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
A.J. Ewing (NYM) – 2B, OF (Yahoo – 21%)
A .268/.352/.401 slash doesn’t jump off the page. But you might want to reconsider once you realize it’s the handiwork of a 21-year-old rookie. A closer look reveals that Ewing has not only made good swing decisions (110 DV according to PLV) but has also excelled at making contact (109 Whiff Avoid). He demonstrated that plenty in the minor leagues, with a 16.7% BB rate that dwarfed his 15.2% K rate across 30 games combined with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse before his May 12th promotion to The Show. So, yeah, the kid knows how to get on base. If you need dingers, though, look elsewhere; power isn’t part of the slight-statured lefty’s profile. But speed is; he stole 70 bags last year in the minors. With the Mets in full evaluation mode, Ewing should get as many opportunities as he can handle, and, if his minor league resume is any indication, he has the ability to boost your team in steals and batting average.
Sean Keys (TOR) – 1B, 3B (Yahoo – 2%)
Maybe it’s a little wild to call Keys a priority pickup, but his bat has the feel of a freight train: You don’t need to see it to know it’s coming. A fourth-round pick out of Bucknell, the lefty-hitting corner infielder started last season in High-A. Fast forward about a year, and he wreaked havoc in Double-A New Hampshire; the barrage prompted Martin Sekulski to name him one of his Prospects of the Month. He lasted about three weeks in Triple-A Buffalo before the power-starved Jays came calling on Saturday. He left the minors with 21 home runs while toting a 1.028 OPS and a 164 wRC+. Yesterday, he had his first big moment at the Rogers Centre by sending a fastball from Freddy Peralta into the Jays’ bullpen. Yep, an oppo-taco. He hit eighth as the DH, and now that the proverbial genie has been unbottled, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t get an extended opportunity to spark the team that nearly dethroned the Dodgers last October. They need something, that’s for sure.
Yahoo and ESPN Most Added Players
Walker Buehler entered yesterday afternoon’s game at Wrigley Field with a respectable 3.81 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. He had also allowed just one earned run in each of his previous five starts, including a revenge meeting against the Dodgers. Alas, that streak ended in disaster. Nick suspected Buehler’s HR/9 would rise at Wrigley. And, whaddya know, he was right. He coughed up three gopher balls while allowing nine earned runs through four innings. Hey, at least he got six strikeouts! It’s probably safe to say that few will flock to the wire for Buehler after this massacre, but his next outing will come in a more favorable setting against the Snakes in San Diego early next week.
Esmerlyn Valdez earned the spotlight in Tuesday’s column after becoming the third Pirate in history to go yard in four consecutive games. The streak ended later that night, but he went 2-for-3 with a walk. He’s a fun addition if you need some punch, but whiffs (35.2% K rate through 54 PAs) are an early concern.
Super utility man Javier Sanoja, 23, went 9-for-16 over the last four games in June. He’s slashing .275/.312/.404 with three homers and five steals. Nothing in his minor league track indicates anything exciting, although he can run a little. He could be a decent stopgap in points leagues thanks to his ridiculously low 10.2% K rate.
Dansby Swanson ended June with two dingers and started July with three more, including two against Buehler. Could he be decent in the second half? Sure. But forgive me, I just can’t get excited about a guy who has posted a 97 wRC+ over his previous 1,557 PAs. That’s a long time.
The 15th overall pick out of Ole Miss three summers ago, lefty-hitting first baseman Jacob Gonzalez has slashed a respectable .253/.341/.387 since making his White Sox debut on May 31st. Prior to the call-up, he tore up the International League, slashing .317/.419/.668 with 19 home runs across 238 PAs with Triple-A Charlotte. He looks like a decent pickup, but as always, temper expectations with rookies.
Tatsuya Imai’s roster percentage rightfully climbed after he posted consecutive double-digit strikeout performances against the Guardians and Tigers. But, alas, the Twins blew the proverbial train off the rails last night. Command volatility remains a stick in the mud and explains his 82nd rank on The List.
Much to Payton Tolle’s dismay, Wood and the Nationals reenacted the Boston Massacre about 256 years and four months later. Still, he’s 23rd on The List for a reason and shouldn’t be floating on any wire. Bad days happen, like Schlittler’s start against the Tigers on Tuesday night.
Ranking 60th on The List, Joey Cantillo handed out five free passes, but did just enough to earn his seventh win while outdueling MacKenzie Gore. The 26-year-old lefty will take a 3.78 ERA and 1.36 WHIP into his next start against the Twins in Minnesota early next week.
Troy Melton ran roughshod through the Judgeless Yankees, allowing just three baserunners while fetching 19 outs, seven via strikeout. He is 46th on The List and will carry a 2.05 ERA into his next start at home against the A’s.
Speculative Players to Add
Cameron Cauley (TEX) – 2B, SS, OF (Yahoo – 1%)
If you’re in one of those deep leagues like me, where the second a player appears in two consecutive games and steals a base, they get plucked off the wire, you might want to add Cauley. The 23-year-old righty has serious wheels, can play all over the field, and should have an opportunity in the wake of injuries to Seager, Nimmo, and Langford.
Streaming Pitchers
Be sure to check Nick’s daily SP streamers article.
Today:
Ian Seymour (TBR) – SP, RP (Yahoo – 11%) vs KC
Seymour throttled the Royals on Thursday in Tampa while tossing a season-high 90 pitches. You can’t expect the same outcome, of course, as the Royals will have Witt for the rematch. Still, the southpaw’s pitch quality metrics (5.12 PLV/2.75 PLA) corroborate his success. Even better, this game will answer the age-old question: does having an opener matter?
Tomorrow:
Jake Bennett (BOS) – SP (Yahoo – 19%) at LAA
The 25-year-old rookie left-hander has looked increasingly comfortable, clearing six innings in consecutive starts while holding a pretty decent 14% K-BB%. The Angels, meanwhile, have the second-worst K rate in baseball.
Deep League Players to Watch
Michael Conforto (CHC) – OF (Yahoo – 0%)
As one of the many who remember Conforto bashing baseballs in Queens as a Met, the thought of him finding a renaissance some five years later in Chicago has left me feeling warm and fuzzy. His .847 OPS (140 PA) would be his best mark since the chaotic 60-game season. Does he have anything left at 33? Hey, crazier things have happened. Shaw’s injury has given Conforto a path into the Cubs lineup as a righty masher. Those in deep, daily leagues should take note.
