Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Top 10 Pickups for Week 22
As calendars shift to September, time is of the essence for fantasy baseball owners.
Managers can't afford to sit back and remain patient. If something is not working, react and make a change. That can involve adding a hot hand or locating a short-term upgrade based on upcoming matchups.
Although rosters will expand on Sept. 1, these top 10 adds don't feature any potential September call-ups. Those guys already received write-ups over the past two weeks. Note that Jose Berrios, fresh off two double-digit strikeout gems in Triple-A, would have made this list as a speculative stash if not already discussed in a past edition.
Several previously discussed gems—Travis d'Arnaud, Marcell Ozuna, Raisel Iglesias, Joe Ross—remain available in over half of Yahoo Sports leagues, but let's avoid duplicates. Although that doesn't leave many significant fresh faces, these players can do their part to aid a late run.
Honorable Mentions
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Mixed Leagues
Blake Swihart, C, Boston Red Sox
Justin Morneau, 1B, Colorado Rockies
Eduardo Escobar, 2B/3B/SS/OF, Minnesota Twins
Derek Holland, SP, Texas Rangers
Joe Kelly, SP, Boston Red Sox
Rick Porcello, SP, Boston Red Sox
Jean Machi, RP, Boston Red Sox
AL-Only
Trayce Thompson, OF, Chicago White Sox
Max Kepler, 1B/OF, Minnesota Twins
Brandon Guyer, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Roenis Elias, SP, Seattle Mariners
Sean Newcomb, SP, Los Angeles Angels
NL-Only
Jose Peraza, 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers
Domingo Santana, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
Jason Bourgeois, OF, Cincinnati Reds
Brad Hand, SP, Miami Marlins
Mike Bolsinger, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
10. Cameron Rupp, C, Philadelphia Phillies (2 Percent Owned)
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Cameron Rupp is raking, and few fantasy managers have taken notice. During an amazing August, the Philadelphia Phillies catcher is hitting .327/.397/.764 with seven homers and a 42.9 hard-hit percentage. If your catcher is performing as well this month, congratulations on scooping up Kyle Schwarber.
There are reasons managers haven't bitten on the 26-year-old backstop. He's still sharing starting duties with Carlos Ruiz, whose .294 slugging percentage apparently makes him too valuable to sit during Philadelphia's quest for third place. Most of Rupp's success comes against lefties, which has left him clawing to earn regular at-bats against right-handed pitching.
Yet along with scorching baseballs all August, he has depreciated his strikeouts percentage to 19.0, significantly down from his season's 25.6 percent. He's an especially important name for daily fantasy players to remember, but standard gamers in NL-only or two-catcher mixed leagues should give him a shot to keep shining in September.
9. Michael Cuddyer, 1B/OF, New York Mets (32 Percent Owned)
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When Michael Cuddyer finally landed on the disabled list after days of indecision, his few remaining owners had no reason to keep the disappointing outfielder. Many who did later justifiably dumped him when the surging Michael Conforto and acquired Yoenis Cespedes blocked a path to playing time upon his return.
While he's not starting every day, the 36-year-old is hitting .375 (18-for-48) with four doubles and two homers since being activated. After playing hurt in July, he's slowly salvaging a dreadful season, upping his slash line to .268/.320/.409.
The Mets have several outfield options, but Lucas Duda's absence has allowed Cuddyer to see added time at first base. Now that's he rolling, it'll prove increasingly tough to keep using the veteran every other game.
Then again, who's slumping on the Mets? He won't play every day, which could actually help keep the aging hitter fresh. He'll require matchup and lineup research, but Cuddyer has helped many fantasy squads over the years, even before coasting in Coors Field. Take a look in deeper formats.
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8. Bartolo Colon, SP, New York Mets (43 Percent Owned)
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With five weeks remaining, managers need immediate results from their free-agent adds. Although a volatile option many owners can't stomach, Bartolo Colon has a golden path to contributing this week.
After tossing seven scoreless innings against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, the 42-year-old righty will face them again, this time at the more pitcher-friendly Citi Field. Rounding out the two-start week, he'll oppose a weak Miami Marlins lineup in the cavernous Marlins Park.
