After a rough showing two weeks ago, we did better this past week. What’s interesting is that the batters have been better than the pitchers recently, which is the opposite of what we’ve seen all season. It’s hard to pinpoint why that’s happened, but it motivates me to get the arms right 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.
- Weekly Trade Value Chart
- Weekly Waiver Wire Advice
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
- Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 20)
Home Runs
I’ve included Matt Wallner in every article I’ve written over the last week. It’s impossible to understand why he’s still below 10% rostered. This guy has taken over as Minnesota’s cleanup hitter when they face a righty, and that’s huge since they face five right-handers in this seven-game week.
Wallner has earned that spot when peeking at his splits, sporting a .418 on-base percentage (OBP), a .699 slugging rate (SLG) and a 1.116 OPS against righties this year. His recent form is equally as ridiculous, registering a .488 OBP, .970 SLG and 1.458 OPS across his last 11 fixtures. We can’t guarantee homers, but Wallner should be in line for a big week.
RBI
The Reds have one of the best schedules of the week. Not only do they have six games at home, but every matchup is also against a right-hander. That’s beneficial for a guy like Jake Fraley, batting sixth behind many of the studs in this Cincy lineup. That’s a prime RBI spot behind so many talented hitters, and it looks even better since Fraley has a .348 OBP, .451 SLG and .799 OPS against righties since 2021. He’s also got a .316 batting average (AVG) and .876 OPS across his last 12 outings, making him an enticing pickup against Kansas City and St. Louis.
Runs
With a lackluster fantasy profile, Masyn Winn isn’t the most exciting fantasy option, but we’re just looking for runs. That means we need to find a leadoff hitter on the waiver wire and Winn is the best option out there. The rookie has a .283 AVG and .767 OPS across his last 75 games. He’s also got a .855 OPS across his last 11 outings, scoring eight runs in that span. The schedule isn’t going to stop us from using him because he faces the Reds in Cincinnati and a beat-up Dodgers rotation.
Batting Average
Jesse Winker is probably a better option in OBP leagues, but he’s a sensational streamer in either format. The Mets might have the best matchups of any team, playing Oakland and Miami this week. The Marlins rank 27th or 28th in ERA, WHIP, wOBA and xwOBA, while the A’s sit 23rd in ERA, 25th in WHIP and 26th in wOBA.
These rotations are also sending out six righties in this six-game week, which is fantastic since Winker has a .278 AVG, .382 OBP and .848 OPS against them throughout his career. He’s also hitting third every time the Mets face one. He should be rostered universally in a week like this.
Steals
David Hamilton (2B, SS – BOS): 19%
I don’t understand why David Hamilton was dropped in nearly every league a few weeks ago. I get that he’s a speed-only guy, but he’s one of the best speedsters in baseball. Hamilton has 24 steals over his last 56 games, recording 29 for the season. He’s also been playing nearly every day recently, posting a .400 AVG and 1.238 OPS across his last five games.
The speedster also has three steals in that six-game span and will need to keep playing with so many Boston hitters sidelined. The best part might be the schedule because the Red Sox are one of the only teams with seven games. Don’t be surprised if this guy leads the league in steals this week.
ERA
Sean Manaea (SP – NYM): 65% (vs. MIA)
It’s hard to overlook just how good this lefty has been recently. Sean Manaea has allowed three runs or fewer in nine of his last 10 starts, posting a 2.28 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in that span. His last two starts have been even more absurd, throwing seven scoreless innings in both while striking out double-digit batters in each one. That fantastic form should carry over in a home matchup with Miami because the Marlins rank 29th in runs scored, OBP, OPS and wOBA. Citi Field is also the most pitcher-friendly park in the sport, with Miami projected to score just three runs in this game.
Strikeouts
Paul Blackburn (SP – NYM): 19% (vs. OAK, vs. MIA)
Using Mets pitchers will be a major theme in this article because they have all home games against two of the worst offenses in baseball. We already discussed how bad Miami has been, but Oakland isn’t much better. The A’s rank 24th in runs scored, 20th in wOBA, 26th in OBP and 28th in strikeout rate.
That means both offenses will struggle in Citi Field. Paul Blackburn has looked great since his activation. The righty has allowed one run across six innings in the two starts since coming off the injured list (IL), striking out a single batter in all 12 innings. That’s a bizarre stat, but it bodes well for some strikeouts in these friendly matchups!
WHIP
Jose Quintana (SP – NYM): 37% (vs. OAK)
We’ve already thoroughly discussed these excellent Mets matchups. Jose Quintana will also benefit from the home meeting with the A’s. We just showcased how poor they’ve been in the last write-up. They are also projected for just 3.5 runs in Citi Field. That’s easy to understand when looking at Quintana’s recent form, allowing three runs or fewer in 15 of his last 16 starts. He also has a 3.16 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in that span, allowing six hits or fewer in all but one of those.
Wins
Taijuan Walker (SP – PHI): 5% (vs. MIA, vs. WAS)
We’re not too excited about using Taijuan Walker as a two-start streamer, but this is one of the best opportunities for wins you’ll see all season. Philadelphia has one of the best records in MLB and they should enter both matchups as massive favorites. We already talked about Miami’s horrid offensive numbers earlier, which are backed up by a remarkably bad 43-73 record.
Washington ranks 23rd in wOBA and 25th in xwOBA while posting a 10-17 record across their last 17 games. Walker isn’t the best pitcher for peripherals, but he’s completed at least five innings in 32 of his 41 starts since the start of last season, which is all he needs to be eligible for a win. Good luck finding another waiver-wire pitcher who could be a -200 favorite in both matchups this week.
Saves
Justin Martinez (RP – ARI): 20%
Arizona decided to remove Paul Sewald from the closer’s role when he posted a 10.80 ERA in July. It looks like Justin Martinez is next in line. Since that move, this guy has recorded the last two saves for the Diamondbacks, providing a 2.01 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 10.9 K/9 rate this season. His elite fastball makes him look like your stereotypical closer. It would be surprising if Arizona went away from him after completing the last two saves. In addition, they face Colorado and Tampa this week, likely entering almost all of those matchups as a favorite.
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.