There’s no better time of the year for fantasy baseball enthusiasts than the start of football season.

Rather than get jealous of the NFL siphoning all the attention, exploit the dwindling focus to capture an MLB championship. Regardless of other activities clamoring for the spotlight, managers out of contention will likely stop scouring the waiver wire in September. This is your time to shine.

More than ever, gamers need to pay close attention to schedules before adding anyone. Now that the calendar has shifted to September, a handful of pitching streamers and streaky hitters headline these recommended waiver-wire pickups.

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Priority Pickups – <35% Rostered

Cal Quantrill (SP – SD): 28%
Quantrill had allowed eight earned runs in his last seven outings combined before permitting as many to the Dodgers last Tuesday. That stinks for anyone riding the hot hand, but it’s hardly a surprise to see a rookie get lit up by a loaded offense that ranks second in wRC+ against righties. His next two NL West opponents this week are far more manageable. As of Sunday, the Diamondbacks and Rockies rank 22nd and 28th, respectively, in wRC+ versus righties. He’ll host the Rockies at Petco Park, so that’s two favorable starts for someone who still holsters a 3.22 ERA and 3.49 FIP after the All-Star break.

Eric Sogard (2B/SS – TB): 26%
Sogard simply keeps hitting. He’s batting .303/.365/.476 in 28 games for the Rays, who rewarded the middle infielder with leadoff reps last week. The life-long reserve has chipped his way to 13 long balls and eight steals with a 122 wRC+ on the season. While the Statcast data doesn’t support the unforeseen breakout, Tampa Bay goes from facing Houston and Cleveland to Baltimore and Toronto. He can at least stay hot one more week by feasting on weak AL East pitching.

Dinelson Lamet (SP – SD): 25%
While Quantrill had his hands full against the Dodgers, Lamet pounced on the Giants for 10 strikeouts at San Francisco. The 4.24 ERA has seemingly prevented a mad dash to the waiver wire despite his 70 punchouts in 51 innings. Since he returned from Tommy John surgery on Independence Day, Lamet’s 31.7% K rate ranks 11th on MLB’s starter leaderboard. No NL squad strikes out more on the road than the Rockies (26.6%), so the 27-year-old should keep the whiffs coming this week.

Enrique Hernandez (1B/2B/3B/OF – LAD): 24%
Since returning from a sprained left hand on August 20, Hernandez has gone 12-for-41 with four walks and five doubles in 13 games. He has found more playing time than anticipated due to Max Muncy fracturing his wrist. Hernandez, who hit .352/.417/.574 in July, could leverage his versatility into regular reps. Obliterating a personal-best in FanGraphs’ hard-hit rate (41.6%), he’s an intriguing depth piece to move across the lineup.

Sean Manaea (SP – OAK): 18%
Manaea’s return from Tommy John surgery went better than anyone could have expected. Pitching for Oakland for the first time in over a year, he limited the Yankees to one hit over five scoreless frames, compiling five strikeouts at New York. He had notched a 3.59 ERA despite a career-worst 4.26 FIP in 160.2 innings last year, so the southpaw could at least make a solid option in condensed September starts. Aside from four games at Houston, Oakland has no other playoff contenders on the horizon.

Jakob Junis (SP – KC): 17%
I’m not much of a Junis fan. The strikeouts (21.5%) and walks (7.4%) are solid enough, but they come with a 4.93 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. He’s too inconsistent for comfort, as perfectly demonstrated by following six shutout innings at Cleveland with six runs allowed to the same team six days later. None of that really matters this week, as he’s facing the Tigers. When a capable starter opposes the worst team in baseball, you use him. Unfortunately, the Royals rearranged their rotation when activating Danny Duffy, costing Junis a second turn at Miami.

Homer Bailey (SP – OAK): 17%
Streaming Bailey may reek of desperation when eyeing his 4.96 ERA. The Astros and Cubs have pummeled him since joining Oakland, but he’s otherwise ceded three or fewer runs in 12 of his last 14 turns. After a strong performance (5.2 IP, 2 R, 9 K) against the Yankees, he’ll get every streamer’s favorite matchup in the Tigers, whom the righty tamed to two runs in two starts for the Royals.

Anthony Santander (OF – BAL): 16%
The bank is still open. Since going 5-for-5 with a homer on August 25, the 24-year-old has laced three doubles and long balls apiece for Baltimore. He’s now batting .293/.330/.523 with 16 dingers (12 after the break) in 322 plate appearances. Ride the hot hand as the Orioles embark on a seven-game week.

