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Welcome RotoBallers to the next edition of our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of April 29 - May 5, looking at players below ~50% rostered on ESPN or Yahoo.
We'll be doing this points league roundup every week here at RotoBaller because we know points players get neglected and we're here to help. Player values can vary wildly from platform to platform, so we'll make sure to highlight where players are the best and worst fits, with waiver wire targets being evaluated in terms of the different scoring systems on ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, Fantrax, and NFBC.
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 Saturday, April 27.
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Early Season Waiver Wire Caveats
Roster% Thresholds
We use a combination of Roster% to assess who is in our target pool, relying mostly on Yahoo and ESPN. For some players, you'll notice a wide discrepancy between the two. This is because ESPN's Roster% is heavily weighted by points players, with guys who don't do well in their system (often because of an inflated K% but also sometimes, who really knows?) lagging behind the Yahoo Roster%.
For this reason, you'll sometimes see players (especially early) who might make you question my sanity in including them in a waiver wire article. For example, Christian Encarnacion-Strand has a 98% Roster% on NFBC and is at 80% on Yahoo, but on ESPN, he's only at 20% -- hence, we'll include him (and others like him).
First Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Nathaniel Lowe, TEX, 1B (Yahoo: 71%, ESPN: 22%) - Lowe is back from the IL and back to doing what he does; compiling his way to point totals that far outstrip his value in roto leagues. He has a 103 APR in his first full week back, following a 43 APR in 2022 and a 37 APR in 2023. Get him while you can because top 50 hitters don't tend to stick around for long.
Connor Joe, PIT, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 35%, ESPN: 34%) -Joe continues to quietly truck along, currently running 64 APR but really excelling on ESPN, as his 17% K% and 11% BB% has him up to the #47 hitter. He's set for another solid week in Week 6, with good matchups against the subpar pitching of Oakland and Colorado.
Ty France, SEA, 1B (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 9%) - France continues his slow-burn heat-up with a 138 APR in Week 4 and an 86 APR so far in Week 5, even if his Roster% doesn't yet reflect it. He's racking up PAs by playing nearly every day and batting in the middle(ish) of Seattle's lineup, generally moving up a few spots to 3rd/4th when there's a leftie on the bump. But while three LHP in Week 6 bodes well for his batting order, the actual lefties he'll be facing (Max Fried, Framber Valdez, Chris Sale) aren't exactly softies.
Next Choices
Anthony Rizzo, NYY, 1B (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 19%) - Rizzo's numbers have been mid, at best, but nothing shoots lightning into your point system like a 3-HR week. He'll get seven games in Week 6, with just two coming against the LHP that tend to make him suffer.
Alex Kirilloff, MIN, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 6%) - Kirilloff has (amazingly) stayed healthy and has batted leadoff for four games straight but still isn't (and likely won't be) getting starts vs LHP. But with only one lefty on the upcoming schedule, five games against the White Sox, and mostly scrubby pitching from Boston, Kirilloff is a solid slide-in, especially in leagues with a full-point strikeout penalty.
Josh Bell, MIA, 1B (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 31%) - Bell has been a dud in Week 5 entering Sunday's action but his profile remains very point-friendly, compiling his way to the leaderboards via the 118 PA that are in the top-five at the position. The pitching matchups are good in Week 6 (vs WSH, vs COL, @ OAK) and only two of the seven games will come against the LHP that he's struggled so mightily against.
Desperate Choices
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (Yahoo: 80%, ESPN: 20%) - CES had his best week of the young season so far in Week 5 but has mid-level (at best) per-PA point rates that are remarkably similar to what he ran in 2023. As long as his 29% K% and 3% BB% hold, I'm confident you can find better options.
On the IL
- DJ LeMahieu, NYY, 1B/3B (foot fracture - no timetable)
- Gio Urshela, DET, 1B/3B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
- Joey Gallo, WSH, 1B/OF (strained shoulder - no timetable)
Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Edouard Julien, MIN, 2B (Yahoo: 54%, ESPN: 11%) - Really, we're doing this again? I don't know how Julien is still available in so many leagues but he certainly shouldn't be, currently running a 2 APR so far in Week 5. Now up to a 56 APR for the season, Julien (and his 30% K%) isn't as valuable in leagues with a strikeout penalty but even in those, his value is buffered by a lot of PAs and a 12% BB%.
Jose Caballero, TB, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 55%, ESPN: 18%) - The .292 might often make you cry in point leagues but Caballero (and his 1% BB%) continues to put up top-75 numbers from week to week, filling up the stat sheet with 12 R, 12 RBI, and 9 SB.
Next Choices
Luis Rengifo, LAA, 2B/3B/SS/OFF (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 37%) - Rengifo doesn't have to stress about playing-time in the near future, with Anthony Rendon going back to his IL home for an extended period, which bodes well for his compiler profile. There's little power but he doesn't need it to be valuable under most scoring systems, currently running a 70 APR over the past two weeks. Oh, and he (and the Ron Washington-led Angels) is also just running, with his 7 SB a new career best.
