiver Wire Advice
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
- Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 19)
Home Runs
Anytime the Rockies have all home games throughout the week, we have to consider all of their bats as solid streamers. We say that because they’re always one of the highest-projected offenses on every slate at home, thanks to the hitting environment at Coors Field. That’s a massive boost for a guy like Toglia, who has connected on 15 homers over his last 42 games. He’s also got nine of those over his last 20 games and will inevitably post better numbers at Coors throughout his career.
RBI
Jeimer Candelario (1B – CIN) 54%
It’s hard to believe that Candelario is available in half the leagues out there. This guy has hit between third and fifth in almost every game this season, which is the prime spot for some RBI opportunities ahead of guys like Elly De La Cruz, TJ Friedl, and Jonathan India. We really love him because of this schedule, getting seven games against right-handers.
It’s rare to have every game with the platoon advantage in your favor, but it looks even better since Candy has compiled a .484 SLG and .801 OPS against them since the start of last year. It’s not a scary group of righties, facing guys like Roddery Munoz, Shaun Anderson, Max Meyer, Kyle Tyler, Frankie Montas, Aaron Civale, and Tobias Myers.
Runs
This rookie hasn’t proven much at this level, but it’s just a matter of time before he becomes a stud. We say that because he had a .399 OBP, .547 SLG, and .946 OPS between Single-A and Triple-A. He’s also projected to be a 25-25 type of player, and we love that Washington has him batting third since the trade deadline.
He’s also turning it on, tallying a .519 OBP and 1.109 OPS across his last six outings. The schedule is the icing on the cake, playing seven games at home against the Giants and Angels. LA ranks 27th in ERA, while San Fran is 22nd!
Batting Average
Charlie Blackmon (OF – COL) 7%
Charlie had to leave Friday’s game after taking a wild throw to the face, but he should be ready to return this week. We’re looking forward to that because Blackmon always goes off when he’s in Coors Field. The Rockies leadoff hitter has a .330 AVG, .391 OBP, .553 SLG, and .943 OPS at home throughout his career.
You might be saying that this guy is way past his prime, but he’s still got a .299 AVG, .379 OBP, and .901 OPS at home since the start of last season! With six games at home, Blackmon should be one of the league leaders in hits this week!
Steals
David Hamilton (2B, SS – BOS) 20%
We had Richie Palacios in this section, but a trip to the IL made us pivot to Hamilton. We will go back to this speedster because he’s starting to play nearly every day. That’s all we’re looking for from a speed demon like this, with Hamilton recording 26 steals this season.
Most of those have happened recently, picking up 24 of those across his last 63 games! The matchups aren’t going to blow us away, either, because Houston is allowing the seventh-most steals in baseball!
ERA
Max Meyer (SP – MIA) 32% (vs. CIN, vs. SD)
This is a risky selection, but Meyer could be a stud in the making. This guy was already looking like it before an early demotion, maintaining a 2.12 ERA and 0.82 WHIP through his first three starts in April. Fans were infuriated when he was demoted, but the righty had a 3.17 ERA and 1.20 WHIP throughout his minor league career.
Some people think he’s got the ability to be an ace, and pitching in a stadium like Marlins Park will only make him better since that’s one of the most pitcher-friendly environments in the sport! Cincy and San Diego aren’t the best matchups, but neither should be projected for more than four runs in either of these games.
Strikeouts
MacKenzie Gore (SP – WAS) 38% (vs. SF, vs. LAA)
Gore has been garbage for a month now, but this is a good week for him to bounce back. The former top Padres prospect looked like a breakout candidate in the opening months of the year, tallying a 3.26 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 11.0 K/9 rate through his first 13 starts. We care more about the strikeout stuff because that’s one of the best rates in the league.
That should have him in line for at least 10 strikeouts this week. He faces a 25th-ranked Angels team and a Giants lineup with very few scary hitters. In addition, Gore has a 10.4 K/9 rate at home this year and faces both of these offenses in Washington!
WHIP
Hayden Birdsong (SP – SF) 35% (vs. DET)
The only reason Birdsong isn’t rostered everywhere is because he was demoted after his most recent start. That was simply a procedural move, but Birdsong will be a lock in this rotation with Jordan Hicks being sent to the bullpen and Alex Cobb getting traded.
Birdsong has earned this spot, sporting a 2.97 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 11.3 K.9 rate. He’s also allowed just two runs across his last two starts, posting an absurd 16.4 K/9 rate in that stretch! That makes him tough to avoid in a home matchup with Detroit, ranked 21st in runs scored, 27th in wOBA, and 28th in OBP!
Wins
Matt Waldron (SP – SD) 45% (at PIT, at MIA)
Waldron has been mowing down bats with his knuckleball all season, and he was only dropped because he got lit up by LA in his most recent start. Getting destroyed by the Dodgers is nothing to be worried about, especially since Waldron allowed four runs or fewer in 14 straight starts before that. He also had a 2.76 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in that span and faces one of the worst offenses in baseball here. Miami sits 29th or 30th in runs scored, OBP, OPS, wOBA, and xwOBA.
Saves
We had Vodnik in this section last week, and it’s still bizarre that nobody wants to pick this guy up. Trusting a Rockies closer is as tricky as it gets, but this guy has made the last five saves for Colorado. He’s also got a 1.96 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 9.8 K/9 rate since June 20, exclusively pitching the ninth inning over recent weeks. That’s massive since Colorado gets six games at home, so he should have at least one or two chances for a save this week!
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.