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We are already at the end of June. For fantasy baseball managers, you have only two months at the most until your league playoffs start. It would be best if you were diligent on those waiver wires to secure those wins down the stretch. That's where we come in.
It's important to know your league's scoring. Points league scoring vastly differs on ESPN, CBS, Yahoo!, and Fantrax. Most leagues also have start limits. Remember those when deciding whether to pounce on a streamer this week. For example, pitchers gain two points for a win on ESPN but also lose two points for a loss. Yahoo gives eight points for a win, and losses don't count against you at all!
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We're not saying to drop a key piece of your team for these guys, but dropping a bench player for a guy on a heater could be the difference between winning and losing your matchup in a points league. It's okay to be patient in roto and category leagues. Points leagues are a different animal. Roster percentages and positions are taken from ESPN.
Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups - Points Leagues
Shallow Leagues
Matt Waldron, SD (40.9% Rostered)
Someone go fix this, please. Waldron should not be on this list. The guy has given up just 12 runs in his last nine starts, the last six of which have been quality starts. He has 55 strikeouts in 55 innings over that span. Next up is a solid matchup at Fenway on Sunday. Waldron does a pretty good job at limiting baserunners and will grab about a strikeout per inning. That's perfect for your last start of the week on Sunday.
Jake Irvin, WAS (32.9% Rostered)
Irvin turned in a great start at Coors on Sunday and his rostered percentage dropped nearly 10 points. Makes perfect sense. Don't be one of the guys that ignores him. The Rays have a reputation for being a pesky team and rarely striking out. Only one of those things is true. The Rays are striking out at a 23.5% rate against right-handed pitching over the last month. Considering Irvin just racked up 10 strikeouts against the Rockies (24.9% over the same span), we could see Irvin finish with 6-8 strikeouts this week. We'll take that and not look back.
Cristopher Sanchez, PHI (31% Rostered)
Sanchez has been under my also consider heading for a while now, but he gets called up here after a couple of very strong performances at home against NL West teams. Sanchez draws a divisional foe in the Marlins at home on Friday, making him one of the better streaming options out there this week. The Marlins are striking out at a 26.2% clip against lefties over the last month with a minuscule 66 wRC+.
Cristopher Sanchez allowed 3 or fewer earned runs in 28 of his 32 regular season starts since 2023. pic.twitter.com/Ohh1vKZ9Hc
— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) June 22, 2024
12-Team Leagues
Kyle Gibson, STL (22.5% Rostered)
It's not often that a pitcher has a renaissance in the middle of his age-36 season, but here we are. Gibson has 27 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings over his last four starts while allowing only seven runs. He draws the Braves after last night's game got rained out. Atlanta is striking out at a bloated 24.4% rate against righties over the last month with a dismal .273 OBP. There is potential for Gibson if you're willing to take some risk.
Tobias Myers, MIL (14.9% Rostered)
Tobias Myers in June:
4-0
25.1 IP
2 ER
18 K
6 BB
13 H pic.twitter.com/IQWiUWRgJG— The Brew Crew Scoop (@BrewCrewScoop) June 24, 2024
Where did this guy come from? Myers has wins in all four June starts, allowing just two runs in 25 1/3 innings while striking out 18. The Cubs tagged him a little at the beginning of May, but that was in Wrigley. He gets a nice park upgrade at home. Myers carries decidedly more value on Fantrax where wins are emphasized and strikeouts don't matter as much, but he's worth a look in any need in which you need a boost this week.
Deep Leagues
Cal Quantrill, COL (9.8% Rostered)
Quantrill only allowed six runs in 11 innings at Coors in his last two starts. Hey, that's pretty impressive considering one of the teams was the Dodgers. Quantrill hasn't allowed a run in 11 innings over his last two road starts and draws the toothless White Sox on the South Side on Sunday. He won't wow you with strikeouts, but Quantrill has a puncher's chance at a win and a quality start to close out the week.
Patrick Corbin, WAS (0.9% Rostered)
Remember him? Yes, the starter that had the worst ERA amongst qualifying starters in each of the last two seasons hasn't been that bad this year. Corbin has only allowed five runs in 17 1/3 innings over his last three starts while striking out 16 batters. Those aren't world-beating numbers, but they are serviceable, especially in a deep league. The Rays are also striking out against lefties (24.6%) in the last month. Corbin will likely surrender a run or four, but he could tack on enough strikeouts to mitigate the damage.
