Points League Hitters: Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 15

We'll be doing this roundup of points leagues every week here at RotoBaller, with waiver wire targets and streaming pitchers being evaluated in terms of the different scoring systems of ESPN, Yahoo!, CBS, and Fantrax.

Player values can vary wildly from platform to platform, so we'll make sure to highlight where players are the best and worst fits. We know points league players get neglected and we're here to help.

These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of July 21 - July 24, looking at players below ~50% rostered for ESPN, Yahoo!, or Fantrax. Position eligibility is taken from Fantrax and players are grouped by their most valuable fantasy position, using a hierarchy of: C > 2B > OF > 3B > 1B > SS. Stats and rankings for charts are calculated using games through Friday, July 15.

Know Your Scoring System

You know what I'm going to say, right?  You must account for, as precisely as possible, how a player performs under your particular scoring system. Don't be fooled into believing you can just make rough adjustments in your head, bumping up guys with high on-base percentages and low strikeout rates. Every point, in every category, counts.

For example, ESPN and Fantrax are virtually identical in their scoring for hitters and roster size. The only difference is that stolen bases are worth one more point on Fantrax and ESPN subtracts one point per strikeout. That's the difference between Trea Turner being a top-five hitter versus a top-25 hitter.

If your league uses standard settings, then great! Turn to page 94 and you can skip ahead to the leaderboards. If you play with custom settings, it'll still be fine. Go back to page 43 and look below at the scoring systems of the four major platforms. I bet there's a chance that you'll find that your league's scoring is very similar to one of the four (well, not Yahoo!'s), even if it's not the platform you actually play on.

You'll likely find a suitable mirror to your own system if you look above. While every point counts, as long as they aren't seismic changes you can get away with some "close enough" calls. IE. You're probably fine if everything is the same except for HBP (or something similar).

Week 15: Waiver Wire Leaderboards

All charts are updated prior to Saturday's games, on stats and ownerships, and clicking on a chart will open a new page with a magnified version. Players on overall leaderboards are ordered according to their current Roster% on Yahoo.

*APR = Average Platform Ranking - the average platform ranking between ESPN, CBS, Yahoo, and Fantrax (standard point settings)

The 14-Day Leaderboard, Presented by Hansel

These players are so hot right now. Here are the players on the wire who are running inside the top-100 of APR over the past two weeks:

Overall Leaderboards

First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Carlos Santana, SEA (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 48%) - He was hot for a month before getting traded and has stayed hot since, now with a 47 APR over the past two weeks. Maybe this is just a dead-cat bounce but the best versions of Santana have always had an elite points profile. Ride this as long as you can.

Next Choices

Vinnie Pasquantino, KC (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 9%) - It hasn't translated yet for big points but it's only a matter of time until his actual stats catch up with his expected ones. Pasquantino's .284 wOBA is backed by a .411 xwOBA, while a .257 wOBAcon has a .475 xwOBAcon behind it. Mix in a 14.9% K%/12.2% BB% and you have the makings of a breakout.

Jesus Aguilar, MIA (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 34%) - Aguilar has a 73 APR over the past two weeks but not much has changed with his profile, posting just a .325 wOBA (on contact) and .341 xwOBAcon over that period.

Desperate Choices

Daniel Vogelbach, PIT (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 3%) - Vogelbach has a great compiler profile but Pittsburgh annoyingly likes to randomly sit him vs LHP in favor of Yoshi Tsutsugo, who is slashing .184/.250/.265 in his 56 PA vs LHP. But hey, do your thing Pittsburgh, it seems to be working, so far.

Brandon Belt, SF (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 34%) - Belt has a .422 wOBA (.401 xwOBA) and a .544 wOBAcon (.512 xwOBAcon) over the past two weeks, with per-PA scoring rates that are well above-average. But he's, unfortunately, stuck in a strong-side platoon, having failed to start against an LHP since returning from the IL on June 13.

