Points League Hitters: Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 21

Welcome to Week 21 and our fantasy baseball waiver wire hitters. We'll be doing this roundup of points leagues every week here at RotoBaller, with waiver wire targets and streaming pitchers being evaluated in terms of the different scoring systems of ESPN, Yahoo!, CBS, and Fantrax.

Player values can vary wildly from platform to platform, so we'll make sure to highlight where players are the best and worst fits. We know points league players get neglected and we're here to help.

These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of August 29th - September 4th, looking at players below ~50% rostered for ESPN, Yahoo!, or Fantrax. Position eligibility is taken from Fantrax and players are grouped by their most valuable fantasy position, using a hierarchy of: C > 2B > OF > 3B > 1B > SS. Stats and rankings for charts are calculated using games through Friday, August 26th.

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Know Your Scoring System

You know what I'm going to say, right?  You must account for, as precisely as possible, how a player performs under your particular scoring system. Don't be fooled into believing you can just make rough adjustments in your head, bumping up guys with high on-base percentages and low strikeout rates. Every point, in every category, counts.

For example, ESPN and Fantrax are virtually identical in their scoring for hitters and roster size. The only difference is that stolen bases are worth one more point on Fantrax and ESPN subtracts one point per strikeout. That's the difference between Trea Turner being a top-five hitter versus a top-25 hitter.

If your league uses standard settings, then great! Turn to page 94 and you can skip ahead to the leaderboards. If you play with custom settings, it'll still be fine. Go back to page 43 and look below at the scoring systems of the four major platforms. I bet there's a chance that you'll find that your league's scoring is very similar to one of the four (well, not Yahoo!'s), even if it's not the platform you actually play on.

You'll likely find a suitable mirror to your own system if you look above. While every point counts, as long as they aren't seismic changes, you can get away with some "close enough" calls. IE. You're probably fine if everything is the same except for HBP (or something similar).

 

Week 21: Waiver Wire Leaderboards

All charts are updated prior to Saturday's games, on stats and ownerships, and clicking on a chart will open a new page with a magnified version. Players on overall leaderboards are ordered according to their current Roster% on Yahoo.

*APR = Average Platform Ranking - the average platform ranking between ESPN, CBS, Yahoo, and Fantrax (standard point settings)

The 14-Day Leaderboard, Presented by Hansel

These players are so hot right now. Here are the players on the wire who are running inside the top-100 of APR over the past two weeks:

Overall Leaderboards

 

First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Yandy Diaz, TB, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 55%) - Covered at 3B

Joey Meneses, WSH, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 11%) - The power has slowed down since his initial surge upon getting called up (5 HR in 34 PA) but Meneses recently broke an eight-game streak of no dongs, going deep on August 23. But given what he's shown in the minors, I'm not too concerned about the homers sticking around. What's more positive for points is the increased contact and excellent plate discipline, posting just an 18.5% K% over his first 81 PA. Having now started 15 games in a row, Meneses has collected at least one hit in all but two of his 20 games played and is currently on a six-game hitting streak, over which he's slashing .320/.320/.480, with a 121 wRC+.

Next Choices

Harold Ramirez, TB, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 12%) - Covered at OF

Harold Castro, DET, 1B/2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 2%) - Covered at 2B

Brendan Donovan, STL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo:21%, ESPN: 14%) - Covered at 2B

Desperate Choices

Albert Pujols, STL (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 20%) - De-vil ma-gic, clap,clap, clap-clap-clap...De-vil ma-gic, clap, clap, clap-clap-clap. Pujols has a 7 APR over the past two weeks, as you may have heard (about 100x) that he's recently discovered the fountain of home run youth. But he's still tough to play unless you're in a daily moves league, given his sporadic usage. Pujols is doing more than just starting vs LHP but is currently averaging about 3-4 games a week. In Week 21, St. Louis is scheduled to face just two LHP, though, Mike Minor is one of them, so a 3-HR week is probably on the table.

Dan Vogelbach, NYM (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 7%) - Vogelbach is entrenched in the strong side of a DH platoon, getting his first night off against an RHP on Friday since being traded to the Mets. But don't expect a lot of usage in Week 21, as New York is currently scheduled to face left-handers in four of their six games, including every game against the Dodgers in their first series of the week.

Luke Voit, WSH (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 29%) - Voit keeps doing Voit things, running a 35.1 K% over the last two weeks and hitting two home runs. I hope you're not forced to use him.

 

On the IL

• Vinnie Pasquantino, KC (shoulder discomfort - no timetable for return
• Brandon Belt, SF (knee inflammation - no timetable for return)
• Eric Hosmer, BOS (lower back inflammation - no timetable for return)

 

Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Nico Hoerner, CHC, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 49%, ESPN: 38%) - Hoerner's Roster% continues to be fickle and he rejoins our pool this week. But it really shouldn't, given his scoring profile is going to give him a high floor under most systems, even if the ceiling isn't going to be extraordinary.