Hanser Alberto (2B/3B – BAL): 15%
Baltimore is scheduled to face three lefties, albeit tough ones in Ryan Yarbrough, Mike Minor, and Brock Burke. It’s still intriguing for Santander and Alberto, the latter of whom is hitting .414 against southpaws. He upped his overall average to .323 with help from a five-hit Friday. Although that’s a tough mark for anyone to sustain, Alberto has the lowest strikeout rate (8.8%) of any qualified hitter. He also wields a much improved .336 xwOBA over his last 250 plate appearances, so don’t fret over a microscopic 18.6% hard-hit rate.

Mike Montgomery (SP/RP – KC): 12%
When Montgomery faced the Tigers on August 10, he recorded 12 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings. He’s scheduled to get another go against them Tuesday after posting a 2.45 ERA and 25.8% strikeout rate in August. If Kansas City goes with a six-man rotation, costing him a second start at Miami, he’ll simply get the White Sox to open next week.

Sandy Alcantara (SP – MIA): 11% 
Perhaps the week’s best two-start streamer, Alcantara will go to Pittsburgh before ending the weekend home against Junis and the Royals. That gives him a pair of turns at pitcher’s parks against offenses respectively ranking 23rd and 26th in wRC+ after the All-Star break. Miami’s talented, but underwhelming hurler posted a 3.03 ERA in five August starts while compiling 15 strikeouts in his last two outings. He’s then in line to pitch at San Francisco the following week.

Deep League Targets – <10% Rostered

Jake Cave (OF – MIN): 5%
A rash of injuries cleared up playing time for Cave, who has crushed five home runs in his last seven starts. He won’t play if the Twins return to full strength, but that’s not yet the case. Marwin Gonzalez hasn’t played since Tuesday with an abdomen injury, and Max Kepler left Sunday’s contest with left leg tightness.

Brian Goodwin (OF – LAA): 4%
Any deep-league manager should want an outfielder boasting a 127 wRC+ with power and speed. Goodwin fits that bill. The 28-year-old is batting .310/.371/.673 since returning from a wrist injury on July 16. He has 15 homers and five steals this season for the Angels, who finally appear ready to give him regular playing time. Goodwin has started each of the last four games, two from the leadoff spot and the other two batting third.

Chad Pinder (2B/3B/OF – OAK): 4%
It seems like ages ago that Pinder sparked considerable excitement when flourishing in place of Matt Olson. There’s been no reason to roster a part-time player slashing .237/.288/.415, but that could change in large leagues this week. The A’s are scheduled to face four underwhelming lefties, and the 27-year-old utility man holds a career 111 wRC+ against southpaws.

Nate Lowe (1B – TB): 3%
The Rays’ reluctance to play Lowe defies logic, especially since they’re in the weeds of a heated wild-card pursuit. The rookie hit .313/.397/.625 with five homers in July before inexplicably getting demoted for the acquired Jesus Aguilar. He returned as a September call-up to touch them all Sunday, so perhaps Tampa Bay stops messing around and uses its best option during the final four weeks.

Seth Brown (1B – OF): 3%
A 27-year-old who didn’t even reach Triple-A until 2019, Brown crushed 37 homers in 500 plate appearances at that level before finally beckoning a promotion. He’s continued to rake in the majors, going 11-for-27 with three doubles and seven RBIs. The best pitcher Oakland faces this week is Spencer Turnbull, so the lefty-heavy schedule doesn’t hinder Brown from deep-league consideration.

Matt Beaty (1B – LAD): 2%
The Dodgers are attempting to keep Beaty in the lineup against righties, whom he carries a 137 wRC+ against. The NL West leaders are facing six right-handed starters this week, and Jeff Samardzija is the only one with an ERA under 5.00. Muncy’s absence gives Los Angeles’ latest out-of-nowhere find a better chance of at least starting four or five of those savory matchups.

Jairo Diaz (RP – COL): 1%
He’s yet to record a save for Colorado, but nobody has in two weeks without Scott Oberg. Diaz has stood out as the Rockies’ best reliever, delivering a 2.38 ERA and 20.4% swinging-strike rate in August. Don’t be surprised if he picks up a couple of saves in September.

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