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
Trent Grisham (NYY) OF (20% rostered on Yahoo)
I get it, a .245 batting average with one steal is kinda boring. But Grisham has continued to lead off against RHP, and, yeah, hitting in front of Aaron Judge is a good place to be. So are Grisham’s 125 DV+, 110 Power+, and 120 Process+. Simply put, he is making terrific swing decisions and adding power; that’s a recipe for success. As an aside, if you had been rostering Jasson Domínguez, it might be time to cut bait, with him having sat two consecutive nights against right-handers. I still believe in Domínguez’s long-term outlook, but Stanton shifting to right in the wake of Judge’s elbow injury has cost him at-bats. Dynasty leaguers, I feel your pain, believe me.
Drake Baldwin (ATL) C (25% rostered on Yahoo)
Yes, roster percentages are misleading; there are a lot of dead leagues, especially with the other sport that shall not be named starting in a few weeks. Still, 25% for someone who is in contention for the NL RoY is way too low! As I mentioned in yesterday’s Power Report, Baldwin’s PLV metrics are terrific, including a 118 Process+. And with Atlanta playing out the string, he has not hit lower than fourth since August 1st. His 134 wRC+ would rank third among qualified catchers.
Ben Rice (NYY) 1B/C (29% rostered on Yahoo)
No, please not Rice again. This stiff has a .710 OPS since June 1st. June!! That’s almost two and a half months’ worth of dung! Well, dang it, look at his PLV metrics!! Look at them!!! A 119 Power+ and 130 Process+!! Similar batters to Ben Rice, according to Statcast, are Juan Soto and George Springer!! Why are you yelling?! Because Rice has started behind the dish two nights in a row, leaving Austin Wells and his certified noodle bat (84 wRC+) riding the pine where he belongs!! Yes! It is happening! At long last!! That’s 12 starts for those keeping score. What if I play in a standard league and already have Will Smith (or insert another top-five catchers’ name here)? C’mon, don’t be a killjoy.
Zebby Matthews (MIN) SP (19% rostered on Yahoo)
Will Warren posted the prettier line Monday night in the Bronx. However, the Twins’ rookie was awfully impressive, striking out nine over five and two-thirds while hoisting a co-share of the Gallow’s pole (18 whiffs on 99 pitches). And he threw a season-high 99 pitches! Ignore the 5.11 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. The more important thing is a 24.2% K-BB%, which would be tied for third among qualified SPs. Sure, that might regress some, but the point is, he is doing a lot of good things. Strictly speaking, Zebby might be more of a play for strikeouts, as his fastball command might continue to be a nuisance to his ERA, the latest examples being two dingers from Giancarlo Stanton and Ben Rice on wayward heaters over the heart of the plate. Still, Zebby has demonstrated impressive skills, namely limiting walks while being able to tame opposite-handed batters (33.7% K rate vs. LHB). He has a legit chance at being a difference-maker down the stretch.
Will Warren (NYY) SP (49% rostered on Yahoo)
Speaking of Mr. Warren, he leads all rookies with 140 Ks. The 10.2% BB rate is a little higher than you’d like, but he has demonstrated impressive command with his sinker, which helped fuel a stellar 45% CSW Monday night against the Twins. Consider this just a friendly reminder to check your wire if you are in a shallow league.
Jacob Lopez (A’s) SP (48% rostered on Yahoo)
For as much unrequited love as I have for Will Warrren, Jacob Lopez entered last night’s game with a K-BB% three ticks ahead at 19.2%. That would rank 17th among qualified SPs. Not bad for a rookie. And then he tossed another gem, holding the Rays scoreless across seven innings with nine Ks and zero walks while earning his sixth win. He earned a King Cole in his previous start against the Nats and hasn’t allowed an earned run over his last four. Yes, I think it is fair to say Lopez should be on more rosters.
Yahoo and ESPN Most Added Players
Fantasy managers rushed to the wire to scoop Bryan Abreu after Josh Hader hurt his shoulder. Abreu has been electric this season with a career-best 36.1% K rate, so the addition makes sense. His 11.4% BB rate is higher than you’d like, but that is part of his effectively wild MO. It might not mean anything, but he has converted just six of 21 save opportunities over the last three seasons.
Michael McGreevy’s 13.8% K rate isn’t exciting, but you can live with it because he has just a 3.7% BB rate. He pitched well against the Cubs last Friday and gets the Road Rockies today. Sign me up.
Blaze Alexander exceeded rookie status last season and didn’t do too well, hitting .247 with an 88 wRC+ over 185 PAs. However, he has received a second audition in the wake of the Suárez deal and done well, hitting .271 with a 128 wRC+ over 99 PAs. He showed some decent power and speed in the minors, but most projections have him flirting with a K rate near 30%, so he is far from a must-add.
Nasty Nestor tossed 76 pitches in his first start with the Padres last Wednesday; it was also his first start since an elbow injury sent him to the IL in early April. All things considered, it went reasonably well, and we know he can be helpful when he is right (18.5% K-BB% over his last three seasons with the Yankees). He was a popular addition yesterday in anticipation of his second start as a Padre, coming against a beatable Giants lineup in San Francisco.
Cubs righty Ben Brown was scheduled to start against the Jays last night, but Javier Assad made his season debut instead, robbing points leaguers of a SPARP start. I’m not sure if/when Brown will make another start. Either way, you are probably best leaving him on the wire. He still needs a third pitch.
