Welcome to the Waiver Wire Picks, our daily fantasy baseball article that looks at the best players in baseball that 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, and we’ll also look at the most added players in fantasy baseball across the major sites, and let you know which players to add, and which players you can leave on the wire.
Top Priority Players to Add
Dylan Lee (ATL), RP (12% rostered on Yahoo!)
The 30-year-old lefty holds a 1.77 ERA and 0.81 WHIP through 35.1 innings pitched. Is he overperforming a bit? Sure, probably. Still, his 5.14 PLV is nothing to sneeze at. More importantly, there’s no reason he can’t run away with the closer role after eviscerating Juan Soto Monday night with a nasty slider en route to Atlanta’s first save in over a month.
Ben Rice (NYY), 1B (32% rostered on Yahoo!)
June has been tough sledding, and I get it, it’s cheap to say Rice has been unlucky, so let’s call him Ben unlucky. Regardless, we are starting to see the pendulum swing the other way, with longballs in two of Rice’s last three starts, including last night’s longball against hotshot rookie Chase Burns. Granted, Giancarlo Stanton’s return has forced Aaron Boone to mix and match more often, creating a playing time log jam. But I am willing to bet on the guy with a 95th percentile hard-hit rate who has blasted RHP to the tune of a 143 wRC+. Paul Goldschmidt, meanwhile, has done most of his work against LHP, and totes an underwhelming 78 wRC+ against RHP. Another thing that matters is that Rice has played 48 of his 68 games batting first, second, or third. Jazz Chisholm Jr., on the other hand, has hit higher than cleanup just once. That kinda tells you Aaron Boone likes Rice quite a bit.
Cam Smith (HOU) 3B/OF (34% rostered on Yahoo!)
Armed with elite swing and sprint speed, Cam Smith was a popular breakout candidate, but the early returns weren’t great. In last week’s PLV Power Report, I mentioned that Smith demonstrated above-average power but was slowed by facing a ton of tough pitches. Smith’s 64 Pitch Runs+ was tied for the second-lowest among all hitters who have faced at least 400 pitches, which is to say, his introduction to big league pitching has been a trial by fire. However, he could be finding his footing, with hits in eight of his last ten games. Smith’s Power+ has also trended up. He is starting to look like the latest example of why it’s best to be patient with rookies.
Yahoo! and ESPN Most Added Players
Eric Lauer has been a surprise for the Jays, holding a 2.29 ERA and 0.89 WHIP through 35.1 IP. It feels like a trap based on the back of his baseball card, which reads a 1.34 WHIP across 632 IP. Still, you can’t completely ignore his handiwork last Wednesday: a King Cole against the D’Backs. He earned his fourth win last night, holding the Guardians to an earned run on five hits and three walks over five and a third innings; he struck out five.
Chandler Simpson received top billing yesterday. He’s back in our lives and ready to wreak havoc on the basepaths, but he might not provide a ton of help elsewhere if he sticks to hitting ninth. At the very least, let’s hope his defense has improved; that will be key to his sticking around.
Casey Schmitt has done yeoman’s work filling in for Matt Chapman and got some clicks for his 4-for-4 against Boston this past Sunday. He was pretty decent last season, earning a 109 wRC+ across 40 games, and his 1B, 2B, 3B, SS eligibility is neat.
Michael McGreevy had a 2.51 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 21.3% K-BB through a dozen starts with Triple-A Memphis before getting called to make his third start in the show. The 24-year-old righty has earned acclaim as a prospect, but not on the same level as Jay-Mis or Burns. The Cubs roughed him up pretty good last night, tagging him for five earned runs on seven hits and a walk; he had one strikeout and should probably be left on the wire in redraft leagues, especially with this likely being a spot start.
Logan Allen had a decent start against the Giants last Wednesday and surrendered three earned runs on eight hits and two walks against the Jays last night. His being ranked 101 on The List tells you all you need to know; there are almost certainly more interesting arms on your wire.
Last year’s second overall pick out of Wake Forest, Chase Burns, received priority billing on Monday and Tuesday and is just about as pristine a pitching prospect as you’ll find; he carried a 31.4% K-BB% through 13 starts before the Reds came calling. He held the Yankees to three earned runs on six hits and, most importantly, no walks over five innings; he struck out eight on 13 whiffs (34 swings; 81 pitches).
