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We have completed another week of MLB action, making it time to make more waiver wire moves. However, things will be slightly different for our weekly look into the high-stakes NFBC landscape. For those that do not know, in the NFBC, there are no IL spots and no trades, making waiver moves a bit different. Also, offensive roster moves are made bi-weekly, so some waiver claims are made for the player in a great matchup early or later in the week. This weekly article will outline the upcoming schedule, two-start pitchers, and a few waiver targets that are rostered in less than 50% of leagues according to the 12-team online championships.
Early in the season, we are interested in players that are off to hot starts and, more importantly, show sustainable improvements from last season. With the early injuries, we are also looking into players that may be receiving more playing time. Some of the lower rostered players, or some not mentioned here, are on the solid side of platoons, so make sure you are not adding them if they have a negative schedule. Lastly, the names in the article are in order of percentage rostered, not so much in my preference of adding to your roster. This article will discuss NFBC fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 4, May 2 through May 8.
In the first few weeks, rostered percentages can change quickly. So be quick to check your leagues for their availability. When you want to chat it up regarding outfielders, prospects, or dynasty leagues, message me directly on Twitter at @bdentrek. Key points - this list will focus on rostered players in less than 50% of Yahoo! leagues.
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Schedule Outlook
This week, nearly all teams play at least six games, but we have a handful of teams with seven games and even one lucky team with eight games. There is a juicy Fri-Sun setup for the Reds and Pirates, who will play four games in three days in Great American Small Park when breaking down the schedule. We also have a lovely three-game series in Coors Field to start the week between the Rockies and Nationals.
- 8 Games- NYM
- 7 Games- ATL, BAL, CIN, HOU, LAA, MIA, MIN, SEA, STL, TB, TOR
- 6 Games- ARI, BOS, CLE, COL, CWS, DET, KC, MIL, NYM, OAK, PHI, PIT, SD, SF, WAS
- 5 Games- CHC, LAD, TEX
Two-Start Pitchers
- Zac Gallen (at MIA, vs. COL)
- Charlie Morton (at NYM, vs. MIL)
- Tyler Wells (vs. MIN, vs. KC)
- Bruce Zimmermann (vs. MIN, vs. KC)
- Michael Wacha (vs. LAA, vs. CWS)
- Vladimir Gutierrez (at MIL, vs. PIT)
- Zach Plesac (vs. SD, vs. TOR)
- German Marquez (vs. WAS, at ARI)
- Dylan Cease (vs. LAA, at BOS)
- Michael Pineda (vs. PIT, at HOU)
- Jake Odorizzi (vs. SEA, vs. DET)
- Zack Greinke (at STL, at BAL)
- Michael Lorenzen (at CWS, vs. WAS)
- Patrick Sandoval (at BOS, vs. WAS)
- Pablo Lopez (vs. ARI, at SD)
- Trevor Rogers (vs. ARI, at SD)
- Brandon Woodruff (vs. CIN, at ATL)
- Joe Ryan (at BAL, vs. OAK)
- Chris Bassitt (vs. ATL, at PHI)
- Carlos Carrasco (vs. ATL, at PHI)
- Jordan Montgomery (at TOR, vs. TEX)
- Daulton Jefferies (vs. TB, at MIN)
- Ranger Suarez (vs. TEX, vs. NYM)
- Bryse Wilson (at DET, at CIN)
- Mike Clevinger (at CLE, vs. MIA)
- Marco Gonzales (at HOU, vs. TB)
- Chris Flexen (at HOU, vs. TB)
- Carlos Rodon (at LAD, vs. STL)
- Steven Matz (vs. KC, at SF)
- Dakota Hudson (at KC, at SF)
- Drew Rasmussen (at OAK, at SEA)
- Ryan Yarbrough (at OAK, at SEA)
- Ross Stripling (vs. NYY, at CLE)
- Alek Manoah (vs. NYY, at CLE)
- Erick Fedde (at COL, at LAA)
Infield Waiver Wire Pickups
Wilmer Flores (1B/2B/3B), San Francisco Giants
42% Rostered
Injuries continue to pile up for the Giants. Joc Pederson is day-to-day with an adductor injury, and on Friday, Brandon Belt hit the COVID IL. Evan Longoria and others were already injured, so playing time is for the taking for many Giants. Flores is one of those Giants that has taken advantage, playing nearly every day at DH or 3B. Over his last eight games (heading into Friday), Flores was hitting .323 with three extra-base hits with a .161 ISO and .848 OPS. Flores is not just a platoon player versus LHP for now, and that brings excellent value as the Giants have six games next week. Julio Urias could be a tough matchup, but Tony Gonsolin, Dakota Hudson, and Steven Matz are a few of the matchups that could play in Flores's favor. Not to mention he is eligible at three positions which is tremendous.
