Points League Hitters: Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball for Week 12 (2024)

Welcome RotoBallers to the Week 12 edition of our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of June 10 - June 16, 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 are calculated using games through Saturday, June 8.

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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 but don't worry, it's just a necessary glitch for coverage purposes.

 

First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Jeimer Candelario, CIN, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 49%, ESPN: 16%) - As all of my fellow kids like to say*, Whoo Howdy! Our cover man from last week has been straight cooking fools in Week 11, going 8-for-26 with three home runs (and even two stolen bases!) as a #7 hitter ranking headed into Sunday's action. This week's schedule doesn't look great for him, as the Reds only have five games, with none coming against the LHP that our candy man gets his biggest sugar high from, but rostering Candelario is a long-term play. Do keep in mind that this isn't exactly a new phenomenon, as he did similar things in 2023, finishing the season with an 80 APR that only had a spread of six ranks (min: #74, max: #80) between the four major platforms.

*Right???

Gavin Sheets, CHW, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 3%) - Gavin Sheets SZN remains in full effect -- Sheets has a 23 APR in Week 11, after being #49 in Week 10, and #76 in Week 9. As long as he's hitting and there aren't many LHP on the schedule, Sheets is an excellent option to power stream. In Week 12, the White Sox have seven games, with two coming scheduled vs LHP.

Next Choices

Josh Bell, MIA, 1B (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 30%) - I'm not sure what else he has to do to get him out of our Roster% threshold zone -- Bell has a 41 APR in Week 11, on track for his third top-50ish (#33 in Week 8, #209 in Week 9, #56 in Week 10). While he is certainly capable of the occasional stinker, Bell has a points-friendly profile hardwired into his DNA, even if a ho-hum roto line makes his points-sexiness less obvious. With that being said, Week 12 isn't set up very strongly for him, as the Marlins are scheduled to face left-handers in four of their six games. Even though Bell's numbers vs. LHP are much worse, he still has a 15% K% and 10% BB% against them (20% K%, 6% BB% vs RHP) which still gives him a shot at a decent floor.

Connor Joe, PIT, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 51%, ESPN: 42%) - Joe isn't as widely available as others but it's a good week to snag him if he's currently hanging around your wire, as he's had a solid floor all season and will get three games at Coors in Week 12.

Andrew Vaughn, CHW, 1B (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 5%) - Ahh, our weekly tradition of me praising Andrew Vaughn's points-friendly profile, even though my favorite roto tradition is making jokes about how limited he is in that format. Points-friendly is as points-friendly does and Vaughn continues to be a dinghy of production in a South Side sea of sewage.

Desperate Choices

Nolan Schanuel, LAA, 1B (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 2%) - Schanuel has bounced back in Week 11 (#130) after a brutal Week 10 (#369) and we shouldn't forget that before that lump of coal, he had posted top-80 weeks in three of the previous four periods. While his skill set is conducive to a high floor, the upside is still light and he'll be facing LHP in two of his six games this week.

Anthony Rizzo, NYY, 1B (Yahoo: 50%, ESPN: 27%) - It's hard to recommend Rizzo given the past month (#292, #210, #247, #293) but if you're in a bind, you might just have to close your eyes and trust the process. Rizzo gets seven games in Week 12 and only one will come against his fellow lefties who have just been abusing him all season (.190/.250/.206, .215 wOBA, .227 xwOBA). Not that he's been a star vs. RHP but Rizzo has historically had a points-friendly profile and is still capable of giving you a top-100 week, something he's done four times in 2024.

On the IL

• Christian Encarnacion-Strand, CIN, 1B (fractured wrist - 4 to 6 weeks)
• Brandon Drury, LAA, 1B/2B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• LaMonte Wade Jr., SF, 1B/OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Kris Bryant, COL, 1B/OF (rib contusion - no timetable)
• Miguel Sano, LAA, 1B (knee discomfort - rehab assignment)

 

Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Nick Gonzales, PIT, 2B (Yahoo: 42%, ESPN: 14%) - Okay, we've officially reached the "Nick Gonzales shouldn't be on any waiver wires right now" line of demarcation, as Gonzales is the #59 hitter in Week 11 and has been virtually a top-50 hitter in every week since getting called up. Considering the hotness and three games in Colorado, my fellow Nick is one of this week's best options.

