Deeper Hitter Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - NFBC Waiver Wire Report for Week 19

We have completed another week of MLB action, making it time to make more waiver wire moves heading into Week 19. 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 pick-ups for Week 19, August 15 through August 21.

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.

Fantasy Baseball Schedule Outlook

This week is a pretty blah week when it comes to the schedule. Most teams play six games. However, we do have six teams playing seven games and four teams playing only five games, so you can look to add certain players and avoid others when streaming if necessary. In addition, we have six games in Coors this week, so the Cardinals and DBacks get a bit of a boost, while the Cubs get three in Great American Small Park.

• 8 Games- NYM,
• 7 Games- ARI, ATL, BAL, CHC, CLE, CWS, DET, HOU, KC, MIL, NYY, OAK, PHI, SD, SF, TB, TEX, TOR, WAS
• 6 Games- BOS, CIN, COL, LAA, MIA, MIN, PIT, SEA, STL

Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers

• Madison Bumgarner (@ SF, vs. STL)
• Merrill Kelly (@ SF, vs. STL)
• Max Fried (vs. NYM, vs. HOU)
• Kyle Wright (vs. NYM, vs. HOU)
• Jordan Lyles (@ TOR, vs. BOS)
• Nick Pivetta (@ PIT, @ BAL)
• Marcus Stroman (@ WAS, vs. MIL)
• Mike Minor (vs. PHI, @ PIT)
• Aaron Civale (vs. DET, vs. CWS)
• Kyle Freeland (@ STL, vs. SF)
• Johnny Cueto (vs. HOU, @ CLE)
• Dylan Cease (vs. HOU, @ CLE)
• Drew Hutchison (@ CLE, vs. LAA)
• Jose Urquidy (@ CWS, @ ATL)
• Kris Bubic (@ MIN, @ TB)
• Zack Greinke (@ MIN, @ TB)
• Julio Urias (@ MIL, vs. MIA)
• Freddy Peralta (vs. LAD, @ CHC)
• Brandon Woodruff (vs. LAD, @ CHC)
• Joe Ryan (vs. KC, vs. TEX)
• Carlos Carrasco (@ ATL, @ PHI)
• Taijuan Walker (@ ATL, @ PHI)
• Gerrit Cole (vs. TB, vs. TOR)
• Nestor Cortes (vs. TB, vs. TOR)
• James Kaprielian (@ TEX, vs. SEA)
• JP Sears (@ TEX, vs. SEA)
• Noah Syndergaard (@ CIN, vs. NYM)
• Mitch Keller (vs. BOS, vs. CIN)
• Joe Musgrove (@ MIA, vs. WAS)
• Sean Manaea (@ MIA, vs. WAS)
• Luis Castillo (@ LAA, @ OAK)
• Alex Cobb (vs. ARI, @ COL)
• Jakob Junis (vs. ARI, @ COL)
• Jose Quintana (vs. COL, @ ARI)
• Ryan Yarbrough (@ NYY, vs. KC)
• Jeffrey Springs (@ NYY, vs. KC)
• Glenn Otto (vs. OAK, @ MIN)
• Cole Ragans (vs. OAK, @ MIN)
• Yusei Kikuchi (vs. BAL, @ NYY)
• Alek Manoah (vs. BAL, @ NYY)
• Josiah Gray (vs. CHC, @ SD)
• Patrick Corbin (vs. CHC, @ SD)

Infield Waiver Wire Pickups

Bryson Stott (2B/SS), Philadelphia Phillies

39% Rostered

Stott is starting to entice fantasy managers yet again. Since the All-Star break, he is hitting .281 with five extra-base hits, including a home run. Stott has added a stolen base to go with his .125 ISO, .740 OPS, and 106 wRC+. Those numbers don't scream "ADD ME," but they have marked improvements from the slumping Stott we have become accustomed to throughout the season. The improved average is excellent, but the plate discipline is what has my attention. Since the All-Star break, he is walking 7.2% of the time and only striking out 7.2%. In addition, he has a 44.1% hard-hit rate; if he can improve on the 3.4% barrel rate, there may be even more power to follow. On Friday night, Stott led off for the Phillies while Kyle Schwarber battled a calf injury. If you are looking for middle-infield help, then Stott is a solid option.

Elehuris Montero (3B), Colorado Rockies

24% Rostered

I had to double-check that Montero is playing on the Rockies because they are playing a young player nearly daily. Since Montero was recalled on August 2, he has played nine games (entering Friday) with hits in eight of nine games. Montero is hitting .382 with four doubles and a home run. He has an excellent .206 ISO, .988 OPS, and 162 wRC+ as he produces daily for the Rockies. The .480 BABIP is not sustainable, but some solid production should be. Montero hit .310 in the minors this year with 15 home runs and four stolen bases over 65 games. He has played 1B, 3B, and DH, which may also get him some extra positional flexibility. Montero plays next weekend in Coors, so another boost to an already productive bat.

