Austin Lowell | Sat, Aug 31st 2024, 7:17am EDT

Top 7 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 23 (2024)

We’re down to the final month of the season. While many have moved on to fantasy football, those few still in contention here are facing their most crucial weeks ahead. The smallest decisions could make or break you as we near the close, so pay extra close attention over these last few weeks. It’s a must to maximize your team’s final output if you want to end up in the winner’s circle.

Some categories may already be out of reach, so it’s a great idea to take a closer look at your league’s standings to search for the categories you can make up the most ground. For example, there’s no use chasing saves if the team ahead of you has 10 more than you and the team trailing you has 10 fewer. This way you’ll have a better understanding of your team’s needs and who to target to fulfill them.

This next group of top-notch waiver wire adds offers something for everyone. Hopefully, you can find exactly what you’re looking for. All players are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues and have never been featured in this weekly article before. I don’t repeat players week to week, so it’s not a bad idea to check on last week’s publication or the last two to see if any of those players are still available and fit your demands.

Bowden Francis was my top pitching recommendation last week and boy did he surpass expectations. Francis threw two one-hitters over 8.2 and 7.0 innings of work while striking out 17. That is hardly the norm for someone who was rostered in less than 15% of leagues two weeks ago, but hopefully, we can find some more diamonds in the rough this week.

Without further ado, here are this week’s top waiver wire adds for fantasy baseball.

Top 7 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 23)

Jacob Young (OF – WAS): 16%

Jacob Young doesn’t offer much in the way of power but what he lacks in strength, he makes up for with speed. The 25-year-old from Florida ranks in the top 2% in sprint speed and the top 5% in base running value. Young also rarely strikes out, putting the ball in play to all fields. The speedy center fielder currently stands at 31 steals on the year and is 12 for his last 31 (.387). He’s also scored 68 runs this season.

Washington will face off with Miami and Pittsburgh this week, who are ranked 28th and 27th, respectively, in stolen bases allowed. Both teams are averaging nearly a stolen base surrendered per game, so there is a good chance Young will swipe a bag or three in the coming week. For those in search of steals, Young should be your top target.

Ramon Urias (1B, 2B, 3B – BAL): 30%

Ramon Urias won’t stop hitting. The 30-year-old from Mexico has been on a tear of late, reaching base in 13 of the last 14 games. He’s racked up 15 hits during that span and added a glorious 15 RBI. He also hit two home runs and even stole a base. Urias has never been much of a fantasy commodity, but he does qualify all over the diamond and plays for Baltimore, who will be fighting for the division crown down the stretch.

I have to admit, I had my doubts at the start of the week, but after another two-hit performance, I’m willing to ride the Urias wave for as long as it takes me. Especially with the Rockies on Sunday and the White Sox on tap.

Rhett Lowder (SP – CIN): 13%

Last year’s seventh overall draft pick has amazingly already reached the Major Leagues. There was a lot to like from the young man’s debut despite allowing four batters to reach base via the walk. The Wake Forrest alum struck out six over just four innings of work while giving up just two hits and one run. Rhett Lowder exhibited great control this season in the Minors (22 walks in 108.2 innings), so his lack of the strike zone could easily be chalked up to a case of nerves. If Lowder can calm himself down a bit over his next few starts, the Reds top prospect could put up some excellent numbers down the stretch.

Aroldis Chapman (RP – PIT): 32%

Even with Aroldis Chapman’s high strikeout total (82 strikeouts in 50.2 innings), his value lies mainly in holds leagues. However, that is no longer the case with David Bednar officially being removed from the closer role. Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton told the press on Friday afternoon that Bednar will no longer pitch in the ninth. The move opens up save opportunities for other arms in the pen, so Chapman now possesses some serious value.

While Colin Holderman is a possibility for a heavy right-handed lineup, Chapman seems like the obvious choice. Between his 100-mile-per-hour sinker (.144 xBA) and his unhittable splitter (.078 xBA), Chapman has reinvented himself in the latter part of his career. While he does give up the occasional home run and does walk a few hitters, Chapman is more than capable of getting the job done. He’s worth adding now that regular save chances are back on the table.

Spencer Arrighetti (SP – HOU): 49%

I’m a bit late to board the Spencer Arrighetti train but after another double-digit strikeout performance, I can no longer ignore the young right-hander. If you can stomach the occasional clunker, the Astros’ latest impressive hurler is someone to strongly consider. Arrighetti is striking out the world right now, with 55 punchouts over his last 38.1 innings. A 12.92 K/9 is highly impressive when considering his low 0.84 WHIP over that span.

Arrighetti has won three out of his last four games and is now up to 151 strikeouts on the year despite only pitching 124 innings. The Astros are currently utilizing a six-man rotation, so he likely won’t have a two-start week the rest of the way. But for those of you in daily leagues, Arrighetti is a must-start and should be rostered almost everywhere.

Pete Crow-Armstrong (OF – CHC): 44%

Suddenly, Pete Crow-Armstrong is doing more than just stealing bases and playing top-tier defense. Over the last three weeks, Crow-Armstrong has been a monster at the dish (four homers, .333 batting average), especially with runners in scoring position. Since August 22, the Cubs top prospect has driven in 11 runs and scored 11 times as well. Crow has been a laser show, driving the ball with authority to all fields, including a handful that have reached the seats. Crow-Armstrong always had value because of his speed (26 stolen bases) but now with his hot bat and his ability to produce in the clutch, Crow-Armstrong has become a hot commodity. Add him as soon as possible wherever he is still available.

JP Sears (SP – OAK): 41%

JP Sears’ WHIP dating back to July is 0.974. If you take away his one bad game against Milwaukee, the ex-Yankees’ WHIP stands at a cool 0.737. With so few base runners reaching base, Sears is also winning games. He’s earned the victory in seven of his last 10 starts. Oakland’s ace also pitches deep into games, regularly lasting into the eighth inning before handing the game over to one of the league’s best closers.

Sears’ recipe for success is working at the moment and has been a massive boon for fantasy players dating back to before the All-Star break. Sears is set to take on the Mariners next, a team he beat handily early in the season. If the crafty lefty is available in your league, don’t forget to set your waiver claim before the end of Sunday.

Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.

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