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Here we are. Fantasy baseball Week 25. Head-to-head leagues are hosting championship matches and it's time to make one last stand in roto leagues. It all comes down to this week for all the marbles.
Most leagues will actually play for the next 10 days, lest we forget the lockout at the beginning of the season. As a result, MLB teams had an extra series tacked on to the end of the schedule, meaning the season will end on Wednesday, October 5, rather than ending the season on a Sunday as it does most years. Regardless of your scoring format or scoring period, we've got one more batch of waiver wire names below in case you need an upgrade at 2B or SS to make that last charge at a championship.
As a reminder, we'll be looking at pickups for shallow leagues (30-49% rostered) and deeper formats (10-29%), as well as highlighting players in the single digits who deserve a spot on your watch list at the very least. These are your second base and shortstop fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 25 – September 26th through October 5th.
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Waiver Wire Pickups for Shallow Leagues
Kolten Wong, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers (42% rostered)
Wong is heating up at just the right time for Milwaukee as it tries to sneak into the postseason. Last Thursday, Wong had his first career three-homer game to raise his September OPS to a robust .820. He got off to a slow start, but Wong has 15 homers and 16 steals on the season to provide sneaky fantasy value from the keystone.
Most importantly for fantasy purposes, the Brewers play at home for the last three series. This means Wong's hot bat gets to play in the launching pad formerly known as Miller Park (seriously, now it's called American Family Field. In my heart, the Brewers will always play at Miller Park). Regardless of what the stadium is called, Milwaukee is a great venue for hitters and Wong is sure to be in the lineup more than most players as his team fights to make the playoffs.
Kyle Farmer, SS/3B, Cincinnati Reds (30% rostered)
Speaking of sneaky-productive fantasy seasons, Kyle Farmer has had a quietly strong season batting in the middle of the lineup for the Reds. His full-season line of .258, 13 homers, 58 runs and 71 RBI isn't overwhelming, but Farmer plays every day and has a strikeout rate under 20 percent while making contact on 89.7 percent of pitches in the strike zone.
Like Milwaukee, the Reds have good matchups for the last week of the season, including an odd six-game series versus the Cubs. Thanks to a scheduling quirk, Cincinnati will play three games at Wrigley Field next weekend, then both teams will travel to Cincinnati to play the last three games of the season. Both parks are great hitting venues and the Cubs pitchers aren't scary. Farmer is a viable starter for those who need him.
Waiver Wire Pickups for Deeper Leagues
Rodolfo Castro, 2B/SS/3B, Pittsburgh Pirates (27% rostered)
The Pirates haven't had much to play for this season, but the fans have gotten a glimpse into the future with several rookies earning large chunks of playing time. One of those rookies, 23-year-old Castro, has been on a heater to close the season as he's blasted six of his 11 homers on the season in the month of September.
The season as a whole has been up and down for Castro, but he has already established himself as a bit of a lefty masher as his OPS versus southpaws is .938, compared to .674 versus righties. As of now, it looks like the Pirates will face four lefties in the last 10 games of the season, making Castro an intriguing option, particularly in daily-lineup leagues where you can play the matchups.
Oswaldo Cabrera, SS/OF, New York Yankees (14% rostered)
While all eyes are focused on Aaron Judge's home run totals, another Yankee has slipped under the radar. Cabrera has eight runs and nine RBI in his last five games, including a grand slam versus the Pirates. Cabrera slugged .492 with 10 stolen bases in Triple-A this season and has immediately made an impression on the Big League club.
New York is still trying to lock up the AL East crown, but even after clinching, it stands to reason they want to keep playing the youngster Cabrera while resting veterans for the postseason.
Waiver Wire Watch List
Ezequiel Tovar, SS, Colorado Rockies (7% rostered)
This late in the year, there's no reason to stash prospects or put anyone on a watch list, but fantasy managers may want to familiarize themselves with Rockies prospect Ezequiel Tovar, who will join the team for the last week of the season. Unfortunately for him, the Rockies have no more home games, but now is a great chance to get a look at a top prospect who could be a sleeper for 2023.
Tovar slashed .318/.396/.545 with 13 homers and 17 steals in 66 games at Double-A Hartford. He played five games at Triple-A this season before getting the call to the bigs. Those in dynasty or keeper leagues may want to go grab Tovar now.
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