Also consider:
- Gavin Stone, LAD (48.1% Rostered), Today at CWS
- Luis Severino, NYM (25% Rostered), Sunday at HOU
- Taj Bradley, TB (22.2% Rostered), Sunday at WAS
- Ben Lively, CLE (15.7% Rostered), Thursday at KC
- Jameson Taillon, CHC (15.3% Rostered), Friday at MIL
- Mitchell Parker, WAS (13.4% Rostered), Friday at TB
- Colin Rea, MIL (9.9% Rostered), Friday vs. CHC
- Simeon Woods Richardson, MIN (5.5% Rostered), Today at ARI
- Hogan Harris, OAK (3.9% Rostered), Saturday at ARI
Fantasy Baseball Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups - Points Leagues
Shallow Leagues
Francisco Alvarez, NYM (42.2% Rostered)
I recommended Alvarez last week. If you went out and picked him up, you have enjoyed a modest eight-game hitting streak with two homers and six RBI. He is also walking almost as much as he is striking out, which brings added value on ESPN.
12-Team Leagues
Mitch Garver, SEA (11.9% Rostered)
Garver is too talented of a hitter to keep struggling like he is. The veteran is showing signs of life with homers in back-to-back games to start the series in Tampa. The first-place Mariners head home after the conclusion of the Tampa series to face Garver's former team, the Twins. He could show some more fireworks for the home fans in that series.
Deep Leagues
Bo Naylor, CLE (4.1% Rostered)
Naylor is riding a five-game hitting streak. He has driven in at least one run in four of those games with a homer and six runs scored. The Cleveland offense is starting to pick it up lately and Naylor has been a surprising part of that success.
Also consider:
- Sean Murphy, ATL (44.8% Rostered)
- Patrick Bailey, SF (11.7% Rostered)
- Ben Rortvedt, TB (0.7% Rostered)
- Kyle Higashioka, SD (0.3% Rostered)
Fantasy Baseball Infield Waiver Wire Pickups - Points Leagues
Shallow Leagues
Brendan Donovan, 2B/OF, STL (36.9% Rostered)
Donovan has driven in at least one run in seven consecutive games. He has three homers in that span and a hitting streak that is one game longer than the hit streak. He is cooking right now and hitting near the top of a suddenly very dangerous St. Louis lineup. He plays two against the Braves today, so don't wait to pick him up!
Brendan Donovan set a career-high in HR exit velocity on this 107.4 mph moonshot
— Kareem (@KareemSSN) June 22, 2024
Josh Smith, SS/3B, CIN (31.9% Rostered)
Some were not-so-quietly wondering where Smith's power was to start the season. He only had four homers through 211 at-bats after hitting six last season in the same amount of time. He found it! Smith has three homers this week and has raised his average back to the .300 mark. Add in the multi-position eligibility, and you have a very valuable points league guy in shallow leagues.
12-Team Leagues
Jonathan India, 2B, CIN (13% Rostered)
His slow start to the season is behind him. India is hitting a ridiculous .524 during his seven-game hitting streak while leading off for the Reds. He has scored seven runs in the last three games alone, and the Reds aren't even at home! This whole lineup is hitting right now. None are as hot as India, though. We saw flashes of this all last season. Pick him up while you still can!
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 2B/SS/3B, TOR (10.7% Rostered)
After cooling off at the beginning of June, IKF is back to fantasy relevance with a 10-game hitting streak. Two of his six homers on the season came over the weekend in Cleveland. Kiner-Falefa is hitting .378 during that streak with six runs scored and five RBI to go with that pair of homers. Ride him until he cools off again.
Deep Leagues
Spencer Horwitz, 1B/2B, TOR (4.5% Rostered)
The rookie is hitting .348 in his first 46 at-bats in the majors this year. He also recorded the first two-homer game of his career against Cleveland over the weekend. Things are looking up for Horwitz. He is providing much-needed production at 2B for the Jays since Davis Schneider has been spending most of his time in the outfield.
