Points League Hitters: Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 9

Welcome to Week 9 and our fantasy baseball waiver wire hitters. We'll be doing this roundup of points leagues every week here at RotoBaller, with waiver wire targets 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 May 22 - May 28, 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, May 19.

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Know Your Scoring System

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 9 Leaderboards

And here are the stats driving the above ranks:

First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Spencer Steer, CIN, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 5%) - Steer plays every game, hits in the middle of the order, has a home bandbox, has a 22% K% and 10% BB%, and is slashing .289/.396/.533 over the past two weeks. I'm not sure what else you should be looking for.

LaMonte Wade Jr., SF, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 17%) - Wade is only 2-for-20 in his last five starts but more important for his long-term success is that he continues to start vs LHP (albeit not at leadoff. But the Giants have seven games in Week 9 with only one scheduled vs an LHP, so expect Wade (and his .429 OBP, 405 wOBA, and .412 xwOBA) again to rack up a week chock full of PAs.

Garrett Cooper, MIA, 1B (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 5%) - Miami has four games in Colorado. Get used to hearing it because anytime an under-rostered lineup like the Marlins gets a series at Coors, a lot of suspect players suddenly get a lot better looking. Cooper has been ho-hum since returning from the IL (ear infection) but will get seven games in Week 9, with four coming vs LHP (including two in Colorado). Facing lefties in 2023, Cooper is slashing .458/.519/.542 over 27 PA, with a .466 wOBA.

Alex Kirilloff, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 6%) - Don't make any sudden movement and don't say a word; Kirilloff is still healthy, running a 73 APR over the past two weeks and now slashing .350/.458/.575 for the year. Unfortunately, he's sat against every lefty but once since returning from the IL but the Twins are only scheduled to face one out of their six games in Week 9.

Next Choices

Joey Gallo, MIN, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 10%) - My guy Pico keeps hitting and has now batted leadoff in five of his last seven games. And of Minnesota's six games, he'll only have to deal with one LHP, against whom he's posted a 77 wRC+ and 44% K%.

Dominic Smith, 1B, NYM (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) - The numbers don't really pop but Smith has been on a points-league heater as of late, running a 48 APR over the past two weeks and a 55 APR over the past one. But in leagues with a strikeout penalty, Smith and his 15% K%/12% BB% have been more than startable, currently posting a top-100 APR on ESPN for the year.

Gio Urshela, LAA, 1B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 6%) - Urshela continues to get no respect even though he continues to run startable point rates. Especially in leagues with a full strikeout penalty - Urshela has just a 15% K% for the season and a 107 APR on ESPN.

J.D. Davis, SF, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 9%) - Under most scoring systems, Davis is a borderline player but he's been a top-100 hitter on NFBC. But playing almost every game in the middle of the order gives him a decent floor and he should only have to deal with one left-handed starter out of his seven games in Week 9 (2023 vs LHP: .195/.244/.220, .213 wOBA, 30 wRC+).

Desperate Choices

Harold Castro, COL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Castro is a part-time player but is viable in Week 9 with the Rockies getting seven games at home and with only one scheduled vs an LHP.

Wil Myers, CIN, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 4%) - Myers hasn't gotten it going yet this season and is slashing .150/.186/.250 over the 44 PA since returning from the IL. But Week 9 sets up pretty nicely, with the Reds getting seven games (four at home) and with five of them scheduled vs LHP.

Brandon Belt, TOR, 1B (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - Don't look now but the ghost of Brandon Belt has now started 11-of-12 games (including one vs an LHP) for the Blue Jays and has a 44 APR over the past two weeks. But a 38% K% will keep him mostly unusable in leagues with a strikeout penalty.

Carlos Santana, 1B, PIT (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 19%) - Remember, there's always Carlos Santana. Unfortunately, unless the Pirates are running hot or facing a bunch of LHP, Santana remains a thoroughly unexciting option, good as an emergency patch but little else. Pittsburgh has six games in Week 9, with just one scheduled vs an LHP.

