NFBC Waiver Wire Report for Week 5 - 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 that do not know, in the NFBC, there are no IL spots and no 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.

Over a month into the season, injuries are starting to pile up. With all the injuries, playing time opens up for more players, which may make them worth a weekly stream or two. We are also looking into the week's schedule as we try to rack up at-bats. This week may be an even crazier week of FAAB as we have a handful of prospects who have got the call, and people love paying for the shiny new toy. 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 5, May 9 through May 15.

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 at @bdentrek. Key points - this list will focus on rostered players in less than 50% of Yahoo! leagues.

Schedule Outlook

This week, nearly all teams play at least six games, but we have a few teams playing seven games, and then the A's and Tigers play eight and nine games. The Tigers and A's face off for five games in the first four days of the week, and then the A's play four more over the weekend versus the Angels. The Red Sox, Braves, and Jays only play five games, so keep that in mind for your bi-weekly roster moves.

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

Two-Start Pitchers

• Humberto Castellanos (vs. MIA, vs. CHC)
• Kyle Bradish (at STL, at DET)
• Kyle Hendricks (at SD, at ARI)
• Luis Castillo (vs. MIL, at PIT)
• Zach Plesac (at CWS, at MIN)
• Austin Gomber (at SF, vs. KC)
• Michael Kopech (vs. CLE, vs. NYY)
• Lucas Giolito (vs. CLE, vs. NYY)
• Michael Pineda (vs. OAK, vs. BAL)
• Tarik Skubal (vs. OAK, vs. BAL)
• Brad Keller (at TEX, at COL)
• Noah Syndergaard (vs. TB, at OAK)
• Julio Urias (at PIT, vs. PHI)
• Elieser Hernandez (at ARI, vs. MIL)
• Brandon Woodruff (at CIN, at MIA)
• Carlos Carrasco (at WAS, vs. SEA)
• Jameson Taillon (vs. TOR, at CWS)
• Paul Blackburn (at DET, vs. LAA)
• Frankie Montas (vs. DET, vs. LAA)
• Ranger Suarez (at SEA, at LAD)
• Zack Wheeler (at SEA, at LAD)
• Bryse Wilson (vs. LAD, vs. CIN)
• Robbie Ray (vs. PHI, at NYM)
• Alex Wood (vs. COL, at STL)
• Miles Mikolas (vs. BAL, vs. SF)
• Corey Kluber (at LAA, vs. TOR)
• Taylor Hearn (vs. KC, vs. BOS)
• Patrick Corbin (vs. NYM, vs. HOU)

Infield Waiver Wire Pickups

Daniel Vogelbach (1B), Pittsburgh Pirates

33% Rostered

Vogelbach was an excellent addition this past week with the idea the Pirates were playing four games this weekend. Well, that changed with a rainout. However, Vogelbach still has some substantial fantasy value as we advance, especially this week. This week, the Pirates play seven games, six versus RHP, and the final four are great matchups versus the Reds. Vogelbach hits leadoff or cleanup for the Pirates, vital for fantasy value. He is also performing well over the last two weeks, hitting .292, with three home runs and a .250 ISO over the past two weeks. Vogelbach is still a strong fantasy play this upcoming week, and you can get him on the cheap with everyone targeting prospects.

MJ Melendez (C), Kansas City Royals

16% Rostered

Melendez destroyed minor league pitching last year, hitting 41 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A. He got off to a slow start at Triple-A this year, but that did not stop the Royals from calling up one of their best prospects. Since his call-up, Melendez has hit safely in both games, hitting seventh and playing catcher and DH. It is an extremely small sample size, but Melendez has a 16.7% barrel rate and a 66.7% hard-hit rate. The Royals want Melendez to hit every day, and if that is true, he becomes a high-end catching asset for the rest of the season. The catcher position has been bad this season, so adding Melendez to your squad is a strong move this week.