Michael Massey (2B), Kansas City Royals

19% Rostered

With Whit Merrifield being traded to the Jays, Massey appears to be the beneficiary of the playing time. Massey was called up from Triple-A, where he hit .312 with 16 home runs, 28 doubles, and 13 stolen bases. He showcased some strong power and speed to go with an elite batting average, and the hope is that can transfer to his time with the Royals. Since August 3, Massey has hit safely in six of seven games for a .320 batting average. He has a double and a stolen base with a solid 10.7% strikeout rate. The power has yet to transfer to the bigs for Massey, but the average is solid, and we have seen some speed. He should continue to play every day, and he could provide a Nicky Lopez-type finish to the season for fantasy managers.

Jose Barrero (SS), Cincinnati Reds

13% Rostered

With Mike Moustakas again going to the IL, Barrero gets the call and will hopefully live up to the hype the fantasy world has had for him for quite some time. Since he was recalled on August 3, he is only hitting .207 with a 58.3% strikeout rate which is very bad. There are some positives as Barrero has two home runs and a stolen base. He was only hitting .209 in the minors with nine home runs and five stolen bases while striking out 37.6% of the time. The power and speed are legit, but the swing and miss are also a real problem. If you are gambling on the upside, Berrero should be in the queue this week; just be prepared for no batting average help.

Emmanuel Rivera (3B), Arizona Diamondbacks

1% Rostered

Rivera was traded from the Royals to the DBacks in a quiet trade deadline deal, but he is showcasing some enticing fantasy appeal with the DBacks. He carries a five-game hitting streak into the weekend, and since he joined the DBacks on August 3, he is hitting .368. Rivera has five extra-base hits, including two home runs with a .474 ISO, 1.271 OPS, and 242 wRC+. He is barreling the ball 20% of the time with a 40% hard-hit and a strikeout rate below 20%. Rivera hit .307 with three home runs over 20 minor league games this season and, if given the playing time with the DBacks, may provide some sneaky fantasy upside. He should be left for deeper leagues right now but may soon gain some 12-team appeal.

Vaughn Grissom (2B), Atlanta Braves

0% Rostered

With Orland Arcia going to the IL for 4-6 weeks, Grissom gets the call to play every day till Ozzie Albies returns. Grissom is one of the Braves' top prospects and was hitting .324 in Double-A with 14 home runs and 27 stolen bases. That is some elite power and speed with batting average thrown on top. Some may be concerned with the jump from Double-A to the bigs, but that is what Michael Harris did this season, and we all know how that went. Grissom has gone 3-7 in his first two games with a double, home run, and a stolen base. He is for real and should be a fantasy stud while playing. The question is, what happens to Grissom when Albies returns in 2-3 weeks? We do not know, but until then, he should be a game changer and one of the top pickups this week.

Outfield Waiver Wire Pick-ups

Bubba Thompson (OF), Texas Rangers  

35% Rostered

If looking for stolen base help, Thompson should be one of your top targets this weekend. In Triple-A this season, Thompson hit .303 with 13 home runs and 49 stolen bases. 49 STOLEN BASES!!!! Since being called up on August 4, Thompson is hitting .160, only reaching base four times, but has three stolen bases. He is striking out 38.5% of the time, which is quite concerning, but the stolen base upside is tremendous. We all know what John Berti did with playing time regarding steals, and Thompson could do something similar for your stolen base needs.

Nick Gordon (SS/OF), Minnesota Twins

30% Rostered

Nick Gordon has shown some serious signs of fantasy life when given playing time, and he may finally have some consistent playing time with Alex Kirilloff out for the rest of the season. Since the All-Star break, Gordon is hitting .341 with seven extra-base hits, including a home run and two stolen bases. In addition, he showcases the excellent quality of contact metrics with an 11.4% barrel rate and 42.9% hard-hit rate since the break. Gordon will be the next most targeted waiver wire add this week after Grissom, and I can see the argument for making him the top priority as he should play every day the rest of the season where Grissom may lose playing time when Albies returns.

Lars Nootbaar (OF), St. Louis Cardinals

11% Rostered

Nootbaar is finally getting some regular playing time and he is thriving. Since July 26, Nootbaar has been hitting .349 with six extra-base hits and a stolen base. He has a strong .233 ISO and 1.038 OPS which is excellent, but his 19.3% walk rate and only 10.5% strikeout rate are more impressive. Nootbaar is a bonafide fantasy stud, but there is some concern with playing time when Juan Yepez returns from the IL soon. If the Cardinals are smart, they let Nootbaar continue to play every day, but be cautious of a potential reduction in playing time soon. Nevertheless, he is still worth an add this week; just be careful with your FAAB amounts.

Sam Haggerty (OF), Seattle Mariners

2% Rostered

It's simple. Haggerty is playing so well that Jerad Kelenic has again been sent to the minors for his poor production. How well has Haggerty been playing, you ask? Since August 2, he has been hitting .423 with two home runs. He has a 9.5% barrel rate compared to a 52.4% hard-hit rate. Plain and simple, Haggerty is mashing. Haggerty was hitting .283 in the minors this season with six home runs and 15 stolen bases over 39 games, so the power and speed production is no fluke. Haggerty will likely fly under the radar regarding FAAB this week so that you can add a power/speed stud on the cheap in most leagues.

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