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 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 who is performing well. Pay attention to 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 24 who are available in 60% or fewer of ESPN leagues.
Catcher
Bo Naylor (C – CLE) 2% Rostered
Over the last 15 days, Bo Naylor has three home runs, six runs, eight RBI, a steal, and a .333 AVG. On the season, he has eight homers, 22 runs, 24 RBI, two steals, and a .228 AVG. Here is his latest homer:
Bo Naylor – Cleveland Guardians (8) pic.twitter.com/JdzvKFeZ35
— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) September 5, 2023
Naylor had a slow start but has picked things up lately. If his BABIP is any sign, things should continue to get better. He has a .264 BABIP with a 20% Line Drive rate and a 41% Pull rate. Metrics like those typically correspond with a higher BABIP and batting average.
Naylor also has some solid plate discipline, which could mean his AVG should start to climb with the BABIP. He has a 29% chase rate and an 81% contact rate. Naylor’s rest of season BABIP projections range as high as .290 and his average ranges as high as .243. Considering how hot he has been lately, even these projections could be low.
Naylor’s Hitter Performance has been climbing throughout the season, according to our PLV data:
This is the time to add Naylor if he is available on your league’s waiver wire.
Honorable Mention: Mitch Garver (18%), Yainer Diaz (23%), Luis Campusano (1%), René Pinto (0%), Connor Wong (1%), Gabriel Moreno (7%), Alejandro Kirk (49%), Travis d’Arnaud (11%)
Corner Infield
Matthew Batten (3B – SD) 0% Rostered
Matthew Batten has earned regular time for the Padres with Jake Cronenworth on the shelf. On the season, Batten has two homers, 12 runs, seven RBI, a steal, and a .276 AVG.
Much of Batten’s performance looks similar to his minor-league output. He has been an excellent line-drive hitter throughout his minor league career, and he has an 18% LD rate so far this season. He has modest pull rates, driving the ball nearly 50% of the time this season in AAA.
One adjustment Batten has made to his batted ball data is adding to his launch angle. He has a 45% FB rate right now, higher than all but one of his stints in the minors.
Batten has shown excellent discipline for a player with just 89 career PAs in the MLB. He has an 11% walk rate and a 14% strikeout rate. He appears to be extremely valuable in leagues that count OBP – his is .364. Batten also has an impressive 85% contact rate.
One thing Batten has not done in the majors is steal. In 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023, he had double-digit steals. That includes seasons 27, 18, and 27 respectively in his last three seasons. If he gets the green light, he has the ability to pick up a handful of steals to end the season.
This is a small sample, but Batten is widely available and plays every day. He should continue to get opportunities to produce. Add him from your waiver wire in deep leagues.
Honorable Mention: José Abreu (55%), Jordan Walker (39%), Ke’Bryan Hayes (20%), Triston Casas (43%), Spencer Torkelson (24%), Donovan Solano (1%), J.D. Davis (5%), Jake Burger (14%), Ryan O’Hearn (4%), Carlos Santana (22%), Ryan Noda (1%)
Middle Infield
Davis Schneider (2B – TOR) 24% Rostered
Davis Schneider has been unreal over the last 15 days. He has four home runs, 13 runs, 13 RBI, a steal, and a .390 AVG during that span. Here he is coming up with a big hit:
Davis Schneider delivers. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/43HinrwdW5
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 3, 2023
On the season, Schneider has seven home runs, 18 runs, 19 RBI, a steal, and a .380 AVG. That AVG is clearly propped up by a .513 BABIP. Both the AVG and BABIP should end up regressing some, but his 28% LD rate and 52% pull rate should keep it from dropping off a cliff.
Schneider has managed to avoid groundballs nearly entirely so far. He has a 17% GB rate compared to a 54% FB rate. And with a 21% barrel rate and a 39% HardHit rate, his home run pace should not come as a surprise. He has a chance to get to double-digit home runs before the end of the season.
It is a small sample size, but Schneider has an insane 257 wRC+, which shows just how great he has been at producing runs for the Jays. Schneider needs to be on your radar too, and should be a waiver wire add where available.
Honorable Mention: Royce Lewis (38%), Noelvi Marte (3%), Nolan Gorman (2%), CJ Abrams (27%), J.P. Crawford (23%), Jeremy Peña (48%), Orlando Arcia (32%), Andruw Monasterio (1%), Zack Gelof (16%), Ronny Mauricio (7%), Liover Peguero (1%)
Outfield
Chris Taylor (OF/3B/2B/SS – ARI) 5% Rostered
Chris Taylor’s stat line on the season is a mixture of good and disappointing. He has 15 home runs, 45 runs, 48 RBI, 15 steals, and a .233 AVG. Over the last 15 days, though, Taylor has come alive. During that span, he has two home runs, six runs, 10 RBI, three steals, and a .333 AVG. Here he is coming up clutch for the Dodgers last week:
Chris Taylor knocks in a pair for the lead in the sixth, 6-5. pic.twitter.com/B9CCL7h6EM
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) September 9, 2023
Taylor has an ugly 32% K rate, the second-highest of his career, although it is an improvement over last season. One issue plaguing Taylor this season is a low BABIP. Although the .311 BABIP may seem high, his career norm is .341. He has a 22% LD rate and a 45% pull rate, and his projections for BABIP range as high as .329 for the rest of the season.