Brendan Donovan, STL, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 17%) - Donovan has gotten back to producing after a disastrous Week 4 (296 APR), running a 126 APR heading into Sunday's action. With manageable matchups against CHW and DET in Week 6 (and only 1 LHP), I expect Donovan to keep it up.
Jonathan India, CIN, 2B (Yahoo: 52%, ESPN: 11%) - India has had just one bad week out of five in 2024 (316 APR in Week 4) and continues to be an OBP machine, posting a .347 OBP that's backed by a stellar .405 xOBP. As long as he's playing everyday, I expect him to continue being a top-100 hitter most periods.
Desperate Choices
On the IL
- Zack Gelof, OAK, 2B (strained oblique - no timetable)
- Brandon Lowe, TB, 2B (strained oblique - no timetable)
- Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - no timetable)
- Geraldo Perdomo, ARI, 2B/SS (torn meniscus - 4-6 weeks)
- Justin Foscue, TEX, 2B (strained oblique - no timetable)
- Andy Ibanez, DET, 2B/OF (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Maikel Garcia, KC, 3B (Yahoo: 73%, ESPN: 22%) - Maikel Garcia SZN is back, baby! After two subpar weeks, Garcia is back to being lit, posting a 6 APR heading into Sunday. Garcia's x-stats continue to surpass his actual numbers but things are starting to come together and he's back up to a 37 APR, with a 29 APR over the past two weeks.
Josh H. Smith, TEX, 2B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 11%) - Smith continues to be mostly ignored by the points fandom but maybe that'll change after a 61 APR in Week 5 and a 75 APR over the past two weeks. The .359 BABIP will eventually cool the train down but right now Smith is compiling enough to earn a slot on most rosters.
Next Choices
Tyler Freeman, CLE, 3B/OF (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 9%) - Freeman just isn't going away, having now started six straight games and nine of the last 10. With a 40 APR over the past two weeks and top-100 APR in three of the five weeks in 2024, we probably shouldn't just keep ignoring him.
Desperate Choices
Willi Castro, MIN, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 2%) - Castro has blown up with a 13 APR in Week 5 but a 34% K% will still likely make him a risky liability under most scoring systems.
On the IL
- Anthony Rendon, LAA, 3B (strained groin - no timetable)
- DJ LeMahieu, NYY, 1B/3B (fractured foot - no timetable)
- Yoan Moncada, CHW, 3B (strained groin - likely out until All-Star break)
- Jon Berti, NYY, 3B/SS (strained groin - no timetable)
- Gio Urshela, DET, 1B/3B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
- J.D. Davis, OAK, 3B (strained groin - no timetable)
Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Josh H. Smith, TEX, 2B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 11%) - Smith continues to be mostly ignored by the points fandom but maybe that'll change after a 61 APR in Week 5 and a 75 APR over the past two weeks. The .359 BABIP will eventually cool the train down but right now Smith is compiling enough to earn a slot on most rosters.
Jose Caballero, TB, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 55%, ESPN: 18%) - The .292 might often make you cry in point leagues but Caballero (and his 1% BB%) continues to put up top-75 numbers from week to week, filling up the stat sheet with 12 R, 12 RBI, and 9 SB.
Next Choices
Luis Rengifo, LAA, 2B/3B/SS/OFF (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 37%) - Rengifo doesn't have to stress about playing-time in the near future, with Anthony Rendon going back to his IL home for an extended period, which bodes well for his compiler profile. There's little power but he doesn't need it to be valuable under most scoring systems, currently running a 70 APR over the past two weeks. Oh, and he (and the Ron Washington-led Angels) is also just running, with his 7 SB a new career best.
Desperate Choices
Willi Castro, MIN, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 2%) - Castro has blown up with a 13 APR in Week 5 but a 34% K% will still likely make him a risky liability under most scoring systems.
On the IL
- Jon Berti, NYY, 2B/3B (strained groin - no timetable)
- Geraldo Perdomo, ARI, 2B/SS (torn meniscus - 4-6 weeks)
- Vaughn Grissom, BOS, SS (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
- Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - no timetable)
- Trevor Story, BOS, SS (dislocated shoulder - no timetable)
Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Alex Verdugo, NYY, OF (Yahoo: 39%, ESPN: 20%) - Listen, I don't know why Verdugo's Roster% is so low, either. Verdugo has always had a better points profile than for roto, and has run a top-20 APR in two of the last three weeks. He plays every day (114 PA), never strikes out (8% K%), and walks a ton (13% BB%) - is that not something you might be interested in? Hm-mmm?
Wilyer Abreu, BOS, OF (Yahoo: 50%, ESPN: 16%) - The rookie is on fire, with a 39 APR in Week 5, after a 15 APR in Week 4. It'll slow down but grab that hotness and ride if he's still available.
