Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Top 10 Pickups for Week 23
Still searching for waiver-wire adds to close the fantasy baseball season in style? That's a good sign.
Saying "there's plenty of time" doesn't offer much solace with four weeks remaining in the season. Honestly, there's not. Most head-to-head players have one week left to lock down a playoff spot, and rotisserie gamers know by now whether they have a realistic shot at first place.
Few readers seeking out advice are stuck in last. Perhaps some contestants are still playing for pride, but now is the time of year when disenfranchised gamers toss in the towel and shift their attention to football.
Not us. A month remains, and the free-agent grind never halts for committed fantasy managers. Here's the latest batch of recommended pickups heading into Week 23.
Honorable Mentions
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Mixed Leagues
Jedd Gyorko, 2B/SS, San Diego Padres
Javier Baez, 2B/SS, Chicago Cubs
Joey Gallo, 3B/OF, Texas Rangers
Ender Inciarte, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Alex Colome, SP/RP, Tampa Bay Rays
AL-Only
J.P. Arencibia, C/1B, Tampa Bay Rays
Ryan Goins, 2B, Toronto Blue Jays
Paulo Orlando, OF, Kansas City Royals
Erik Johnson, SP, Chicago White Sox
Sean Nolin, RP, Oakland Athletics
NL-Only
Elian Herrera, 2B/3B/SS/OF, Milwaukee Brewers
Alejandro De Aza, OF, San Francisco Giants
Zach Davies, SP, Milwaukee Brewers
Colin Rea, SP, San Diego Padres
Jerad Eickhoff, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
10. Josh Tomlin, SP, Cleveland Indians (19 Percent Owned)
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In a week without Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco, Josh Tomlin did his best ace impersonation for the Cleveland Indians, allowing five baserunners and one run during a complete-game victory over the Detroit Tigers. Through five starts, he has compiled a 2.55 ERA, 32 strikeouts and three walks.
The 30-year-old righty has also benefited drastically from a .170 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) and 98.7 percent strand rate. Yet it's awfully hard to ignore a hurler with 126 strikeouts and 17 walks over his last 139.1 innings dating back to last year.
Due to his incredible command, his 3.17 skill-interactive ERA (SIERA) forebodes far less regression than his 4.16 fielding independent pitching (FIP). Even with less luck on batted balls, Tomlin could churn out another strong start or two down the stretch.
Then again, he's not guaranteed that opportunity. According to Northeast Ohio Media Group's Paul Hoynes, Carrasco is expected to return from the disabled list and start Tuesday. Kluber, however, is expected to miss at least another week, per MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.
A steep postseason long shot, Cleveland has little reason to rush back last year's American League Cy Young Award winner. That should buy Tomlin more time in the rotation, at least enough to merit spot-start appeal against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.
9. Blake Swihart, C, Boston Red Sox (12 Percent Owned)
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Prospects require patience. Required to handle an entirely unfamiliar pitching staff, young catchers especially need time to hone their offensive game. Just ask Blake Swihart.
Since the All-Star break, the Boston Red Sox rookie is hitting .354/.415/.490. While a .471 BABIP deserves considerable credit for the small-sample madness, a 31.0 line-drive percentage also helps.
He's now batting .288 on the year and has scored 39 runs through 67 games. Don't expect much power; he has delivered just a pair of long balls after 22 homerless games in the farm. Yet he's also a rare threat for his position to swipe double-digit bags over a full year.
He's essentially a younger Yadier Molina that is currently swinging a hotter bat. Boston certainly hopes he follows a similar career trajectory as the seven-time Gold Glove winner, and dynasty owners would also love to see him rise beyond a solid placeholder at catcher.
For now, he's a nice addition in two-catcher formats or a hot hand for someone without a stable No. 1.
8. Greg Bird, 1B, New York Yankees (4 Percent Owned)
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Greg Bird would have received attention earlier if given a paved road to playing time. Even after a hot start, the rookie had nowhere to go with Mark Teixeira manning first base and Alex Rodriguez occupying designated hitting duties.
That's no longer a problem, as Teixeira's bruised shin sent him to the disabled list. Per ESPN.com's Andrew Marchand, the injured first baseman said he is "100 percent" sure of returning this season. But do the math. He's eligible to come back on Sept. 19, meaning he'll miss at least two of four remaining weeks.