Spencer Torkelson, DET, 1B (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 8%) - Sweet lord, is Tork's bat finally awaking from its slumber? Okay, maybe not but at least he's slashing .313/.353/.625 so far in Week 8 and even managed a home run on Saturday. Unfortunately, the Tigers remain baseball's *checks notes* worst offense even though they're only three games below .500, so I wouldn't expect his R+RBI numbers to suddenly spike.

Gavin Sheets, CHW, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 1%) - Sheets has been a good streamer recently and has a top-100 APR over the past two weeks but this might not be the week to try to ride him again, as he's dealing with a minor wrist injury and the White Sox are scheduled to face left-handers in 3-of-7 games. He's only started against one LHP this year and for his career has slashed .143/.206/.175, with a 35% K%.

Brendan Donovan, STL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 23%) - At this point, Donovan is just a multi-positional piece for your bench and while it is encouraging that he's back to starting vs LHP, he's still slashing just .180/.293/.240 for the month of May.

On the IL

• Seth Brown, OAK, 1B/OF (strained oblique - rehab assignment)
• Christian Arroyo, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Darick Hall, PHI, 1B (torn thumb ligament - no timetable)
• Yu Chang, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS (hamate surgery - expected to miss six weeks)
• Ji-Man Choi, TB, 1B (strained Achilles - expected to miss two months)

Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Jean Segura, MIA, 2B (Yahoo: 25%, ESPN: 8%) - Segura is still only slashing .205/.268/.241 for the year but has woken up a little lately, running a 95 APR over the past weeks. Getting four games in Colorado is a good way to keep things pointed in the right direction.

Jon Berti, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 4%) - How about that? Another suspect Marlin who gets bumped up because of a four-game series in Colorado. I'm starting to think this is a trend or something.

Next Choices

Garrett Hampson, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Stop me if you've heard this before; so, a low-earned Marlin walks into Coors...Hampson has started five of Miami's last six games and will see four LHP in Week 9, against whom he's slashing .333/.333/.571, with a .383 wOBA and 145 wRC+. Garrett Hampson revenge-game, anyone?

Kyle Farmer, MIN, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 2%) - Since returning from the IL (fastball to face) on May 10, Farmer has been positively reaping, slashing .395/.452/.579 over 42 PA, with a .447 wOBA, 191 wRC+, and 17% K%.

Zach McKinstry, DET, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - McKinstry sits vs LHP and bats leadoff vs RHP, slashing .274/.364/.421 for the year with a .385 xwOBA. With seven games in Week 9 and none scheduled vs LHP, McKinstry is a sneaky, high-floor option.

Matt McLain, CIN, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 9%) - The much-heralded prospect has finally arrived, going 4-for-15 in his first taste but with 8 K. He's a great stash and should be rostered for his long-term value but like most rookies, consider McLain a high-variance outcome as a starting option until we get a larger sample of both performance and usage.

Desperate Choices

Luis Garcia, WSH, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 11%) - Garcia has a low ceiling but pairs excellent discipline with an everyday role at the top of the lineup. In Week 9, the Nationals are scheduled to face three LHP, against whom Garcia is slashing .317/.318./488, with a .336 wOBA.

Harold Castro, COL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Castro is a part-time player but is viable in Week 9 with the Rockies getting seven games at home and with only one scheduled vs an LHP.

Edouard Julien, MIN, 2B (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - With Jorge Polanco placed on the IL, Julien was called back up to the bigs on Saturday. But with as good as Willi Castro has been running lately, I'm not counting on Julien to step in at second base and just start every game until Polanco returns.

CJ Abrams, WSH, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 11%) - Abrams has a 57 APR over the past week but remains allergic to walks, limiting his value under many scoring systems.

Josh Rojas, ARI, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 14%) - The production is fine but inconsistent given Rojas has now sat for Arizona's last eight games vs an LHP. Arizona will face a left-hander in two of their six games so expect Rojas to only get four starts, thus again limiting his value.

Geraldo Perdomo, ARI, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 11%) - Perdomo continues to defy expected expectations but more importantly, continues to play, having now started six of Arizona's last seven games. Unfortunately, he won't be starting vs LHP and that means only four starts, at best, in Week 9.

Adam Frazier, BAL, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 17%) - Super boring but Frazier continues to rack PAs and compile points, now up to a 98 APR for the year. But with two lefties and Gerrit Cole on the upcoming schedule, this might not be the week to use him.