Luke Keaschall went hitless last night, but has been a bright spot for the Twins, slashing .362/.444/.617 across 54 PAs. His power might be a little bit of a mirage, judging by his totals in the minors. However, his plate skills and speed could make him a big contributor the rest of the way.
Isaac Collins is a big reason why the Brewers are on top of the world. The 28-year-old switch-hitter is slashing .297/.395/.458 with eight home runs and 13 stolen bases across 321 PAs. Swing decisions have been a strength (116 DV+), but his 90 Contact Ability+ and 92 Power+ indicate he’s probably overperforming a touch. Still, there’s no reason not to give him a shot if he’s floating on your wire.
It took a few years, but we can finally be legit excited about E-Cab. He whiffed 11 in his latest start against the Braves in Atlanta and will face the Guardians on Thursday, looking for his fourth consecutive QS. He is 32nd on the List and has a career-low 7.9% BB. Glory, Glory, Hallelujah.
Michael Wacha fell an out short of bagging his 12th QS last night against the Nats at Kauffman Stadium. However, he earned his seventh W. He won’t wow you with Ks, but he and his changeup have done yeoman’s work, posting a rock-solid 3.37 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 23 starts. Fun fact: his 3.31 ERA ranks 16th among qualified SPs over the past three seasons. That’s 432.1 innings of work.
Speculative Adds
Bennett Sousa (HOU) RP (5% rostered on Yahoo)
If you missed the rush for Abreu, consider adding Sousa if you have a spot/move to burn. The 30-year-old lefty got the last out of Monday’s 7-6 win over the Red Sox and has pitched to a 2.64 ERA and 1.03 WHIP across 41 appearances. That was also his fourth save of the year. Who knows? Maybe the Astros prefer to leave Abreu in the setup role.
Dustin May (BOS) SP (26% rostered on Yahoo)
May’s debut with the Red Sox wasn’t too noteworthy; he gave up three earned runs at Fenway against the Royals and didn’t escape the fourth. But he was absolutely brilliant last night in Houston, shutting out the Astros across six innings with eight punchouts. Of note, he has emphasized his cutter more in both his starts with Boston (20% last night vs. 8% on the season). Maybe it’s nothing, maybe it’s something, but I’m a little interested to see if he’s cooking something with his new team. He will face the O’s next Monday at Fenway.
Romy González (BOS) 1B, 2B, 3B, SS (15% rostered on Yahoo)
Romy has cranked out a 137 wRC+ across 212 PAs while stuck in a sort of short-side platoon. Maybe he is destined to be a certified lefty-masher (I’m kidding; they don’t exist). However, I’m intrigued by his 120 Power+. Maybe, just maybe, he can earn a more consistent role.
Jose A. Ferrer (WSN) RP (8% rostered on Yahoo)
Save opportunities may be scant in D.C., with the Nats being the Nats, but Ferrer looks like the guy, having captured their lone save since the deadline this past Saturday. The 25-year-old lefty’s 4.79 ERA isn’t what you want, but he has limited walks and induced a ton of groundballs. That could work, depending on how desperate for saves you are.
Francisco Alvarez (NYM) C (15% rostered on Yahoo)
The Mets clobbered Spencer Strider and the Braves last night at Citi Field. Their catcher landed the first big blow, a two-run jack the opposite way on a 97 mph heater that just about dissected the plate. He went yard again in garbage time in the sixth off lefty reliever Austin Cox. All of a sudden, the Mets’ former top prospect is hitting .254 with a .761 OPS. Maybe he has figured something out?
Sawyer Gipson-Long (DET) SP (1% rostered on Yahoo)
Gipson-Long tossed four and a third innings (57 pitches) in his latest rehab start with Triple-A Toledo on Monday. Two years ago, before being derailed by Tommy John surgery, he demonstrated intriguing upside with a 22% K-BB% across four starts. Consider stashing him if you have an empty IL spot.
Streaming Pitchers
Be sure to check Nick’s daily SP streaming article.
Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI), SP (15% rostered on Yahoo)
Thursday is a brutal slate, and I suggest you sit this one out. Assuming E-Cab (69% rostered on Yahoo), Max Scherzer (58%), and Bailey Ober (69%) are gone, available options include Bryce Elder (4%) at the Mets, Brad Lord (3%) versus the Phils, and Tomoyuki Sugano (13%) versus the Mariners. Are you terrified yet? No? Well, here, try out E-Rod at Coors Field. You mean, the guy who just got lit up against the Rockies at home!? Yep, that’s the guy. Hey, don’t look at me. I tried to warn you.
Deep League Players to Watch
Darell Hernaiz (A’s) 3B, SS (1% rostered on Yahoo)
The injury to Jacob Wilson has given Hernaiz an everyday role. The 24-year-old righty only hit four home runs across 445 PAs with Triple-A Las Vegas. However, he hit .305 with a .383 OBP and swiped 12 bases. Wilson could be back in a couple of weeks; he started hitting on Monday. But, in the meantime, Hernaiz could help you out if you need some at-bats. He has struck out just three times since being called up from Vegas on July 29th, and has gone yard twice.
For more deep leaguers, check Ben Rosener’s Deep League Waiver Wire column every Thursday and Saturday.