Next Choices

Jonathan India, CIN, 2B (Yahoo: 57%, ESPN: 11%) - India is the #17 hitter in Week 11 and has three straight top-100 weeks but will only get five games in Week 12, with none coming vs the LHP that he has been far superior against.

Abraham Toro, OAK, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 30%) - Last week we asked, "Why is Toro still here???"...Well, probably because he's still Abraham Toro/capable of turning in a dud. Toro is only the #254 hitter this week but has been a consistent scorer and is still probably an upgrade, at minimum, to your bench. Oakland has some tough pitching on tap during their road trip to San Diego and Minnesota and isn't scheduled to face any of the left-handed pitching that Toro has been feasting on.

Desperate Choices

Isiah Kiner-Falefa, TOR, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 7%) - Don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed. IKF doesn't bring much ceiling to the party but has a profile that can compile a decent amount of points if he's playing every day.

On the IL

• • Brendan Rodgers, COL, 2B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
  • Jorge Polanco, SEA, 2B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
  • Michael Massey, KC, 2B (strained back - no timetable)
  • Brandon Drury, LAA, 1B/2B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
  • Jorge Mateo, BAL, 2B/SS (concussion - no timetable)
  • Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - no timetable)
  • Geraldo Perdomo, ARI, 2B/SS (torn meniscus - rehab assignment)
  • Ji Hwan Bae, PIT, 2B/OF (strained wrist - no timetable)
  • Justin Foscue, TEX, 2B/OF (strained oblique - rehab assignment)

 

Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Jeimer Candelario, CIN, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 49%, ESPN: 16%) - As all of my fellow kids like to say, Whoo Howdy! Our cover man from last week has been straight cooking fools in Week 11, going 8-for-26, with three home runs (and even two stolen bases!) and a #7 hitter ranking headed into Sunday's action. This week's schedule doesn't look great for him, as the Reds only have five games, with none coming against the LHP that our candy man gets his biggest sugar high from, but rostering Candelario is a long-term play. Do keep in mind that this isn't exactly a new phenomenon, as he did similar things in 2023, finishing the season with an 80 APR that only had a spread of six ranks (min: #74, max: #80) between the four major platforms.

Ke'Bryan Hayes, PIT, 3B (Yahoo: 47%, ESPN: 36%) - Hayes has mostly been a dud in all formats this season but has started to wake up late, running a 71 APR in Week 11 after being #100 in Week 10. he has the favorable matchups to continue the trend in Week 11, with a series at the shaky St. Louis Cardinals, followed by three games in Colorado.

Next Choices

Josh Smith, TEX, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 24%) - Smith hit the skids for a couple of weeks but outside of Week 8 (#201) and Week 9 (#167), he's basically been a top-100 hitter. The Rangers have six games in Week 12, with only one scheduled against a left-hander.

Desperate Choices

Jose Miranda, MIN, 3B (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 3%) - Miranda has been a dud this week (#234) but has been a top-100 hitter in all but a few scoring weeks and will face some suboptimal pitching in Week 12 in matchups against Oakland and Colorado.

Tyler Freeman, CLE, 3B/OF (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 14%) - Freeman has been ho-hum in Week 11 and won't have many games to get back on top of things in Week 12. Cleveland only plays five games, during which they are scheduled to face Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Kevin Gausman.

On the IL

• • • Anthony Rendon, LAA, 3B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
    • Yoan Moncada, CHW, 3B (strained groin - likely out until All-Star break)
    • Jon Berti, NYY, 3B/SS (strained calf - no timetable)

 

Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

J.P. Crawford, SEA, SS (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 46%) - Crawford has gotten back to his old tricks since returning from the IL a few weeks ago, currently running a 60 APR in Week 11 after being the #23 hitter in Week 10. Nothing sexy, just playing time + elite plate discipline.

Zach Neto, LAA, SS (Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 5%) - Neto has only been average for the past two weeks but over the past month-plus has been showing off his points-friendly profile, slashing .261/.311/.450 since the start of May, with five home runs, four stolen bases, and a 19% K%.

Next Choices

Josh Smith, TEX, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 24%) - Smith hit the skids for a couple of weeks but outside of Week 8 (#201) and Week 9 (#167), he's basically been a top-100 hitter. The Rangers have six games in Week 12, with only one scheduled against a left-hander

Masyn Winn, STL, SS (Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 12%) - Make that three (almost) top-50 performances in the last four weeks for Wynn, who has a 51 APR heading into Sunday's games. And his lineup spot is being rewarded, as Wynn has now batted leadoff in four of the last five games against a right-handed starter, after previously dropping down to eighth when facing a RHP. While it's hard to count on consistent production yet, Winn has the hit tool to compile a lot of points if he's now going to live at the top of the order mostly.

