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MLB Fantasy: Those “Waiver Wire Options” Gone Already? Grab These Instead!

By Ricky Olshansky

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 18: A general view of the "W" flag flying after the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 in game four of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field on October 18, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 18: A general view of the "W" flag flying after the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 in game four of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field on October 18, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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MLB Fantasy
MLB Fantasy: PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 12: John Ryan Murphy #36 of the Arizona Diamondbacks tags out Howie Kendrick #12 of the Washington Nationals at home plate during the fifth inning at Chase Field on May 12, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Here are a few extra MLB Fantasy waiver wire options in case the previous options are gone!

Welcome back on short notice for another MLB Fantasy: Waiver Wire Options.  It is my understanding that the last post was geared more towards smaller leagues.  Don’t worry deep leagues, we have not forgotten about you! Let’s delve deeper into the waiver wire to fill roster needs.

As league and team sizes vary, some articles may be more accommodating than others. Some might be geared more towards deep leagues. Another might be more beneficial for NL or AL only leagues. Only one way to find out! Read on.

The main goal of Waiver Wire Options is to accommodate as many league types as possible

If you ever have a question about options for specific positions, feel free to ask! We’d be happy to do the research to make your decision easier. Same rules apply as before. Here’s a quick reminder of those post specifications in case you missed the last post seen below!

Related Story: MLB Fantasy Waiver Wire Options

  • 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

    • Alright, let’s not waste any more time and get right into it.

    MLB Fantasy
    MLB Fantasy: PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 28: John Ryan Murphy #36 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a solo home run in the fourth inning of the MLB game against the Cincinnati Reds at Chase Field on May 28, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. MLB players across the league are wearing special uniforms to commemorate Memorial Day. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

    If you’re in a deep league for MLB Fantasy, catchers can be tough position to fill. Here are a few suitable options.

    C John Ryan Murphy – Arizona Diamondbacks (ESPN-6.9% owned)(Yahoo!-24% owned)

    Catchers are a bit of a pain to cycle through if you missed out on the 10 or so suitable daily options. JRM is not an everyday catcher, but he has taken advantage of his opportunities. He went 6 for 14 with four runs score, three home runs, and four RBI’s from May 28 thru June 1.

    In just 91 at bats, he has 13 extra base hits and eight home runs.  The former Yankee and Twin is not in his first rodeo at the MLB level.  But he is having by far his best season surpassing his career high in home runs for any season at every level he’s played at.

    His wOBA sits at an impressive .356 and his ISO is .319. It is hard to tell if he can sustain these power numbers, but pretty impressive thus far! If you are in a deep league that changes lineups daily, the man with three names is worth a look, especially if you can confirm D-Backs lineup before lineups lock.

    C Kevan Smith or Omar Narvaez (ESPN-Both < 1.0% owned)(Yahoo!-Both < 1.0% owned)

    OK so this is a bit of a stretch but hear me out. You are likely in trouble if these are your last two options. With Welington Castillo suspended for 80 games, Smith and Narvaez are the only two options left for the South Siders.

    Pick your poison between the two, but Smith was moderately impressive in 2017 with a .268 batting average, 30 RBI’s, and a .388 SLG%. Narvaez in 2017 finished with a .277 batting average, .321 wOBA and a .330 BABIP.

    If you are desperate for a catcher that gets at bats, these two are the White Sox only options. Maybe keep an eye on pitcher handedness for the day as Narvaez is left-handed and Smith is right-handed.

    MLB Fantasy
    MLB Fantasy NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 02: Mike Montgomery #38 of the Chicago Cubs pitches in the second inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 2, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

    Two NL pitchers – A starter and a potential closer!

    SP/RP Mike Montgomery – Chicago Cubs (ESPN-8.6% owned)(Yahoo!-16% owned)

    Montgomery’s numbers are not flashy. What he does not give you in K numbers, he makes up for in ERA and WHIP. Also, it is worth noting that Yu Darvish has not even resumed throwing.

    Montgomery as a set-up man has been a reliable option for Joe Maddon in high leverage situations (insert extra innings of game seven of the World Series in 2016). In his time as a starter this year, he has shown that same reliability with two quality starts out of three opportunities. The one non-quality start was a 5.2 inning, two-hit, five K, and no earned run win.

    His ERA is inflated by two bad performances, one in the beginning of the season against a Pirate team that came out sizzling. The second was a six earned run outing in a 10-1 loss to the Indians. With Darvish out for a while, Montgomery seems like a safe bet, in a run producing Cubs lineup to give you a solid ERA, WHIP and a potential W.

    SP/RP Robert Gsellman – New York Mets (ESPN-7.9% owned)(Yahoo!-17% owned)

    With Jeurys Familia heading to the 10-day DL, Gsellman may get the nod as the replacement closer. He generally uses a sinker and slider, and sprinkles in a few curveballs. 48.7% sinkers and 25.64% sliders.

    He boasts an above average K/9 and career best 8.84 as long as a ground ball rate of 56.3%. It is not always ideal to roster closers from struggling teams like the Mets. But if you need saves, it’s worth taking that chance. Maybe the Mets can string together a few wins in the next two weeks.

    ance.

    Next: Fantasy Baseball: 3 Hitters to Trade?

    Stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for all the latest fantasy baseball and DFS news all season long to help you build your best rosters!

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