Points League Pitchers: Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 12

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 with all of the best streams for the week.

These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of June 27 - July 3, looking at players below ~50% rostered for ESPN, Yahoo!, or Fantrax. Rankings are calculated using games through Saturday, June 25.

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. If everything is the same except for HBP (or something similar), you're probably fine.

Week 12: Waiver Wire Leaderboards

All charts are updated prior to Thursday'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 21-Day Leaderboard, Presented by Hansel

Overall Leaderboards

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire - Best Choices

George Kirby, SEA (vs BAL, vs OAK) - Let's keep the cover boy hot streak going. After Spencer Strider (2x) and Josiah Gray dominated during their respective turns, it's up to George Kirby (who I loved just as much last week) to keep the streak alive. He'll get two shots to do it, first getting a Baltimore offense that is 22nd in wOBA vs RHP and 19th in xwOBA for the month of June, with the fifth-highest K% and sixth-lowest BB%. After that, it's time for another crack at Oakland, against whom Kirby dominated in his start last week, striking out six over six shutout innings on his way to picking up the W. Oakland, in case you forgot, is last in wOBA, last in xwOBA, and 24th in K% vs RHP, with the third-lowest walk-rate. Full stream ahead, boys and girls.

Jon Gray, TEX (@ KC) - There is no gray area here, as Jon gets a juicy matchup in Kansas City against a Royals team that is a bottom-five offense vs RHP.

Dane Dunning, TEX (@ KC) - Dunning got roughed up by Detroit (4.2 IP - 5 ER) but bounced back against Washington, allowing just one run over six innings, striking out four. He gets another great matchup versus the Royals, who are a bottom-five offense vs RHP and has the 16th-highest K% against them in June.

Ross Stripling, TOR (vs BOS, vs TB) - Stripling has been a streaming star since moving into the rotation, going 3-1 over four starts, with a 1.31 ERA and 2.20 FIP. I love the matchup with the Rays (vs RHP: 28th in wOBA/xwOBA, 27th in K%) but would be careful versus Boston. The Red Sox are 12th in wOBA and 7th in xwOBA vs RHP for the season but are 7th in wOBA in June, with the 8th-lowest strikeout rate.

Paolo Espino, WSH (vs PIT) - Espino was a sneaky-good streaming option last season and has been one again this season after recently moving back into the rotation. Over three starts, Espino has posted a 2.57 ERA (vs MIL, vs PHI, @ TEX) and gets a cupcake Pittsburgh offense this week - the Pirates are 27th in wOBA/xwOBA vs RHP for the season (24th/30th in June) with the 3rd-highest strikeout rate.

Keegan Thompson, CHC (vs CIN, vs BOS) - Thompson is lined up for a two-start week after allowing just one run over his past two starts (12 IP - 0.75 ERA - 16 K). Boston is an obviously tougher matchup, as they've been a top-10 offense vs RHP all season but there is hay to be made versus Cincinnati, who has been a bottom-10 offense, though, slightly improved over the last month.

Marco Gonzales, SEA (vs OAK) - Marco didn't disappoint in a cake matchup against the Athletics in his last time out, allowing 2 ER over 7 IP, only striking out two batters but picking up the win. He'll get a chance to run it back against Oakland in Week 12.

Alex Cobb, SF (vs CHW) - Cobb has pitched fine in his two starts back from the IL but has failed to complete five innings in either - not great, considering they came against the Reds and Pirates. He'll take a Chicago White Sox offense that has the fifth-worst wOBA vs RHP this season but that has been better in June, posting the 16th-highest wOBA and 10th-lowest K%.

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire - Next Choices

Erick Fedde, WSH  (vs PIT, vs MIA) - Coming off of one of his best starts of the year (6 IP - 0 ER - 2 H - 4 K), Fedde looks to be in a great spot versus Pittsburgh and Miami in a nice, little two-spot. But be aware that Miami has been punishing RHP, running the third-highest wOBA against them since the start of May.

