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We have completed another week of MLB action, making it time to make more waiver wire moves. With more and more injuries and players slumping, it is time to start making some changes to our rosters. I want to emphasize that it is still not time to panic about your core players. Do not go dropping early picks that are just slumping out the gate. If they are still struggling in a few weeks, we can look at the underlying metrics to see if a drop is in play.
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 fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for the outfield in Week 3, April 25 through May 1.
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.
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Brandon Nimmo, New York Mets
28% Rostered
Heading into Saturday, Nimmo has hit safely in eight of 11 games to start his season. The Mets' leadoff hitter was hitting .325 with five extra-base hits, two being home runs. The average and the power are excellent, but Nimmo is doing what he does best: getting on base with a 14.6% walk rate, helping out his outstanding .426 OBP. Nimmo has always been a deeper league target with his on-base skills, but if he can keep barreling the ball around 12.9% of the time with a 48.4% hard-hit rate, then the power should continue his fantasy value will skyrocket. Nimmo is a must-add in 15-team leagues, and I am also looking to add in most 12-team leagues.
Tommy Pham, Cincinnati Reds
30% Rostered
Pham started the season as bad as one can, going hitless in his first six games, but things have slowly gotten better. Over his next six games, he hit safely in four games with two home runs. He has been hitting third for the Reds, which will bring fantasy goodness, but the team is struggling offensively. The season has been a disappointment, but it is still early. Pham is still walking over 12% of the time, and his contact quality is still outstanding, with a 10.3% barrel rate and 48.3% hard-hit rate. Pham will get things going, and three games in Great American Small Park and three games at Coors Field this week may be just the ticket for fantasy goodness.
Luis Arraez, Minnesota Twins
22% Rostered
Arraez has a fantastic start to the season, and that continued on Saturday as he went 4-5 with three RBI. Arraez is now hitting .364 with a home run and seven RBI. His plated discipline is elite as he has five walks and only four strikeouts. Arraez only had two home runs in 2021, zero in 2020, and four in 2019. The fact he already has one home run is interesting, and the potential for increased power could be due to his career-best maxEV, launch angle, and barrel rate. I am not expecting 20 home runs, but five or more would be awesome when we consider he will bring an elite batting average to your team. Not to mention the positional flexibility too.
Taylor Ward, Los Angeles Angels
13% Rostered
Joe Maddon said Ward would be an everyday outfielder when he returned from the IL, and he was not lying. Ward went 1-2 on Saturday and has hit safely in six of seven games to start the season. Ward has a home run, a steal, and an impressive 21.9% walk rate. His 11.8% barrel rate and 47.1% hard-hit rate are next-level good. Ward has been hitting second, third, or fourth in every game, which adds to his fantasy value. As long as the Angels keep playing him every day, Ward will have a lot of fantasy value. Hopefully, Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh do not get squeezed too bad.
Josh Naylor, Cleveland Guardians
2% Rostered
Naylor returned from the IL six games ago and has been smashing. He went hitless in his first game but had multiple hits in each of the next five games with three extra-base hits and an outstanding 4.5% strikeout rate. Naylor is barreling the ball 11.8% of the time with a career-best 52.9% hard-hit rate. He was hitting well last season before a gruesome injury ended his season. Naylor is hitting in the heart of the order, which is excellent, and he will also add first base eligibility sooner than later. Naylor is one of my top adds this week if you look for some offensive help.
Deeper League Waiver Wire Adds
For deeper league targets, check out the NFBC deeper league waiver wire adds.
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