Brendan Donovan, STL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 23%) - At this point, Donovan is just a multi-positional piece for your bench and while it is encouraging that he's back to starting vs LHP, he's still slashing just .180/.293/.240 for the month of May.

Brice Turang, MIL, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 3%) - The rookie has started to wake up a little, collecting seven hits and two stolen bases in his past six games.

Ha-Seong Kim, SD, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 9%) - Kim is a borderline starter, best-case, with his well-rounded profile playing up more in roto than in points.

On the IL

• Luis Urias, MIL, 2B/3B/SS (strained hamstring - 6 to 8 weeks)
• Elvis Andrus, CHW, 2B/SS (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Nicky Lopez, KC, 2B/3B/SS (Appendicitis - not timetable)
• Nick Gordon, MIN, 2B/SS/OF (fractured shin - no timetable)
• Christian Arroyo, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Ramon Urias, BAL, 2B/3B/SS (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Yu Chang, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS (hamate surgery - expected to miss six weeks)

Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Nick Senzel, CIN, 3B/OF (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 21%) - With the Reds scheduled to face an LHP in five of their seven games, this is certainly a great week to grab a Senzel stream. He's slashing .264/.341/.418 for the season but against LHP? Make that .452/.485/.710, with a 1.195 OPS and .510 wOBA.

Spencer Steer, CIN, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 5%) - Steer plays every game, hits in the middle of the order, has a home bandbox, has a 22% K% and 10% BB%, and is slashing .289/.396/.533 over the past two weeks. I'm not sure what else you should be looking for.

Jake Burger, CHW, 3B (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 5%) - Burger has been red-hot since returning from the IL, going 11-for-22, with 3 HR. With 3-of-6 games coming vs LHP, Burger should absolutely be rostered.

Brett Baty, NYM, 3B (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 11%) - With an 87 APR over the past week and three games in Colorado for Week 9, Baty could catapult past our eligibility threshold sooner than later.

Jon Berti, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 4%) - How about that? Another suspect Marlin who gets bumped up because of a four-game series in Colorado. I'm starting to think this is a trend or something.

Jeimer Candelario, WSH, 3B (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 4%) - Candelario has feasted on LHP this season, with a 120 wRC+ and .352 wOBA against them, compared to a 63 wRC+ and .266 wOBA vs RHP. It's no wonder he's been raking lately (11 APR over the past week, 79 APR over the past two weeks), as the Nationals have faced left-handers in five of their past 10 games. That 50% leftie rate will continue in Week 9, with Washington scheduled to face them in 3-of-6 games.

Next Choices

Garrett Hampson, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Stop me if you've heard this before; so, a low-earned Marlin walks into Coors...Hampson has started five of Miami's last six games and will see four LHP in Week 9, against whom he's slashing .333/.333/.571, with a .383 wOBA and 145 wRC+. Garrett Hampson revenge-game, anyone?

Kyle Farmer, MIN, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 2%) - Since returning from the IL (fastball to face) on May 10, Farmer has been positively reaping, slashing .395/.452/.579 over 42 PA, with a .447 wOBA, 191 wRC+, and 17% K%.

Yoan Moncada, CHW, 3B (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 13%) - The White Sox remain a hot mess but Moncada is slashing .333/.400/.444 since returning from the IL and will get seven games against two of baseball's worst team (@CLE, @DET) in Week 9.

Zach McKinstry, DET, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - McKinstry sits vs LHP and bats leadoff vs RHP, slashing .274/.364/.421 for the year with a .385 xwOBA. With seven games in Week 9 and none scheduled vs LHP, McKinstry is a sneaky, high-floor option.

Gio Urshela, LAA, 1B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 6%) - Urshela continues to get no respect even though he continues to run startable point rates. Especially in leagues with a full strikeout penalty - Urshela has just a 15% K% for the season and a 107 APR on ESPN.

J.D. Davis, SF, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 9%) - Under most scoring systems, Davis is a borderline player but he's been a top-100 hitter on NFBC. But playing almost every game in the middle of the order gives him a decent floor and he should only have to deal with one left-handed starter out of his seven games in Week 9 (2023 vs LHP: .195/.244/.220, .213 wOBA, 30 wRC+).