On Aug. 3, Colon hurled eight innings of one-run ball at Miami, using the spacious field to his advantage. That gives him a 2.86 ERA against the Marlins in four starts this season, with only the latest featuring a sidelined Giancarlo Stanton.
There's significant risk in utilizing a contact pitcher with a 4.65 ERA. He often pays for his impeccable control with blow-up outings, relinquishing six or more runs in five starts this year. Yet he has also exited a dozen starts with two or fewer earned runs on his ledger, and he gets two bottom-five offenses in terms of OPS against right-handed pitchers.
Don't plan on riding him the entire month, but he's a worthwhile gamble this week.
7. Brett Anderson, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers (21 Percent Owned)
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Gamers seeking a safer two-start pitcher should turn to Brett Anderson, whose pristine 66.7 ground-ball percentage makes him far less dangerous.
By constantly keeping the ball in the infield, the Los Angeles Dodgers lefty has netted a 3.36 ERA through 25 starts. A meager 6.05 strikeouts per nine innings limits his appeal, but that puts him on par to punch out roughly eight batters this week. That's more than anyone can expect from one day of a solid starter.
The San Francisco Giants rank No. 13 in OPS against lefties, but they're laboring with 38 runs over their last 10 games. They've lost Hunter Pence and Joe Panik to the disabled list, and Brandon Crawford has missed four games with an oblique injury.
It's his second matchup that will pique everyone's interest. Anderson is scheduled to visit every pitcher's favorite destination when the Dodgers play the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. At home, San Diego is hitting .244/.299/.386 with a 22.4 strikeout percentage.
Anderson isn't the flashiest option, but he'll deliver two solid starts in pitcher-friendly environments.
6. Ketel Marte, 2B/SS, Seattle Mariners (3 Percent Owned)
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For a rookie with a .355 on-base percentage that is regularly batting leadoff, Ketel Marte isn't receiving much recognition.
Prior to his promotion, the Seattle Mariners shortstop placed No. 50 in Baseball America's midseason prospect rankings. The 21-year-old forced his way into the limelight by hitting .314 with 20 steals in Triple-A.
He has held his own in the bigs, batting .289 with three steals through 26 games. Anyone seeking power has come to the wrong place, as he holds a goose egg in the homer column with a 56.8 ground-ball percentage.
Marte, however, has brandished a strong plate presence with 11 walks and 16 strikeouts in 111 plate appearances. He continues to top Seattle's batting order, maximizing his at-bats and base-stealing opportunities over the final month.
Before freaking out over the rookie missing Sunday's game with a mild hamstring strain, the Seattle Times' Ryan Divish said a Monday return is possible. In AL-only and deeper mixed leagues, Marte can help in average, steals and runs.
5. Tom Wilhelmsen, RP, Seattle Mariners (25 Percent Owned)
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Despite registering a 2.83 ERA, 2.32 fielding independent pitching (FIP) and 72 strikeouts through 57.1 innings, Carson Smith has somehow lost his grip on Seattle's closer role. But hey, at least it's not Fernando Rodney taking over.
Experienced players will remember spending 2012 and 2013 trying to properly spell and pronounce Tom Wilhelmsen. (Tim? Tomm?) After impressing three years ago to earn the gig, he faltered the following year with a 4.12 ERA, issuing an ugly 45 strikeouts and 33 walks over 59 innings.
Yet having poor past experience is oddly better than having none at all. The 31-year-old righty has not bested the younger, better Smith, but he has recorded four saves over the past eight days. Per Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle, Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon confirmed Wilhelmsen's new job title.
"As we speak, yes," McClendon said. "He's done a nice job. Sometimes when you take a step back you learn from your past. He seems very comfortable, he's not overwhelmed. His breathing, his pace out there, ability to execute pitches has been very impressive."
Either McClendon is sneakily progressive enough to want Smith free for high-leverage roles regardless of the inning, or he somehow thinks an older person with a 3.67 ERA and 4.41 walks per nine innings is a superior option. Oh well, saves are saves, and Wilhelmsen is getting them while offering a solid 8.63 strikeouts per nine frames.
