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.
With many leagues beginning or continuing playoffs this week, your player acquisition strategy may need to change. In keeper or dynasty leagues, any player who you are not keeping should be in consideration to be dropped for a player that is performing well. Pay attention for hot streaks, some of which will be highlighted below. And make sure to take advantage of matchups.
These are players you should consider adding from the waiver wire for matchup number 23 who are available in 60% or fewer of ESPN leagues.
Catcher
Gabriel Moreno (C – ARI) 7% Rostered
Over the last 15 days, as of writing, Moreno has three home runs, nine runs, 11 RBI, and a .350 AVG. On the season, he has six homers, 26 runs, 40 RBI, four steals, and a .280 AVG.
Gabriel Moreno is on a tear. He has an RBI double and a go-ahead two-run homer today.
That's six multi-hit games in his last eight starts. pic.twitter.com/74AGBUfHYh
— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) August 29, 2023
Moreno has been excellent this season, delivering on the potential that many saw from him in the minors. His calling card in the minors was his defense and his ability to hit for AVG. Both are fantasy-relevant, as his defense has kept him on the field, and his batting average ranks second among catchers with at least 200 PAs.
He has been able to maintain such a good AVG because of his plate discipline. Moreno’s 80% contact rate would rank fourth among qualified catchers if he had enough PAs to qualify. Our PLV data backs this up as his Contact Ability is top-notch:
His 20% K rate would be fifth best. Moreno has driven the ball well this season, at a 21% clip, allowing him to keep his BABIP and AVG elevated.
Aside from the plate discipline skills, Moreno also added to his hard contact from his 25-game debut last season. He improved his barrel rate to 5% and his HardHit rate to 42%. If he can elevate a few more balls – he has a 57% GB rate – he could send a few more balls over the fence.
Fantasy managers can count on Moreno to be a consistent source of batting average, something that many catchers do not provide. Consider him from the waiver wire this week.
Honorable Mention: Cal Raliegh (38%), Elias Díaz (34%), Shea Langeliers (4%), Yainer Diaz (24%), Connor Wong (1%), Mitch Garver (9%), Austin Wells (1%)
Corner Infield
Carter Kieboom (3B – WAS) 1% Rostered
Carter Kieboom seems to be a perpetual prospect, constantly on the verge of a breakout, but has been severely limited due to injuries:
- 2017 IL for hamstring
- 2020 IL for wrist contusion (ended season after 33 games)
- 2022 IL for flexor mass strain, Tommy John surgery, missed the entire season
- 2023 IL for oblique injury
Despite the injury concern, Kieboom should get plenty of time at the hot corner to show he deserves to stick around. So far, he has done just that. Kieboom has three homers, four runs, five RBI, and a .267 AVG in eight games played. He has a hit in all but two games so far. Here is what he did in his first at-bat for the Nats since 2021:
In Carter Kieboom's first @MLB AB since 2021 …
HE BACK pic.twitter.com/jhCHFCskOq
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 22, 2023
While the sample size this season is small, Kieboom has flashed skills in the past that make him an interesting fantasy option. He has some pop and can hit for average. Kieboom drove and pulled the ball well throughout his time in the minors, and tallied 21% LD and 43% pull rates in 2021 – his longest major league stint so far.
Kieboom should continue to get playing time, with the Nats struggling to find consistency there. Make him a waiver wire consideration for the week ahead.
Honorable Mention: Josh Rojas (12%), Brandon Drury (29%), Luis Rengifo (15%), Ke’Bryan Hayes (20%), Carlos Santana (22%), Spencer Torkelson (23%), Zach McKinstry (3%), Harold Ramírez (15%), Osleivis Basabe (2%), Hunter Goodman (1%), Yoán Moncada (5%), Nolan Schanuel (5%)
Middle Infield
Ronny Mauricio (SS – NYM) 3% Rostered
Ronny Mauricio earned the call from the Mets after batting .292 with 23 homers, 76 runs, 71 RBI, and 24 steals at AAA this season. Presumably, he will add third base eligibility at some point, with Francisco Lindor locking down shortstop.
Mauricio should be on everyone’s radar after racking up double-digit homers and steals in three straight minor league seasons. He went 20/11 across two levels in 2021 and 26/20 last season at AA. This has arguably been his best season in the minors, which is impressive considering it came at the highest level.
Mauricio has been trending in the right direction in the minors, adding to his walk rate and cutting down his strikeout rate this season. He also is adept at driving and pulling the ball, skills that should help him hit the ground running for the Mets.
Mauricio has the power, speed, and plate discipline to matter at the highest level and to matter for fantasy. Consider adding him from the waiver wire this week.