Desperate Choices

Harold Castro, COL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Castro is a part-time player but is viable in Week 9 with the Rockies getting seven games at home and with only one scheduled vs an LHP.

Josh Rojas, ARI, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 14%) - The production is fine but inconsistent given Rojas has now sat for Arizona's last eight games vs an LHP. Arizona will face a left-hander in two of their six games so expect Rojas to only get four starts, thus again limiting his value.

Brendan Donovan, STL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 23%) - At this point, Donovan is just a multi-positional piece for your bench and while it is encouraging that he's back to starting vs LHP, he's still slashing just .180/.293/.240 for the month of May.

Ha-Seong Kim, SD, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 9%) - Kim is a borderline starter, best-case, with his well-rounded profile playing up more in roto than in points.

On the IL

• Luis Urias, MIL 2B/3B/SS (strained hamstring - 6 to 8 weeks)
• Josh Donaldson, NYY (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Nicky Lopez, KC, 2B/3B/SS (appendicitis - no timetable)
• Christian Arroyo, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Ramon Urias, BAL, 2B/3B/SS (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Yu Chang, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS (hamate surgery - expected to miss six weeks)

Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Jon Berti, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 4%) - How about that? Another suspect Marlin who gets bumped up because of a four-game series in Colorado. I'm starting to think this is a trend or something.

Next Choices

Garrett Hampson, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Stop me if you've heard this before; so, a low-earned Marlin walks into Coors...Hampson has started five of Miami's last six games and will see four LHP in Week 9, against whom he's slashing .333/.333/.571, with a .383 wOBA and 145 wRC+. Garrett Hampson revenge-game, anyone?

Kyle Farmer, MIN, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 2%) - Since returning from the IL (fastball to face) on May 10, Farmer has been positively reaping, slashing .395/.452/.579 over 42 PA, with a .447 wOBA, 191 wRC+, and 17% K%.

Paul DeJong, STL, SS (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 2%) - DeJong has now started 12 games in a row for St. Louis and has a 92 APR over the past two weeks. He's a solid streaming option in a week that will see him get seven games, with four coming at Cincinnati's bandbox.

Ezequiel Tovar, COL, SS (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 8%) - Tovar continues to struggle to make contact but has three home runs in May and gets seven games at Coors.

J.P. Crawford, SEA, SS (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 7%) - Batting leadoff for nine games straight, Crawford and his points-friendly profile remains a top-100 hitter under most scoring systems.

Zach McKinstry, DET, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - McKinstry sits vs LHP and bats leadoff vs RHP, slashing .274/.364/.421 for the year with a .385 xwOBA. With seven games in Week 9 and none scheduled vs LHP, McKinstry is a sneaky, high-floor option.

Gio Urshela, LAA, 1B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 6%) - Urshela continues to get no respect even though he continues to run startable point rates. Especially in leagues with a full strikeout penalty - Urshela has just a 15% K% for the season and a 107 APR on ESPN.

Matt McLain, CIN, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 9%) - The much-heralded prospect has finally arrived, going 4-for-15 in his first taste but with 8 K. He's a great stash and should be rostered for his long-term value but like most rookies, consider McLain a high-variance outcome as a starting option until we get a larger sample of both performance and usage.

Desperate Choices:

Luis Garcia, WSH, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 11%) - Garcia has a low ceiling but pairs excellent discipline with an everyday role at the top of the lineup. In Week 9, the Nationals are scheduled to face three LHP, against whom Garcia is slashing .317/.318./488, with a .336 wOBA.

Zach Neto, LAA, SS (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 3%) - Neto's numbers aren't sexy but they are points-friendly, as he's now run a 123 APR over the past two weeks. But a spot at the bottom of the lineup and 3% BB% will tamp down his value from week to week.

Harold Castro, COL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Castro is a part-time player but is viable in Week 9 with the Rockies getting seven games at home and with only one scheduled vs an LHP.

CJ Abrams, WSH, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 11%) - Abrams has a 57 APR over the past week but remains allergic to walks, limiting his value under many scoring systems.