4. Joe Panik, 2B, San Francisco Giants (40 Percent Owned)
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Not appreciated during his breakout, Joe Panik had little chance of receiving respectful patience while recuperating from a back injury. After sitting out August, the second baseman is aiming to start a rehab stint on Thursday, according to the Sacramento Bee's Matt Kawahara.
One month proved enough for many gamers to forget an All-Star middle infielder who hit .309/.374/.443 with seven homers, three steals and 54 runs scored. Among qualified second basemen, only Jason Kipnis wields a higher weighted on-base average (wOBA).
Chase Utley, who went on the disabled list with a .532 OPS, now has a similar Yahoo ownership rate (36 percent) to the San Francisco Giants' breakout player. A much more deserving stash than the former star was instead discarded due to his lack of name recognition.
Before getting hurt, Panik served as a quality starter in all formats. The power may prove to be a mirage, but at least give him an opportunity to show otherwise.
3. Drew Pomeranz, RP, Oakland Athletics (16 Percent Owned)
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Putting a damper on last week's Sean Doolittle recommendation, Drew Pomeranz struck out the side during a spotless save on Saturday. Per the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser, Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin noted flashes of last year's closer in Pomeranz.
“It seems like every time out, he’s more and more comfortable,” Melvin said. “Last night, he pitched like Doolittle: all fastballs, able to elevate, good life on it. He’s been holding down the fort here recently really well.”
The highly decorated pitching prospect hasn't held his own in the rotation, but he's flourishing in the bullpen. Through 32.2 innings of relief work, the 26-year-old righty has recorded a 2.20 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 39 strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Doolittle has yielded three runs in three appearances since coming off the disabled list, uncharacteristically walking three batters after submitting eight free passes last year. He'll need to earn back the coveted ninth-inning role, which gives Pomeranz time to prove he deserves the gig.
On Sunday, the gap narrowed when Doolittle struck out two batters in a one-two-three inning while his younger peer blew a save. Yet the newly minted closer should get a few more chances before abdicating the spot.
2. Matt Shoemaker, SP, Los Angeles Angels (33 Percent Owned)
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The maddening Matt Shoemaker may never relive last year's glory. A popular value pick after posting a 3.04 ERA and 5.17 strikeout-to-walk ratio, he recently landed a demotion on the heels of relinquishing 13 combined runs through two games.
In his first start back with the Los Angeles Angels, he allowed one hit through 7.1 shutout innings on Thursday. That inconsistency represents Shoemaker in a nutshell. An ace when he's on, but an unbearable train wreck when he's not.
Through all the ebbs and flows, he holds an unflattering 4.49 ERA and 4.39 FIP. Most of his peripherals have only regressed a bit, yet he has suffered a cavernous decline.
Making his latest setback more frustrating, the 28-year-old appeared to have turned the corner before those two dreadful August turns. He relinquished six runs during his prior six starts, tossing three scoreless gems before unraveling against the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals.
Despite those soul-crushing lows, the euphoric highs make Shoemaker tough to quit. He's scheduled for a promising matchup against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday. While it's too late to replicate last season's 1.87 second-half ERA, he can still redeem himself down the stretch.
1. Austin Jackson, OF, Seattle Mariners (31 Percent Owned)
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Austin Jackson looked destined for much bigger things. Over his first four years with the Detroit Tigers, he scored 395 combined runs, stealing 27 bases as a rookie in 2010 and hitting .300/.377/.479 two years later. It's disheartening to see the 28-year-old now available in 69 percent of Yahoo Sports leagues.
To be fair, that number needs to drop. He has hit safely in 16 of his last 18 games, going 28-for-69 (.406) with two homers and steals apiece. Although he hasn't sprinkled significant power and speed into his hot streak, he quietly has eight long balls and 15 steals on the season.
While his .272 average lurks right around his career .273 rate, he is also enjoying his highest batting average on balls in play (BABIP) since 2012. Even though so many hits won't keep dropping, he's an under-the-radar candidate for a subdued 10-homer, 20-steal campaign.
No longer a potential superstar, Jackson instead provides quality depth in mixed leagues employing five starting outfielders.
Note: All advanced statistics courtesy of FanGraphs.
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