David Fletcher, LAA, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 42%) - Fletcher has been fully activating his super-compiler points powers since returning from the IL on July 28 and has now started 19 games in a row for the Angels, with all but four coming at leadoff. Over that stretch, he's slashing .333/.373/.410 and is running a 77 APR for the past two weeks.

Next Choices

Bryson Stott, PHI, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 6%) - Stott's Roster% just goes to show you how long it takes for players to adjust opinions after a young player initially struggles. After an absolutely brutal first two months in the majors (.123/.179/.151, .156 wOBA, -7(!) wRC+), Stott has turned things around, slashing .261/.322/.424 over 267 PA since June 1. That's still nothing extraordinary but things have heated up even further in August, with the rookie slashing .321/.360./.481, with a .365 wOBA and 16.3% K%. Currently, on an eight-game hitting streak, the biggest anchor on Stott's value right now is a recent lack of starts vs LHP, taking a seat the last three times the Phillies have faced one. And in Week 21, the Phillies are scheduled to face left-handers in three of their six matchups.

Luis Rengifo, LAA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 39%, ESPN: 14%) - Rengifo's combination of an everyday role, middle of the order lineup spot (and behind Shohei Ohtani/Mike Trout), and 15.8% K%, will make him a viable option under many scoring formats. But on a woeful Angels offense, collecting counting stats (and the points they come with) will continue to be an uphill battle.

Kyle Farmer, CIN, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 24%) - Like many point assets that tend to fall through the cracks, Farmer will generate value under most systems just from the fact that he plays every day and bats in the middle of the lineup. And like Nico Hoerner, Farmer's scoring profile gives him a high (if boring) floor.

Brendan Donovan, STL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo:21%, ESPN: 14%) - Anyone for a Brendan Donovan renaissance? Ok, probably not but Donovan has now started every game for the Cardinals vs RHP since August 9 and his PAs (and scoring) have only been limited by St. Louis recently facing seven lefties over a 12-game stretch. With the Cardinals only scheduled to face two lefties this week in matchups in Cincinnati and at home versus the Cubs, expect Donovan to get at least four starts in. It's nothing exciting but elite K%/BB% and eligibility almost everywhere can be useful this time of year.

Jose Iglesias, COL, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 29%, ESPN: 22%) - Iglesias has zero power but slaps together enough hits to be viable under most systems. Although, he is running really cold the past two weeks, slashing just .211/.231/.263. But while you'd usually avoid fringe Colorado hitters away from Coors (as the Rockies will be all week in Week 21), Iglesias has actually been better away from home this season, slashing .352/.386/.449 over 196 PA, compared to .264/.304/.358 over 201 PA at home.

Harold Castro, DET, 1B/2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 2%) - Castro's 146 APR over the past two weeks is certainly nothing to get excited about but (like many others on these lists) is locked into an everyday role, batting cleanup vs RHP and 5th-6th vs LHP. But once again, when you're on a team like the Tigers, getting points from counting stats will continue to be a struggle.

Desperate Choices

Christian Arroyo, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 2%) - Arroyo just keeps hitting, slashing .333/.356/.452 over 87 PA in August, with a .349 wOBA and 124 wRC+. But if Trevor Story gets activated from the IL over the weekend, his playing time could quickly fall into the basement.

Adam Frazier, SEA, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 40%) - Frazier's per-PA scoring rates are still good (and have been excellent over the past two weeks) but this is a great lesson on how much value can get sucked out of good point assets that get dropped in the order, as Frazier has returned to the bottom-third of Seattle's lineup for every game but one since Julio Rodriguez returned from injury. This kind of profile needs 25+ PA per week but Frazier just isn't getting them.

Christopher Morel, CHC, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 35%, ESPN: 17%) - Morel is still (mostly) playing every day but his runaway strikeout rate is making him an untenable points play, now running a 30.3% K% for the year and a Gall0-esque 37.8% K% over the past two weeks.

Ramon Urias, BAL, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 11%) - Urias is a on a mini-heater (for him, anyway), posting a 108 APR over the past two weeks. But his per-PA scoring rates remain below average, making him prone to brutal scoring weeks. But an everyday role in the middle of the order is nothing to sneeze at, in some leagues, that is.

Luis Urias, MIL, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 35%, ESPN: 49%) - Different Urias, similar story. Below-average scoring rates but an everyday role. Luis, however, has been getting rather unlucky lately, with a .343 xwOBA over the past two weeks but just a .233 wOBA.