On the IL

• Edwin Rios, LAD (strained hamstring - no timetable for return)

Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Nico Hoerner, CHC, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 27%) - Hoerner plays every day, often bats second vs RHP, and has nearly a single-digit strikeout rate. No good reason he should be on the wire in point leagues.

Jose Miranda, MIN, 1B/2B/3B (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 5%) - Miranda has slowly worked his way into a mostly full-time role, starting 14 of Minnesota's last 17 games. He doesn't walk much (4.1% BB%) but an elite strikeout rate (19.0% K%, 12.8% K% over the last two weeks) and big hit stick could make Miranda one of the second half's best producers if he's playing every day.

Matt Carpenter, NYY, 1B/2B/OF (Yahoo: 38%, ESPN: 18%) - If you have the roster space in a daily league and can afford to use him as sporadically as the Yankees do, Carpenter can be an explosive add. He's hit three home runs in his past six starts and has posted an absurd .848 wOBA on contact over the past two weeks.

Next Choices

Nolan Gorman, STL, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 19%) - Gorman has a 103 APR and 51 PA over the past two weeks but part of that playing-time bump is from schedule luck, as the Cardinals have only faced three left-handers in July. Gorman still isn't starting against LHP but he's at least held his own in a small sample against them (17 PA), putting up a .374 wOBA and 146 wRC+. But regardless of handedness, Gorman (and his 31.1% K%) has limited value in leagues with a strikeout penalty.

Brendan Donovan, STL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 56%) - Donovan has a solid compiler scoring profile (and is eligible everywhere except for catcher) but a lot of his value will depend on where he's batting. Prior to missing five days with an illness, Donovan was batting 1st/2nd vs RHP and 7th/8th vs LHP. But Tommy Edman went back to leadoff while Donovan was out and has stayed there in the two games (1 vs RHP, 1 vs LHP) since his return.

Santiago Espinal, TOR, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 41%) - Compiler profiles are going to have down weeks but Espinal's everyday role and premium plate discipline should continue to keep him as a viable, if boring, option.

Ha-Seong Kim, SD, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 9%) - Kim has continued to produce in his everyday role and has run a 78 APR over the past two weeks. But also don't get fooled by the recent circumstances working in his favor. Kim batted leadoff in four of his past five games but moved right back down following Jurickson Profar's return from the IL. And Kim, who has a .260 wOBA vs RHP but a .401 wOBA vs LHP, has been fortunate with the Padres happening to face left-handers in seven of their past eight games.

Nicky Lopez, KC, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 6%) - He'll be held down by a low walk-rate and spot low in the order but Lopez's hitting has finally picked up enough to activate his low-budget compiler powers. Lopez has multiple hits in three of his past 10 starts, slashing .324/.333/.384 over 37 PA.

Aledmys Diaz, HOU, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 7%) - Diaz has a 40 APR over the past two weeks and has an above-average scoring profile. That makes him interesting with his playing time ticking up in the absence of Yordan Alvarez and Michael Brantley.

Desperate Choices

Nick Senzel, CIN, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 5%) - Senzel has a 103 APR over the last two weeks but a .410 wOBA is only backed by a .339 xwOBA, while the .504 wOBAcon has a .404 xwOBAcon. But still, that's better than what we've seen recently. If Senzel can ever dig himself out of the bottom of the lineup, he could get more interesting.

Jonathan Schoop, DET, 1B/2B (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 44%) - Schoop has a 66 APR over the last two weeks...Are we entering a 2022 Schoopening??? Not so fast. Schoop's recent APR is being driven by 10 runs scored and 4 SB, not a bevy of home runs. In fact, zero home runs, and Schoop only has a .313 wOBA and .359 wOBAcon over that time. That's no Schoopening, at all.

Josh H. Smith, TEX, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 1%) - Smith has spent July batting leadoff and putting up above-average per-PA scoring rates. But, unfortunately, he's been on the bench the last three times the Rangers have faced a left-handed starter.

