We have made it through another week of the baseball season, and we are ready for the stretch run. We are back to a full schedule, allowing us to play matchups, two-steps, hot bats and more. We’ll still look for some fantasy baseball waiver wire targets to improve your teams, but some things can change now that we’re in the second half.
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- Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer
- Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Assistant
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
- Rest-of-Season Projections
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire & FAAB Targets
Each week, I will highlight a few players to target in your weekly waiver wire FAAB process, but keep in mind there are many others available and, more importantly, other players that may be a better fit 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
Roman Anthony (OF – BOS)
Rostered: 57%
Suggested Bid: 22%
Roman Anthony has become one of the better hitters in baseball, and that has resulted in daily playing time and hitting at the top of the Red Sox batting order. In July, Anthony hit .329 with a home run, 18 runs scored, 12 RBI and a stolen base.
The power has not yet correlated to the big league level, but he did have an 8.3% barrel rate and a 66.7% hard-hit rate in July. His 51.7% ground ball rate is the primary reason the ball does not leave the yard. Anthony added two more hits on Friday, and it looks like he’s gonna have a big final two months of the season.
Ezequiel Tovar (SS – COL)
Rostered: 47%
Suggested Bid: 16%
Ezequiel Tovar returned from the injured list (IL) on July 18th and hit safely in seven out of 10 games to end July. It was good for a .250 batting average that included three home runs, seven runs scored and five RBI.
Tovar barreled the ball 10.3% in July with a 51.7% hard-hit rate. He had a massive night at the plate on Friday and continues to be a fantasy force atop the Rockies’ lineup. He should be started in most fantasy formats.
Giancarlo Stanton (OF – NYY)
Rostered: 44%
Suggested Bid: 25%
After missing most of the season with an injury, Giancarlo Stanton has become a force in the Yankees’ lineup. He returned on June 16th, and by the end of July, he was hitting .270 with eight home runs and 23 RBI. He’s mashing the ball like usual with a 14.1% barrel rate and 53.5% hard-hit rate.
Stanton added his ninth home run of the season on Friday night. He’s playing daily and hitting in the middle of the Yankees’ lineup and may get some games in the outfield when Aaron Judge returns from the IL. Stanton should be rostered in all formats as long as he remains healthy.
Pitchers
Gavin Williams (SP – CLE)
Rostered: 57%
Suggested Bid: 12%
Gavin Williams has had an up-and-down season, primarily due to command. Over his last four starts in July, Williams was locked in. He allowed six earned runs over 24 innings for a 2.25 ERA and 3.90 SIERA. He walked three or fewer batters in three out of four starts with 27 strikeouts and a 16.7% K-BB rate.
On Friday night, he was outstanding versus the Twins, throwing six shutout innings with two walks and eight strikeouts. Williams faces the Mets next week and the Marlins the following week. Williams should be rostered in 12-team and deeper leagues.
Chase Burns (SP – CIN)
Rostered: 55%
Suggested Bid: 17%
Chase Burns is an electric factory. He has allowed 19 earned runs over 27.1 innings, but three earned runs or fewer in four out of six starts. Burns has a 6.26 ERA, but a 2.84 SIERA.
More impressive is the strikeout stuff as Burns has 10 strikeouts in three straight starts and a 26.2% K-BB rate on the season. Burns faces the Pirates next week, which is a great spot to start him in all formats.
Spencer Arrighetti (SP – HOU)
Rostered: 34%
Suggested Bid: 11%
Spencer Arrighetti only made two starts this season before a freak injury that resulted in a fractured hand. He’s been rehabbing and is set to rejoin the Astros’ rotation next week.
Over 28 starts last season, Arrighetti had a 4.53 ERA and 3.93 SIERA with a 16.8% K-BB rate. He finished the season with a 2.27 ERA over his final nine starts with a 22.7% K-BB. Arrighetti is one of the better young arms in the game and could be in store for a strong final two months of the season.
Closers
Cade Smith (RP – CLE)
Rostered: 46%
Suggested Bid: 23%
With Emmanuel Clase likely done for the season because of gambling allegations, Cade Smith appears likely to take over the closing duties in Cleveland. Smith has a 3.13 ERA and 2.66 SIERA over 46 innings this season for the Guardians.
Smith has three saves and 19 holds to go with a solid 24.2% K-BB rate. Smith has been a lights-out reliever for a few seasons and now gets the chance to rack up saves for the final two months of the season.
Randy Rodriguez (RP – SF)
Rostered: 33%
Suggested Bid: 26%
Randy Rodriguez has been one of the best relievers in baseball this season. So good that he was a National League All-Star. On the season, Rodriguez has a 1.20 ERA and 1.96 SIERA. He has outstanding control with 62 strikeouts and nine walks over 45 innings for an elite 31% K-BB rate to go with a 14.6% SwStr rate.
Rodriguez entered Friday with one save and 13 holds on the season. He proceeded to pick up his second save of the season. Rodriguez could be an elite closer down the stretch.
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