Tony Kemp, OAK, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 3%) - Kemp plays every day and bats leadoff. And this ends the list of positive Tony Kemp qualities.

Nolan Gorman, STL, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 15%) - Leagues where Gorman is going to be useful are going to be a very narrow band. IE. It can't have a strikeout penalty and you must be able to make daily moves. Without both, Gorman (and his 31.3% K% in a platoon) simply isn't viable this season.

On the IL

• Eduardo Escobar, NYM (strained oblique - on rehab assignment)
• Matt Carpenter, NYY (broken foot - no timetable for return)
• Aledmys Diaz, HOU (strained groin - no timetable for return)
• Jonathan Schoop, DET (sprained ankle - no timetable for return)
• Luis Guillorme, NYM (strained groin - out at least 3-4 weeks)
• Leury Garcia, CHW (strained lower back - on rehab assignment)

 

Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Yandy Diaz, TB, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 55%) - Umm, what are you doing back here, Yandy? I don't know why Diaz's Roster% has dropped in Yahoo and ESPN but it shouldn't have. Especially considering he's currently on a real heater, posting a 7 APR over the past two weeks by slashing .320/.393/.580 over 56 PA, with 2 HR, 10 R, and 11 RBI. Surely, this will be a one-week aberration.

Next Choices

Evan Longoria, SF (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 3%) - I feel like I've written this about twenty times over the past two seasons but Longoria is an excellent points asset...You know, in the three-week windows that he's healthy for? But he's off the IL currently and has run a 79 APR over the past two weeks. With a likely scheduled IL stint on the horizon, better grab him while you can.

Emmanuel Rivera, ARI (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 1%) - Rivera has been sneaky good since getting traded to Arizona and recently claiming the everyday job at third base. He has a 59 APR over the past two weeks, starting every game but one and slashing .238/.360/.500 over 50 PA, with a 22% K% and 12% BB%.

Desperate Choices

Yoan Moncada, CHW (Yahoo: 42%, ESPN: 46%) - If per-PA scoring rates that are way below average are your thing, Moncada could be the third baseman for you.

On the IL

• Nope

 

Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Nico Hoerner, CHC, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 49%, ESPN: 38%) - Covered at 2B

David Fletcher, LAA, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 42%) - Covered at 2B

Next Choices

Bryson Stott, PHI, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 6%) - Covered at 2B

Luis Rengifo, LAA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 39%, ESPN: 14%) - Covered at 2B

Brendan Donovan, STL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo:21%, ESPN: 14%) - Covered at 2B

Desperate Choices

Oneil Cruz, PIT (Yahoo: 47%, ESPN: 28%) - Welcome to the party, pal! Unfortunately, you and your 38.5% K% (over 50% vs LHP) aren't going to be welcome under most scoring formats, no matter how high the exit velocities are.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa, NYY (Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 12%) - If your team needs to be down with IKF, you're probably D.U.N.

On the IL

• None

 

Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

It's dumpster season. I hope you don't need a catcher from the waiver wire.

Best Choices

Shea Langeliers, OAK (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 4%) - One of Oakland's top prospects, Langeliers has now started every game but one since getting called up on August 16, slashing .289/.300/.605 over 40 PA, with 2 HR and a .375 wOBA. It's only a 100 APR but that's pretty good for a catcher, especially at this time of year and his per-PA scoring rates are excellent. But if a 40% K% continues, he's going to be untenable in many leagues.

Cal Raleigh, SEA (Yahoo: 14%, ESPN: 6%) - Raleigh will give you about the most PAs that you'll find on the wire but the below-average scoring rates and 30% K% won't do you any favors under most scoring formats.

Next Choices

Carson Kelly, ARI (Yahoo: 14%, ESPN: 12%) - Kelly is slumping but is back to being Arizona's full-time catcher, now having started 10 games in a row (1 game at DH). The per-PA scoring rates aren't great but are buffered by an amount of PAs that most catchers on the wire simply aren't getting.

Desperate Choices*

*All catcher adds are desperate adds. Now and forever. But also:

Gary Sanchez, MIN (Yahoo: 39%, ESPN: 32%) - Sanchez is what Sanchez is but it is. And what that is, is someone who splits time with Sandy Leon.

On the IL

• Yasmani Grandal, MIL (strained knee - on rehab assignment)
• Jorge Alfaro, SD (knee inflammation - no timetable for return)
• Ryan Jeffers, MIN (fractured thumb - out 6-8 weeks)

 

Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Lars Nootbaar, STL (Yahoo: 41%, ESPN: 17%) - No, that's not a create-a-player from MLB The Show (Dutch edition), it's the everyday starter for the Cardinals who has an 8 APR over the past two weeks and has posted elite per-PA scoring rates over the entirety of his 226 PA. Nootbaar has now started every game but one since the All-Star break and is slashing .312/.444/.571, with a .417 wOBA over 99 PA in August. But hurry because the rest of the world is finally catching on, with his Roster% jumping over 30 points on Yahoo since last week.