Ceddanne Rafaela, BOS, OF (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 3%) -
Next Choices
Jurickson Profar, SD, OF (Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 23%) - Our cover boy from last week hasn't disappointed so far, posting a 39 APR heading into Sunday's game after going 6-for-21, with 1 HR, 4 R, and 5 RBI. With a 17% K% and 14% BB% for the year, Profar should continue to compile his way to point league relevance.
Brenton Doyle, COL, OF (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 8%) - Doyle has a 56 APR for the season but a lot of that has been from home-cooking, slashing .362/.412/.574 with a .430 wOBA at Coors, compared to .292/.333/.458 with a .350 wOBA on the road. But while there is a big gap, those road numbers are still pretty damn good, right?
Desperate Choices
Mike Tauchman, CHC, OF (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 2%) - Tauchman has a 24 APR over the past two weeks but more important to his overall value is him sliding up to batting second since Cody Bellinger went on the IL. With only one LHP on the Week 6 schedule, Tauchman could again provide you with a sneaky stream.
Bryan De La Cruz, MIA, OF (Yahoo: 51%, ESPN: 16%) - My guy BDLC came back to earth in Week 5 after a top-10 APR in Week 4 but seven games against the staff's from WSH, COL, and OAk are a quick way to get back on track.
Mark Canha, DET, OF (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 16%) - Canha already had a points-friendly profile but is currently in the midst of a heater, posting a 9 APR so far in Week 5, with nine hits and 2 HR.
- Garrett Mitchell, MIL, OF (fractured finger - no timetable)
- Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - no timetable)
- Kris Bryant, COL, OF (lower back - no timetable)
- Garrett Mitchell, MIL, OF (fractured finger - 6-to-8 weeks)
- Alek Thomas, ARI, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable
- Austin Hays, BAL, OF (strained calf - no timetable)
- Joey Gallo, WSH, 1B/OF (strained shoulder - no timetable)
- Justin Foscue, TEX, 2B (strained oblique - no timetable)
- Andy Ibanez, DET, 2B/OF (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
- Dylan Carlson, STL, OF (shoulder strain -- no timetable)
- TJ Friedl, CIN, OF (wrist fracture - no timetable)
- Victor Robles, WSH (strained hamstring - no timetable)
Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Ryan Jeffers, MIN, C (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 19%) - Let's just repeat what we've been saying for a while - it's time to start paying more attention to Ryan Jeffers. Jeffers is coming into his own in 2024, virtually erasing the contact woes that have plagued him previously, posting a 19% K% that's down from the 31% K% he was running entering the season. He has a 19 APR entering Sunday's action, with an 84 APR in Week 4 and a 41 APR in Week 3 - unless your catcher is crushing it, Jeffers probably represents an upgradde.
Patrick Bailey, SF, C (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 4%) - Bailey has a 61 APR over the past two weeks but more important to his long-term value is his increasing playing time, as the second-year catcher is slowly eating backup Tom Murphy into complete irrelevance. After sitting early vs LHP, Bailey has now started the past two games against them and has started the past four games overall, his longest streak of the season.
Next Choices
Tyler Stephenson, CIN, C (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 6%) - Jeebus help me, I just can't quit Stephenson, who has posted APRs the past three weeks of 94, 54, and 118 so far in Week 5. Don't worry, I totally know that the second I get sucked back in will be right about the time he goes on the IL for 6-8 weeks.
Shea Langeliers, OAK, C (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 4%) - Just remember, there's always Langeliers, who has 6 HR in 93 PA...Oh, and also a brutal slash of .165/.207/.388, with a .257 wOBA. But there's also some hope in his x-slash, as Langeriers has posted a much more respectable .254 xBA, .291 xOBP, .546 xSLG, and .351 xwOBA. And if all else fails, at least you'll know he's playing, with Langeliers 93 PA putting him ninth among catchers.
Desperate Choices
Elias Diaz, COL, C (Yahoo: 35%, ESPN: 11%) - Diaz is leaving the friendly confines of Coors Field but he'll get some shaky matchups on the road, facing the Marlins and Pirates. Well, mostly shaky - nobody wants a piece of Jared Jones, right now.
Connor Wong, BOS, C (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 14%) - With a 57 APR in Week 4 and a 38 APR so far in Week 5, Wong is hitting himself into a larger share of playing time, having now started five of the last six games for Boston, and nine of the last 11. But do be aware of some fool's gold in his numbers; Wong's .333 AVG (.248 xBA) is being carried by a .364 BABIP and his .409 wOBA has a .305 xwOBA behind it. And the starting pitching is no joke for Boston in Week 6 - the Red Sox are scheduled to face Logan Webb, Joe Ryan, and Pablo Lopez.
On the IL
- Max Stassi, CHW, C (hip inflammation - no timetable)
- Yasmani Grandal, PIT (plantar fascitis - rehab assignment)
- Jason Delay, PIT (knee surgery - no timetable)
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