Jose Miranda (3B), Minnesota Twins

1% Rostered

Miranda burst onto the fantasy scene last season by hitting 30 home runs and hitting nearly .350 in the minors. Some thought that would even gain him a starting spot out of spring training, but it sadly did not. Instead, he started in Triple-A, where he hit .256 with two home runs but got the call when Miguel Sano went out with an injury. Since his call-up, he has played in five games, hitting fifth or sixth in most games. Miranda has hit safely in three games, with his first home run on Friday. The most impressive part of Miranda is his 4.8% strikeout rate. If he can continue to put the ball in play like this, he should be a significant fantasy asset this season. I say this season as he should have a decent run with Sano out for a while after meniscus surgery. He is probably my top prospect to target in this week's prospects group.

Royce Lewis (SS), Minnesota Twins

0% Rostered

Lewis may not be up for too long as Carlos Correa's finger injury is not as severe as first thought and is only day-to-day. Lewis did go 1-4 in his debut with a single, which was nice. He destroyed the minor leagues, hitting .310 with three home runs while stealing eight bases. Maybe Lewis sticks for a while, but there are still questions about where Lewis will play every day when Correa returns. I am being careful with my Lewis bids.

Jed Lowrie (2B), Oakland Athletics

0% Rostered

Lowrie could be one of the more under-the-radar adds this week if looking for racking up at-bats. With the A's playing nine games, we should expect Lowrie to play in seven or eight of those games. It gets even better as Lowrie has been hitting second or third in each game which should help rack up some counting stats with those at-bats. Lowrie has hit safely in four of five games in May, and even though the A's offense is horrible, the extra at-bats could be a considerable value and come at very cheap FAAB. cost this weekend.

Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups

Yadiel Hernandez (OF), Washington Nationals

13% Rostered

My man Yadiel has been raking this season and is still only 13% rostered. He is hitting .373 on the season with eight extra-base hits and has even thrown in a stolen base. Yadiel's quality of contact has been outstanding as he is barreling the ball 13% of the time with a 42.6% hard-hit rate. His production has been so good that the Nats are hitting Hernandez fourth or fifth now. This week, Hernandez is not just a FAAB move based on his ok six-game schedule. He is an add for his overall fantasy goodness as we advance.

Chad Pinder (OF), Oakland Athletics

8% Rostered

Pinder is having a nice season, but he has ramped things up of late. In five of his last six games, he has hit safely, suitable for a .318 batting average. Pinder only has one extra-base hit over that stretch and is striking out over 43% of the time, which is not ideal, but I am willing to overlook that for this week. The power will come as he does not have a barrel over the past six games but has a nearly 54% hard-hit rate. The A's play nine games this upcoming week, so adding Pinder makes too much sense, even if he is only a week rental.

Edward Olivares (OF), Kansas City Royals

5% Rostered

We have had our hopes up before when it comes to Olivares, but usually, the Royals send him back to Triple-A before the fun begins. Olivares is riding a six-game hitting streak into the weekend, hitting .500 with three doubles and a stolen base. In addition, he is striking out less than 5% of the time while racking up a 63.2% hard-hit rate. Olivares has even led off the last three games for the Royals. Olivares is likely a deeper league add, but he could become a 12-team play if he continues to lead off every day for the Royals.

Brandon Drury (OF), Cincinnati Reds

2% Rostered

With Jonathan India heading back to the IL with the same hamstring injury, Drury may get even more regular playing time for the Reds. He is hitting .258 with four extra-base hits, including two home runs over the last eight games. Drury has a .258 ISO with a 52% hard-hit rate while hitting second or fifth in most games. Drury has showcased some power throughout his career, and the chance to play every day with his home games in Great American Smal Park won't stink. Lastly, he is primarily playing second base, which will make him 2B/Of eligible very soon.

Juan Yepez (OF), St. Louis Cardinals

0% Rostered

Just a quick note on Yepez. He was crushing in the minors with nine home runs and a .279 batting average which deserved a call-up to the Cardinals. The problem is, how long will he be here? For now, Yepez is making it tough on the Cardinals as he has hit safely in all three games with three doubles along the way. He is an offensive force, but a long-term run with the Cardinals is the question. I am torn on Yepez as he would be fantasy gold if he stuck the rest of the season, but I do not see that so I will be a little reserved on my FAAB bids this week.

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