In weekly FAAB leagues, your waiver wire claims have likely already been processed. Our FAAB Insights articles are great sources for finding targets ahead of weekly waiver deadlines.
Here, you will find players you can pick up if you have daily waiver claims or if you are able to pick up players throughout the week.
These are players you should consider adding from the waiver wire for matchup number 20 who are available in 60% or fewer of ESPN leagues.
Catcher
Gary Sánchez (C – SD) 12% Rostered
Gary Sánchez has not let his foot off the gas since signing with the Padres. He has 15 homers, 28 runs, 37 RBI, and a .214 AVG in 210 plate appearances across 58 games.
Sanchez has split time with Luis Campusano, bouncing between catcher and designated hitter. It has worked well for the Padres so far, and as long as Sanchez continues to produce, he should continue to get playing time.
As usual, Sanchez has been one of the hardest hitters in the sport. His 15% barrel rate would be the 10th highest in baseball if he qualified. He also has a 44.9% HardHit rate that would rank fourth among catchers if he qualified. Just check out his PLV Power data:
Sanchez has added to his flyball rate and HR/FB rate from last season, which, combined with the power output, explains why his home run pace has increased over last year. He had just 15 in twice as many PAs as this season.
Sanchez has also made some strides in plate discipline, which has led to an uptick in batting average for the fourth season in a row. His 24% K rate is his lowest since 2017, and his chase and contact rates are at career highs.
Trust Sanchez’s improvements this season, and as long as you can stomach the low AVG, you should add him from the waiver wire this week.
Honorable Mention: Ryan Jeffers (3%), Yainer Diaz (10%), Freddy Fermin (3%), James McCann (0%), Mitch Garver (5%), Luis Campusano (1%), Cal Raleigh (31%), Logan O’Hoppe (7%)
Corner Infield
Brandon Belt (1B – TOR) 2% Rostered
Brandon Belt has earned more time of late, picking up his production over the last 15 days. During that span, he has 3 home runs, nine runs, and five RBI, while batting .316. On the season, Belt has 11 homers, 39 runs, 31 RBI, and a .253 AVG.
Belt has an odd profile in terms of discipline, with a career-high 35% strikeout rate and a career-low 71% contact rate. His swing rate is the lowest of his career, but so is his chase rate. The issues like the high strikeout rate and low contact rate could be remedied as he spends more time at the plate and finds more opportunities to swing. Here is a visual to show his low swing aggression:
and his excellent strikezone judgment:
which denote a much better hitter than one with a 35% K rate and a .253 AVG.
Belt should also continue to hit home runs at a solid pace the rest of the way. He has a 12% barrel rate and a 40% HardHit rate, with a 15% HR/FB rate. That HR/FB rate is slightly above his career norm, but so is his flyball rate.
Belt plays in a great lineup, and has been mashing the ball lately. He should continue to get better as he gets more time in the lineup and should be a waiver wire priority if you need corner infield help.
Honorable Mention: Jeimer Candelario (42%), Joey Meneses (31%), Joey Votto (11%), Ryan McMahon (29%), Ke’Bryan Hayes (16%), Eugenio Suárez (22%), Mike Moustakas (5%), Jake Alu (3%), Christian Encarnacion-Strand (11%), Jake Bauers (1%)
Middle Infield
Zack Gelof (2B – OAK) 7% Rostered
Over the last 15 days, Zack Gelof has been on fire. He has four home runs, nine runs, six RBI, three steals, and a .283 AVG over that span. On the season, Gelof has six homers, 16 runs, 11 RBI, six steals, and a .253 AVG.
Gelof has a .304 BABIP to go along with his modest AVG, though he could push that BABIP and AVG higher considering his 27% line drive rate and 46% pull rate. Those are numbers that align with much of his minor-league data, which could mean his AVG will continue to climb.
Gelof also has impressive hard contact data, and not just for a middle infielder. His 14% barrel rate and 46% HardHit rate would rank second and third respectively among qualified second basemen if he had enough PAs to qualify. He also has a 45% FB rate and a 21% HR/FB rate. Those are slightly higher rates than his minor-league output, but they are close enough that he could realistically keep this pace up. Here he is launching two dingers in his latest game:
Zack Gelof with 2 HR today, his 7th and 8th of the season in just 25 games with Oakland.
QoC metrics have been impressive. 14.5% BRL, 92.5 mph EV, 46.8% HH entering today.#Athletics pic.twitter.com/KXgmYMU6UT
— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) August 13, 2023
Gelof looks like an absolute stud and should be a major consideration from the waiver wire where available this week.
