Categories? Where we’re going, we don’t need categories.
Some people just prefer good old-fashioned points leagues where pitchers and hitters are rewarded more for their volume and discipline than the flashy stats and ratios. Well, obviously, they go hand-in-hand… but we’re digging for the players that roto leagues left behind. On the hitting side, points leagues tend to reward contact skills and plate discipline, giving points for walks and total bases while penalizing strikeouts (in most formats). Meanwhile, pitchers tend to accumulate points for innings pitched, strikeouts, quality starts, and wins. Fantasy managers are beginning to grow tired of poor hitting performances, and waiver wires are piling up with great bats off to cold starts.
We missed a week with some family obligations that set me back in my work, but the points league waiver wires are still crowded with dudes who can and should be rostered. Injuries around the league have opened up opportunities for new bats to get every day playing time while the ever-changing pitching landscape has kept us on our toes as well. We’ve got a long season ahead of us and we’ll keep beating our league mates to the names that will help most.
So strap in as we accelerate to 88 mph (and beyond), highlighting players that have been overlooked and under-rostered in most points leagues formats. Scoop up these guys to make your league mates think you got your hands on Biff’s Almanac.
NOTE: Every points league has slightly different scoring settings, so bear that in mind as you read through the suggestions.
Samuel Basallo, C, BAL
2026 Projected Positional Ranking (C): 15th
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (C): 21st
39.7% rostered (ESPN)
Basallo is a repeat customer is this column, but he’s not even 50% rostered – far less popular than his teammate, Adley Rutschman – and is arguably a better fantasy asset at this point of the season. Basallo has shown off his power with a home-run-per-fly-ball rate nearing 40%, and has displayed good plate discipline as well, posting a 9.4% walk rate. He bats in the middle of an Orioles lineup that is starting to heat up and is NOT losing at-bats to left-handed pitching like we expected he might at the beginning of the season. The Orioles are finding ways to get him more plate appearances, featuring him at DH in four of their last six, and he should continue to be a mainstay in the Baltimore lineup.
NOTE: Basallo was removed from Friday night’s game with abdominal discomfort; monitor his status over the weekend.
Isaac Paredes, 3B, HOU
2026 Projected Positional Ranking: 11th
2026 YTD Positional Ranking: 13th
32.0% rostered (ESPN)
Injuries have forced the Houston Astros into giving Paredes every-day at-bats, and he’s doing it in the clean-up spot, behind Jeremy Peña, Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker. The 27-year-old right-handed power hitter has homered in three straight games entering Saturday, so that certainly helps his case. But if managers are able to ride the hot streak, they definitely should – especially at a relatively shallow position like third base. An elite pull hitter, Paredes is always looking to deposit the ball in the Astros’ Crawford Boxes in left field. Rostered in just 32.0% of ESPN leagues, Paredes could add some much-needed power (and points) to fantasy rosters.
Vaughn Grissom, 1B/2B/SS, LAA
2026 Projected Positional Ranking (2B): 58th
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (2B): 28th
3.3% rostered (ESPN)
I know this article is Back to the Future themed, but seriously, WHAT YEAR IS IT? When healthy, Grissom has batted third or fourth in the Los Angeles Angels‘ lineup on a regular basis, playing first base nearly every day for the Halos. Regular playing time has translated to 27 RBI in 40 games played. A low strikeout rate and solid walk rate have Grissom putting the ball in play nearly 80% of the time, including a 36.1% hard-contact rate. The Angels seem to have found something with the 25-year-old, and fantasy managers should be taking notice, especially considering his positional flexibility.
Wade Meckler, OF, LAA
2026 Projected Positional Ranking (OF): N/A
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (OF): 44th
17.0% rostered (ESPN)
Another criminally under-rostered Angel, Meckler has shone in his cameo appearance with the Halos over the past few weeks. In his first 13 games, Meckler has posted 14 hits, including five extra-base hits, 10 RBI, and a pair of stolen bases. Most importantly, he’s batting in the top third of the LAA lineup on the strong side of a platoon. Meckler has barreled the ball at a 12.9% rate with just a 16.9% home-run-per-fly-ball rate, but his 91.5% zone-contact rate is definitely something that points league managers are happy to see. The .419 BABIP feels like it may regress, but for now, the bat skills and lineup position have him in a great spot to generate fantasy points.
Christian Scott, SP, NYM
2026 Projected Positional Ranking: 215th
2026 YTD Positional Ranking: 116th
8.8% rostered (ESPN)
The New York Mets may still be in last place in the NL East, but at least they’re not the laughing stock of the league anymore. Heading into the weekend, the Mets have won six of their last eight games, including a pair of pitching victories for Scott, who looks like he might be fully back after an injury shortened his debut season in 2024 and caused him to miss all of last year. He’s currently a two-pitch guy, throwing his fastball and sweeper at a combined rate nearing 80%, but he’s starting to mix in a cutter and splitter, especially to left-handed bats. Scott has allowed just one earned run over his last 16.1 innings pitched and gets the Cardinals next. St. Louis is pesky, but I don’t mind picking up Scott and hoping he continues to improve.
Jacob Latz, RP, TEX
2026 Projected Positional Ranking (RP): 213th
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (RP): 20th
18.7% rostered (ESPN)
Latz has taken over ninth-inning duties in Texas, pitching in and converting four of the Rangers’ last five save attempts, including a six-out save on Friday night against the Guardians. A solid fastball and a wipeout slider with a 43.8% (!!!) CSW has carried the southpaw and has him striking out batters at a career-high 27.4% rate. His changeup is good enough to keep right-handed bats at bay, as he’s done an excellent job of keeping it to his arm side and away from righties. Latz is rostered like a middle reliever instead of a closer on a competing team. Pick up the lefty if you’re in need of points at the RP slot.
