Points League Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 11

We'll be doing this roundup of point league happenings 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 waiver-wire adds are for the week of June 7th - June 13th, looking at players below 50% ownership for ESPN and Yahoo!

Know Your System

If you've read me even a little, you likely know what I'm going to say...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 Ronald Acuna Jr. being a top-five hitter versus top-20.

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.

For example, my home league started on a now-defunct platform before moving first to ESPN and is now at Fantrax. But our scoring is basically ESPN standard only with two points for stolen bases and a handful of other minor adjustments.

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

Waiver Wire Leaderboards

In addition to our overall waiver wire leaderboards, we're deep enough into the season that we'll also start doing a 14-day leaderboard (21 days for pitchers), as well, giving us a window into recent production. The charts are updated prior to Saturday's games, on stats and ownerships. All leaderboards, overall and 14-day, are sorted according to the player's APR*, and clicking on a chart will open a new page with a magnified version.

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

First Base

Must Adds

• Garrett Cooper, MIA - After posting a .277 wOBA and 79 wRC+ in April but has blown up in May with a .393 wOBA and 155 wRC+. Cooper is now up to a 157 APR for the season and has a 108 APR over the last two weeks.
• Brandon Belt, SF - Even after missing now nearly two weeks with an oblique injury, Belt still has a near top-150 APR and is likely to return in the next few days.

Can/Desperate Adds

At this point, first base is just a wasteland on most waiver wires. Most of the following can be useful but all have big warts, particularly in regards to playing everyday playing time - or being on the Pirates.

• Colin Moran, PIT
• Seth Brown, OAK
• Matt Beaty, LAD
• Ryan Zimmerman, WSH
• Albert Pujols, LAD

Notable IL

• Joey Votto, CIN
• Brandon Belt, SF
• Evan White, SEA
• Christian Walker, ARI
• Ronald Guzman, TEX

Second Base

Must Adds

• Cesar Hernandez, CLE - Shortly after making the above chart, Hernandez hit another home run, bringing his total for 2021 up to 9 HR in 242 PA and is more than halfway to his career-high mark of 15 HR in 2018. This isn't a fluke, it's a change in approach. His average launch angle of 12.9 degrees is a career-high, as is his 26.8% FB% (not including pop-ups).
• Jonathan Schoop, DET - He can go ice-cold at any moment but until then, Schoop needs to be rostered. He has six home runs in his last nine games, hitting two home runs in two of those, and has a 3 (3!) APR over the last two weeks. Join the Schoopening! (patent-pending, Paul Sporer)

Can Adds

• Tony Kemp, OAK - Is Kemp good now? I'm not sure but I do know that he had a 129 wRC+ and .348 wOBA in May that was up from a 100 wRC+ and .305 wOBA in May, and is 6-for-15 in the young month of June.
• Jonathan India, CIN
• Ty France, SEA
• Josh Harrison, WSH
• Jed Lowrie, OAK

Desperate Adds

• Kike Hernandez, BOS
• Starlin Castro, WSH
• Donovan Solano, SF
• Keston Hiura, MIL - Just kidding! No one is that desperate, right?

Notable IL

• Kolten Wong, MIL
• Luis Arraez, MIN
• David Bote, CHC
• Dylan Moore, SEA
• Chris Owings, COL

Third Base

Must Adds

• Evan Longoria, SF - I've begged, I've pleaded. And yet, points-dreamboat, Evan Longoria, remains under 50% owned. I mean, totally makes sense. Why would you want someone at a sneakily brutal position, who has a 70 APR on the season, and an 18 APR over the last two weeks? Crazy talk, am I right?*

*Well, maybe not crazy talk after Longoria had a scary collision with Brandon Crawford in Saturday night's game. His status is currently unknown but the injury appears to be in the collarbone area. Not great.

• Jeimer Candelario, DET

Can Adds

• Maikel Franco, BAL

Desperate Adds

• Yandy Diaz, TB
• Brad Miller

Notable IL 

• Edwin Rios, LAD
• J.D. Davis, NYM
• Brian Anderson, MIA
• Matt Duffy, TB

Shortstop

Must Adds

• Willy Adames, MIL - Adames certainly likes his new Milwaukee digs, posting a 137 wRC+ and .374 wOBA since being traded, hitting three home runs with 11 RBI in 55 PA.

Can Adds

• Taylor Walls, TB - 169 APR since being called up from the minors.
• Freddy Galvis, BAL - You explain Galvis, I dare you. Just kidding. But Galvis just keeps on trucking along, posting an 89 APR in 2021, with a 61 APR over the last two weeks.
• Amed Rosario, CLE
• J.P. Crawford, SEA
• Willi Castro, DET

Desperate Adds

• Luis Urias, MIL
• Jonathan Villar, NYM
• Niko Goodrum, DET
• Nick Ahmed, ARI

Notable IL

• Miguel Rojas, MIA - Sigh.
• Paul DeJong, STL - DeJong should be returning shortly.
• Jose Iglesias, LAA
• Nico Hoerner, CHC

Outfielder

Must Adds

• Justin Upton, LAA - He's batting leadoff and is currently raking, posting a 37 APR over the last two weeks.
• Hunter Renfroe, BOS - Renfroe has a nine-game hitting streak, collecting multiple hits in five of those. Over said streak, Renfro is slashing .484/.515/.871, with a .582 wOBA and 278 wRC+. Hot like magma.