Honorable Mention: Wilmer Flores (30%), Jordan Westburg (6%), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (1%), CJ Abrams (31%), Maikel Garcia (8%), Orlando Arcia (34%), Liover Peguero (0%), Ezequiel Tovar (9%), Andruw Monasterio (1%), Davis Schneider (6%), Trevor Story (19%), Kiké Hernández (8%), Masyn Winn (1%)
Outfield
Kerry Carpenter (OF – DET) 6% Rostered
Kerry Carpenter may be one of the hottest hitters of the last week. He hit four homers, with 10 runs, six RBI, and a .481 AVG over that span. This season, he has 15 home runs, 34 runs, 41 RBI, and a .281 AVG, making major strides over his 31-game debut last season.
From last season to this one, Carpenter has improved his walk and strikeout rates. He has been more disciplined, reducing his chase rate and increasing his overall contact rate. For Carpenter, the best sign is that he has improved his contact over the season:
This is great for fantasy managers to note since this could be the perfect time to add him from waivers. As he continues to improve, the demand will get higher, and he may not be as available on waivers as he is currently.
Carpenter has excellent hard contact and batted ball data as well, that all back up his power output from this season. He has an 11% barrel rate and a 43% HardHit rate. His barrel rate is identical to last season, while his HardHit rate has improved. Carpenter has also improved his LD and HR/FB rates while maintaining a 44% pull rate. Those numbers have led to homers like this one – his latest:
"Is Kerry Carpenter the real deal?"
Literally the next pitch: pic.twitter.com/xbg06aotd3
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) August 12, 2023
Carpenter is only going to get better over the rest of the season and now is the time to add him from the waiver wire.
Honorable Mention: Nolan Jones (7%), LaMonte Wade Jr.(12%), TJ Friedl (24%), Mike Tauchman (15%), Max Kepler (7%), Marcell Ozuna (21%), James Outman (26%), Harrison Bader (13%), Drew Waters (0%), Dairon Blanco (0%), Matt Wallner (2%), Sal Frelick (15%), Johan Rojas (1%), Lars Nootbaar (39%), Tommy Pham (3%), Chas McCormick (24%), Riley Greene (19%), David Peralta (1%)
Starting Pitcher
Emerson Hancock (SP – SEA) 3% Rostered
Emerson Hancock had a nice debut for the Mariners, tallying three strikeouts over five innings, while allowing one earned run, two hits, and three walks. He has a 1.80 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP after the game.
Hancock should end up earning at least one more start before the Mariners have to make a decision on what to do, so fantasy managers should choose wisely when considering who to drop for Hancock. Although, if he continues to perform well, he could earn more time in the rotation, potentially over Bryan Woo.
Hancock spent this season in AA, his third straight season at that level. While he had his worst ERA at that level, 4.32 in 98 IP, he improved in other ways. Hancock’s 9.8 K/9 was a career-high in the minors and his 42% GB rate was a high at AA. He clearly has the ability to strike batters out, so his 5.4 K/9 rate should improve if he continues to get starts in the majors.
Hancock showed a fastball, sinker, slider, and changeup in his debut. His sinker earned the best whiff rate at 33%, while his fastball had a 25% whiff rate and 18% putaway rate. Here it is in action:
Emerson Hancock's 1st MLB K. 🍾 pic.twitter.com/wxPOaaWbHj
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 10, 2023
At the very least, Hancock should make for an excellent stream this week, and if things go right and he sticks around, he could be an even better add for the rest of the season.
Honorable Mention: Graham Ashcraft (20%), Steven Matz (23%), Gavin Williams (16%), Jesse Scholtens (2%), Kenta Maeda (29%), Cole Ragans (9%), José Quintana (5%), J.P. France (31%), Chase Silseth (13%), Nick Pivetta (20%), Kutter Crawford (12%), Ranger Suárez (28%), Brayan Bello (30%), Hyun Jin Ryu (6%),
Relief Pitcher
Kyle Finnegan (RP – WAS) 19% Rostered
Somehow, Kyle Finnegan is still under-rostered. This is despite being one of 11 pitchers with at least two saves over the last seven days, and one of five pitchers with at least four saves over the last 15 days. He has a career-best 2.65 ERA on the season.
Finnegan is tied for the 11th most saves on the season, with 18. While his K/9 rate dropped to a career-low K/9 rate, his walk rate improved to a career-best 2.6 BB/9. He also has an 80.2% LOB rate, which has helped Finnegan continue to earn closing duties.
Finnegan has thrown a fastball, splitter, and slider this season. His slider has been knocked around a bit, but his fastball and splitter have been great. Finnegan’s splitter, in particular, has been filthy, and it grades as a well above-average pitch according to our PLV metrics:
His splitter has a .132 batting average against, a .159 expected batting average against, a 38% whiff rate, and a 33% putaway rate. The only pitchers who have thrown a splitter in at least 25 PAs that have both a higher whiff and putaway rate than Finnegan are Félix Bautista and Fernando Cruz, making Finnegan’s one of the best in baseball.
Trust Finnegan and add him from the waiver wire for the last few weeks of the season.
Honorable Mention: Matt Brash (6%), Adbert Alzolay (25%), Will Smith (30%), Trevor May (4%), Evan Phillips (26%)