On the IL

• David Fletcher, LAA (abductor surgery - currently on rehab assignment)
• Nick Madrigal, CHC (strained groin - currently on rehab assignment)
• Jed Lowrie, OAK (sprained shoulder - no timetable for return)

Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Yandy Diaz, TB, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 35%, ESPN: 49%) - Diaz has stayed red-hot, running a 6 APR over the past two weeks while slashing .429/.508/.592 over 59 PA, with 10 R and 11 RBI. Still only 3 HR on the year but a 13.6% BB% and 10.2% K% help balance the lack of power out. A .343 xwOBA (-.129 vs wOBA) and .318 xwOBAcon (-.173 vs wOBAcon) say that leaner times are coming but you have to ride the streak.

Next Choices

Alec Bohm, PHI, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 17%) - Bohm's 127 APR over the past two weeks doesn't look impressive but it's held down by only 29 PA after missing two games in Toronto due to being unvaccinated and missing Friday night with a balky finger. But his per-PA scoring rates have been terrific lately, running a .460 wOBA over the past two weeks.

Nolan Jones, CLE, 3B/OF (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 11%) - Jones is another exciting rookie but has gone 0-for-13 after starting on fire, going 7-for-16 over his first four games. The bigger issue with his points value, though, is a strikeout rate that was always high in the minors and has started at 31% over this first stretch of major league action. Much like Gorman, this Nolan will also have some growing pains.

Desperate Choices

Emmanuel Rivera, KC (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Even before the Royals lost half of their team to being unvaccinated, Rivera had been playing more and has now started six straight games. But Whit Merrifield had also missed four games (toe) prior to being restricted in Toronto and it remains to be seen whether Rivera will continue to start daily once he returns.

On the IL

• Miguel Sano, MIN (knee surgery - currently on rehab assignment)
• Evan Longoria, SF (strained oblique - no timetable for return)
• Jake Burger, CHW (bone bruise - no timetable for return)
• Mike Moustakas, CIN (COVID-IL - no timetable for return)

Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Shortstop continues to be a dumpster among players with it as their MVP position and I'd much rather use the players below that were covered earlier.

Best Choices

Nico Hoerner, CHC, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 27%)

Brendan Donovan, STL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 56%)

Next Choices

Santiago Espinal, TOR, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 41%)

Ha-Seong Kim, SD, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 9%)

Desperate Choices

Nicky Lopez, KC, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 6%)

Aledmys Diaz, HOU, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 7%)

On the IL

• Andrelton Simmons, CHC (strained shoulder - no timetable for return)

Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

MJ Melendez, KC, C/OF (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 13%) - Melendez absolutely should not still be on the wire. He's playing every day (even batting leadoff for three games prior to being restricted for Toronto) with above-average scoring rates and has a .459 xwOBAcon over the past two weeks.

Next Choices

Danny Jansen, TOR (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 5%) - Jansen has performed well in 2022 but injuries have limited him to just 68 PA. He's back (again) and should earn plenty of playing time, even with the presence of Alejandro Kirk, as Jansen's bat is backed by excellent handling of Toronto's pitching staff.

William Contreras, ATL (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 66%) - Contreras is only going to play 2-3 times a week but he still might hit a home run, or two. He only has 30 PA in July but has slashed .280/.400/.560, with 2 HR and a .413 wOBA.

Eric Haase, DET, C/OF (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 5%) - Haase has had big numbers over the past two weeks (.398 wOBA, .520 wOBAcon) but still only plays three times a week.

Desperate Choices

All catcher adds are desperate adds. Now and forever.

On the IL

• Mike Zunino, TB (shoulder inflammation - no timetable for return)
• Yadier Molina, STL (knee inflammation - no timetable for return)
• James McCann, NYM (strained oblique - no timetable for return)

Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Ramon Laureano, OAK (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 14%) - Why is Laureano still so lightly rostered? Batting second every day for Oakland, Laureano has a 36 APR over the past two weeks, with a .431 wOBA and .490 wOBAcon. That Roster% does not make sense.

