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As we sprint into Week 17 of the fantasy baseball season, we also roll into August, meaning about two-thirds of the MLB regular season is in the rearview mirror. Fantasy baseball playoffs are right around the corner and time is running out to climb the standings in rotisserie leagues.
These days, there's less competition on the waiver wire as some fantasy managers have already lost interest, and even more are on their way out the door as fantasy football season approaches. Not you, RotoBaller Reader. We've come this far and now is the time to lock up that championship. Read below for available Middle Infielders that can help make that dream a reality.
As a reminder, we'll be looking at pickups for shallow leagues (30-49% rostered) and deeper formats (10-29%), as well as highlighting players in the single-digits who deserve a spot on your watch list at the very least. These are your second base and shortstop fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 17 – August 1st through August 7th.
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Waiver Wire Pickups for Shallow Leagues
Luis Urias, 2B/SS/3B, Milwaukee Brewers (44% rostered)
Urias' brother Ramon was the lead in this column last week, so let's keep it in the family and highlight Luis who has been playing well for the Brewers. Urias homered in both games of a two-game set versus the Twins last week and raised his OPS to .729 on the season.
No, it's not quite the .789 OPS he posted in 2021, but Urias is still taking his walks (10.9% BB-rate) and slugged .473 in the month of July. He's gotten better as the season progressed and could be in line for a big finish to the 2022 campaign.
Jorge Mateo, 2B/SS/OF, Baltimore Orioles (37% rostered)
The league leader in stolen bases is available in over 60 percent of fantasy leagues. This is hard to believe given how steal-crazy fantasy managers get during draft season, but it's true.
The league leader in one-fifth of hitter scoring in roto leagues is widely available on the waiver wire. Granted, not all leagues use the same scoring, but if he posted his July stats in, say, April, he'd be 90-plus percent rostered.
In July, Mateo batted a respectable .265 and had a .311 on-base percentage, and picked up five steals, bringing his season total to a league-leading 24 thefts. He's even got seven homers on the season, so he's not a complete zero in the power department.
Waiver Wire Pickups for Deeper Leagues
Gio Urshela, SS/3B, Minnesota Twins (29% rostered)
Urshela hasn't been flashy in his first season in Minnesota, but the former Yankee has been a steady contributor for a good Twins lineup. His .265 batting average is respectable, but he's been really solid in the counting-stats department with 78 runs-plus-RBI in 86 games.
His 16.5 percent strikeout rate is excellent and his 8.5 percent barrel rate is a career-best. Urshela isn't a league-winner, but he should continue to be a steady contributor for both the Twins and fantasy managers.
Bryson Stott, 2B/SS, Philadelphia Phillies (7% rostered)
Stott, the number-one ranked prospect for the Phillies according to MLB.com, still has ugly numbers on the season and that's masked how good the rookie has been lately for the feisty Phills. Stott batted under .150 in April and May, a span that included being sent back down to Triple-A for more seasoning.
Since the start of June, Stott has a solid .711 OPS and has 17 walks against only 19 strikeouts. This is more in line with his minor league numbers where Stott was consistently a .300-plus hitter. Toss out his season-long stats, Stott is playing well and playing everyday for the Phillies.
Waiver Wire Watch List
Gunnar Henderson, SS, Baltimore Orioles (5% Rostered)
Henderson may be more relevant in dynasty/keeper leagues, but if he gets the call to the Orioles, he's certainly worth a look in redraft as well. Henderson represented the O's in the Futures Game earlier this month and continues to mash Triple-A pitching to the tune of a .942 OPS playing for the Norfolk Tides.
Baltimore is one of the most interesting teams heading into the trade deadline and pending what it does, Henderson could get a look in the Big Leagues this season.
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