Fantasy Baseball 2019: Post All-Star Break Waiver Adds

With official games on pause until Thursday, you can still scout the waiver wire and improve your fantasy baseball team for a better second half.

The MLB regular season is on hold until Thursday when the Astros and Rangers pick things back up on Thursday. That doesn’t mean you have to be on pause. Now is a good time to get a jump on your opponents and make changes to your fantasy baseball team heading into the second half.

When looking through the waiver wire, I want to see what players entered the break on a hot streak and are likely to continue that afterwards. While we are more than three months into the season, some players take more time than others to heat up and become productive.

Some players are now finally getting enough playing time to make an impact for their real team and can do the same for your fantasy baseball team. You may not be able to find someone with the same production as Christian Yelich but finding someone who can hit 20 home runs or .300 in the final two and a half months is just as good.

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As usual with my waiver wire pieces, every player is owned in less than 25 percent of ESPN leagues. I listed three hitters, two starting pitchers and a reliever.

Kevin Newman

Newman ended the first half with a .327 average. He had a 17-game hitting streak in June which brought his average up from .294 to .333. Newman may not hit for a lot of power, six home runs, but he can score and drive in runs.

The Pirates offense is missing another power hitter to partner with Josh Bell. But they are just 2.5 games back in the NL Central, so something is going right.

Newman has shifted from leadoff to seventh in the Pirates lineup, so the counting stats may be limited. He has second base and shortstop eligibility, giving owners some flexibility.

Jeimer Candelario

His full-season numbers may not be ideal for owners, .214/6/16 but you’re not picking him up for what he did. Candelario missed 19 games in June. From June 26, the date of his return, until July 7, he hit .350 with three doubles, four home runs and seven RBI.

If the Pirates offense needs another power hitter, the Tigers need at least one. Brandon Dixon leads the team with 12 home runs. Candelario may not rack up the runs and RBIs but he should help with average.

Candelario is hitting in the middle of the Tigers lineup. So, if his teammates can get on base, he’ll have some opportunities.

Evan Longoria

The veteran third baseman also had a bad first half but ended on a strong note. Over the last 15 games, Longoria hit five home runs and 11 RBI. Though, his .240 average is not going to help many owners.

With rumors of the Giants being sellers, he may not have the same level of talent on his team in the final two months of the season. But, there were a few years in Tampa Bay that had him in the same situation.

As long as Longoria stays healthy, he’s a good backup third baseman or utility option in deeper leagues.

Anibal Sanchez

Sanchez had a rough start to the season, finishing April with a 5.91 ERA. Since then, he posted a 2.26 ERA with a 48:15 K:BB ratio in 10 starts.

He doesn’t pitch deep into games, five straight starts of 6.0 innings. In those starts, he has four quality starts and a 4-0 record. The Nationals haven’t announced their rotation coming out of the break, but he will likely face the Orioles next week.

I like Sanchez’s offensive support and matchup, giving him a good chance to post another win and quality start.

Brett Anderson

Another veteran pitcher, Anderson is having himself a good season, 3.86 ERA and 9-5 record. In his last six starts, he posted a 3.68 ERA, 18 strikeouts, seven walks and a 3-1 record. Outside of a seven-run, 3.1-inning start against the Rays, he five quality starts.

The A’s have a good enough offense to give Anderson run support. They average just over six runs per Anderson start.

He makes his next start on July 13 at home against the White Sox, a favorable matchup. He’s a good streaming option at the very least if you don’t want to make a long-term investment.

Aaron Bummer

Who? Yeah, I’m digging deep here. Bummer has taken over the set-up role from Kelvin Herrera for the White Sox. He had a couple of rough appearances in June but still has an ERA under 2.00.

Bummer has 10 holds, one save and one blown save. He has 34 strikeouts in 33.1 innings. The walk rate is a bit high, 3.0 BB/9.

While Alex Colome is locked up as Chicago’s closer, if the team falls out of contention, 7.0 GB in the Wild Card, Bummer could step up and finish as the team’s closer. Even if you’re just looking for strikeouts or holds, Bummer is a good target.

These players have done good things recently but there is a reason why they are on the waiver wire. Whether you play in and AL/NL only or deep mixed league, you can find some value from almost every player. These six have shown that they can help your fantasy baseball team.