Geraldo Perdomo, ARI, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 11%) - Perdomo continues to defy expected expectations but more importantly, continues to play, having now started six of Arizona's last seven games. Unfortunately, he won't be starting vs LHP and that means only four starts, at best, in Week 9.

Brendan Donovan, STL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 23%) - At this point, Donovan is just a multi-positional piece for your bench and while it is encouraging that he's back to starting vs LHP, he's still slashing just .180/.293/.240 for the month of May.

Brice Turang, MIL, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 3%) - The rookie has started to wake up a little, collecting seven hits and two stolen bases in his past six games.

Ha-Seong Kim, SD, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 9%) - Kim is a borderline starter, best-case, with his well-rounded profile playing up more in roto than in points.

On the IL

• Luis Urias, MIL 2B/3B/SS (strained hamstring - 6 to 8 weeks)
• Elvis Andrus, CHW, 2B/SS (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Nicky Lopez, KC, 2B/3B/SS (appendicitis - no timetable)
• Nick Gordon, MIN, 2B/SS/OF (fractured shin - no timetable)
• Christian Arroyo, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Ramon Urias, BAL, 2B/3B/SS (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Yu Chang, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS (hamate surgery - expected to miss six weeks)

Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Jorge Soler, MIA, OF (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 14%) - If you're not rostering Soler where available this week, I'm not sure what you're doing. Soler has already been super hot as of late, posting an 88 APR over the past week and 38 APR over the past two weeks but with four games in Colorado this week and 4-of-7 games coming vs LHP (.367/.486/.1.033, .411 wOBA, .417 xwOBA), you're simply not going to find more upside.

Bryan De La Cruz, (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 3%) - Say hey, how about one more Marlin? De La Cruz SZN seems to finally be upon us, as my guy BDLC is currently on a 14-game hitting streak, with multiple hits in five of those, and three home runs. That's been good for a 19 APR over the past two weeks and a 4 APR over the last week. Oh, and did I mention the Marlins get four games in Colorado in Week 9? Well, they do.

Nick Senzel, CIN, 3B/OF (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 21%) - With the Reds scheduled to face an LHP in five of their seven games, this is certainly a great week to grab a Senzel stream. He's slashing .264/.341/.418 for the season but against LHP? Make that .452/.485/.710, with a 1.195 OPS and .510 wOBA.

Lane Thomas, WSH, OF (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 8%) - Facing RHP, Thomas has a .285 wOBA, 30% K%, and 4% BB%; facing LHP, he has a .459 wOBA, 18% K%, and 12% BB%. With three lefties on the schedule, a Thomas stream is certainly a good plan.

Charlie Blackmon, COL, OF (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 21%) - Nothing fancy but old man Charlie just keeps steadily hitting and rarely striking out, slashing .276/.369/.421 for the year, with a 13% K% and 10% BB%. Blackmon's up to an 89 APR for the season (#53 on ESPN!) but still keeps hanging around our list, as people apparently don't like top-100 production. But a big week at home might jettison Blackmon from the list for good.

LaMonte Wade Jr., SF, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 17%) - Wade is only 2-for-20 in his last five starts but more important for his long-term success is that he continues to start vs LHP (albeit not at leadoff. But the Giants have seven games in Week 9 with only one scheduled vs an LHP, so expect Wade (and his .429 OBP, 405 wOBA, and .412 xwOBA) again to rack up a week chock full of PAs.

Jon Berti, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 4%) - How about that? Another suspect Marlin who gets bumped up because of a four-game series in Colorado. I'm starting to think this is a trend or something.

Alex Kirilloff, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 6%) - Don't make any sudden movement and don't say a word; Kirilloff is still healthy, running a 73 APR over the past two weeks and now slashing .350/.458/.575 for the year. Unfortunately, he's sat against every lefty but once since returning from the IL but the Twins are only scheduled to face one out of their six games in Week 9.

Michael Conforto, SF, OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 9%) - Conforto is finally starting to heat up, slashing .324/.366/.676 over his past 10 games, with 4 HR. With only one pesky LHP on the Week 9 docket and a 45 APR over the past two weeks, I'm not sure how much longer he'll be hanging around here.

