The MLB season is winding down. That means fantasy titles are being decided. If you are still reading, congratulations because it has already been a successful year.
The schedule makers gave us a fantastic slate to maximize games this week. In head-to-head leagues that can create a massive advantage. Let us take a look at the games.
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A look at the schedule
Week 25 provides fantasy managers with plenty of opportunities to stream. Eight teams (Orioles, Cubs, Tigers, Royals, Brewers, Twins, Padres, Cardinals) have seven games this week. Four organizations play just five times (Astros, Dodgers, Rays, Rangers). The remaining 18 teams have six games.
There is a ton on the line this week, so maximizing games played is crucial. I’d avoid Astros, Dodgers, Rays, and Rangers ranked outside the top 100. Replace them with players that have a full seven games. Here are the top waiver wire options owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo! Leagues.
Top pickups
Keston Hiura (2B – MIL) 48% owned
Hiura is dealing with a hamstring injury, but there is optimism that he will be ready to play the field on Monday. Hiura is a must-own if playing. This season, the 23-year-old is batting .301 with 16 homers and nine steals in 266 at-bats. Expect him to be a much talked about player in drafts next season as well.
Tommy Edman (2B/3B/SS/OF – STL) 40% owned
Edman is hitting .278 with seven homers and 11 steals in 263 MLB at-bats this season. Add in his Triple-A numbers gives Edman 14 home runs and 20 steals. He also crushes left-handed pitching (hitting .333 on the year). The Cardinals are scheduled to face three lefty starters in Week 25.
Luis Arraez (2B/3B/OF – MIN) 14% owned
Arraez can flat out rake. He is hitting .347 in 268 at-bats this season. Arraez bats at the top of the order and has scored 50 runs in his limited playing time. He dominates right-handed pitching to the tune of a .371 average, and the Twins face six right-handed starters this week. The 22-year-old is a player to watch going forward.
Kolten Wong (2B – STL) 42% owned
Wong has 10 homers and 10 steals this season while batting .281 with a .361 on-base percentage. He continues to start and hit near the top of the order. Wong is batting .325 over his last 24 games as well.
Hanser Alberto (2B/3B – BAL) 24% owned
Alberto is putting together a fantastic season. He has 11 homers and four steals while batting .320 with a .342 on-base percentage in 465 at-bats. Alberto crushes left-handed pitching. He is batting .418 against lefties this season. The O’s face two lefty starters in Week 25 making Alberto a fine middle infield add.
Jason Heyward (OF – CHC) 26% owned
Heyward is a streaky hitter that has slumped in the second half of the year. He did hit well in Week 24, though. The big selling point is Heyward still possesses power and speed plus the Cubs face seven right-handed starters in Week 25. He is hitting .267 with a .371 on-base percentage against righties this season including 19 of his 21 homers and all eight steals. Heyward could provide plenty of value in Week 25.
Eric Thames (1B/OF -MIL) 7% owned
The Brewers are set for seven homes with six coming against right-handed starters this week. Thames is hitting .262 with a .358 on-base percentage against righties this season. He also has 19 homers in 298 at-bats. Expect some power from Thames in Week 25.
Miguel Cabrera (1B – DET) 33% owned
36-year-old Miguel Cabrera can still hit. He is batting .289 with a .351 on-base percentage this season. Cabrera is lacking in the counting stats, but he is one of the safer batting averages adds. He is not slowing down either. Cabrera is hitting .323 over his last 18 games.
Renato Nunez (1B/3B – BAL) 37% owned
Nunez may have the quietest 29 homers season of any player in the MLB. He is hitting .251 with 82 RBIs on the season. The 25-year-old won’t help in OBP leagues, but he is hitting .269 with a .344 on-base percentage at home this season. The Orioles have six home games in Week 25 plus a game in Detroit on Monday.
Victor Reyes (OF – DET) 9% owned
Reyes is batting leadoff for the Tigers. Over his 204 at-bats in the MLB this season, he is hitting .309 with a .343 on-base percentage. Reyes does not offer a ton in power or speed, but the 24-year-old should continue getting hits this week.
Anthony Santander (OF – BAL) 35% owned
Santander has 18 home runs while batting .278 this season. He is not much help in OBP leagues, but the 24-year-old is batting .297 at home this season. The O’s have six of their seven at Camden Yards in Week 25.
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Tyler Watts is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Tyler, follow him @tylerpwatts.