Adrian Houser, MIL (@ PIT) - House is coming off of a beatdown against Toronto, allowing 5 ER on nine hits over six innings but has a great chance to bounce back against a Pittsburgh offense that has the fourth-lowest wOBA vs RHP in 2022 and are 30th in xwOBA for the month of June, with the 3rd-highest K%.

Rich Hill, BOS (@ CHC) - Hill has a 39 APR over the past three weeks but has also won the matchup lottery, facing Oakland twice and Detroit once. But his luck continues this week, facing a Cubs offense that is 20th in wOBA and 27th in xwOBA during the month of June.

Roansy Contreras, PIT (vs MIL) - After back-to-back disappointment against Atlanta and St. Louis, Contreras got back on track against the Cubs, picking up the win after allowing 1 ER over 5 IP, striking out three. Milwaukee has a far superior offense to the North Siders but has struggled more in June vs RHP, posting a bottom-12 wOBA and bottom-8 xwOBA against them.

Dylan Bundy, MIN (@ CLE) - The Dylan Bundy renaissance continues, even though the strikeouts continue to be hit or miss. Bundy only allowed 1 ER over 6 IP vs the Rockies in his last time out but struck out just two batters. Don't expect that trend to change when facing a Cleveland offense that has the lowest strikeout rate in MLB vs RHP.

David Peterson, NYM (vs TEX) - After allowing 4 ER in 4 IP vs the Brewers, Peterson bounced back for a great outing against Miami, striking out seven over 5+ scoreless innings. He'll look to make in two in a row versus a Rangers offense that is 25th in xwOBA and 30th in K% vs LHP in the month of June.

Kris Bubic, KC (vs TEX, @ DET) - The ceiling isn't very high but Bubic has turned in back-to-back relatively solid performances and has a two-start week against two underwhelming offenses. Texas has had middling wOBA/xwOBA vs LHP all season and has posted a bottom-five xwOBA and K% against them in June, while Detroit is, well, Detroit.

Brady Singer, KC (@ DET) - Singer's strikeout rate and team offense keeps him a fairly low-ceiling option in any given start but the Tigers have made a habit of elevating any and all right-handers they face - Detroit is 29th in wOBA/xwOBA, 29th in BB%, and 25th in K%.

Kyle Hendricks, CHC (vs CIN) - After turning in one of his best performances of the season in a victory in St. Louis (7.1 IP - 5 H - 0 ER - 6 K), Hendricks looks to keep turning back the clock in a matchup with a Reds team that is 22nd in wOBA and 27th in xwOBA vs RHP since the start of May.

Michael Pineda, DET (vs KC) - Pineda returns from the IL (fractured finger) for a solid matchup against the Royals, who've been a bottom-five offense vs RHP all season.

JT Brubaker, PIT (vs MIL) - Brubaker turned in a solid performance vs the Rays in his last start (6 IP - 3 ER - 6 K) and faces a Milwaukee offense that has struggled vs RHP in the month of June (18th in wOBA, 23rd in xwOBA, 22nd in K%).

Graham Ashcraft, CIN (@ CHC) - Good things tend to happen when you throw a 99 mph cutter, something the Giants found out in Ashcraft's last start when he allowed just 2 ER over 8 IP while striking out eight. Ashcraft will get a chance to keep it rolling against a much shakier offense, as the Cubs are 15th in wOBA/xwOBA vs RHP but do have the fifth-lowest K% against them since the start of June.

Hunter Greene, CIN (@ CHC) - Greene got smoked versus the Dodgers but so do a lot of pitchers. He'll get a chance to bounce back this week against a Cubs offense that has been 15th in wOBA and xwOBA vs RHP for the season.

Johnny Cueto, SF (@ LAA) - Old man Cueto is in a good spot this week if he can avoid Trout/Ohtani, as the Angels' overall offense continues to decline. They're 13th in wOBA and 11th in xwOBA vs RHP for the season but have the sixth-lowest wOBA against them in the month of June, with the highest K% in baseball.

