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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 4, May 2 through May 8.
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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Mark Canha, New York Mets
45% Rostered
Canha returned from the COVID IL on April 20 and has hit safely in eight out of 10 games. He only has one extra-base hit over that stretch, and the contact quality has not been excellent. The good thing is that Canha is hitting. The power will soon follow. Canha has had 17+ home runs in his last three full seasons, and he even tossed in 12 stolen bases last season. He is still walking over 10% of the time, which has always been a strong trait. The biggest reason to potentially add Canha this week is that the Mets play eight games. The extra at-bats he could gain next week will be tremendous, and if the power decides to show up, he will be one of the better pickups of the week.
Austin Hays, Baltimore Orioles
40% Rostered
As a whole, the Orioles have not been hitting this season. Hays is one of the significant outliers as he is mashing. Over the last two weeks, he has hit safely in 11 of 13 games, suitable for a .380 batting average. He has eight extra-base hits over that stretch with two home runs. Hays has a .240 ISO, 1.066 OPS, and 215 wRC+. Hays is hitting in the middle of the Orioles batting order and has a juicy seven-game set of games this week, with four against the Twins and three against the Royals. Look for Hays to stay red hot, and hopefully his teammates start hitting so the counting stats can go with his production.
Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins
21% Rostered
Kepler is coming off a 2021 season where he hit 19 home runs and stole 10 bases. Over his career, he has hit for power, with as many as 36 home runs in 2019. Kepler comes into the weekend swinging a scorching bat. He homered on Saturday to give him hits in five of his last seven games, including four home runs. He is only striking out around 10% of the time, with a near 15% walk rate over the previous week. In addition, Kepler is barreling the ball over 20% of the time with a 45% hard-hit rate. This week, Kepler and the Twins have seven nice games on tap versus the Orioles and the A's. Kepler has not hit for a high average in his career but has shown the power, so add him now and enjoy the power surge while rolling.
Andrew McCutchen, Milwaukee Brewers
18% Rostered
McCutchen has hit safely in six of his last eight games heading into Saturday's action. He is hitting .242 with two home runs and a stolen base, but more importantly, he is hitting leadoff for a Brewers team that appears to be heating up. There is a red flag, though, ass McCutchen is striking out 32% of the time. That's a lot of swing and miss going along with the mashing. McCutchen and the Brewers have six games on tap this week, three versus the Reds, and then next week, have three more games in Great American Small Park. McCutchen still brings some punch in that bat and is worth a roster spot for now.
Tyler Naquin, Cincinnati Reds
7% Rostered
It has been an up and down start to the season for Naquin, but he is worth a look in deeper leagues. After his home run on Saturday, he has hit safely in four of his last six games. Naquin is not hitting for an excellent average, but he continues to hit second for a team that plays half their games in a hitter's haven and a lineup that will eventually start hitting as a team. The rest of season projections from the bat have Naquin hitting .259 with 15 home runs and six stolen bases. If all goes well, he can outperform those stats. Naquin has three tough matchups versus the Brewers to start the week but finishes with four fantastic matchups at home versus the Pirates. Roster Naquin where you are looking for some offensive upside in deeper leagues.
Deeper League Waiver WireCheck check out the NFBC deeper league waiver wire for deeper league targets adds.
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