With summer now in full swing, we’ve gotten to the point where the waiver wire has become relatively bare, especially with pitching. When Andrew Heaney (47% owned) is likely the best option floating around in free agency (if he’s even available in your league), then you know it’s fairly slim pickings out there. Granted, Heaney is definitely viable since his strikeout totals are valuable, but he’s also fraught with inconsistency and risk. Intriguing hitters like Willie Calhoun (12% owned) are still around, but are in rather short supply compared to this time last month.

Most of the quality on the wire at this point is comprised of either young and/or streaky hitters or relievers who can steal saves. While it may seem nearly impossible to find long-term starting pitcher help, a few possible options are still lurking. Plus, there are several streamer-quality arms out there that can lend you a hand if you’re in a pinch. Our featured pundits have the lowdown on who those streamers and long-term impact starters are along with some interesting hitters and quality relievers.

Import your team to My Playbook for instant Waiver Wire advice

Q1. What one hitter should fantasy owners look into picking up that is owned in 20% of leagues or less?

Keston Hiura (2B – MIL) 
“Hiura needs to be added immediately in all formats. The former first-round pick was recalled on Thursday and should immediately slot in at the keystone in Milwaukee. Hiura impressed in his first stint in the majors, hitting .281 with five home runs in just 64 at-bats. He has also slugged 19 homers in 57 games at Triple-A this season. His plate discipline and defense still need work, but Hiura will be given the chance to develop at the Major League level. The Brewers sent Travis Shaw back down to the minors, so Hiura should play every day in a good lineup. Hiura can contribute in all categories and makes for a solid MI option going forward.”
– Mick Ciallela (Fantrax)

“Keston Hiura was absolutely obliterating the opponents in the minors. Since being sent down to make room for Travis Shaw, Hiura posted an OPS above 1.000. It should come as no surprise, however, as he is a clear-cut top 20 prospect. Now that he’s back in the majors, I’m sure everyone will soon be clamoring to add him as the next big thing. Hiura is the next Robinson Cano, so you’d better scoop him up now before someone else does.”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)

Francisco Mejia (C/DH – SD) 
“Mejia struggled through his first couple stints in the big leagues, but he could finally be turning the corner. The 23-year-old catcher hit .293 with 14 home runs across 427 at-bats in Triple-A last season, and was hitting a cool .365 with four long balls in 63 Triple-A at-bats this year. He’s started six of the last seven games for the Friars since he got recalled last week, going 7-for-23 with two home runs. Widely regarded as one of the best catcher prospects in the game, especially offensively, Mejia is a wise add for the countless fantasy managers who are currently getting very little production behind the plate.”
– Andrew Seifter (FantasyPros)

Luis Arraez (IF – MIN) 
“Arraez has burst onto the scene with a big opportunity due to fellow Twins hitting the IL. Tabbed with the super-utility role (can play second, third, SS, and started in LF on Thursday), he will have many chances to show off his stick and is currently slashing .436/.521/.590 with one homer and a steal. Don’t expect to see big power numbers, but he grinds out at-bats and has only struck out three times in 59 plate appearances while walking nine times. With the abundance of power in the Twin Cities, expect him to score in chunks and the bat will find him starts all over the diamond. Dude can flat out hit and if he can mingle in some stolen bases, watch out.”
– Todd D Clark (The Fantasy Fix)

Willie Calhoun (OF – TEX) 
“While I must stump for stashing Luis Urias now, Calhoun’s ownership is far too low. He and ownership had their issues, which cooled a lot of prospect hype, but then he finally came up in mid-May and has crushed to the tune of 10-for-23 with two homers, 12 Rs+RBIs, and just two strikeouts before a quad injury robbed him of a month. He returned over a week ago and has gone 10-for-35 with two homers, four doubles, and 10 Rs+RBIs. You want guys who get to swing in hitter-friendly Arlington during those warm summer months, so snag Calhoun for nothing and see where the wave takes you.”
– Nick Mariano (RotoBaller)

Q2. What one starting pitcher should fantasy owners look into picking up that is owned in 20% of leagues or less?

Eric Lauer (SP – SD)
“Lauer has been very serviceable as long as he isn’t pitching at Coors. Over his last seven starts, he sports a 2.88 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. In five of those starts, he has only given up one earned run. He will not strike out a lot of batters, but is flying under the radar pitching on a team that can put up numbers offensively. Looks like the Friars’ starting pitcher experiment with Matt Strahm has come to an end as he has been moved to the pen. This opening bodes well for the southpaw, as he should keep his place in the rotation for the second half. Might need to watch what spots you throw him out in, but wouldn’t be surprised to see his ownership numbers steadily increase for the rest of ’19.”
– Todd D Clark (The Fantasy Fix)

“This isn’t always the case, but it certainly is more often than not — if you are in need of a starting pitcher and players with ownership rates this low are all that is available, then there is not a single option you can use each start or even for the majority of their starts. Don’t pick up one of these volatile arms and call it a day. Instead, play the streamer game and nab a lefty who draws the Giants, like Eric Lauer. The Giants have been abysmal versus all pitching this year, but especially lefty pitchers, which they carry a league-low .610 OPS against. Not only that, but they are seventh in baseball with 227 Ks already too.”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)

