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Waiver Wire Pickups for Shallow Leagues (30-50% rostered)
Jeimer Candelario, 1B/3B, Cincinnati Reds (45% rostered)
It took him a while, but Jeimer Candelario is finally starting to hit for the Reds and show why Cincinnati coveted him in the first place. Although still waiting for his power, Candelario has slashed .286/.286/.429 with four doubles, five RBI, and a walk across his last eight games.
Jeimer Candelario was hitting .159 with a 35.8% K rate after a 4 K game against Texas on 4/28.
Since then, he’s hitting .347 with a 14% k rate.
Raised his season long average to .229 from .159 in just 16 days/13 games. #Reds pic.twitter.com/Z6VLno1hTq
— Bryce Spalding (@bryce_spalding) May 15, 2024
Candelario was a sought-after bat in the offseason after breaking out in 2023 by slugging 22 home runs in 140 games between the Nationals and Cubs. Unfortunately for the Reds, the 30-year-old has appeared to come back down to earth in 2024 with only four homers in 160 PA this season. Still, he seems to be coming out of his funk and could be worth the add.
Nolan Gorman, 2B/3B, St. Louis Cardinals (46% rostered)
I wouldn't say just yet that Nolan Gorman is "back," but the 24-year-old is slowly but surely getting there. He again put his power on display after belting a solo home run in a 10-6 win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday. In his last seven games, Gorman has a .348/.464/.783 batting line with three homers, a double, six RBI, and five walks.
Nolan Gorman Snap!
🤝
I've Got the Power📺: Bally Sports | 📱: Bally Sports app pic.twitter.com/jl9CBOC26x
— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) May 18, 2024
He's still striking out at an alarming rate, but perhaps his relatively improved play can help get him back into the starting lineup for the club. He seems to be well on his way there. Plus, the once heavy-hitting Cardinals will take any power they can get right now. Gorman's six home runs are tied with the injured Willson Contreras for the team lead.
Waiver Wire for Deeper Leagues (10-30% rostered)
Luke Raley, 1B/OF, Seattle Mariners (19% rostered)
In January, the Rays traded Luke Raley to the Mariners in exchange for shortstop Jose Caballero. Halfway through May, the transaction seems to have worked out for both teams quite well. The 29-year-old Raley has been on a tear for Seattle of late, hitting .360 with nine hits, including a pair of home runs, six RBI, and two stolen bases in his last seven appearances.
Luke Raley last 15 games:
.357//.413//.595
3 HR
8 RBIHe has shown he can hit if he’s given the opportunity. pic.twitter.com/4G2uq3fIIV
— Steve (@MarinersSteve) May 18, 2024
His first long ball in front of the home crowd came on May 13 against Brady Singer and the Royals, blasting a 432-foot bomb to dead-center field. The two-run shot was the M's third-longest homer of the year. Mostly riding the bench for Tampa Bay, Raley has begun to show what he can do in a starting spot for a ballclub.
Joey Ortiz, 2B/3B, Milwaukee Brewers (23% rostered)
If you listened last week, you reaped the rewards of Joey Ortiz's bat this week. The 25-year-old stayed hot in Week 8, batting .391 with home runs in back-to-back games and five RBI. Since stepping into an everyday role following Oliver Dunn's option to Triple-A, Ortiz has paid dividends to Milwaukee's lineup.
Joey Ortiz has been on fire over his last nine games...
33 PA, .367/.424/.867, 3 2B, 4 HR#ThisIsMyCrewpic.twitter.com/O3dGpnhmnV
— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) May 18, 2024
The Brewers are currently missing Rhys Hoskins' power; luckily, Ortiz has been able to fill that void by clubbing four homers and collecting seven RBI this month. Not only has he been slugging, but Ortiz has tremendous plate discipline, as represented by his 16 walks this year, placing in the 93rd percentile in BB%. Overall, he owns a 1.194 OPS across 12 games in May.
Deeper Waiver Wire Options to Consider (Under 10%)
Edmundo Sosa, 3B/SS, Philadelphia Phillies (7% rostered)
With Trea Turner sidelined while dealing with a hamstring injury, the Phillies had to do some flip-flopping in their infield. Bryson Stott will see the occasional start at shortstop, but Edmundo Sosa will primarily fill in at his natural position. So far, the 28-year-old, now in his third year with Philadelphia, has taken advantage of being a regular in the lineup.
Can’t ask for much more out of Edmundo Sosa pic.twitter.com/UxWJv8vvMp
— John Foley (@2008Philz) May 14, 2024
Since Turner went down with the injury on May 3, Sosa has slashed .324/.452/.500 with two doubles, two triples, six RBI, six walks, and two stolen bases in 12 games. Before Turner was placed on the injured list, he led the team in batting average at .343 and seemed to put his early-season struggles from last season behind him. Although losing Turner was a big blow to the Phillies' lineup, Sosa's offensive contributions have helped the Fightins maintain their first-place spot in the NL East and the best record in baseball.
More Waiver Wire Pickups to Consider
- Carlos Santana, 1B, Minnesota Twins (15% rostered)
- Jake Bauers, 1B/OF, Milwaukee Brewers (6% rostered)
- Tyler Soderstrom, C/1B, Oakland Athletics (3% rostered)
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