There's then no guarantee he can field first regularly. That leaves Bird, who's hitting .260/.337/.466 with four homers in 21 games for the Bronx Bombers. The lefty, who has already gone deep three times at Yankee Stadium, has a whole week to swing for the short porch in right field.
While a 28.9 strikeout percentage won't sanction a high batting average, he's taking colossal cuts, as evidenced by a 50.0 fly-ball and 39.6 hard-hit percentage. The 22-year-old, who also boasts a 10.8 walk percentage, is playing right into his new home park.
New York prospects rarely ever float under the radar, but Bird has managed to avoid the supernatural hype. He's widely available for a promising power bat in a potent lineup.
7. J.A. Happ, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates (21 Percent Owned)
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The Seattle Mariners are probably scratching their heads, wondering where this J.A. Happ came from. After exiting the AL West club with a 4.64 ERA, he has a authored a 1.57 ERA through six starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Along with allowing two runs over his past five outings, the 32-year-old lefty has compiled 26 strikeouts and five walks through 30 frames. Don't expect this dominant version of Happ to stick around, but his full body of work still commands a glance.
A 3.68 FIP juxtaposes his 3.90 ERA with 7.17 strikeouts and 2.45 walks per nine innings. While hardly numbers befitting a fantasy superstar, he's certainly playable in the right circumstances.
Unfortunately, Pittsburgh's upcoming schedule doesn't offer a bankable opportunity. The Cincinnati Reds are still dangerous at Great American Ball Park, and the Chicago Cubs' young sluggers are raking. The ship may have sailed to capitalize on Happ's hot streak, but someone this sizzling will at least help managers in deeper formats.
6. Marcus Stroman, SP, Toronto Blue Jays (17 Percent Owned)
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Originally expected to miss the entire season with a torn ACL, Marcus Stroman is rushing back to join the Toronto Blue Jays' playoff pursuit. According to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi, Toronto altered its rotation to potentially clear a path for a return this weekend.
A healthy Stroman would have entered drafts in high demand after finishing his rookie campaign with a 2.84 FIP, 7.65 K/9 and 1.93 K/BB. Instead, players pocketed the name for 2016, not expecting him back.
In a Single-A rehab start, the 24-year-old righty struck out seven batters over 4.2 hitless frames. Slaying low-level minor leaguers is far different than battling the New York Yankees on the road during a tight division race. That's precisely the predicament Stroman would face if given the ball on Saturday or Sunday.
Gamers working with deep benches should stash him to at least block the competition from stealing a potential difference-maker. Inserting him into the starting lineup this week, however, is an extremely risky endeavor.
5. Carl Crawford, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers (18 Percent Owned)
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Bet nobody thought they'd see Carl Crawford back around these parts. Replacing the injured Yasiel Puig, he has emerged from the dead to hit .311 (23-for-74) with two homers and seven steals since Aug. 1.
The 34-year-outfielder spent nearly three months sidelined with a torn oblique, and the Los Angeles Dodgers outfield featured no vacancies upon his return. With Andre Ethier regaining his offensive touch against righties, Crawford looked doomed to play the fourth outfielder role before Puig suffered another hamstring strain.
Not only is the veteran playing, but he's playing well. Most importantly for his fantasy stock, he has quelled any fears of no longer posing a base-stealing threat. His 50-steal days are long over, but the old man can still run.
Also, let's not forget that Crawford was quietly great last year. Limited to 370 plate appearances, he batted .300 with eight long balls and 23 steals, turning him into a late-round bargain this year. Health got in the way, but he's once again in a position to help fantasy managers down the stretch.
4. Rick Porcello, SP, Boston Red Sox (31 Percent Owned)
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Recent talk around Boston's starting rotation revolves around Joe Kelly winning seven straight starts, making him a popular waiver-wire add. Yet the resurgent righty has recorded a measly 14 strikeouts and nine walks during his last four starts.
Rick Porcello, on the other hand, fanned 13 batters on Tuesday. In two masterful starts back from the disabled list, he has collected 18 punchouts to one walk, allowing one earned run through 15 innings. He doesn't look anything like the guy previously sidelined with a 5.81 ERA.