Brendan Rodgers, 2B, COL (2.3% Rostered)
In case you haven't noticed, Rodgers returned from the IL this week. Hey, I get it. It's easy to forget about the Rockies when they aren't at home. The time off has done Rodgers some good. He is 5-for-11 with a homer and four RBI in the three games since his return. He has brought that hot bat with him down to sea level and closes out the weekend in Chicago against the White Sox. These are some of the better matchups Rodgers will have away from home this year.
Also consider:
- Matt Chapman, 3B, SF (36.7% Rostered)
- Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/OF, BAL (33.5% Rostered)
- Willi Castro, 2B/SS/3B/OF, MIN (32.4% Rostered)
- Rhys Hoskins, 1B, MIL (29.4% Rostered)
- Carlos Santana, 1B, MIN (16.9% Rostered)
- David Hamilton, SS, BOS (12.3% Rostered)
- Luis Garcia Jr., 2B, WAS (8.2% Rostered)
- Dylan Moore, IF/OF, SEA (6.6% Rostered)
- Colt Keith, 2B/3B, DET (5.4% Rostered)
- Jose Miranda, 3B, MIN (4.8% Rostered)
Fantasy Baseball Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups - Points Leagues
Shallow Leagues
Wyatt Langford, TEX (45.5% Rostered)
Wyatt Langford has officially arrived.pic.twitter.com/iPgQCEs3j2
— Michael Bier (@MichaelJBier) June 22, 2024
Langford has 10 RBI over the last week alone! Two of his three homers on the season have come in that span. It took the rookie some time to adjust to the majors, but he looks comfortable now. The Rangers finish the week in Baltimore, but that ball above would have still left the new-look Camden Yards. He'll be fine.
Heliot Ramos, SF (42.3% Rostered)
Ramos cooled off a little bit over the weekend but started this week with a three-hit effort against the Cubs. Eight of Ramos's 11 career homers have come in June. He is hitting .308 this month with 22 RBI in 22 games. He's still hot despite a cold weekend.
12-Team Leagues
Alec Burleson, STL (22.6% Rostered)
Burleson has four consecutive multi-hit games, including a two-homer one against against the Giants over the weekend. It's hot and humid (you know...like summer) in St. Louis, which brings us great hitting weather almost every day. Burleson has a twin bill today (day/night split, so he could play both games) after the rainout last night. Pick him up for that one and enjoy the ride!
Alec Burleson has been one of baseball's best hitters during June
Last 80 PA:
•164 wRC+
•7 HR
•0.307 ISOAfter some tough batted-ball luck to begin his career, his consistent approach is finally paying off pic.twitter.com/yzmKFJ7yeo
— Adam Akbani (@AdamAkbani) June 23, 2024
J.D. Martinez, NYM (20.5% Rostered)
After a quiet April and subpar May, Martinez is doing what the Mets paid him to do in June. He is hitting .299 this month with four homers and 19 RBI in 20 games. On top of that, he has slashed his strikeouts from 32 in 106 May at-bats to just 17 in 91 at-bats in June. That's huge on sites like ESPN that penalize you for strikeouts. His walks are up as well, giving him a little more hidden value on ESPN.
Deep Leagues
Chas McCormick, HOU (7.1% Rostered)
Playing time has opened up in the Houston outfield with Kyle Tucker on the shelf and McCormick is making it pay off. He has two homers, four RBI, three runs scored, and two steals in the last three games alone. He is still feasting on the Colorado staff and finishes off the week with the Mets. McCormick is providing a ton of value in deep leagues.
Blake Perkins, MIL (2% Rostered)
Perkins is playing nearly every day for the Brewers. His bat leaves something to be desired, but this guy has some wheels. He has three steals in the last two games and has swiped seven bags in his last 11 games. That's a lot of free points in Yahoo and CBS leagues!
Also consider:
- Tyler O'Neill, BOS (48.5% Rostered)
- Jorge Soler, SF (47.2% Rostered)
- Josh Lowe, TB (32.3% Rostered)
- Jesse Winker, WAS (16.5% Rostered)
- Byron Buxton, MIN (13.3% Rostered)
- Leody Taveras, TEX (2.9% Rostered)
- Will Brennan, CLE (2.6% Rostered)
- Jake Meyers, HOU (2.6% Rostered)
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