Manuel Margot, TB (Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 11%) - Margot's per-PA scoring rates were well above average before hitting the IL and he's gotten right back to it in the 23 PA since returning, posting rates in the small sample that belong in the top tiers. But he's also sat twice in the seven games since returning. If that's just the Rays easing him back in (and not pulling any Tampa Bay shenanigans), Margot will again be an excellent points asset.

Joc Pederson, SF (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 51%) - Since returning from the IL on August 6, Pederson is slashing a ridiculous .340/.415/.511, with a .404 wOBA and 164 wRC+. He still doesn't start vs LHP but San Francisco is scheduled to face just two lefties in Week 21. He's probably not on a ton of waiver wires but, if so, is definitely worth a snag.

Oscar Gonzalez, CLE (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 5%) - C'mon! Still no movement on his Roster%? Gonzalez has now started 18 of Cleveland's last 19 games and has run an 81 APR over the past two weeks, with a .350 wOBA and .831 OPS. The strikeout rate is excellent and he's finally starting to tap into the prodigious power that he showed in the minors, hitting two home runs in the past week. This is a good hitter.

Jake Fraley, CIN (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 13%) - May I interest anyone in a Jake Fraley SZN? Fraley's per-PA scoring rates have been excellent all season (though interrupted by a long IL stint) and his point stock is thriving in an everyday role. He has a 15 APR over the past two weeks and is slashing .296/.378/.592 over 82 PA in the second half, with a .417 wOBA.

Next Choices

Harold Ramirez, TB, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 12%) - Since returning from the IL, Ramirez has gotten right back to doing what he was doing before leaving - playing every day, rarely striking out, and collecting plenty of counting stats from his regular spot in the middle of Tampa Bay's order. With an everyday role and excellent per-PA scoring rates, Ramirez should continue to be a solid points asset.

AJ Pollock, CHW (Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 21%) - Pollock's power has finally shown up over the past two weeks, hitting three home runs since August 13 and running a 55 APR. And that's with his actual stats lagging the expected ones, with a .326 wOBA backed by a .395 xwOBA, and a .351 wOBAcon backed by a .436 xwOBAcon.

Ben Gamel, PIT (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 2%) - I hereby declare this latest Ben Gamel SZN to be...Continued!  Gamel has a 101 APR over the past two weeks and is slashing .289/.352/.458 in August, with 2 HR and 16 RBI. May your reign last another week.

Desperate Choices

Victor Reyes, DET (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Virtually unowned, Reyes is batting second every day for the Tigers and has posted a 79 APR over the past two weeks, slashing .333/.400/.400, with a .356 wOBA.

Riley Greene, DET (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 13%) - The rookie is heating up, running a 59 APR over the last two weeks, with a .345 wOBA and .477 wOBAcon. But don't get carried away because that success came with a 30.2% K%, .287 xwOBA, and .386 xwOBAcon.

Robbie Grossman, ATL (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 35%) - It took him a while but Grossman has finally fought his way back to a full-time role, starting each of Atlanta's last 10 games. Over that stretch, he slashed .257/.316/.429, with 2 HR, 7 R, and 9 RBI. Nothing that special but better than anything Marcel Ozuna has been able to provide, so expect Grossman to continue to be the guy in left field for the Braves.

Jake McCarthy, ARI (Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 6%) - McCarthy has a 48 APR over the past two weeks and has now started 11 of Arizona's last 13 games, earning great value per PA on the back of excellent plate discipline (21.2% K%, 8% BB%). But don't get too excited because his .399 wOBA and .416 wOBAcon over the past two weeks was backed by a .320 xwOBA and .313 xwOBAcon.

On the IL

• Jorge Soler, MIA (lower back spasms - no timetable for return)
• Austin Meadows, DET (strained achilles - no timetable for return)
• Harrison Bader, STL (plantar fascitis - no timetable for return)
• Ramon Laureano, OAK (strained oblique - no timetable for return)
• Avisail Garcia, MIA (strained hamstring - no timetable for return)
• Brandon Marsh, PHI (sprained ankle - on rehab assignment)
• Yadiel Hernandez, WSH (strained calf - no timetable for return)
• Yonathan Daza, COL (shoulder dislocation - no timetable for return)
• Edward Olivares, KC (strained quad - no timetable for return)
• Trevor Larnach, MIN (core muscle surgery - expected to miss six weeks)

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