Andrew Benintendi, CHW, OF (Yahoo: 42%, ESPN: 17%) - The depths of the White Sox stank has apparently kept Benintendi on the wavier wire in too many leagues, considering he has a super points-friendly profile that has been good for a 94 APR for the year and a 38 APR over the past week. With seven games scheduled against two of baseball's "lesser" (and by that, I mean rotten) teams, Benintendi is an easy plug-and-play.

Next Choices

Jurickson Profar, COL, OF (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 11%) - I'm starting to think the Rockies might have a homestand this week, or something. Profar has just a .231 AVG but an everyday role, 19% K%, and 12% BB% keep him viable, and he's run a 56 APR over the past two weeks with seven games at Coors waiting for him.

Brenton Doyle, COL, OF (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 1%) - So. Many. Low-rostered options getting games at Coors. Doyle has been gangbusters lately, starting seven of Colorado's last eight games, while hitting 3 HR with a .445 wOBA and 169 wRC+. When someone's running power hot, seven games in Colorado probably makes them a good idea.

Leody Taveras, TEX, OF (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 2%) - Taveras is slashing .368/.431/.474 in the month of May and has a 28 APR over the past two weeks. Don't let the lack of power put you off, Taveras is turning into an excellent points option, even with a bottom spot in Texas's lineup.

Jake Fraley, CIN, OF (Yahoo: 41%, ESPN: 10%) - Fraley has been lava hot lately, running a 17 APR over the past two weeks, and starting 11 of Cincinnati's last 12 games. But while he has started two of the last three vs LHP, it's no guarantee that he'll continue to do so, making a fantasy week with five left-handers scheduled to be a dicey proposition.

Dominic Fletcher, ARI, OF (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 7%) - Alek Thomas has been jettisoned to Triple-A leaving Fletcher to have center field all to himself. Since getting called up, he's slashing .349/.388/.556, with a .400 wOBA and 153 wRC+, posting a 24 APR over the past two weeks.

Garrett Hampson, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Stop me if you've heard this before; so, a low-earned Marlin walks into Coors...Hampson has started five of Miami's last six games and will see four LHP in Week 9, against whom he's slashing .333/.333/.571, with a .383 wOBA and 145 wRC+. Garrett Hampson revenge-game, anyone?

Robbie Grossman, TEX, OF (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 2%) - Grossman is having quite the bounceback but his value does get dinged by a returning Corey Seager booting him out of the two-hole he's been living in for a while.

Kevin Kiermaier, TOR, OF (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 4%) - Kiermaier is having the May of his life, slashing .396/.463/.646 over 54 PA, with a 208 wRC+. Again, that's "glove-first/only", Kevin Kiermaier.

Joey Gallo, MIN, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 10%) - My guy Pico keeps hitting and has now batted leadoff in five of his last seven games. And of Minnesota's six games, he'll only have to deal with one LHP, against whom he's posted a 77 wRC+ and 44% K%.

Randal Grichuk, COL, OF (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 4%) - Grichuk gets seven games at home but only one is scheduled vs an LHP, limiting his value compared to a lot of the other guys getting Coors games this week.

Myles Straw, CLE, OF (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 6%) - Straw might be light-hitting but a 123 APR for the year shows how useful a 19% K% and 11% BB% can be in point leagues when you're playing every day.

Desperate Choices

Harold Castro, COL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Castro is a part-time player but is viable in Week 9 with the Rockies getting seven games at home and with only one scheduled vs an LHP.

Wil Myers, CIN, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 4%) - Myers hasn't gotten it going yet this season and is slashing .150/.186/.250 over the 44 PA since returning from the IL. But Week 9 sets up pretty nicely, with the Reds getting seven games (four at home) and with five of them scheduled vs LHP.

Mickey Moniak, LAA, OF (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 2%) - Moniak has 2 HR and two three-hit games since getting called up but still doesn't have a regular spot to play, with the outfield taken up by Trout, Renfroe, and Ward, thus limiting his value for the time being.

Andrew McCutchen, PIT, OF (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 23%) - McCutchen has hit the skids lately just like the rest of his team. With as many great OF options as there are currently on the wire, you can probably find better.