Desperate Choices

Paul DeJong, CHW, SS (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 1%) - Sure, you could take a flyer on the resurgent DeJong, who has three top-50 performances in the past five weeks and has four home runs in his last eight games. Or, you could realize that he's still Paul DeJong and all he'll be left with after the power surge ends is a 32% K% and 3% BB%, neither of which tend to be positive attributes in point leagues.

On the IL

• • • Vaughn Grissom, BOS, 2B/SS (strained hamstring - no timetable)
    • Jon Berti, NYY, 3B/SS (strained calf - no timetable)
    • Jorge Mateo, BAL, 2B/SS (concussion - no timetable)
    • Geraldo Perdomo, ARI, 2B/SS (torn meniscus - rehab assignment)
    • Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - no timetable)
    • Trevor Story, BOS, SS (dislocated shoulder - no timetable)
    • Nick Ahmed, SF, SS (sprained wrist - rehab assignment)

 

Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Gavin Sheets, CHW, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 3%) - Gavin Sheets SZN remains in full effect - Sheets has a 23 APR in Week 11, after being #49 in Week 10, and #76 in Week 9. As long as he's hitting and there aren't many LHP on the schedule, Sheets is an excellent option to power stream. In Week 12, the White Sox have seven games, with two coming scheduled vs LHP.

Charlie Blackmon, COL, OF (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 7%) - Old Blackmon just keeps knocking points; Charlie has a 32 APR in Week 11 and now has three top-50 performances in the last five weeks. Blackmon will face right-handed starters in all six games this week, with three of them coming in Colorado.

Heliot Ramos, SF, OF (Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 5%) - In a world where most of San Francisco's lineup is seemingly on the IL, apparently Heliot Ramos is king. Ramos is the #3 hitter heading into Sunday, fully taking advantage of an injury situation that has thrust him into a top-of-the-order role. The right-handed Ramos will have a good chance to keep the good vibes going in Week 12, as the Giants are scheduled to face three of the left-handers that Ramos has been absolutely smashing in a small 2024 sample, slashing .417/.576/1.042 over 33 PA, with a 29% Brl% and .561 xwOBA.

Alec Burleson, STL, OF (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 8%) - Burleson has remained hot, posting a 30 APR in Week 11 but more important to his long-term value, is that he's now hit second for eight straight games. With just a 14% K% for the season, more PAs can only mean more points but your time for rostering him is quickly running out.

Next Choices

Connor Joe, PIT, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 51%, ESPN: 42%) - Joe isn't as widely available as others but it's a good week to snag him if he's currently hanging around your wire, as he's had a solid floor all season and will get three games at Coors in Week 12.

Jesse Winker, WSH, OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 13%) - Make it make sense! And by "it," I mean Jesse Winker's new love of stealing bases. Winker is again a top-40 hitter in Week 11 but, to be fair, only stole one base -- the rest of that points hotness was generated by him collecting 11 hits in six games, an ideal strategy if trying to score a mess of points. He'll look to keep it going in manageable matchups with the Tigers and Marlins.

JJ Bleday, OAK, OF (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 19%) - A 140 APR in Week 12 isn't as gaudy as he's been lately but Bleday continues to put in steady work, week after week, over the past six weeks. The good news is that Oakland isn't scheduled to face any left-handers in Week 12 but the lesser news is that they'll face some tough starters in Dylan Cease, Michael King, and Pablo Lopez.

Bryan De La Cruz, MIA, OF (Yahoo: 47%, ESPN: 22%) - My guy BDL bounced back in Week 11 with a 65 APR after two periods of being basically unusable. The lows tend to be very low but De La Cruz has only had three bad weeks and has been a top-75 hitter in five of the other seven.

Josh Smith, TEX, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 24%) - Smith hit the skids for a couple of weeks but outside of Week 8 (#201) and Week 9 (#167), he's basically been a top-100 hitter. The Rangers have six games in Week 12, with only one scheduled against a left-hander

Desperate Choices

Andy Pages, LAD, OF (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 9%) -Pages struggled for three weeks following his initial burst of lava but has gotten back on the good foot lately, posting back-to-back top-100 weeks. He'll still need to improve on a 29% K% and 5% BB% if he ever wants to be a consistent contributor in point leagues.

