MLB Fantasy: Hot Waiver Wire Options for You to Grab
Seeking a hot waiver wire option to fix your crippled MLB Fantasy line-up? There is sure to be talent available. Read on if you are interested in finding that missing piece to your puzzle.
Is your MLB Fantasy team scuffling with the injury bug? Are you feeling overwhelmed looking at your waiver wire options? Well you are in luck! We are here to offer you potential replacements for your lineup that could be available in your league. Please find a comfy spot, and tune in for some waiver wire help.
Clayton Kershaw was likely one of, if not the first pitcher taken in your draft because, you know, he’s Clayton Kershaw! Basically shares a tier of their own between him and Max Scherzer. Finally ready to make his comeback after a month off with bicep tendonitis. But after just five innings of work, Johnny sweeps the leg sending Kid K back to the DL.
Injuries can cripple a fantasy team, especially when it happens to one of your key pieces. Keeping constant tabs of the waiver wire can feel tedious. But it is essential if you plan to succeed in your grueling fantasy baseball season. Remember to stay active on the wire, and hopefully this list helps you find that diamond in the rough that leads you to victory.
Now, as this is the first edition of Waiver Wire Options, let’s go over a few things.
- Regarding league-wide ownership, you will be provided the website(s) that applies to the player listed (i.e. Byron Buxton is 37.2% owned on ESPN and 58% owned on Yahoo!).
- Stat line if it applies. A rookie being called up to the bigs for the first time may not have a line yet. In this scenario, you’ll find a description of their minor league stats.
- Long-term or short-term help. Some players listed may only help in short-term. Others may fill long-term needs.
- Advanced statistics to help determine potential success
Hope you’re still with me here! Remember, not every play will be listed. If you have a question regarding a player not listed in the article, please leave a comment so we can discuss! Now, it is time to dig in to your waiver wire a and find you that diamond.
MLB Fantasy staffs are always streaming pitchers. Whether it is their starters, middle relief, or closers. Injuries create opportunities for aces of the future and young talent makes its way to the show.
RP Frankie Montas – Oakland Athletics (ESPN-28.7% owned)(Yahoo!-23% owned)
Listed on Yahoo! and ESPN as a reliever, although has been used recently as a starter. In two starts, he has totaled two wins, 14 innings, nine K’s, and an ERA and WHIP below 1.00. Montas is a hard thrower with his four-seamer in the upper 90’s and so does his sinker. Sinker is his main pitch 75.76% of the time.
RP Blake Parker – Los Angeles Angels (ESPN-25.6% owned)(Yahoo!-50% owned)
Looks like if you’re playing ESPN, hurry up and grab Blake Parker, especially if you need a closer! He has solidified himself as the closer with two in a row, including a four-out performance against Kansas City. Uses mainly a fastball that sits in the mid to low 90’s, but over the last two years has incorporated a split-finger that he’s now throwing 28.2% of the time. He has left 85.4% of runners on base with a K% of 28.1.
SP/RP Seranthony Dominguez – Philadelphia Phillies (ESPN-31.2% owned)(Yahoo!-39%)
What you’ll learn as a personal strategy of mine, is to pick up a dominant middle relief pitcher. This can really give your team that boost in ERA and WHIP and even sprinkle in a decent amount of K’s. An eighth inning guy can prove in fantasy to be almost, if not equally important to the ninth inning guy.
Dominguez has been used as a shut down pitcher thus far striking out 17 hitters through 16 innings. He was touched up in just one appearance giving up his first earned run. Outside of one bad performance, he has given up a BABIP of .091 and a K/9 of 9.56. He did not give up a hit until his seventh appearance. The Phillies have trusted Dominguez, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
Corner and middle infielders are a dime a dozen in MLB Fantasy. Good ones are hard to find after the draft. But here are a few to keep an eye on.
2B/OF Ben Zobrist – Chicago Cubs (ESPN-52.1% owned)(Yahoo!-38% owned)
One of Joe Maddon‘s favorite players, Zobrist is a switch-hitter and ultra versatile. He may not offer you much in the way of power, but he has been hot as of late. Always puts up a good fight at the plate, and rarely strikes out. He’s good for AVG (.294), OBP (.381) which leads to R (27) at the top of the Cubs lineup.
Has a great wOBA this season at .359 and a wRC+ at 126. His hard hit rate is at a career best 36.1% of the time, where his career number is below 30%.
SS/OF Yairo Munoz – St. Louis Cardinals (ESPN-10.2% owned)(Yahoo!-7% owned)
It is important to note that on ESPN, Munoz can fill SS or OF. Yahoo! he is SS only. A good deep league option. He made his mark on coach Matheny both offensively and defensively, which is good news for potential playing time, even when Paul DeJong comes back.
Hitting well with a BABIP of .390 and a .286 batting average through 70 at-bats. Munoz is showing signs of a solid hitter, shooting the ball up the middle 39.5% of the time. When making contact, he produces medium to hard contact 88.3% of the time.
SS Dansby Swanson – Atlanta Braves (ESPN-32.8% owned)(Yahoo!-28% owned)
Swanson is a former number one overall pick in 2015. Joined the big league club in 2016 appearing in 38 games. Many in Atlanta prefer to call him DansBAE as he finally showed his worth towards the end of last season.
He has already matched his home run total from last year at six, with 22 runs scored and 25 RBI’s on an exciting Atlanta Braves offense. Look for him to continue to grow as one of the young studs in a stacked lineup featuring Swanson, Ronald Acuna, Freddie Freeman, and Ozzie Albies.
Let’s now move to the OF who might be available in your MLB Fantasy leagues. There is absolutely talent that you need to be aware of!
OF Carlos Gonzalez – Colorado Rockies (ESPN-24% owned)(Yahoo!-36% owned)
CarGo has the luxury of Coors effect. Had a down season last year, but is only a season and a half removed from an all-star season. In the most recent series against the Reds, he had six hits, four runs, a home run, and five RBI’s.
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Many fantasy owners were off Gonzalez because of his slow start to 2018, however over the last seven games, he’s improved his batting average by about 50 points, to .264. The BABIP is still there at .317 and a SLG% of .446
OF Juan Soto – Washington Nationals (ESPN-74.1% owned)(Yahoo!-66% owned)
If you haven’t heard of Juan Soto yet, and he is for some reason still available in your league, jump at the opportunity. The 19-year old is crushing it already since being called up May 20th. He may only have two home runs and six RBI’s through 61 plate appearances, but his wOBA is .419 and SLG% is a ridiculous .538.
His .390 BABIP ranks higher than stud teammates Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Anthony Rendon. Soto currently has a .346 batting average which is also the highest rank on the Nationals.
OF Austin Meadows – Pittsburgh Pirates (ESPN-72.2%)(Yahoo!-60%)
Alright, I get it! Another one over 70% owned on ESPN. However, this guy is playing like he should be owned in all formats so get the Bucco. Pitchers have not been able to figure out Meadows yet. Currently has a .373 average and provides power (five home runs) and speed (three steals) through 16 games.
He already has 10 runs and a .721 SLG% along with wRC+ at 198, which leads the team excluding pitcher Enny Romero and his one plate appearance.
Next: Fantasy Baseball Injured Arms
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