RADIO
We have completed another week of MLB action, making it time to make more waiver wire moves heading into Week 12. However, things will be slightly different for our weekly look into the high-stakes NFBC landscape. For those who do not know, in the NFBC, there are no IL spots and 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.
As the season continues and we are churning and burning on the waiver wire, sometimes a hot bat is worth a pick-up. Besides "hot bats," we can also look at upcoming schedules to try and maximize at-bats. With all of the 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 13, July 4th through July 10th.
In the first few weeks, rostered percentages can change quickly. So be quick to check your leagues for their availability. Also, when you want to chat about outfielders, prospects, or dynasty leagues, please message me directly on Twitter at @bdentrek. Key points - this list will focus on rostered players in less than 50% of NFBC OC leagues.
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Fantasy Baseball Schedule Outlook
We have a pretty full week of games. Three teams play eight games thanks to a couple of double-headers. Most teams play seven games, and no teams play less than six. That means we have many 2-start pitching options (not all great) and many places to stream at-bats for your NFBC formats. We have eight games in Great American Small Park, giving a bump to Mets, Pirates, and Rays bats. No Coors on tap, so that takes some fun out of things. Overall a loaded week of action.
- 8 Games- CIN, CLE, DET
- 7 Games - ARI, ATL, BAL, BOS, CHC, COL, CWS, HOU, KC, LAD, MIA, NYM, PIT, SF, STL
- 6 Games - LAA, MIL, MIN, NYY, OAK, PHI, SD, SEA, TB, TEX, TOR, WAS
Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers
- Madison Bumgarner (vs. SF, vs. COL)
- Luke Weaver (vs. SF, vs. COL)
- Kyle Wright (vs. STL, vs. WAS)
- Ian Anderson (vs. STL, vs. WAS)
- Dean Kremer (vs. TEX, vs. LAA)
- Austin Voth (vs. TEX, vs. LAA)
- Michael Wacha (vs. TB, vs. NYY)
- Nick Pivetta (vs. TB, vs. NYY)
- Justin Steele (@ MIL, @ LAD)
- Kyle Hendricks (@ MIL, @ LAD)
- Hunter Greene (vs. NYM, vs. TB)
- Nick Lodolo (vs. NYM, vs. TB)
- Cal Quantrill (@ DET, @ KC)
- Kyle Freeland (@ LAD, @ ARI)
- German Marquez (@ LAD, @ ARI)
- Johnny Cueto (vs. MIN, vs. DET)
- Michael Kopech (vs. MIN, vs. DET)
- Rony Garcia (vs. CLE, @ CWS)
- Justin Verlander (vs. KC, @ OAK)
- Luis Garcia (vs. KC, @ OAK)
- Jonathan Heasley (@ HOU, vs. CLE)
- Zack Greinke (@ HOU, vs. CLE)
- Julio Urias (vs. COL, vs. CHC)
- Mitch White (vs. COL, vs. CHC)
- Braxton Garrett (@ WAS, @ NYM)
- Sandy Alcantara (@ WAS, @ NYM)
- Eric Lauer (vs. CHC, vs. PIT)
- Dylan Bundy (@ CWS, @ TEX)
- Taijuan Walker (@ CIN, vs. MIA)
- Max Scherzer (@ CIN, vs. MIA)
- Jameson Taillon (@ PIT, @ BOS)
- Cole Irvin (vs. TOR, vs. HOU)
- Ranger Suarez (vs. WAS, @ STL)
- Mitch Keller (vs. NYY, @ MIL)
- Chris Flexen (@ SD, vs. TOR)
- Carlos Rodon (@ AZ, @ SD)
- Alex Wood (@ AZ, @ SD)
- Daniel Hudson (@ ATL, vs. PHI)
- Andre Pallante (@ ATL, vs. PHI)
- Dane Dunning (@ BAL, vs. MIN)
- Alek Manoah (@ OAK, @ SEA)
- Yusei Kikuchi (@ OAK, @ SEA)
- Patrick Corbin (vs. MIA, @ ATL)
- Paolo Espino (vs. MIA, @ ATL)
Infield Waiver Wire Pickups
Cavan Biggio (1B/2B/3B), Toronto Blue Jays
19% Rostered
Don't look now, but Biggio is starting to put up some fantasy goodness. He has hit safely in five of his last eight games with two home runs and five doubles. Biggio's OBP skills are still excellent, with a 22% walk rate while striking out 19.4% of the time. In addition, Biggio has a .500 ISO with a 299 wRC+ over the last eight games, showing some excellent offensive skills. His contact quality is also very nice, with a 17.6% barrel rate.
