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Welcome back RotoBallers to Week 15! I know it's the All-Star break, but today we're back with another edition of our first-and third-base fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups.
For those who are not familiar, each week at RotoBaller, we publish a waiver wire article for each position. This article will look at corner infield options, at both 1B and 3B. You can also read our other articles for middle infield (2B and SS), outfield, starting pitchers, and more.
Let’s keep rolling right along here with some names to consider as fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for this upcoming week of the MLB and fantasy baseball season – July 18 through July 24.
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Yandy Diaz, Tampa Bay Rays
38% Rostered
Yandy Diaz has been one of the hotter hitters in baseball of late. The Tampa Bay Rays slugger has been absolutely tearing the cover off the baseball over the past month.
In his past 30 games, Diaz is hitting a scorching .349 with a .424 OBP, 14 walks, 17 runs scored, and 12 RBI. The righty has been manning the leadoff spot in Tampa for the most part and has been an excellent table-setter.
On the season, Diaz is now up to a .299 average, .410 OBP, .806 OPS, and 26 RBI in 82 games played. While he only has three homers, he remains an effective and reliable presence when it comes to getting on base.
Diaz has shown elite patience at the plate, posting a well above-average strikeout percentage and walk rate. Both his exit velocity and hard-hit percentages have also been on the rise this season as well.
Diaz isn’t a star, but he’s red-hot and has been a steady contributor when it comes to batting average and runs scored this season.
Josh Rojas, Arizona Diamondbacks
34% Rostered
I’ve always been a big Josh Rojas fan if I’m being honest. The Diamondbacks' utility infielder isn’t a star by any means, but he’s definitely one of the more underrated players in the game these days.
Rojas missed some time on the injured list early in the season but has quietly been enjoying a nice season. He’s been especially hot of late, hitting .321 with a .390 OBP, a homer, eight RBI, and two stolen bases in his past 15 games.
Rojas is now slashing .271/.338/.407, which is good enough for a .745 OPS, and has five home runs and seven stolen bases on the year. Last season, he picked up nine stolen bases and 11 homers in 139 games.
The advanced metrics are nothing to write home about, but Rojas is certainly an underrated real-life and fantasy player. To add on, with his versatility, Rojas is eligible at second, third, and left field.
Harold Ramirez, Tampa Bay Rays
29% Rostered
Harold Ramirez continues to hit a ton. Harold Ramirez continues to be under-owned in fantasy baseball. Harold Ramirez continues to make an appearance on my weekly waiver wire pickups.
On the year, he’s now hitting a stellar .329 with a .375 OBP and .822 OPS. While Ramirez has just three home runs, he’s added 35 RBI, hitting behind the on-base machine Yandy Diaz in that Rays lineup.
Of late, Ramirez has been on an absolute tear. Over his past seven games, Ramirez is 12-for-27 (.444) with six RBI. In that same span, he has a .464 OBP and 1.057 OPS while striking out just three times.
That plate discipline has been one of the best aspects of Ramirez’s games this season. His 13.9% strikeout percentage is a career-low and is good enough to rank in the 90th percentile in all of baseball.
His .318 xBA also ranks in the top-2% of the league, which is spectacular. The Rays have a knack for getting a little something extra out of players, perhaps Ramirez is the next case of that.
Jose Miranda, Minnesota Twins
4% Rostered
The 25-year-old rookie has finally been finding his stride at the big league level for the Twins. Both June and July have been his best stretches of play since joining Minnesota.
In his past 30 games, Miranda has half of his eight home runs, eight runs scored, and has posted a .842 OPS. He’s certainly beginning to show why he was the third-best prospect in the Twins system.
Miranda tore up both Double-A and Triple-A last season to the tune of a combined 17 homers and a .960 OPS in 127 games. The potential has always been there, it was just a matter of time before he put it all together in the majors. If he’s still available, go get him before it’s too late.
Others to Consider
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