Can Adds

• Adam Duvall, MIA
• Adam Eaton, CHW
• Corey Dickerson, MIA
• Myles Straw, HOU
• Willie Calhoun, TEX
• Akil Baddoo, DET
• DJ Stewart, BAL
• Odubel Herrera, PHI
• Alex Kirilloff, MIN

Desperate Adds

• Michael A. Taylor, KC
• Jorge Soler, KC - If anyone finds Soler's ability to hit lasers, please call 1-800-LST-LAZR.

Notable IL

• Kole Calhoun, ARI
• Jason Heyward, CHC
• Nick Senzel, CIN
• Aaron Hicks, NYY
• Brandon Nimmo, NYM
• Austin Hays, BAL
• Darin Ruf, SF
• David Dahl, TEX
• Harrison Bader, STL
• Jordan Luplow, CLE
• Victor Reyes, DET
• Lorenzo Cain, MIL

Catcher

Must Adds

• Mike Zunino, TB - He's been slowing down but still has a 153 APR on the season at a time when injuries keep wrecking the position.
• Omar Narvaez, MIL

Can Adds

• Tucker Barnhart/Tyler Stephenson, CIN

Desperate Adds

• All catcher adds are desperate adds.

Notable IL

• Mitch Garver, MIN - Poor Mitch Garver. He'd been blowing up in May before getting his cup blown up by a foul tip. Get well soon.
• Wilson Ramos, DET
• Travis d'Arnaud, ATL
• Jason Castro, HOU
• Austin Nola, SD
• Alejandro Kirk, TOR
• Roberto Perez, CLE

Starting Pitchers

Two Start Weeks

Must Add

• Tony Gonsolin*, LAD - Depending on if they start him on Tuesday or Wednesday, Gonsolin may not get a second start this week. Regardless, his first start back will be against the Pirates, who have a a .290 wOBA vs RHP, the 3rd-lowest in baseball. Over the 86.2 innings he collected in the majors, between time in the bullpen and 14 starts, Gonsolin has a 2.60 ERA and 0.92 WHIP and is expected to slot in as a regular rotation member for the foreseeable future.
• Tarik Skubal, DET - Skubal's breakout seems to be hitting its stride. Facing the Chicago White Sox and their number-one offense vs LHP, Skubal rocked them for five innings, allowing one earned run and striking out 11. He'll face them again in his next turn and while you can't assume he'll have a repeat performance, the time to roster Skubal is probably running out.
• Austin Gomber, STL - Here is a list of facts:

1. On August 26, Gomber allowed 9 ER in 1.2 IP in a loss to San Francisco.
2.  Gomber has a 4.12 ERA and 1.14 WHIP
3. If you throw out his no-good, rotten blowup versus the Giants, Gomber would have a 2.92 ERA and 0.99 WHIP.
4. Gomber is still available in 80% of leagues on Yahoo and ESPN.

That was a list of facts.

Can Add

• Mike Minor, KC - It's a tough matchup in Oakland, with the Athletics posting a .331 wOBA vs LHP (8th-highest) and 118 wRC+ (4th).
• Martin Perez, BOS - Nothing gets the blood pumping like dancing with the devil on a two-start week.
• Ryan Yarbrough, TB
• J.T. Brubaker, PIT
• Adam Wainwright, STL
• Garrett Richards, BOS
• Tyler Anderson, PIT
• Matthew Boyd, DET - Boyd's first start of the week is versus Seattle, a bottom-three offense versus LHP. His second start is versus the White Sox, the best team in baseball against LHP - but who also recently got locked up by left-hander, Tarik Skubal. Unfortunately, Boyd is not Skubal. Play accordingly.
• Josh Fleming, BAL
• Drew Smyly, ATL
• Kris Bubic, KC
• Adrian Houser, MIL
• Jameson Taillon, NYY
• Tucker Davidson, ATL
• Marco Gonzales, SEA
• James Kaprielian, OAK
• Shane McClanahan, TB
• Alex Cobb, LAA

Desperate Adds

• Randy Dobnak, MIN
• Mike Foltynewicz, TEX
• Griffin Canning, LAA
• Chris Flexen, SEA
• Antonio Senzatela, COL - It's two starts on the road?

Notable IL

• Huascar Ynoa, ATL
• Logan Webb, SF
• Kohei Arihara, TEX
• Madison Bumgarner, ARI
• Justin Dunn, SEA
• Luke Weaver, ARI
• Trevor Williams, CHC
• Erick Fedde, WSH
• Jose Quintana, LAA
• Elieser Hernandez, MIA
• Cody Poteet, MIA

Relief Pitchers

Keep in mind that with relievers, points scored can be deceiving. Most scoring systems make it pretty difficult for even the best non-closers to score elite points, making them very reliant on unpredictable wins. You simply need the save points to really do damage. AKA, when you see totally rando names hit the leaderboard (particularly the 14-Day one), it's probably because they happened to get a few wins and/or a lot of usage. If a reliever doesn't have an established role, tread carefully.

One note about ownership; because ESPN uses nine open pitching slots, as opposed to dedicated slots for RP/SP, relievers tend to be lighter owned than on other sites. And since reliever values can change so fast according to usage, the charts below will capture both full season, and recent, success. The first chart has the top-50 relievers by APR, while the second chart takes the top-50 relievers by APR over the last three weeks, out of the relievers that remain.

Notable IL

• Kendall Graveman, SEA
• Michael Fulmer, DET
• Josh Staumont, KC
• Drew Pomeranz, SD
• Jordan Hicks, STL
• Julian Merryweather, KC

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