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It seems like just yesterday we were preaching patience and discouraging fantasy owners from panicking over slow starts. You won't find much of that here today. At this time of the year, it's what you've done for me lately. The playoffs loom large in head-to-head leagues, while many roto owners are shifting into desperation mode to make up ground. Everyone's looking to hit a home run at this point, but there's still value in a solid single. Just maybe not as much as there was a month or two ago.
Whatever your situation, if your outfield could stand to improve, here are this week's five suggestions. Three of them are available in 85 percent or more of Yahoo leagues.
Editor’s Note: To read about even more waiver wire options in the outfield, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily.
Outfield Waiver Wire for Week 21
Marcell Ozuna (MIA) - 41 percent
Ozuna has been one of the biggest busts of the 2015 fantasy baseball season to this point. After breaking out with a 23 homer season a year ago, he was bad enough that the woeful Marlins demoted him to the minors in early July. Since being recalled last week, he hasn't set the world on the fire or anything. He does, however, have two homers in eight games. Compare that to just four in the 80 games prior to his demotion. Ozuna's talent remains obvious, and he could do a lot to soothe troubled waters with scorned owners by posting a big September.
Byron Buxton (MIN) - 33 percent
Regarded as the top prospect in baseball coming into the year, Buxton is seemingly the only rookie who hasn't immediately dominated at the big league level. Of course, he only played 11 games before landing on the disabled list with a thumb injury. So we're talking about a pretty tiny sample. Buxton is just 21 years old and despite what this year's rookie crop (including fellow Twins phenom Miguel Sano) might have us believe, most players don't come into the league looking like seasoned vets. There's immense upside here, and Buxton should provide some juice on the base paths if nothing else.
Stephen Piscotty (STL) - 15 percent
Piscotty's been rock solid since his promotion a few weeks ago. Of course, this being the Year of the Rookie, he isn't even the best first-year hitter on his own team - that would be the currently-injured Randal Grichuk. Piscotty has helped the Cardinals weather that loss, as well as some recent struggles by his comrades, and remain in control of the NL Central. He's hit four homers to go with a .324/.354/.562 line. With both Grichuk and Matt Holliday on the shelf, Piscotty's path to playing time is as clear as it can be.
Gregor Blanco (SF) - 8 percent
Blanco's been a useful speed and defense outfielder for the Giants during much of their current run of success. In 2015, he's posted career best rates across the board with a tidy .292/.377/.413 line. Though he's running a bit less than usual this year, he does have four steals in his last 10 games. That gives him 68 over the last four seasons despite not having a regular starting job. He's got that now, with both Angel Pagan and Hunter Pence unable to avoid the trainer's room this season. Blanco should be a solid three-cat contributor for the remainder of the year.
Derek Dietrich (MIA) - 7 percent
Though he showed solid power in parts of two seasons to start his major league career (14 homers in 373 at-bats), Dietrich didn't provide much value otherwise. He hit just .220 over that span, with middling walk rates and even worse defense. This season, though, he's making the most of his opportunity. Since being recalled on June 12, Dietrich has hit .273/.377/.526 with nine homers and 49 R+RBI in just 154 AB. It's been another tremendously disappointing season for Miami, but they have to be pleased at the progress the 26 year old has made. Dietrich is also eligible at second and third base in the Yahoo game, making him especially useful in deep leagues with large rosters.
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