Welcome to another fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups by category column. Last week, a few recommended players really made me look good. We’ll look to keep the positive momentum rolling this week as we break down a few more potential adds.
This weekly piece covers players who can help in at least one specific category. For example, if your team is scoring plenty of runs and hitting for a strong average but struggling to steal bases, you can scroll directly to the stolen bases section for a targeted pickup.
- Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer
- Best Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Tools
- Fantasy Baseball Lineup Assistant
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
While most of these players will contribute across multiple categories, their primary value comes from the one they’re listed under. I also rarely repeat players week to week, so it’s not a bad idea to read previous articles to see if any of those players are still available.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups by Category
Without further delay, here are this week’s top fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups by category. All players listed are rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
Runs
Anthony Seigler (2B, 3B – BOS): 4%
Anthony Seigler is hitting .308 for the Red Sox and is now their preferred choice at the top of the lineup. The switch-hitting Seigler has batted first in four out of the last five games for Boston, where he continues to be a tough out for opposing pitchers.
The recently turned 26-year-old has reached base in every game since June 23rd and has scored 10 runs over 52 at-bats. If he qualified, Seigler would be at the top of the food chain in launch angle, sweet spot and balls squared up. Those metrics help support Seigler’s projected continued success, making him a decent find off the waiver wire.
Seigler also qualifies at two of the most difficult positions to fill, which further enhances his value.
RBI
Josh Bell (1B – MIN): 19%
I was planning to go with Esmerlyn Valdez here, but since his rostership has surpassed 50%, we’ll go with the clutch-hitting Josh Bell instead. The Twins first baseman is hitting .347 with runners in scoring position (RISP) and .297 with runners on. He’s up to 60 RBI and is still available in over 80% of leagues.
The switch-hitting 33-year-old has 27 RBI over his last 25 contests and is batting .304 (28-for-92) with eight home runs. Bell is worth snatching up anywhere home runs or RBI are desired.
Batting Average
Chase DeLauter (OF – CLE): 48%
Chase DeLauter is hitting .333 since coming off the injured list (IL). The Guardians phenom crushed his first homer since being activated yesterday, bringing his total to eight on the season.
Since returning on June 28th (after missing two weeks), DeLauter has started every day and has hit either second or third in the lineup. He’s collected a hit in seven out of eight games and has generated seven RBI to go along with five runs scored. He also stole a base.
The 23-year-old boasts an xBA in the top 17% of the league and is arguably the Guardians’ best hitter with Jose Ramirez out. With a top-10% ranking in the chase, whiff and squared up categories, DeLauter is a strong candidate to continue producing at the plate.
Home Runs
Kody Clemens (1B, 2B, OF – MIN): 37%
Kody Clemens is slugging .500 and has 10 home runs in his last 30 games. He has also produced a hefty 40 RBI and runs scored over limited playing time this season. The six stolen bases are a nice bonus, and the near .250 average won’t hurt too much either.
Clemens isn’t seen in most fantasy circles as a stable asset, but sometimes it just takes a player a few extra years to get comfortable at the Major League level. Roger Clemens’ son showed glimpses last season and has now worked his way into a three-hole hitting role for the Twinkies. Clemens deserves a shot in most leagues while he’s hot.
Stolen Bases
Kahlil Watson (OF – CLE): 3%
Kahlil Watson hasn’t been that great at the plate, but he did swipe four bases this weekend. Watson has struggled at the dish since earning his promotion, with a .246 average and just one homer over 17 games. He does have nine RBIs, however, and did knock in the go-ahead run on Friday in a clutch situation. Watson also regularly hits fourth in the Guardians’ lineup.
Watson should continue to start while Angel Martinez is out with a foot injury and could snag a few more steals before the break. The 23-year-old is a decent power-speed addition in deeper leagues for those in the hunt for stolen bases.
ERA
Logan Henderson (SP – MIL): 45%
Brandon Woodruff is back on the shelf, opening up a spot for Logan Henderson to return to the rotation. Henderson was masterful earlier this season, producing elite numbers across the board. He was just as nasty last season in his short cup of coffee in the Majors, registering an ERA below 2.00 and WHIP below 1.00.
Henderson should rejoin the starting rotation on Thursday when he’ll take on the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals have never seen Henderson before, and my money is on another solid performance. Add him everywhere he’s still available.
WHIP
Troy Melton (RP, RP – DET): 49%
I did a double take when I saw Troy Melton’s 0.80 WHIP this season. The 6-foot-4 Melton has been extremely solid for the Tigers, quietly producing a 2.76 ERA and 1.01 WHIP last season and a 2.05 ERA and 0.80 WHIP this season. Five of Melton’s seven starts have qualified as “quality starts,” in which he’s held opponents to just five runs over 33.1 innings.
Melton’s average of 6.1 innings per outing is a rarity in today’s game. He’s held the opposition to an ultra-low .161 batting average and rarely walks a hitter. His 99% left-on-base rate won’t last, and his minuscule batting average on balls in play (BABIP) won’t either.
However, you can’t chalk it all up to good fortune when Melton has continued the trend throughout the minors and the Majors the past few seasons. The San Diego State University alum dominated over four minor league starts this year with an eye-catching .143 opponents’ batting average and a 0.69 WHIP.
Melton’s secret to success is the amount of run he gets on his high-velocity fastball and the sharp break he elicits on his cutter. Those two pitches are so difficult to square up that batters have registered just 14 hits against them over 91 at-bats (.154 batting average).
Melton also offers four other above-average pitches, making him extremely difficult to beat. He has a massive extension for his lanky frame and should continue to put up numbers as long as he stays healthy.
Strikeouts
Brandon Sproat (SP – MIL): 29%
Brandon Sproat has been masterful in his last three outings, striking out 21 batters over 15.1 innings. He allowed just three runs during that span and earned the victory in two of the games.
Sproat has been meh in his first full season with the Brewers, but he is sporting a 2.88 ERA with a sterling 0.88 WHIP and 30 strikeouts over the last month. The former Mets prospect has been dazzling with his high-velocity fastball in recent days and is a solid option ahead of a contest against Pittsburgh.
Wins
Eric Lauer (SP, RP – LAD): 23%
Eric Lauer is set to face the Rockies in Los Angeles on Monday night, where he’s a strong candidate to win his third straight game. Lauer has been a nice find for the Dodgers, where he’s produced a 2.88 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over six contests. He’s also earned three victories.
Lauer beat the Rockies in his Dodgers debut earlier in the season, limiting them to just one run over six solid innings. The lefty is a great start this week if you can add him off the waiver wire in time.
Saves
Tyler Wells (SP, RP – BAL): 11%
Ryan Helsley is back on the IL, and the Orioles have turned to Tyler Wells to close out games. He earned saves on both Friday and Saturday, keeping the Reds off the scoreboard in both games. Wells has been one of Baltimore’s more reliable arms recently, allowing just one run since the beginning of June.
Wells’ 0.63 ERA over his last 14.1 innings (11 appearances) seems to have granted him a chance at the ninth with the game on the line. He’s not the safest option at fantasy closer, but it’s slim pickings off the waiver wire these days, and Wells could hold on to the job given the way he’s been pitching.
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Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.