The two home runs were the first two of the season for Biggio. He is now hitting .227 while striking out 28.5% of the time, a big reason why the sub 20% K-rate was quite a pleasant surprise. Biggio is playing nearly every day and playing all over the diamond. His multi-position eligibility is outstanding, as well as his improved bat-to-ball skills. In deeper leagues, Biggio is definitely on the radar from now on.
Joey Wendle (SS/3B), Miami Marlins
15% Rostered
Wendle returned from the IL on Friday and collected two hits in five at-bats. On the season, Wendle is hitting .293 with two home runs and four stolen bases. Wendle is only striking out 10.8% of the time, meaning a lot of balls in play. Wendle will not be a significant power source but will get on base plenty, steal a few bags and score decent runs. He hits near the top of the Marlins batting order, which also helps a ton. Wendle is likely a 15-team play only, especially with his multi-positional eligibility.
Vinnie Pasquantino (1B), Kansas City Royals
0% Rostered
It finally happened. It's time for some Italian Breakfast. Pasquantino was called up a few games ago and collected his first hit on Friday, a home run. Pasquantino was destroying baseballs in Triple-A. He hit .280 with 18 home runs, three stolen bases, a .948 OPS, and 144 WRC+. Pasquantino only struck out 12.2% of the time, which is also quite impressive from the big man. It may take a few games for Pasquantino to get comfortable in the bigs, but he is a hitting machine. Pasquantino will be the most bid-on player this weekend, and if you need power, he should also be high on your list.
Darick Hall (1B), Philadelphia Phillies
0% Rostered
While everyone is obsessing over Pasquantino, Hall may be an excellent option for less money. Well, he would have been a lot less money before his two home run game on Thursday and another home run on Friday. Hall has been up for three games and has three hits, all home runs. The power is no surprise for those who watched Hall in the minors as he hit .269 with 20 home runs and a .280 ISO. Hall has hit cleanup in all three games for the Phillies, a very potent Phillies lineup. Hall could produce like Pasquantino or maybe better and should hopefully come in at a lower FAAB price.
Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups
Seth Brown (1B/OF), Oakland Athletics
43% Rostered
Brown has been heating up late and is back on the fantasy radar. Over his last ten games, Brown is hitting .325 with six extra-base hits, including two home runs. Brown has tossed in a stolen base to go with a .916 OPS and 165 wRC+. Brown has zero walks over the ten games, which are not ideal, but the production cannot be ignored. He has struggled quite a bit versus LHP this season, so keep that in mind when putting him in your lineups. Lastly, Brown is hitting in the middle of the order and brings excellent multi-positional eligibility, which is enormous for your fantasy teams.
Jake Meyers (OF), Houston Astros
6% Rostered
Meyers got called up a week ago by the Astros and has hit safely in four of seven games. Meyers has had a home run since he was called up but has not walked and is striking out 36% of the time. His plate discipline needs some serious work with a 39% O-swing, 73.5% contact rate, and 13% SwStr is not ideal. On the bright side, when Meyers does make contact, he is barreling the ball 12.5% of the time with a 56.3% hard-hit rate. Meyers is strictly a deeper league play. He is hitting at the bottom of the Astros lineup, and with the plate discipline, concerns could be one slump away from another switch in the Astros outfield, especially when Michale Brantley returns from the IL.
Bligh Madris (OF), Pittsburgh Pirates
6% Rostered
Madris has been quite the surprise, at least to me, since he was called up a couple of weeks ago. Over his 12 games since his call-up, Madris is hitting .310 with a home run and a stolen base. Madris is barreling the ball 9.4% of the time with a 40% hard-hit rate, a .826 OPS, and 129 wRC+. Madris is striking out 23.3% of the time with a 37.2% O-swing and 12.4% SwStr so some plate discipline will be needed. For now, though, Madris is definitely on my 12-team and deeper radar if I need outfield help as he is hitting in the middle of the Pirates lineups and appears to be locked into everyday playing time.
Josh Harrison (2B/3B/OF), Chicago White Sox
1% Rostered
Welcome back, Josh Harrison. After a dreadful start to the season, Harrison is back and rolling. Over the last couple of weeks, Harrison has been hitting .357 with two home runs. Harrison is hitting so well with a .926 OPS and 173 wRC+, jumping back onto the fantasy radar. We all know what Harrison can do when he is locked in, and right now, it appears he is very locked in. The multi-positional eligibility Harrison brings to your team is the icing on the cake. I would be looking to add Harrison in all 12-team and deeper formats this week.
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