NFBC Waiver Wire Report for Week 6 - Deeper Hitter Pickups for Fantasy Baseball

NFBC Fantasy Baseball Sleepers and Draft Targets, 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.

Early in the season, we are interested in players that are off to hot starts, and more importantly, show sustainable improvements from last season. With the early 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 6, May 16 through May 22.

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 handful of teams with seven games and even one lucky team with eight games. There is a juicy Fri-Sun setup for the Reds and Pirates, who will play four games in three days in Great American Small Park when breaking down the schedule. We also have a lovely three-game series in Coors Field to start the week between the Rockies and Nationals.

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

Two-Start Pitchers

• Madison Bumgarner (@LAD, @CHC)
• Merrill Kelly (@LAD, @CHC)
• Ian Anderson (@MIL, @MIA)
• Kyle Bradish (vs. NYY, vs. TB)
• Spenser Watkins (vs. NYY, vs. TB)
• Garrett Whitlock (vs. HOU, vs. SEA)
• Nathan Eovaldi (vs. HOU, vs. SEA)
• Wade Miley (vs. PIT, vs. ARI)
• Connor Overton (@CLE, @TOR)
• Antonio Senzatela (vs. SF, vs. NYM)
• Dylan Cease (@KC, @NYY)
• Beau Brieske (@TB, @CLE)
• Jake Odorizzi (@BOS, vs. TEX)
• Brad Keller (vs. CWS, vs. MIN)
• Brady Singer (vs. CWS, vs. MIN)
• Tony Gonsolin (vs. ARI, @PHI)
• Jesus Luzardo (vs. WAS, vs. ATL)
• Freddy Peralta (vs. ATL, vs. WAS)
• Tylor Megill (vs. STL, @COL)
• Taijuan Walker (vs. STL, @COL)
• Luis Severino (@BAL, vs. CWS)
• Jameson Taillon (@BAL, vs. CWS)
• Zach Logue (vs. MIN, @LAA)
• Zach Eflin (vs. SD, vs. LAD)
• Bryse Wilson (@CHC, vs. STL)
• Chris Flexen (@TOR, @BOS)
• Logan Gilbert (@TOR, @BOS)
• Alex Wood (@COL, vs. SD)
• Miles Mikolas (@NYM, @PIT)
• Steven Matz (@NYM, @PIT)
• Shane McClanahan (vs. DET, @BAL)
• Jon Gray (vs. LAA, @HOU)
• Taylor Hearn (vs. LAA, @HOU)
• Yusei Kikuchi (vs. SEA, vs. CIN)
• Aaron Sanchez (@MIA, @MIL)

Infield Waiver Wire Pickups

Alfonso Rivas (1B/OF), Chicago Cubs 

3% Rostered

We are going deep with waiver wire targets this week, and Rivas is the first to discuss. Rivas has taken over as the primary first baseman for the Cubs. He is hitting .262 with two home runs and a 16% walk rate over 50 plate appearances. His .167 ISO, .809 OPS, and 130 wRC+ should help keep Rivas in the lineup. The primary concern for Rivas would be his 28% strikeout rate and subpar contact skills. Regardless, he continues to play nearly every day for the Cubs and has an excellent upcoming schedule. This week, the Cubs play seven games, three versus the Pirates and four versus the DBacks, and six of those games are against RHP. Rivas should see plenty of playing time, making for a potential deep-league add-on on the cheap.

Brad Miller (1B/3B/OF), Texas Rangers

3% Rostered

Miller is having his usually up and down season but comes into the waiver wire period swinging a good bat. In four of his last seven games, he has hit safely with three home runs, a .353 batting average, and even two stolen bases. Miller now had five home runs and four steals on the season, which is valuable in deep leagues. Miller primarily hits leadoff versus RHP, and this upcoming week, the Rangers face five RHP over their seven games. They are tough RHP, but they are righties nonetheless. So Miller should be at the top of that order, racking up at-bats and potentially getting more home runs and stolen bases. At worse, his positional flexibility will help a ton through the upcoming weeks.

 Jose Iglesias (SS), Colorado Rockies

3% Rostered

We knew Iglesias would not supply much power for your fantasy team, but he is bringing a phenomenal batting average with potential run production. He is coming into the week swinging a hot bat, hitting safely in seven of eight games. Iglesias is hitting .367 with four doubles, five runs scored, and five RBI over the eight games. He is hitting .316 while striking out less than 10% of the season. The batting average bump that Iglesias brings to your team is great, but the best reason to add Iglesias next week is a six-game slate all in Coors. Do not sleep on Iglesias this week.

Mauricio Dubon (2B/SS/OF), San Francisco Giants 

0% Rostered

Since getting recalled, Dubon has been swinging it well. He is hitting .412 over his last six games and has hit safely in his previous four starts. Dubon has flexed his muscle with two home runs over that stretch, but most importantly, he has not struck out over the last six games. This upcoming week, the Giants start with three games in Coors Field which always warrants a look as a deeper league add. Dubon is not a must as he still does not play every day. He likely plays two of three games in Coors. If you are desperate for a roster bump, then Dubon is someone to consider for the start of the week.

Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups

Garrett Cooper (1B/OF), Miami Marlins

26% Rostered

I am not sure what Cooper has to do to get some deeper league love. He comes into the weekend hitting safely in seven of eight games, for a .310 batting average. He has four extra-base hits with a .207 ISO, .861 OPS, and 143 wRC+. Cooper is barreling the ball 9.1% of the time to go with a 59.1% hard-hit rate. Cooper is pretty locked in at the plate and hits in a fantasy-friendly lineup spot nearly every game for the Marlins. This upcoming week, the Marlins have six games, all versus RHP, and the first three games have some very favorable matchups versus the Nats. Cooper should be on all 12-team and deeper radars going forward.

 Gavin Sheets (OF), Chicago White Sox

6% Rostered

Have a week, Gavin Sheets. He has hit safely in all four games this week, with home runs in three of four games. He is even walking 13.3% of the time with a barrel rate of 20% and a hard-hit rate of 50% when balls are put in play. He has been hitting fifth or sixth in each game and usually draws the start versus RHP. This upcoming week, the White Sox play eight games with seven games versus RHP, which should line up for more Sheets goodness. The only concern I have is the return of Andrew Vaughn this weekend. See how the lineups look to make sure Sheets is still the man versus RHP. If he is, he is one of the better weekly adds from this column.

Michael A. Taylor (OF), Kansas City Royals

4% Rostered

Taylor is just that slow and steady, boring fantasy player to the roster but brings some deep league appeal for his consistency. He comes into the weekend hitting .297 in May with a home run. He is not showcasing all the power but does have a 47% hard-hit rate, which will often play. Taylor will play nearly every game, and there will be times when he goes through a bit of a power surge. This upcoming week, the Royals play eight games and have some great matchups versus the White Sox and Twins. Do not be scared to roster Taylor for all the at-bats he is about to rack up.

Cooper Hummel (OF), Arizona Diamondbacks

0% Rostered

Hummel is only for your deepest of leagues. He has hit safely in four of his last six games, but it has been a very up and down season. He has three extra-base hits and a stolen base over the previous six games with a .160 ISO. However, his plate discipline is less than desirable, with a 34.5% strikeout rate. The main reason to look into Hummel this week is he usually leads off for the DBacks, and they have eight games this week with a juicy four-game series to end the week versus the Cubs. I will have bids in on Hummel in 15-team leagues this week.

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