Jack Suwinski, PIT, OF (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 7%) - Since getting heckled for having the temerity to call Suwinski a desperate option in the middle of his hot streak a few weeks ago, the limited lefty has a .259wOBA, 37% K%, and 1 HR. Remember, most major leaguers can't suddenly do a 180 on their talent and then keep it going. Baseball is hard, the season is long, and the book eventually catches up to everyone.

Jose Siri, TB, OF (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 2%) - Siri has a 90 APR over the last week but his sporadic playing makes him difficult to count on.

Trevor Larnach, MIN, OF (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 2%) - Larnach has 2 HR since being recalled but a 38% K% leaves him as limited in points as ever.

Gavin Sheets, CHW, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 1%) - Sheets has been a good streamer recently and has a top-100 APR over the past two weeks but this might not be the week to try to ride him again, as he's dealing with a minor wrist injury and the White Sox are scheduled to face left-handers in 3-of-7 games. He's only started against one LHP this year and for his career has slashed .143/.206/.175, with a 35% K%.

Adam Frazier, BAL, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 17%) - Super boring but Frazier continues to rack PAs and compile points, now up to a 98 APR for the year. But with two lefties and Gerrit Cole on the upcoming schedule, this might not be the week to use him.

Brendan Donovan, STL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 23%) - At this point, Donovan is just a multi-positional piece for your bench and while it is encouraging that he's back to starting vs LHP, he's still slashing just .180/.293/.240 for the month of May.

On the IL

• Joc Pederson, SF, OF (hand contusion - no timetable)
• Seth Brown, OAK, 1B/OF (strained oblique - rehab assignment)
• Austin Meadows, DET (anxiety - no timetable)
• T.J. Friedl, CIN, OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Garrett Mitchell, MIL, OF (shoulder subluxation - no timetable)
• Dylan Carlson, STL, OF (sprained ankle - not timetable)
• Max Kepler, MIN, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Victor Robles, WSH, OF (back spasms - no timetable)
• Avisail Garcia, MIA, OF (back tightness - no timetable)
• Nick Gordon, MIN, 2B/SS/OF (fractured shin - no timetable)
• Kerry Carpenter, DET, OF (sprained shoulder - no timetable)
• Christian Arroyo, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Jesus Sanchez, MIA, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Tim Locatro, NYM, OF (back spasms - no timetable)
• Jose Azocar, SD, OF (elbow inflammation - rehab assignment)
• Cristian Pache, PHI, OF (knee surgery - 4 to 6 weeks)
• Austin Slater, SF, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Kyle Isbel, KC, OF (strained hamstring - expected to miss six weeks)

Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Welp, it looks like we're officially in the "all catcher choices are technically desperate ones" portion of the season. Hopefully, you don't need this list.

Best Choices

Francisco Alvarez, NYM, C (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 5%) - Alvarez might be your last shot to get an impact catcher from the wire, as he's finally heating up at the plate, slashing .261/.346/.609 in May, with 4 HR and a .402 wOBA. Unfortunately, he now has Gary Sanchez to contend with...Ba-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, just kidding - Sanchez is terrible.

Next Choices

Gabriel Moreno, ARI, C (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 9%) - Moreno has provided a mostly empty .313 AVG, with just 1 HR and 8 R but beggars can't be choosers and he's at least run a 135 APR over the past two weeks.

Desperate Choices

Shea Langeliers, OAK, C (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 9%) - Langeliers has a 137 APR over the past week but a .228 AVG, .307 OBP, and 28% K% will limit his value in most point leagues.

Yasmani Grandal, CHW, C (Yahoo: 17%, ESPN: 8%) - Like the anti-Langeliers, Grandal's .294 AVG, .364 OBP, and 21% K% can make him useful as a patch-filler under most scoring systems.

On the IL

• Logan O'Hoppe, LAA, C (shoulder surgery - out 4-6 months)
• Jose Trevino, NYY, C (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Mitch Garver, TEX, C (sprained knee - no timetable)
• Joey Bart, SF, C (strained groin - no timetable)
• Omar Narvaez, NYM, C (strained calf - no timetable)

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