Ryan Yarbrough (SP/RP – TB)
“Let’s not quibble about “starting” pitcher in 2019, as Yarbrough has made four traditional starts, owning a 7-3 record and a zesty 0.99 WHIP despite early turbulence that led to a get-right demotion in April. Since returning to the majors on May 23, Yarbrough has posted an exceptional 30/5 K/BB ratio in 43 2/3 IPs and a 3.32 FIP behind a 3.30 ERA — and that’s including the seven-earned run BABIP-fest against the Twins on June 2. He matches stellar control with impressive contact suppression, and while the .238 BABIP in this recent stretch won’t last, his overall 85.5 MPH average exit velocity ranks fourth-lowest out of all pitchers with at least 150 batted-ball events against them. Not only that, but his 90.5 MPH average exit velocity on fly balls and line drives is eighth-lowest in that group, as he’s specifically mitigated hard hits on the most dangerous types of hits.”
– Nick Mariano (RotoBaller)

Tommy Milone (SP – SEA)
“My favorite in this group is Pablo Lopez, but he is currently on the IL with a shoulder strain and still does not have a timetable for return. If you are looking for immediate help, I think Milone in Seattle can be a decent streaming option. Milone has at least six strikeouts in all four of his starts and has a strikeout rate over 25 percent on the year. He is keeping hitters off-balance through increased usage of his changeup and is throwing that pitch at a career-high 36 percent clip, including 50 percent to right-handed hitters. Righties are hitting just .158 and slugging a mere .228 against the offering. I am not sure how long Milone will continue to excel, but fantasy owners should pick him up and ride him while he’s hot.”
– Mick Ciallela (Fantrax)

Tyler Mahle (SP – CIN)
“The pickings are admittedly slim among starters owned in less than 20 percent of leagues, but Mahle is at least displaying the skills to provide hope he can be a solid back-end fantasy starter. Mahle is in the midst of a pretty rough stretch, surrendering 20 earned runs over his last 31 1/3 innings. However, he still sports a strong 84-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio, not to mention an xFIP and/or SIERA that are better than those of big names like Zack Greinke, Lucas Giolito, Patrick Corbin, Masahiro Tanaka, Zack Wheeler, Jack Flaherty, Aaron Nola, and Madison Bumgarner. Home runs have been a huge problem for Mahle, but he can be a helpful fantasy asset if he can just manage to keep the ball in the ballpark a bit more often.”
– Andrew Seifter (FantasyPros)

Q3. What one relief pitcher should fantasy owners look into picking up that is owned in 30% of leagues or less?

Jalen Beeks (RP- TB) | Giovanny Gallegos (RP – STL)
“If you think you are going to get a reliable starting pitcher in this range, you are mistaken. Your options are to grab the next hot minor leaguer (Brendan McKay), focus on streamers, or what I’ve been doing in several leagues. I’m using Beeks, who is a starting pitcher, but not technically since the Rays employ an opener before he comes in as the team’s primary pitcher of the game. Beeks isn’t going to go five innings, but since he often throws in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth, he has a handful of wins to his name to go with pristine ratios and plenty of Ks.

If it is a traditional reliever you are after, I’m turning to Gallegos. Everyone is talking about John Gant, John Brebbia, and Carlos Martinez for the newly opened St. Louis closer job, and while Gant does have the upper hand, he was phenomenal in his old role so they may move him back quickly if anything goes south. Gallegos has the closer numbers with a 0.81 WHIP, 2.50 ERA, and 51 Ks in just 36 innings. Regardless of whether or not he gets any saves, those numbers will help your fantasy squad quite a bit.”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)

Joe Jimenez (RP – DET)  
“There are plenty of relievers to scoop as we near MLB’s trade deadline, but I’ll highlight Detroit’s Joe Jimenez. It may come to pass that Shane Greene isn’t dealt, but Jimenez’s 4.99 ERA paints an incomplete picture for speculators given the tidy 3.40 SIERA underneath the hood. The overall 1.76 HR/9 and 11.1% walk rate look frightful, but he hasn’t given up a homer in his last six appearances (one allowed in his last 11) while posting an 8/1 K/BB ratio in that span. His 17% swinging-strike rate ranks 12th out of 171 qualified relievers per FanGraphs and if his recent command gains hold, then Detroit should feel comfortable handing over the ninth to Jimenez and seeing how he fits there for 2020 and beyond.”
– Nick Mariano (RotoBaller)

Roenis Elias (RP – SEA)
“There are a lot of interesting relievers below the 30 percent threshold if you’re hunting for saves, including Michael Lorenzen, Scott Oberg, Brandon Workman, and Emilio Pagan. But my first choice would be Elias, who certainly appears to be the undisputed closer in Seattle at the moment. Elias has each of the Mariners’ last five saves, and is now up to 10 saves on the year while nobody else in this bullpen has more than three (and that’s Anthony Swarzak, who is now on the Braves). Elias isn’t a world-beater, but he doesn’t look overmatched in the role, either. He’s got a 3.09 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over the last month. That’ll do.”
– Andrew Seifter (FantasyPros)

Scott Oberg (RP – COL) 
“I usually try to steer clear of Rockies pitchers, but I would consider speculating on Oberg in Colorado. Wade Davis has been brutal since returning from the injured list earlier this month. I am not sure how much longer the Rockies will wait for him to get it going. They are currently just a game out of the playoffs and may be looking to make a change at closer. Oberg has a 31.3 percent K/BB rate in June. That is an elite number that plays well, regardless of which park a pitcher calls home. He will not hold much value unless he is in line for saves, so you may have to keep him on the bench for a bit. But if he takes the job from Davis at some point, he will be well worth the stash.”
– Mick Ciallela (Fantrax)

Thank you to the experts for giving their thoughts on some under-the-radar waiver options. For more info, be sure to follow them on Twitter and subscribe to our fantasy baseball podcast, which is featured below.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | SoundCloud | Stitcher | TuneIn