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
Trent Grisham (NYY) – OF (Yahoo – 44%)
I don’t know about you, but my IL has been stacked to the brim in just about all of my leagues. It’s that time of year. However, we won’t have to wait much longer for Trent Grisham’s return from a balky right hamstring. According to Aaron Boone, his leadoff hitter will return either Wednesday or Friday after playing a rehab game. The 29-year-old lefty’s .232/.341/.406 slash might not be the prettiest thing in the world, but his 100th percentile chase rate paints the picture of a man commandeering the zone with X-ray vision. His PLV metrics are terrific. He’s avoiding strikeouts (115 Whiff Avoid) and hitting with authority (108 Power). Add it all up, and you’ve got a 127 Process. That’s pretty dang good and suggests that he could be in for a loud second half.
Chase DeLauter (CLE) – OF (Yahoo – 39%)
Cleveland welcomed their 24-year-old rookie back from the IL (right rib fracture) on Sunday, and he went 2-for-5; his second hit came in the eighth inning and sparked a 6-5 come-from-behind win over the Mariners. Widely considered by scouts as wielding one of the best bats in the minors, DeLauter’s path to the Show was derailed more than once by injuries. Unfortunately, the injury bug bit him again, but now he is back and will immediately be thrust into a prominent role for a Guardians lineup that is desperate for some juice after losing their star third baseman. Through Sunday, he is slashing .265/.338/.408 with seven home runs across 275 PAs. According to PLV, it’s probably best to temper expectations as far as his home run projections go (101 Power). However, his swing decisions have been great (112 DV), and he’s avoiding strikeouts (116 Whiff Avoid); that’s a recipe for someone who could give you a substantial boost in RBIs while hitting for average.
Esmerlyn Valdez (PIT) – 1B/OF (Yahoo – 12%)
Sometimes, you just gotta ride the wave. Esmerlyn Valdez, 22, slashed .255/.388/.526 with 13 dingers across 237 PAs with Triple-A Indianapolis before making his Pirates debut on May 22nd. He hit his first home run two days later against Jays reliever Chase Lee. Sporadic playing time had kept him off the radar until the past few days. Last night, he added to Aaron Nola’s torment by depositing a hanging curveball 411 feet into the left-field seats; the two-run shot was his sixth of the season (in only 50 PAs) and fourth in as many nights. Sure, he is striking out at a 40% clip, but his 21.5% rate in the minors suggests it’s a blip. His power, on the other hand, isn’t a magic trick. He’s just the third rookie in Pirates history to go yard in four straight games. You gotta see where this goes, no?
Yahoo and ESPN Most Added Players
Caleb Durbin took Miles Mikolas for a ride over the Green Monster last night for his seventh home run; his 84 Power via PLV suggests we shouldn’t expect too many more of those. The former Brewer is slashing .231/.286/.393 with nine stolen bases. The lack of alternatives at 2B has sent his roster rate to over 30% on Yahoo. But I still think he’s someone I’d tolerate only in points leagues, thanks to his penchant for avoiding strikeouts.
I feel similarly about Brooks Lee. Yes, the 14 home runs are a lot for a guy you can play at 2B, but his 90 Power makes it feel like it wouldn’t be too surprising for him to finish with five more. And it also comes with a .251 average (.229 xBA) and a .306 OBP. I just can’t get excited, I’m sorry.
Ryan Johnson tossed a gem out of nowhere last Tuesday against the Orioles, complete with eight strikeouts and just two baserunners across six innings. But alas, those hoping for an encore against the Mariners yesterday in T-Mobile Park were left somewhat disappointed. It wasn’t a terrible outing by any means; he allowed just one earned run across five innings. But, yeah, there’s not much to see here.
Luis García Jr. Jr. got the spotlight in Sunday’s article and banged two home runs later that afternoon. He had a quiet game last night, hitting seventh against Ranger Suarez. The 26-year-old lefty doesn’t walk much and has, not surprisingly, weaker splits against lefties. But he has been a rock-solid MI, slashing .279/.309/.543 and is just two shy of the career high 18 home runs he bashed two years ago.
Sean Burke outdueled Shane Baz last night at Camden Yards, holding the Orioles to two earned runs on three walks and four hits, and matched a season high with eight strikeouts across five and a third innings. He entered last night’s game with a 3.71 ERA and 1.21 WHIP and looks like a decent option this weekend against the Guardians in Cleveland. He’s 76th on The List.
A throwing error from José Caballero helped fuel a four-run second inning that ultimately ended Ryan Weathers‘ night against the Tigers. Hey, at least he didn’t give up a home run, right? He has otherwise been plenty good (20.1% K-BB, 42nd on The List), so I think you just write this off as a bad night. He’ll have a chance to get back on track this weekend against the Twins.
The Twins blasted three home runs off Peter Lambert last night, lifting his ERA to 3.51. His next scheduled start should come this weekend at home against the Rays. He’s 84th on The List, smack dab amongst the Tobys.
I highlighted Jake McCarthy in yesterday’s column; he should be in store for some good home cooking with the Rockies at Coors Field all week.
Speculative Players to Add
Cameron Cauley (TEX) – 2B, SS, OF (Yahoo – 0%)
The Rangers called Cauley to the show last night, hit seventh, and picked up his first hit: a line drive triple to left off Parker Messick. Yes, as you might have guessed, the 23-year-old righty has wheels; he stole 29 bases across 74 games with Triple-A Round Rock. He also walked and scored twice. In addition to second, where he played last night, he can play shortstop and the outfield. The 100 wRC+ he posted in Triple-A suggests he might not have the requisite pop to be an everyday player, but his speed and defensive versatility make him an intriguing add in deep leagues.
Noah Schultz (CWS) – SP (Yahoo – 9%)
Schultz will return to the White Sox rotation on Wednesday, closing out a three-game series in Baltimore. His struggles before the stint on the IL due to right knee tendinitis were well documented (5.82 ERA and 1.34 WHIP). But after all, he was one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. Why not see if he can figure it out?
Streaming Pitchers
Be sure to check Nick’s daily SP streamers article.
Today:
Brandon Sproat (MIL) – SP (Yahoo – 12%) vs CIN
As I mentioned yesterday, I’d be more than happy to give Sproat another go at home against the same Reds lineup that he just baffled with a career-best 10 strikeouts. He’s got good stuff and pedigree as a big part of the trade that sent Peralta to the Mets. Let’s see if he can take a step forward.
Tomorrow:
Colin Rea (CHC) – SP (Yahoo – 8%) vs SD
This is a little scary with the summer winds at Wrigley Field lurking, but I’ll take a shot that boring ol’ Rea can tame a Padres lineup that has lacked any sort of punch.
Deep League Players to Watch
Hao-Yu Lee (DET) – 2B, 3B (Yahoo – 1%)
The injury to Gleyber Torres has given Lee an opportunity. He hasn’t knocked the stuffing out of the ball (.682 OPS), but he has played in seven of the Tigers’ last eight games. The 23-year-old righty showed some all-around ability last year, hitting .243 with a 106 wRC, 14 home runs, and 22 stolen bases across 579 PAs with Triple-A Toledo.