Josh Winckowski, BOS (@ CHC) - The rookie right-hander turned in his third-straight solid start against Cleveland in his last turn, allowing 2 ER over 5.1 IP and striking four while picking up the win. The Cubs aren't much better, posting a middle-of-the-pack wOBA and xwOBA vs RHP, though, with a top-five K% since the start of June.

Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire - Desperate Choices

Dean Kremer, BAL (@ SEA) - Kremer has been excellent since returning to the big league rotation (21 IP - 1.71 ERA - 3.26 FIP) but faces a Mariners offense that has been a top-10 offense vs RHP since the start of May (8th in wOBA, 6th in xwOBA, 14th in K%).

Devin Smeltzer, MIN (@ CLE, vs BAL) Smeltzer is just not a very good pitcher but has won the matchup lottery (2x vs KC, 2x vs DET, 2x vs CLE) all season, again locking up Cleveland in his last time out for six shutout innings, while striking out three. The luck continues with yet another start versus the Guardians (vs LHP: 29th in wOBA, 30th in xwOBA) but you're asking for trouble if you roll him out against the Orioles. Baltimore is 21st in wOBA and 16th in xwOBA for the year against LHP but has crushed them so far in June, ranking second in both wOBA and xwOBA against them.

Zack Greinke, KC (vs TEX) - Greinke was excellent in his return from the IL vs Oakland, picking up the win after allowing one earned run over six innings, striking out four. But Texas is not Oakland and the Rangers have been much better in June vs RHP, running the 2oth-highest wOBA for the month (24th for the season) and 15th-highest xwOBA (17the for the season).

Brad Keller, KC (@ DET) - After shutting out Oakland for seven innings, Keller quickly erased that goodwill by getting blasted by them in his last start, allowing 4 ER over 3.2 IP. He gets a chance for redemption against a Tigers offense that is 29th in wOBA/xwOBA for the season vs RHP, with the sixth-highest K%.

Alex Faedo, DET (vs KC) - Faedo started off the year solidly, posting a 2.92 ERA over his first seven starts but has come unglued over his past three, running an 11.12 ERA over 11.1 IP. He'll get a chance to turn things around facing a Royals offense that is 26th in wOBA vs RHP for the month of June. But remember that he plays for Detroit, so you certainly shouldn't expect a Win bonus, even if he pitches well.

Chris Flexen, SEA (vs BAL) - Flexen doesn't strike many out and walks too many hitters but a matchup with Baltimore is soft (vs RHP: 22nd in wOBA, 21st in K%).

Mitch Keller, PIT (@ WSH) - Keller kept that mediocre train going in his last start, allowing 3 ER over 5 IP to the Reds and striking five in a no-decision. He'll get a chance to keep it going against a Nationals offense that is 22nd in wOBA vs RHP since the start of June but does have a top-five strikeout rate versus righties for the season.

Chad Kuhl, COL (vs LAD, vs ARI) - Only a masochist would start Kuhl at home versus the Dodgers but the desperate can always attempt rolling him out versus the Diamondbacks. Arizona has struggled all season vs RHP (23rd in wOBA/xwOBA) but they've been even worse in June, posting the 28th-worst wOBA, 29th-worst xwOBA, and with a bottom-five K%.

Aaron Civale, CLE (vs NYY) - Civale was fine in his return from the IL vs MIN (5 IP - 2 ER - 7 K) but the Yankees (vs RHP: 2nd in wOBA, 1st in xwOBA, 8th in K%) need to be avoided, at all costs.

Zach Plesac, CLE (vs MIN, vs NYY) - Plesac has quietly been pretty good over his last five starts, posting a 2.40 ERA over 30 IP but this is a dangerous two-step. Like Civale, he'll face one of the league's best offenses in the Yankees but don't forget about Minnesota, who have posted a top-five wOBA and xwOBA vs RHP all season.

Tyler Wells, BAL (@ SEA, @ MIN) - Wells has a sparkling 2.12 ERA over his past three starts but has a really dicey two-step in Week 12. The Mariners are 8th in wOBA and 6th in xwOBA vs RHP since the start of May, while the Twins have been a top-five offense vs RHP for virtually the entire season.