Nick Senzel, WSH, 3B/OF (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - Oh my goodness! Is it already that time of year again when far too many people get tricked into thinking Nick Senzel is now good? With a 38 APR in Week 11 after being #89 in Week 10, apparently so! Well, good luck with that -- I'm sure this time he definitely won't swiftly turn back into a Nick Senzel-shaped pumpkin.

On the IL:

• • • Kerry Carpenter, DET, OF (back inflammation - no timetable)
    • Wilyer Abreu, BOS, OF (sprained ankle - no timetable)
    • Lars Nootbaar, STL, OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
    • Brandon Marsh, PHI, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
    • Esteury Ruiz, OAK, OF (strained wrist - no timetable)
    • Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - no timetable)
    • LaMonte Wade Jr., SF, 1B/OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
    • Kris Bryant, COL, 1B/OF (rib contusion - no timetable)
    • Tommy Pham, CHW, OF (sprained ankle - no timetable)
    • Alek Thomas, ARI, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
    • Andrew Benintendi, CHW, OF (Achilles - no timetable)
    • Ji Hwan Bae, PIT, 2B/OF (sprained wrist - no timetable)
    • Justin Foscue, TEX, 2B/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)

 

Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Mitch Garver, SEA, C (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 10%) - This Mitch is so hot right now -- Garver has a 22 APR in Week 11 heading into Sunday's action, going 4-for-13, with two home runs in his last three games. Seattle has seven games in Week 12, with four coming against that not-so-vaunted White Sox rotation, and two of the seven scheduled against LHP. Garver has a .374 wOBA (.382 xwOBA), 24% K%, and 15% BB% vs LHP, compared to a .256 wOBA (.265 xwOBA), 33% K%, and 11% BB% vs RHP.

Shea Langeliers, OAK, C (Yahoo: 41%, ESPN: 19%) - Langeliers turned in another junky period in Week 11, his third such performance in a row, but gets seven games in Week 12, with none scheduled vs left-handed starters. This is a good thing, considering his reverse splits, as Langeliers has posted a .339 wOBA, .387 xwOBA, 19.8% Brl%, and 26% K% vs RHP, compared to just a .221 wOBA, .242 xwOBA, 12.5% Brl%, and 30% K% vs. LHP.

Next Choices

Elias Diaz, COL, C (Yahoo: 42%, ESPN: 17%) - Diaz didn't disappoint as our best choice last week, running a 64 APR headed into Sunday but I'm tempering my expectations for a repeat in Week 12 given the pitchers he'll be facing. Normally three games at home against the Pirates would be cause for celebration but matchups against Paul Skenes and Jared Jones aren't exactly positive, even when playing on the moon. Before that, the Rockies will be on the road in Minnesota to face Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez. Anything can always happen with three games at Coors but you might be able to find a smarter bet.

Ivan Herrera, STL, C (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 3%) - Herrera heated up again in Week 11 by posting an 80 APR, his third top-100 performance in the past five weeks (and fifth of the season) -- unfortunately for him, it coincides with what looks to be the impending return of Wilson Contreras, who was participating in all baseball activities in pre-games this week.

Even with Contreras's eventual return, one would think that Herrera has been good enough to earn plenty of DH at-bats, considering that the position has basically been a dead spot while being manned by Matt Carpenter and Jose Fermin. Counter-point: the Cardinals simply cannot be trusted to always make the brightest personnel moves. My bet would still be that Herrera receives enough playing time post-Contreras to make him worth a flyer if you're in need behind the plate.

Desperate Choices

Tyler Stephenson, CIN, C (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 9%) - Oh Tyler, my old flame, you're never (too) far from my heart. Stephenson has a 20 APR in Week 12, his second top-25 performance in the past four periods -- unfortunately, his highest ranking in those other two periods was a 228 APR. Stephenson loves to be inconsistent and Week 12 is a tough bet for him to keep his most recent hotness up, as the Reds only have five games on the schedule, with none scheduled versus the left-handers that Stephenson is most successful against.

On the IL

• • • Francisco Alvarez, NYM, C (thumb surgery - July return)
    • Joey Bart, PIT, C (thumb sprain - no timetable)
    • Tom Murphy, SF, C (sprained knee - no timetable)

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