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We have completed another week of MLB action, and we have once again been littered with injuries. Both good and bad things arise from injuries. Let's start with the bad, which means losing a player, sometimes a key player, from your roster. The good is a chance to add a new player, and certain players suddenly finding new playing time. The outfield position has been getting more and more depleted as the season goes on, at least from a fantasy perspective. Many other recent options from this article are still available in leagues and are still worth the pick-ups.
Some outfielders would be better suited to stream for a hot bat. Others need to be replaced just because they are no longer on the field (IL). Unfortunately, that is a situation that affects many managers. You can do nothing except find a suitable replacement as quickly as possible or risk losing valuable counting stats. In this article, I’ll discuss waiver wire targets for the outfield in Week 13.
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 @bdentrek. Key points - this list will focus on players who are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo! leagues.
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Adam Duvall, Miami Marlins
30% Rostered
Some may say this is a day late and a dollar short, but it is what it is at this point. We won't get the back-to-back double dong days that Duvall had on Friday and Saturday in Wrigley. That stinks, but it is in the past. Instead, we can add a productive hitter that gets three lefties to attack in his next six games.
Duvall is swinging it well of late, hitting safely in nine of his last 11 games, good for a .326 average. More impressively is Duvall hitting seven home runs over the 11-game stretch with a .512 ISO. Duvall is barreling the ball 22.6% of the time with a near 42% hard-hit rate as well. Surprisingly, it has not been all power with Duvall as he also has three stolen bases over the last 11 games.
Duvall will have up and down stretches as he is one of the more streaky hitters in baseball, but you will enjoy the results when he plays regularly. He faces Robbie Ray, Jon Lester, and Patrick Corbin in three of his matchups next week, so his .250 ISO and .411 SLG versus LHP should come into play. Add Duvall everywhere where your teams need a serious power upgrade.
Myles Straw, Houston Astros
16% Rostered
Now let's talk opposites. We just discussed the power appeal of Duvall with the occasional steal, and now we talk about the steals upside with the occasional power from Straw. Straw has hit safely in nine of his last 11 games for a .333 average. Over those 11 games, he has three extra-base hits, one home run, but has stolen two bases. That home run was his first of the season, but he now has nine stolen bases.
Straw has really gotten things going at the plate, in line with the Astros' massive offensive production of late. He hits eighth in the lineup, which isn't ideal for fantasy, but the lineup is so productive that the top of the order continues to bring Straw in and rack up his runs scored.
The Astros have one of the most favorable weeks coming up as they have seven games on the road, but three are at Baltimore, with the other three at Detroit. Some of the best offensive matchups in baseball. Straw is not a sexy add by any means, but he will get everyday playing time in a great lineup in a season with so many injuries. If your team needs steals, he is a great addition as the rest of the season projections have him stealing around 10 more bases this season.
Lastly, if Straw does not do it for you, I mentioned Tony Kemp the last couple of weeks, and he continues to produce for the Athletics. I'd personally rather have Kemp moving forward, but I can't write about the same guys every week. If Kemp is not available, then grab a similar player in Straw.
Jesus Sanchez, Miami Marlins
12% Rostered
Sanchez is one of the Marlins' top prospects and recently got the call with Garrett Cooper (back) hitting the IL. The latest reports on Cooper say he is progressing very slowly, and there is no timetable yet for his return. This means Sanchez should get more time to prove he belongs in the big leagues.
Sanchez has begun to prove he belongs, hitting safely in three straight games (he has played in four games), including his first career home run on Saturday. Sanchez was absolutely crushing it in Triple-A before the call-up. He was hitting .349 with 17 extra-base hits (nine home runs) and even threw in a stolen base over 33 games.
Sanchez should bring plenty of power to a sneaky good Marlins' lineup that features Jazz Chisholm, Starling Marte, and many others. He has been hitting sixth most of the time, which should also set up plenty of RBI situations. Sanchez is young, so there will likely be the prospect growing pains. However, if you can withstand some up and down streaks or want to ride him while he is hot, Sanchez is definitely worth adding in deeper leagues.
Austin Hays, Baltimore Orioles
9% Rostered
Welcome back, Austin Hays! Hays returned from the IL on June 11 and got off to a slow start, but do not panic as he is getting it going now. Hays has hit safely in his last three starts, a stretch that has included a home run and a stolen base. Hays will bring some power and speed to your lineup as he should hit 10+ home runs the rest of the season while adding a handful of stolen bases as well.
The Orioles outfield is getting crowded with DJ Stewart, Ryan Mountcastle, and Anthony Santander, but Hays will definitely play if he is productive. He has been hitting sixth when starting of late, which will be quite productive as we advance. The Orioles have a nice seven-game week coming up with three at home versus the Astros and then four in hitter-friendly Buffalo versus the Jays.
If Hays does not do it for you, then grab Harold Ramirez or Jake Fraley, who I recently discussed as they are still both available in plenty of leagues. They will be playing every day, and the production is through the roof from both of late.
Gregory Polanco, Pittsburgh Pirates
3% Rostered
If you need batting average, then walk away, go to the next player. Polanco will not help your average at all unless he catches serious fire. Polanco is hitting just over .200 this season and, over the last nine games, has only hit .200. The thing is, Polanco has hit safely in six of his last nine games with two home runs and two stolen bases. As a result, Polanco will rack up stats in four of the five fantasy hitting categories.
Polanco should continue to play every day and hit in the middle of the Pirates lineup. He will have his up and down weeks, but the power and speed potential will be around all season. The rest of season projections have Polanco hitting another seven to 10 home runs while stealing a few more bases, but more importantly, hitting .225 the rest of the way. That increase in average would be quite an improvement.
Polanco may not be a must-add going forward, but definitely, someone to monitor in your very deep leagues. Once again, I'd rather have Ramirez or Fraley right now, but Polanco could have that big fantasy production from time to time this season.
LaMonte Wade Jr., San Francisco Giants
2% Rostered
I am really hoping the 2% rostered rate of one of the hotter hitters in baseball goes through the roof this weekend. I've said that about a few players in recent weeks, but I am really hoping it actually happens now. Wade was recalled by the Giants when Brandon Belt went to the IL, but even with Belt now back, Wade is still playing nearly every day and leading off for the Giants.
Over the last eight games, Wade has hit safely in six games, good for a .310 average. In the leadoff spot, Wade has been a stat-stuffing machine. Over these last eight games, he has five extra-base hits, including a home run, six runs, six RBI, and a stolen base. He is only walking 3.1% of the time, but he's also only striking out 6.3% of the time, meaning a lot of balls are being put in play.
Everyone is waiting for the other shoe to drop, but for now, it does not appear to be happening anytime soon. Wade either plays first base or the outfield most days for the Giants. With the Giants being one of the best offenses in baseball, fantasy players should want to roster their leadoff hitter. So grab Wade wherever you can and ride him while he's hot.
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