Chris Archer, MIN (@ CLE) - Archer continues to be effective as Minnesota has expertly managed his exposure from game to game. He has an impressive 49 APR over the past three weeks but I'm being really careful against a Cleveland offense that has the lowest K% in baseball vs RHP and a top-10 wOBA.

Madison Bumgarner, ARI (vs SD) - Bumgarner gets the same San Diego team that just got him for 4 ER over 4 IP last week. I will continue to not be fooled by his occasional good start.

Kyle Freeland, COL (vs LAD) - Freeland is streamable on the road but should be considered radioactive in a start at home versus the Dodgers.

Jose Quintana, PIT (@ WSH, vs MIL) - The Quintana experience has come crashing down lately, with the veteran lefty running a 5.95 ERA and 1.47 WHIP over his past four starts. Don't expect things to change this week, as Washington is much better than you might assume vs LHP (11th in wOBA, 12th in xwOBA during June), and Milwaukee has gotten even better (25th in wOBA for the year, 20th in June).

Relief Pitchers Waiver Wire

Unless you're in a very deep league and/or have a lot of dedicated RP-only slots, most of the relievers you're going to want are the ones who are closers, have a chance to close, or elite setup guys. But I do mean elite because most scoring structures are weighted in a way that relievers almost necessarily have to get saves in order to be valuable. Although, long relievers whose usage you can reliably predict, can be useful in leagues with daily moves. But for a majority of leagues, sticking to closers is the way to go.

With that in mind, here are the best relievers on the wire for Week 12, ordered by Yahoo roster%:

Closers (and co-Closers) on the Wire

Tanner Scott, MIA - I don't know why Scott is still so available, as he's clearly Miami's closer and continues to be excellent. Scott has a 7 APR over the past three weeks and picked up two more Saves this past week.

Paul Sewald/Diego Castillo, SEA - Sewald picked up two Saves this week, while Castillo snagged a Hold and a Win.

Tanner Rainey, WSH - Rainey picked up two Saves this week and now has a 36 APR on the season.

Kendall Graveman/Joe Kelly, CHW - With Liam Hendriks still out, Graveman and Kelly are sharing duties, with Kelly on Monday picking up the White Sox's first save in the Aussie's absence.

Hunter Strickland, CIN - It's currently Strickland's turn on the Cincinnati carousel, picking up a Save on Friday.

Seranthony Dominguez/Brad Hand, PHI - Dominguez picked up a Save, with Hand getting a Hold on the same night.

Committees on the Wire

Minnesota Twins - Emilio Pagan and Griffin Jax both blew Saves last week, while Caleb Thielbar picked one up. Jhoan Duran continues to be their best reliever, turning in yet another scoreless week and with piles of strikeouts, and has only allowed a run in one appearance since May 5. Over those 16 appearances, Duran has a 0.93 ERA over 19.1 IP, with 25 K and 4 BB.

Oakland Athletics - It's still a mess, with A.J. Puk blowing a Save last week and sweet Lou Trivino returning from the dead to pick one up.

Tampa Bay Rays - Colin Poche picked up one Save this week, while Jalen Beeks blew Tampa Bay's other opportunity.

Random Save Chances O' the Week

Collin McHugh, ATL - Blew one on Tuesday.

A.J. Minter, ATL - Blew one on Saturday but picked up a Win.

Will Smith, ATL - Blew one on Monday.

Nick Vespi, BAL - Picked one up on Wednesday.

John Schreiber, BOS - Picked one up on Tuesday.

Eli Morgan, CLE - Blew one on Tuesday.

Rafael Montero, HOU - Picked one up on Friday.

Jose Quijada, LAA - Blew one on Saturday.

Richard Bleier, MIA - Blew one on Tuesday.

Yerry De Los Santos, PIT - Blew one on Thursday.

Erik Swanson, SEA - Picked one up on Saturday.

Jake McGee, SF - Blew one on Wednesday.

Brock Burke, TEX - Blew one on Saturday.

Tim Mayza, TOR - Blew on Tuesday.

More Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Advice