Jay-Mis has an all-world fastball that’s gonna mask the blemishes that nag most other rookie hurlers. He was perfect through six innings last Friday before being tagged by a two-run shot from Matt Wallner.
What can you say about Byron Buxton? Unfettered by injuries, the 31-year-old from Baxley, Georgia, is 12th among qualifiers with a 151 wRC+.
I’ll admit, I wanted to ignore Ryne Nelson’s success because of his 19.8% K rate, but I was wrong. His four-seamer is pretty darn good; in his last start against the Jays, it recorded the highest iVB Nick has seen all season, that is to say, don’t overlook him. His lack of a reliable secondary pitch is the only thing holding him back. Still, he’s an easy add.
Kyle McCarthy recently highlighted Andy Pages’ ascension. He’s hitting .292 with a 133 wRC+, and his ROS value might not be all that different from Teoscar Hernández.
Category Specific Players to Add
Michael Toglia (COL), 1B, OF (22% rostered on Yahoo!)
Toglia has gone yard three times since the Rockies recalled him last Monday. His 114 Power+ is what you like to see from a home run hitter. However, his 68 Contact Ability+ indicates his .201 batting average isn’t going up anytime soon.
Tyler Freeman (COL), SS, OF (7% rostered on Yahoo!)
If you are rostering, I don’t know, say Michael Toglia, and need to pad your batting average, consider Tyler Freeman. The 26-year-old righty hit just .209 during his 118-game stint with the Guardians last year, but has given the Rockies some life, hitting .323, and has led off in four of their last six games. His 114 Contact Ability+ suggests he should be a pretty decent bat to stream for a batting average boost when the Rockies are in Colorado.
Jake McCarthy (ARI), OF (10% rostered on Yahoo!)
Corbin Carroll’s wrist injury should afford another shot for Jake McCarthy; he hit fifth and went 0-for-4 in last night’s win over the White Sox. The lefty’s ability as a hitter remains suspect, with a 98 wRC+ over 1,278 career PAs. However, he has also swiped 78 bags on 93 attempts.
Streaming Pitchers
Be sure to check Nick’s daily SP streaming article.
Hayden Birdsong (SF), SP (31% rostered on Yahoo!)
We don’t have many options on Thursday. I was tempted to consider Andre Pallante after his successful outing against the Reds, but let’s not spin that wheel against the Cubs. Birdsong, meanwhile, was probably a little lucky to come away from last Friday’s game against the Red Sox with a no-decision, and there weren’t many positives to take away from the outing, as his venture into the rotation remains a work-in-progress. Still, perhaps a home matchup against the Marlins can guide him in the right direction.
Speculative Adds
Orion Kerkering (PHI) RP (24% rostered on Yahoo!)
The Phillies’ closer situation remains fluid in the wake of José Alvarado’s suspension. Kerkering’s underlying numbers are dicey; however, he nailed their most recent save this past Thursday in a 2-1 win over the Marlins. Matt Strahm, who has been solid but nowhere near as brilliant as last season, notched his fourth save of the season last Wednesday.
Colt Keith (DET) 1B/2B (10% rostered on Yahoo!)
The 23-year-old lefty has been on the rise lately, hitting leadoff for the Tigers in each of their past four games, all against right-handers. He hasn’t had overwhelming results yet, but his 110 Power+ corroborates the pop that encouraged the Tigers to sign him to a six-year deal early last year.
Grant Taylor (CWS) SP, RP (4% rostered on Yahoo!)
A second-rounder out of LSU two summers ago, Taylor posted a 25.7% K-BB across 15 games (six starts) with Double-A Birmingham before being promoted on June 10th. Armed with a wicked combination of 98th percentile extension and fastball velocity, Taylor could run away with the White Sox’s closer job after earning his first save in a 4-2 win over the Jays last Sunday.
Deep League Players to Watch
Caleb Durbin (MIL), 2B, 3B, SS (4% rostered on Yahoo!)
Durbin, a 25-year-old righty who was part of the trade that sent Devin Williams to the Bronx this past offseason, has notched multi-hit performances in three of his last five games, including his third home run. Durbin’s Statcast profile resembles Nico Hoerner, ie, lots of contact, but otherwise a sea of blue. Regardless, he could be a decent add for those needing speed; he’s netted six on nine attempts, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see his .236 batting average tick upward.
For more deep leaguers, check Ben Rosener’s Deep League Waiver Wire column every Thursday and Saturday.