That could mean his AVG continues to climb, as it has done lately. For a player with such good Strikezone Judgment, the low AVG is a bit odd:
Taylor’s rest-of-season batting average projections range as high as .260, which would make this the perfect time to add him.
Even though some of his numbers are ugly, he has made improvements over last season. Aside from lowering his K%, Taylor has improved his contact rate, his barrel rate, and his groundball rate. Those adjustments have led to a better season for Taylor.
If he is available, you should add him from the waiver wire today.
Honorable Mention: Nolan Jones (17%), Mark Canha (8%), Willi Castro (2%), Mauricio Dubón (11%), Esteury Ruiz (22%), Nelson Velázquez (4%), James Outman (25%), DJ Stewart (2%), Jason Heyward (1%), Austin Hays (27%), Adam Duvall (35%), Kerry Carpenter (28%), Jasson Domínguez (31%), Edward Olivares (1%), Randal Grichuk (4%), Eddie Rosario (16%), Will Brennan (1%), Jesús Sánchez (2%), Michael Brantley (8%), Bryan De La Cruz (15%), Tyler O’Neill (16%), Jarred Kelenick (18%), Aaron Hicks (1%)
Starting Pitcher
Ryan Pepiot (SP – LAD) 21% Rostered
Ryan Pepiot has been sent up and down from the majors to the minors several times. As long as he lasts in the rotation, he is a must-add in fantasy.
In 21 IP, he has a 17:2 K:BB ratio, with a 7.2 K/9 rate and a .86 BB/9 rate. Pepiot’s lowest K/9 rate in the minors was 9.9 across 41.2 IP at AAA in 2021. Aside from that, he has managed a double-digit K/9 rate at every minor league stop.
The low strikeout rate this season likely has to do with a small sample size and that he has appeared in relief twice. Pepiot has the stuff to strike out batters at a high rate and should continue to do so as he continues to get starts.
Pepiot tosses a fastball, changeup, and slider. His fastball has been filthy this season, possessing a .143 batting average against, a 24% whiff rate, and a 22% putaway rate. Here is a look at it in action:
Ryan Pepiot, 94mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/Ews1lUTaLR
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 8, 2023
His changeup and slider are not too shabby either, both possessing whiff rates above 30%. His slider has yet to be hit after tossing it 41 times.
Pepiot should be a waiver wire consideration for the week ahead.
Honorable Mention: Tarik Skubal (37%), Reese Olson (4%), Javier Assad (21%), Griffin Canning (16%), José Quintana (10%), Grayson Rodriguez (42%), Mike Clevinger (15%), Bobby Miller (49%), Kyle Harrison (12%), Eury Pérez (44%), Jordan Wicks (16%), Seth Lugo (33%), Dean Kremer (32%), Kyle Hendricks (18%), Braxton Garrett (29%), Hyun Jin Ryu (24%), Brayan Bello (27%), Wade Miley (13%), Cal Quantrill (18%), John Means (4%)
Relief Pitcher
Trevor May (RP – OAK) 8% Rostered
Trevor May is not only tied for the MLB lead with three saves in the last seven days. He also ties Emmanuel Clase, David Bednar, and Pete Fairbanks with five saves, for the MLB lead in saves over the last 15 days.
He has performed well despite a career-low 7.3 K/9 rate and a career-high 6.2 K/9 rate. His ERA on the season is a modest 3.79, but he has a 0.00 ERA in the last 15 days and a 3.00 ERA in the last 30 days.
He has five pitches, but his fastball, changeup, and sweeper have been his most reliable and best-performing pitches. They have .205, .222, and .100 batting averages against respectively. They also have respective whiff rates of 33%, 23%, and 31% and respective putaway rates of 19%, 20%, and 21%. His PLV data reflects how well these pitches have performed:
May’s sweeper (marked as a slider) and changeup both come in as well above the league average.
Fantasy managers may be avoiding May because he plays for the Athletics, one of the worst teams in baseball. Despite that, he continues to get save opportunities and reliably converts them. He needs to be a priority waiver wire add for anyone looking for saves.
Honorable Mention: Pete Fairbanks (31%), Tanner Scott (17%), Alex Lange (17%), Evan Phillips (36%), Clay Holmes (43%), Brusdar Graterol (7%)