Alex Kirilloff, MIN, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 38%, ESPN: 30%) Wow, Kirilloff must have really left a bad taste in everyone's mouth because his performance justifies an ownership rate closer to what he left the draft season with. Since returning from the minors on June 17, Kirilloff is slashing .299/.344/.483 over 96 PA, with 3 HR, 10 R, and 20 RBI. This is the elite hitter we were promised.

Riley Greene, DET (Yahoo: 49%, ESPN: 27%) - He won't be here next week but Greene should absolutely not remain on your wire. Not only has the rookie put up a .374 xwOBA and .512 xwOBAcon but he's racking up PAs at an alarming rate, collecting 70 PA over the past two weeks.

Next Choices

Harold Ramirez, TB, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 27%) - Ramirez has a points-friendly profile and is playing every day in the middle of the Tampa Bay lineup. Not very exciting but he's been an excellent, little bit of everything-type compiler.

Garrett Cooper, MIA, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 22%) - Cooper's APR  has hit the skids lately but his expected stats on contact haven't. Over the past two weeks, Cooper's puny .277 wOBAcon is backed by a much nicer .475 xwOBAcon.

Hunter Dozier, KC, 1B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 20%) - Dozier remains an underrated points asset, putting up above-average scoring rates and playing every day (as long as he's not in Toronto).

Josh Naylor, CLE, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 35%, ESPN: 42%) - Naylor has batted cleanup for Cleveland in every game but one in July, slashing .313/.361/.594 over 36 PA, with 3 HR and a .402 wOBA. He's had elite per-PA scoring rates all year and can be a star in points IF he's playing every day (and actually stays healthy).

Josh Lowe, TB (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 3%) - Lowe has finally started to curb his strikeout problems, running just a 20.4% K% over his 49 PA in July (32.9% K% for the season). He has a 103 APR over the past two weeks and has now started 11 of the Rays' past 12 games.

Desperate Choices

Steven Kwan, CLE (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 39%) - Kwan will continue to have a high floor/low ceiling profile and has compiled his way up to a 113 APR for the year. but his 79 APR over the last two weeks is driven a lot more than the 70 PA than it is by his below-average scoring rates.

Leody Taveras, TEX (Yahoo: 17%, ESPN: 3%) - Taveras has now started the last five games and eight of the last nine, running a 16 APR over the last two weeks. Counterpoint: It's still Leody Taveras and this will flame out soon.

Adam Duvall, ATL (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 24%) - Duvall has missed time with injury and paternity leave over the past two weeks but has been crushing the ball when he's been in, running a .486 wOBA (.475 xwOBA) and .754 wOBAcon (.736 xwOBAcon) over the past two weeks. But with the return of Eddie Rosario, the Braves lineup is getting real crowded, real fast, and Duvall has sat in two of five games (1 vs LHP, 1 vs RHP) since returning from the paternity list.

Trent Grisham, SD (Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 47%) - Grisham has shown sporadic signs of life but is currently back in the dumpster, going 2-for-20 over his past six games, even with four of those coming in Colorado.

On the IL

• Harrison Bader, STL (plantar fascitis - no timetable for return)
• Kyle Lewis, SEA (concussion - on rehab assignment)
• Manuel Margot, TB (strained knee - no timetable for return)
• Wil Myers, SD (knee inflammation - no timetable for return)
• Tyrone Taylor (concussion - no timetable for return)
• Oscar Gonzalez, CLE (strained abdominal - no timetable for return)
• Kevin Kiermaier, TB (hip inflammation - no timetable for return)
• Trevor Larnach, MIN (core muscle surgery - expected to miss six weeks)
• Taylor Trammell, SEA (strained hamstring - no timetable for return)
• Jake Fraley, CIN (knee inflammation - no timetable for return)

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