Oh, and just for fun:
A very happy Ronny Mauricio day to all who observe. pic.twitter.com/tF69yA5Fww
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) September 1, 2023
Honorable Mention: Royce Lewis (21%), Wilmer Flores (36%), Geraldo Perdomo (12%), CJ Abrams (30%), Davis Schneider (12%), Anthony Volpe (37%), J.P. Crawford (18%), Elvis Andrus (2%), Ezequiel Tovar (12%)
Outfield
Jasson Domínguez (OF – NYY) 9% Rostered
Jasson Domínguez made his debut on September 1, homering in his first at-bat and on his first swing:
WELCOME TO THE SHOW, JASSON DOMÍNGUEZ‼️
1 swing, 1 homer 😤
(via @Yankees)pic.twitter.com/QucVHxfewo
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 2, 2023
The Martian should get an extended run in the outfield with the Yankees looking to see what they have in some of their young stars. That should give Dominguez a chance to launch a few more homers.
While Dominguez does have solid pop, with 16 homers in 120 games in 2022 and 15 in 118 games this season in the minors, his best attribute may be his speed. He had 37 steals across three levels in 2022 and 40 across two levels this season.
Dominguez has a ton of promise, landing among baseball’s top prospects since he signed with the Yankees in 2019. He has been one of the most hyped prospects in the sport since then and has a chance to live up to the hype. He is definitely worth a waiver add in deeper leagues.
Honorable Mention: Kole Calhoun (1%), Nolan Jones (10%), Mark Canha (5%), Mauricio Dubón (10%), Adam Duvall (42%), Kerry Carpenter (33%), DJ Stewart (3%), Austin Hays (26%), Andrew Benintendi (17%), Tommy Pham (8%), Charlie Blackmon (24%), Eddie Rosario (18%), Brandon Marsh (10%), Chas McCormick (29%), James Outman (26%), Brent Rooker (13%), Parker Meadows (3%), Max Kepler (8%)
Starting Pitcher
Matt Manning (SP – DET) 7% Rostered
Matt Manning hit a rough patch at the end of July into the beginning of August. He gave up 19 earned runs in 16.2 IP across three starts. Since then, he has given up just one earned run in 23.2 IP across four starts, including three quality starts.
Aside from those three ugly starts, Manning has given up more than two earned runs just one other time this season in 14 starts.
Manning has an extremely low .212 BABIP but has limited batters to just a 14% LD rate, so while his BABIP may regress some, he should continue to maintain a low BABIP and his ERA should not be affected too much. He also has a near-league-average HR/FB rate, which should also limit how much ERA regression he experiences.
While Manning’s K/9 rate has dropped to a career-worst 5.7, his BB/9 rate is a career-best 2.3. And though he does not have any pitches that blow batters away, they have been working for him and he has been getting outs.
His fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup have batting averages against of .219, .185, .246, and .111 respectively. Our PLV metric loves his slider. It grades as a well-above-league-average Quality Pitch:
Here he is using them to strike out the side a few days ago:
Matt Manning's 3Ks in the 1st. pic.twitter.com/gXrInAkvQU
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 31, 2023
With his recent run of solid starts, plus a string of solid starts throughout the season, fantasy managers needing some pitching depth should consider adding Manning from the waiver wire.
Honorable Mention: Cole Ragans (30%), Seth Lugo (28%), Tarik Skubal (20%), Braxton Garrett (34%), Kyle Hendricks (12%), Dean Kremer (26%), Johan Oviedo (17%), Graham Ashcraft (30%), Christopher Sanchez (13%), Grayson Rodriguez (29%), Griffin Canning (11%), Dallas Keuchel (1%), Paul Blackburn (8%), Brayan Bello (24%), Kyle Harrison (11%), José Quintana (5%), Javier Assad (11%), Bryan Woo (15%), Mike Clevinger (21%), Hyun Jin Ryu (30%), Patrick Sandoval (35%)
Relief Pitcher
Tanner Scott (RP – MIA) 11% Rostered
With David Robertson struggling for the Marlins, it appears that Tanner Scott could be in line for more saves. Scott is second among all relievers in fWAR.
Scott has just three saves to his name thus far, but ties Joel Payamps for fifth among relievers in holds.
Scott has been having a career year this season, posting a 2.40 ERA with an 85:23 K:BB rate over 63.2 IP. He has a 12 K/9 rate and a career-best 3 BB/9. Scott tosses a fastball and a slider, and both are filthy. His slider has a 39% whiff rate and a 30% putaway rate, while his fastball has a 29% whiff rate and a 21% putaway rate. Here is a look at some of his sliders from earlier this season:
Tanner Scott, Wipeout Sliders. 🌊 pic.twitter.com/kji1OZ8Y5Q
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 19, 2023
Scott has been solid at both stranding runners (76% LOB) and inducing grounders (48%). He has a .303 BABIP, but a low 5.6% HR/FB rate. Even still, his xFIP comes in at 2.75 and his SIERA is 2.84, both still very good if he hits some regression as a closer.
There are very few chances to acquire saves at this point in the season, and outside of leagues that value holds, Scott is likely on your league’s waiver wire. He is a must-add.
Honorable Mention: Adbert Alzolay (32%), Kyle Finnegan (29%), Evan Phillips (35%), Pete Fairbanks (25%), Trevor May (4%), Alex Lange (17%)
Not sure I would count on 3B eligibility for Mauricio, as Baty and Vientos are sharing that job. But he should have 2B soon, since that’s his role for now and the foreseeable future.