Welcome to the Waiver Wire Picks, our daily fantasy baseball article that looks at the best players you should be adding to your rosters. We’ll look at the players that are likely to be available in most leagues, as well as some deep league waiver wire options. We’ll also look at the most-added players in fantasy baseball across the major sites and tell you which players to add and which to leave on the wire.
Top Priority Players to Add
Paul Goldschmidt (NYY) – 1B (Yahoo – 24%)
We’ve mentioned him a bunch already, but I have no other choice. The 38-year-old has seemingly found his MVP form. He entered last night’s game with a 153 wRC+, which would rank fifth among all qualified first basemen. Admittedly, his splits are a little scary; he’s hitting .222 against right-handers. However, last night’s three-run tater came against righty Tyler Davis. He added another single against righty Trevor Richards in the seventh. His PLV metrics (109 Contact, 119 Power, 129 Process) are exceptional, leaving me optimistic that his splits will even out a bit. In the meantime, Paul Goldschmidt is a huge part of the Yankee lineup. Add that to the things I did not expect to say in March.
Bryce Eldridge (SF) – 1B (Yahoo – 45%)
Eldridge earned the spotlight in Sunday’s column. However, I’m obliged to issue another PSA after last night’s dinger against JR Ritchie. The 21-year-old rookie is hitting .319 with a .963 OPS. He had some issues with whiffs in the minors, but his K rate is sitting at a perfectly fine 20.7%. If you are in a shallow league, make sure he isn’t sitting on the wire.
Gabriel Moreno (ARI) – C (Yahoo – 44%)
Moreno is quietly having a breakout season, slashing .277/.359/.458 across 192 PAs. His hitting third really tells you all you need to know; he’s been undoubtedly one of Arizona’s most productive hitters. And his PLV metrics (125 Contact, 122 Power, and 131 Process) suggest you should be pretty excited to add him to your roster, if the rest of your league is sleeping.
Yahoo and ESPN Most Added Players
The Diamondbacks pasted Sam Aldegheri for six runs on six hits through three innings. I think we can keep him on the wire.
TJ Rumfield hit his 10th home run Tuesday night in Wrigley Field and is slashing a robust .275/.354/.466 through 285 PAs in the heart of Colorado’s lineup. The 26-year-old lefty, whom the Yankees traded away for reliever Angel Chivilli this past offseason, doesn’t have huge home run power, judging by his 104 Power. However, the rest of his PLV metrics are pretty good. He’s not a bad addition, but you know the drill with the Rockies: Can you stomach the valleys when they are on the road?
Zack Littell didn’t get the job done against the Royals, and he now owns a 5.45 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. Back to the wire he goes.
PLV confirms: Nasim Nuñez has no power to speak of (78). However, he trails only Witt with 26 stolen bases. For those punting stolen bases, so to speak, Nuñez might make sense because of the speed. However, his bottom-of-the-barrel hard-hit rate and .222 xBA suggest that you’re gonna need some serious luck from the BABIP Gods for him to not hurt you in the other categories.
Kody Clemens has given the Twins some much-needed thump, slashing a career-high .251/.318/.493 across 238 PAs. And he also has a career-best six stolen bases. He’s an alright short-term add if you’re trying to figure out what to do at second base, but I don’t see enough to make me think he won’t settle down to what he did last year: a much less exciting .213/.281/.434 slash.
Javier Assad was a short-term addition; he faced the Rockies at home, but might not be in the Cubs’ rotation much longer with Boyd on the comeback trail.
After a brilliant outing against the Tigers, Peter Lambert owns a 3.23 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. He has done yeoman’s work, just don’t expect him to be a game-changer; he’s 81st on The List.
Zack Gelof earned a bunch of clicks after grabbing two combo meals over his past five games. He fits the bill as a post-hype prospect and should have some good opportunities while entrenched in a powerful A’s lineup. I just wish his PLV metrics were more convincing (97 Power, 89 Contact). Still, that’s nitpicking; you’ll take an .835 OPS from a second baseman all day.
Willi Castro has made the rounds this week. Overall, he’s slashing .282/.358/.407. He’s a good glue guy, but history suggests he’ll taper off sooner or later.
Eduardo Rodriguez dazzled again, holding the Angels to one earned run over seven innings. His success has come despite a career-low 8.4% K-BB%. Sadly, I don’t believe this renaissance will last.
Speculative Players to Add
Kyle Teel (CWS) – C (Yahoo – 8%)
We were pretty excited to see what Teel could do after last year’s terrific debut (125 wRC+). A strained hamstring followed by a knee injury torpedoed his second season. But he opened a rehab stint Tuesday night with a home run. Fingers crossed we see him soon.
Streaming Pitchers
Be sure to check Nick’s daily SP streamers article.
Today:
Sean Manaea (NYM) – SP (Yahoo – 14%) at PHI
Manaea was extraordinarily efficient his last time on the mound, needing just 84 pitches to get 18 outs against the Braves. I can’t help but think of the version of Manaea we saw two years ago, when he recorded a 3.47 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 32 starts. Sure, that’s probably not gonna happen again, but he could be someone you carry for a bit if he goes on a roll. Citizens Bank Park isn’t the easiest matchup, but I like that he will at least hold the platoon advantage over three of Philly’s best hitters, Schwarber, Harper, and Marsh.
Tomorrow:
Connor Prielipp (MIN) – SP (Yahoo – 5%) at ARI
Prielipp’s minor league track record suggests he could be someone we want to keep on our rosters, or he could, you know, keep being meh. At least he had a pretty decent outing his last time out against the Cards, getting 18 outs while tossing 98 pitches. The D’Backs, meanwhile, have the fifth-worst wRC+ as a team (90). Let’s see if he can take advantage.
Deep League Players to Watch
Endy Rodríguez (PIT) – C, 1B (Yahoo – 2%)
It’s a ridiculously small sample size of 76 PAs, but his .880 OPS has me plenty interested. And it might not be a total mirage; the 26-year-old lefty played first base in the Futures Game three years ago before being derailed by UCL surgery. I can’t resist a post-hype prospect. Joey Bart’s return (foot) could complicate things. Still, Rodríguez should probably be rostered in all two-catcher leagues.
Gabriel Rincones Jr. (PHI) – OF (Yahoo – 0%)
A potentially season-ending injury to Adolis García has opened the door for a new face. Drafted by the Phillies out of Florida Atlantic in the third round four summers ago, the 25-year-old lefty has big power and has consistently held a walk rate over 11%. His minor league splits suggest he might be on the bench against left-handers. Still, those in deep, five OF leagues might want to give him a look.