His ERA remains an ugly 5.21, up drastically from last year's 3.43. Yet his 3.80 SIERA hovers slightly below 2014's 3.88 clip. How is that possible? After producing a middling 5.67 K/9 last year, his recent outburst has rocketed his current rate to 7.63.
Given his career 2.18 BB/9 and 51.3 ground-ball percentage, Porcello has always profiled as a valuable real-life starter who would morph into a significant fantasy contributor with whiffs. He flashed those skills two years ago, only for them to vanish. If he stays hot for another month, he's a solid source of rotation depth.
However, beware of his Monday afternoon start against the Toronto Blue Jays. Gamers who can make daily pickups and lineup changes should wait until later in the week to add Porcello, as he's in line for a much friendlier tilt with the Tampa Bay Rays this weekend.
3. Stephen Piscotty, OF, St. Louis Cardinals (42 Percent Owned)
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Stephen Piscotty has floated around for the past few weeks, never making the list due to glaring warning signs. The rookie outfielder, not a tremendous source of power or speed, is hitting .333 on the strength of an unsustainable .403 BABIP. If that comes crashing down, so does his fantasy worth.
But it's harder to be picky in September. For now, he's continuing his Matt Holliday impression with an impressive 36.7 hard-hit percentage. Although never perceived as a slugger, he has already laced a dozen doubles, three triples and four homers in 167 plate appearances with the help of some adjustments.
“In the offseason I made an attempt to tap into more power, that was a big offseason goal,” Piscotty told FanGraphs' Eno Sarris. “I worked on getting my back elbow a little closer to my body to get more extension. The whole thing was about getting more extension.”
So far, so good. Even if it doesn't last, it's worth trying to squeeze more value out of him. At this point, it's too late in most competitive and deeper leagues, but he's far from a universally recognized talent.
2. Derek Holland, SP, Texas Rangers (46 Percent Owned)
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Having only pitched an inning before spending four months on the disabled list, Derek Holland is making up for lost time. For the second straight year, the Texas Rangers lefty is dominating down the stretch.
Sidelined until September last year, he made the final month count by posting a 1.46 ERA in 37 innings. This season, he has relinquished seven earned runs through 29.1 frames, tallying 25 strikeouts and three walks.
Holland spoke with the Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant about again returning from a long absence. “It has helped me for sure,” he said. “I think it’s helped my mentality more than anything. I’m more focused. I’m a better pitcher than I was before.”
The 28-year-old has shined over his past two outings, following an 11-strikeout, complete-game shutout with eight strong innings of one-run ball. He'll look to stay hot against the Seattle Mariners, whom he'd face again on Sept. 20 if Texas' rotation remains in order.
When healthy, Holland commands ownership in all leagues. Like Stroman, he's suddenly involved in a pennant race, which gives the Rangers motivation to keep calling his name.
1. Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers (31 Percent Owned)
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About time. The last holdover in a historic rookie class, Corey Seager made his highly anticipated debut on Thursday.
Rated MLB.com's No. 2 prospect behind Byron Buxton, the 21-year-old shortstop left the minors with a .293/.344/.487 slash line this season, belting 13 of his 18 homers in Triple-A's hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. In three big league starts, he has notched five hits (two doubles) and a steal.
Of course, one pesky problem remains: How often will he play? The Dodgers have stood by Jimmy Rollins despite his minus-0.1 WAR, but a 7.5-game division lead could entice them to rest the veteran and instead give the youngster a shot.
Since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 13, Justin Turner has gone 13-for-74 with a .284 slugging percentage. Considering how long it took him to play every day, they should let the breakout third baseman play out his funk. Yet his struggles might lead to an extra day or two off. Seager has spent time at the hot corner, where he may wind up over the long run.
All three played Sunday, with Turner manning second, Seager patrolling third and Chase Utley taking a breather. So far, Los Angeles looks committed to handing the fresh face enough reps.
If afforded regular plate appearances, he's a viable starting shortstop who can immediately offer contact and pop. Even if he doesn't make a mega-impact a la Carlos Correa, the fellow high-upside newcomer is worth a look in all leagues.
Note: All advanced statistics courtesy of FanGraphs. Ownership rates, obtained on Sunday night, are courtesy of Yahoo Sports.
