We have completed another week of baseball action and are ready for our next fantasy baseball waiver wire free agent acquisition budget (FAAB) run. It’s too early to overreact to some studs who may have gotten off to slow starts, but it is also time to start taking chances on others who may have gotten off to fast starts. Early in the season, we’ll be taking some chances on some players who need to be rostered in most formats.
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire & FAAB Targets
Each week, I will highlight a few players to target in your weekly waiver wire FAAB process, but know there are many others available and, more importantly, others that may be better fitting for your teams. If you have any questions, please ask me on Twitter (@bdentrek).
Note: We use Yahoo for player percentages and recommend players rostered in no more than 60% of leagues.
Hitters
Rostered: 51%
Suggested Bid: 17%
Jake Burger was having a horrible start to the season before a quick stint in Triple-A to get his mind right. Burger returned on May 1st. Over the last 16 games, Burger is hitting .237. The average may not be great, but Burger’s power has returned.
Burger has hit four home runs since his return while barreling the ball 17.8% of the time with a 51.1% hard-hit rate. Burger is back and looks ready for a strong final four months of the season. Burger should be rostered in all 12-team and deeper leagues.
Rostered: 48%
Suggested Bid: 22%
After a strong spring training, Matt Shaw struggled in his first stint with the Cubs. He was sent to AAA and, after a month, returned to the Cubs. Since his return on May 19th, Shaw is hitting .382 with hits in seven out of nine games.
Shae has five doubles to go with five stolen bases. His power has not arrived yet, but he does have 15+ home run upside to go with all of his speed. It’s time to get Shaw back on your fantasy rosters.
Rostered: 34%
Suggested Bid: 21%
Max Muncy was off to a dreadful start to the season. It was so bad that he was dropped in many formats. Well, it’s time to get back on the Muncy train. He got new prescription glasses a few weeks ago, and improvement at the plate has followed.
Since May 14th, Muncy is hitting .275 with three home runs and 15 RBI. He’s barreling the ball 16.2% of the time with a 64.9% hard-hit rate, which is a marked improvement. Muncy’s plate discipline has also significantly improved as he’s walking 17% of the time with only an 11.3% strikeout rate. It’s time to get Muncy back on your rosters.
Pitchers
Rostered: 53%
Suggested Bid: 16%
Tylor Megill has been very good to start the season for the Mets. Through his first 11 starts, Megill has a 3.52 ERA with a 3.46 ERA. He’s struck out 72 batters over 53.2 innings pitched with a 19% K-BB rate.
Megill has allowed three earned runs or fewer in eight of his 11 starts, keeping your fantasy teams in good shape in most starts. This week, Megill has a two-step versus the Dodgers, which is dicey, but then a great start against the Rockies.
Rostered: 51%
Suggested Bid: 22%
Will Warren was off to a rough start to the season, but the 25-year-old appears to be figuring things out. Over Warren’s last four starts, he has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each start for a 2.05 ERA and 2.10 SIERA.
More impressively, Warren has seen improvements in his strikeout rate, with 33 strikeouts over 22 innings pitched, resulting in an elite 32.2% K-BB ratio. Warren is more than a streamer these days and should be rostered in most formats.
Rostered: 26%
Suggested Bid: 18%
Ryan Weathers returned from the injured list (IL) a few weeks ago and has made three solid starts. He has allowed one earned run or fewer in each start. He has a 1.15 ERA and 3.55 SIERA over 15.2 innings pitched with 15 strikeouts and an 18% K-BB rate.
Weathers is not going deep in games just yet, but he’s worth a start nearly every week with his upside. He faces the Rays this week, who have struggled against left-handed pitchers this season.
Closers
Rostered: 11%
Suggested Bid: 26%
With the horrible pitching from Ryan Pressly and an injury to Porter Hodge, Daniel Palencia has taken over as the closer for the Cubs. He’s been outstanding in the role, collecting a save in each of his last four outings.
On the season, Palencia has not allowed a run in 15 out of 18 outings for a 1.83 ERA. He has 21 strikeouts in 19.2 innings pitched to go with an 18.7% K-BB rate. Palencia looks great and should be the closer for the Cubs for the foreseeable future.
Rostered: 11%
Suggested Bid: 12%
The Rangers have been looking for a closer for a little while, thanks to injuries to Chris Martin and Luke Jackson, not to mention Jackson’s struggles. Robert Garcia has been given the chance to save games for the Rangers and has looked good.
Garcia has picked up two saves over his last three appearances. He limits hard contact with a 12.6% SwStr%, making for a decent closer for now.
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