NFBC Waiver Wire Report for Week 11 - Deeper Hitter Pickups for Fantasy Baseball

We have completed another week of MLB action, making it time to make more waiver wire moves. 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 pickups for Week 11, June 20 through June 26.

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

We have a pretty regular schedule this week, with most teams playing six games and a handful of teams with seven games. The Rangers and Nationals only play five games, making them a little less appealing, but there are still some players worth targeting. A lot of the 2-start pitchers this week are also elite options, so there are not many to target on the wire. It may be a week not to go too crazy with your FAAB.

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

Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers

• Zach Davies (@ SD, vs. DET)
• Max Fried (vs. SF, vs. LAD)
• Spencer Strider (vs. SF, vs. LAD)
• Tyler Wells (vs. WAS, @ CWS)
• Caleb Kilian (@ PIT, @ STL)
• Matt Swarmer (@ PIT, @ STL)
• Tyler Mahle (vs. LAD, @ SF)
• Aaron Civale (@ MIN, vs. BOS)
• Austin Gomber (@ MIA, @ MIN)
• Lance Lynn (vs. TOR, vs. BAL)
• Dylan Cease (vs. TOR, vs. BAL)
• Alex Faedo (@ BOS, @ ARI)
• Beau Brieske (@ BOS, @ ARI)
• Jose Urquidy (vs. NYM, @ NYY)
• Tony Gonsolin (@ CIN, @ ATL)
• Trevor Rogers (@ NYM, vs. NYM)
• Daniel Castano (vs. COL, vs. NYM)
• Corbin Burnes (vs. STL, vs. TOR)
• Aaron Ashby (vs. STL, vs. TOR)
• Joe Ryan (vs. CLE, vs. COL)
• Gerrit Cole (@ TB, vs. HOU)
• Nestor Cortes (@ TB, vs. HOU)
• James Kaprielian (vs. SEA, @ KC)
• Kyle Gibson (@ TEX, @ SD)
• JT Brubaker (vs. CHC, @ TB)
• Roansy Contreras (vs. CHC, @ TB)
• Yu Darvish (vs. ARI, vs. PHI)
• Sean Manaea (vs. ARI, vs. PHI)
• Marco Gonzales (@ OAK, @ LAA)
• Logan Webb (@ ATL, vs. CIN)
• Anthony DeSclafani (@ ATL, vs. CIN)
• Miles Mikolas (@ MIL, vs. CHC)
• Jack Flaherty (@ MIL, vs. CHC)
• Shane McClanahan (vs. NYY, vs. PIT)
• Jose Berrios (@ CWS, @ MIL)

Infield Waiver Wire Pickups

Ezequiel Duran (3B), Texas Rangers  

48% Rostered

Duran has been a high-end prospect for the Rangers and finally got the call. He has not been disappointed. Duran entered the weekend, hitting .319 with a .234 ISO and a 153 wRC+. He has two home runs to go with two stolen bases which correlate nicely with the power and speed he has showcased throughout the minors. The biggest concern, for now, is a strikeout rate over 27%, with a 41.3% O-swing and 18.9% SwStr.

That type of plate discipline is less than ideal, but some players can be successful with not-so-great plate discipline. Duran picked up another hit on Friday night and carried a seven-game hitting streak into the weekend. Look to add Duran wherever you can for his power and speed skills, especially if you are hurting at third base.

Jonathan Villar (2B/3B/SS), Chicago Cubs

30% Rostered

Well, looky here, more Cubs injuries will lead to more playing time for Villar. He has not been great this season, hitting only .218 with two home runs, but he also has five stolen bases. Villar has seen regular playing time in the past and has been a tremendous stolen base asset that contributes a bit in the power department. He also brings outstanding positional flexibility, making him extra valuable these days with all the injuries. Villar will be a priority in leagues where I am looking for speed.

Didi Gregorius (SS), Philadelphia Phillies 

4% Rostered

Didi returned from the IL on June fifth and has hit safely in eight of ten games. He is hitting .314 with a .229 ISO and 155 wRC+. Didi is starting to remind us of the productive fantasy player he once was and, even better, is doing so while only striking out 12.8% of the time. He has yet to homer since his return but does have six extra-base hits while hitting fifth or sixth in the immensely successful Phillies offense. We know Didi can struggle sometimes, but we also know he can be a strong fantasy asset. For now, he is a strong asset and should be rostered in more than 4% of NFBC OC's.

 Willi Castro (2B/SS/OF), Detroit Tigers

1% Rostered

Castro is strictly a deep league target as he is not lighting the world on fire but does bring great positional flexibility. He is hitting .250 on the season with two home runs and two stolen bases. He is only striking out 17.9% of the time and usually hits near the top of the Tigers' lineups. If you are struggling with injuries, then Castro is a solid target for his ability to play all over your lineup.

Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups

Robbie Grossman (OF), Detroit Tigers

29% Rostered

There's no denying the struggles for Grossman this season. He is only hitting .195. He does not have a home run and has only stolen two bases. He is striking out nearly 31% of the time, still walking 11%, which is nice, but overall the production has not been great. So why am I bringing him up in a waiver-wire piece? I am optimistic that we can still get some of that power and speed from Grossman that was so great last year. Many have given up on Grossman, which is why he is available in over 70% of OCs. The caveat to potentially adding Grossman is that you will likely not start him immediately. He's more of a stash if you can afford a stash as we wait and see if he can get things going again.

 Luis Gonzalez (OF), San Francisco Giants

21% Rostered

Gonzalez has been quite the pleasant surprise for the Giants. Gonzalez has slotted into an outfield role and has been very effective with all the injuries they have been dealing with this season. He hit his first home run in quite some time last night, giving him three on the season to go with five stolen bases. Gonzalez is hitting over .300 in his 161 PA and appears to of moved into a lead-off role for the Giants. Gonzalez has a .141 ISO, so some definite pop to go with a 130 wRC+, proving he is worthy of some fantasy attention. As long as Gonazalez keeps starting for the Giants, especially leading off more often than not, he should be in consideration for fantasy rosters, especially in deeper leagues.

Jarren Duran (OF), Boston Red Sox

16% Rostered

Well, here we go again. Duran was called up when Christian Arroyo went on the COVID IL. So first off, be careful as he may be sent down soon. This stinks as he has nothing left to prove in the minors as he is once again crushing it for the Red Sox Triple-A team. Duran has collected three hits and two extra-base hits in his three games since getting recalled. The best part about Duran is that the Red Sox hit him leadoff every time he has played this season. That will bring so many run-scoring opportunities in that powerful Red Sox lineup which has happened thus far with four runs scored in his six games. Duran would be a fantastic fantasy addition if we knew he was staying up with the team, but this sadly feels temporary for now. Watch the weekend news, and if he's sticking, then Duran is a must-add.

Nomar Mazara (OF), San Diego Padres

2% Rostered

One of these times, Mazara must be the fantasy stud we all expected. Right? Since the Padres called him up on June 2, Mazara has been hitting .341 with a home run in 13 games. Mazara is barreling the ball 5.9% of the time with a 47.1% hard-hit rate and only striking out 15.9% of the time. Mazara is still chasing too much with a near 37% O-swing, but so far, so good on the production front. Mazara is definitely worth a look in deeper formats, especially if he can carry over his plate discipline and hit tools he showcased in Triple-A this season. Let's not forget that Mazara is only 27, and the success we had hoped for may just now be happening.

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