It’s important to have a plan when scouring the fantasy baseball waiver wire or placing your weekly free agent acquisition budget (FAAB) bids. Below are some players rostered in fewer than 50% of fantasy baseball leagues to consider as we get to the home stretch.
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups
Runs
Sal Frelick (OF – MIL) | 38% on Yahoo; 28% on ESPN
Sal Frelick has a triple slash line of .296/.353/.412 with 49 runs, eight home runs, 41 RBI and 17 steals. He’s been leading off exclusively for the Brewers since the middle of June, and it’s paid off.
Since June 12TH, Frelick is batting .305 with a 14% strikeout rate as Milwaukee leads the league in runs scored during that timeframe.
Home Runs
Jesus Sanchez (OF – HOU) | 7% on Yahoo; 3% on ESPN
Jesus Sanchez was traded to the Astros at the deadline and has batted in the three- and two-hole in his first two games. He’s always had impressive raw power, but has struggled to pull the ball in the air to take advantage of that power.
According to Statcast park factors, the move from Miami to Houston is an upgrade for left-handed power. He moves from the 14th-ranked stadium for lefty homers to the sixth-ranked stadium. We’ll see if a change of scenery gives Sanchez a much-needed boost.
RBI
Jo Adell (OF – LAA) | 41% on Yahoo; 15% on ESPN
Jo Adell is one RBI away from his career high with 50 games remaining. His strikeout rate has lowered to 25% and he’s hitting the ball as hard as ever. Adell’s expected batting average is in the 80th percentile at .279, suggesting some bad luck with an actual average of .229.
Adell will likely never live up to the lofty expectations put on him as a prospect, but this is the best we’ve ever seen from him.
Stolen Bases & Batting Average
Tyler Freeman (OF – COL) | 10% on Yahoo; 3% on ESPN
Tyler Freeman is slashing .304/.383/.406 with 29 runs scored, one home run, 21 RBI and 12 steals. His expected batting average is in the 92nd percentile at .292, and his sprint speed is well above average.
Since moving to the leadoff spot on June 21st, Freeman’s walk rate (10.2%) is higher than his strikeout rate (9.4%). He hasn’t successfully stolen a base since July 3rd, but he has been aggressive.
Wins
JP Sears (SP – SDP) | 20% on Yahoo; 9% on ESPN
JP Sears was traded to the Padres at the deadline. He gets a major upgrade in team context and an upgrade in home park. The Athletics’ home park is second in park factor, while the Padres’ is 22nd.
Sears is an extreme fly ball pitcher, but doesn’t give up too hard contact, so the spacious outfield in San Diego should play well with his skillset. He is lined up to face the Diamondbacks and Red Sox next.
Strikeouts
Michael Soroka (SP – CHC) | 11% on Yahoo; 4% on ESPN
Michael Soroka was another name moved at the deadline. He was traded from the 28th-place Nationals to the second-place Cubs. He should see better opportunities for wins and hopefully get his ERA (4.87) closer to his xERA (3.33).
Soroka’s strikeout rate is a career-high 25.4%, and his strikeout-minus-walk rate is in the realm of Carlos Rodon and Framber Valdez. If either of those two players were available, fantasy managers would jump at the chance to add them from the waiver wire.
ERA & WHIP
Matt Brash (RP – SEA) | 8% on Yahoo; 3% on ESPN
Matt Brash has a 1.29 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 14 holds, a 9.3 K/9 rate and one save. We aren’t seeing the same strikeout rate as we were before his injury, but his quality of contact given up has been even better.
The Mariners didn’t make any bullpen splashes during the trade deadline, leaving him firmly entrenched in the set-up role for Andres Munoz.
Saves
Dennis Santana (RP – PIT) | 37% on Yahoo; 6% on ESPN
Dennis Santana wasn’t traded at the deadline, but he steps into the closer role after David Bednar was traded. On the season, Santana has a 2.31 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, six saves and a 7.5 K/9.
Santana’s chase rate is in the 99th percentile, so it’s a little surprising he has as low of a strikeout rate as he does. It’s unclear how many save opportunities the Pirates will have from here on out, but he’s their guy.
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