Maikel Franco (3B), Washington Nationals
23% Rostered
Franco continues to take advantage of regular playing time and has made himself fantasy viable in deeper leagues. Heading into Friday, Franco had hit safely in nine of his last 12 games. The power has not been great, with only two extra-base hits over that stretch with a .093 ISO. As of this writing, he has two doubles that will up his power stat line. This week, Franco has a favorable schedule with three games in Coors and three total games versus LHP. Franco is hitting .286 versus LHP with a .746 OPS on the season. Third base is a rough position for fantasy, making Franco an interesting add this week.
Daniel Vogelbach (1B), Pittsburgh Pirates
16% Rostered
The Pirates play six games this week, four of which are on the weekend in Great American Small Park. Vogelbach is the perfect NFBC play to try and take advantage of the schedule and gain extra at-bats. On the season, Vogelbach is hitting .298 with three home runs and a .211 ISO. He has been streaking of late, hitting safely in eight of his last nine games for a .303 average and two home runs. Vogelbach either hits leadoff or cleanup, making his fantasy value even better. He faces some outstanding pitching matchups over the weekend, and for that alone, he is worth an add to your NFBC rosters.
Mike Moustakas (3B), Cincinnati Reds
7% Rostered
Moustakas returned from the IL on Thursday, and after his first two games, he is 3-6 with two walks. He has two more games in Coors this weekend which will raise the intrigue on Moose. Next week he plays seven games. The first three are tricky games in Milwaukee, but then four outstanding games over the weekend at home versus the Pirates. Moose was injured most of 2021, but from 2016-to 2020, Moose had an ISO over .200 and an OPS over .790 versus RHP. Seven games are great to rack up at-bats, and the weekend four-pack versus the Pirates is icing on the cake.
Diego Castillo (2B), Pittsburgh Pirates
6% Rostered
You are probably sensing a trend by now, but let's focus on potential one-week rentals for the fantastic four-game weekend matchup. Castillo has been productive to start the season, not crushing for fantasy teams, but effective. With the injury to Kevin Newman earlier this week, Castillo has stepped in as the starting shortstop, which will help shore up playing time. He went 2-4 on Friday night, and hopefully, he can be fantasy productive with the regular playing time. Since Newman's injury, he has hit first, seventh, and fifth in his three starts. Castillo may be more than a streamer in deeper formats, but at worse, an excellent weekly rental for the four-game series in Great American Small Park.
Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups
Tony Kemp (2B/OF), Oakland Athletics
47% Rostered
Kemp has been up and down this season regarding fantasy upside and is worth an add this week. He has six games with a few excellent matchups, but the real kicker is grabbing Kemp and his other A's teammates for cheap this week as they play NINE games the following week. Five at Detroit and four versus the Angels sounds so nice for fantasy goodness. Kemp brings some nice positional flexibility while leading off for the A's. Look into adding Kemp, Chad Pinder, Seth Brown, and definitely Sheldon Neuse (written up last week).
Garrett Cooper (OF), Miami Marlins
20% Rostered
Cooper came into Friday's action swinging a hot bat. He had hit safely in four of his last five games with a .438 average. In addition, he has a .188 ISO with a 1.125 OPS and a 25% barrel rate. This week, the Marlins play seven games, three at home versus the Diamondbacks and four games at the Padres. He will face two lefties in Madison Bumgarner (who is due to get rocked) and Sean Manaea. Cooper has been playing first base or DH while hitting fourth or fifth, so bring on all the fantasy goodness this week from Cooper.
Pavin Smith (1B/OF), Arizona Diamondbacks
6% Rostered
Smith has been having a solid season and has taken off over the last eight games. He is hitting .333 with three extra-base hits and a .238 ISO. His power production comes with a 20% barrel rate and 40% hard-hit rate. Smith has been hitting near the top of the order and has some solid matchups in the DBacks' six games this week. Four of the games are against RHP, and one of the two LHP he faces is Kyle Freeland which should not scare many. Smith may have fantasy viability for more than just the coming week, but look to add for now in deeper leagues.
Chas McCormick (OF), Houston Astros
4% Rostered
It was a slow start to the season for McCormick, but he has been kicking it into gear, leading to multiple games hitting atop the Astros' batting order. On the season, McCormick is hitting .278 with five extra-base hits and a .130 ISO. As long as he continues to lead off for the Astros, his fantasy value increases. This week, the Astros play seven games, three versus the Mariners and four versus the Tigers, resulting in some great fantasy matchups for the surging Astros' offense.
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