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Welcome, RotoBallers, to our AL-only and NL-only deeper fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 21 -- August 12 through August 18. The waiver wire can be difficult to navigate. Knowing who to add and when is a game within the game of fantasy baseball. Doing this in a mono league where the player pool is half the size of a full league makes it even more challenging. Every drop and add is significant.
One of the keys to success with roster management is opportunity. A player given the chance to get on the field and produce is one of the first signs of potential. After all, they can't accumulate statistics if they're sitting on their team's bench. These opportunities can arise because of either a promotion from the minor leagues, an injury to another player, or simply because the team has moved on from another player. Whatever the case may be, these players are now given a chance to shine.
It's important to note that these players are on a short leash to see if they can produce. If they don't, they can be dropped for the next man up. All that being said, here are some of the best players with opportunities.
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Jerar Encarnacion - OF San Francisco Giants
1% owned
The first recommendation this week comes from the outfield in San Francisco, where the Giants may have found a legitimate source of power. Jerar Encarnacion made his MLB debut last week and didn't disappoint, recording five hits in his first six games and showing that his minor league surge was not a fluke.
Jerar Encarnacion - San Francisco Giants (1)
https://t.co/3R72iLkPXQ— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) August 4, 2024
Encarnacion's minor league track record is impressive. Over 59 games in both the Mexican League and for Triple-A Sacramento, he hit well over .300 and mashed 29 home runs, earning this promotion. He also lowered his strikeout rate considerably over last season before he arrived in San Francisco, earning the praise of scouts and giving the Giants the confidence to go ahead and trade away Soler. While he is still unproven, he does get a favorable matchup this week against the Braves for four games before traveling to Oakland. He is worth a shot to see if this impressive streak can continue.
Drew Rasmussen - SP/RP Tampa Bay Rays
6% owned
The last time we saw Drew Rasmussen, he was a part of the vaunted Rays' rotation last season and was successfully mowing through lineups. Unfortunately for him, he required elbow surgery and opted for the internal brace procedure. It was his third surgery in seven years and was a devastating blow to a potentially promising season. Since then he has been fighting and clawing to return, and he finally did that this past week.
Drew Rasmussen's return from injury:
6 Up, 6 Down
55% Whiff Rate
97.8 MPH Fastball#RaysUp | @RaysBaseball
🔗 https://t.co/6YbqEWG3tX pic.twitter.com/y7Eb9wJLgR— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) August 9, 2024
It must be noted that his role in 2024 will be as a reliever. As mentioned in the interview above, he may open games or he may get bulk innings later in games. That being said, there is an outside shot too that he closes games or pitches in high-leverage situations. Pete Fairbanks is by no means a measuring stick for health. He could be useful in a late-inning role and may get opportunities for saves and holds. Regardless of when he is used, he is a big value in all points leagues and could provide similar worth in roto leagues too. There are times when getting four efficient innings from a very good pitcher is better than getting five shaky innings from a non-efficient pitcher. Add Rasmussen for what he provides and be happy if he gives you more.
Joey Bart - C Pittsburgh Pirates
9% owned
What a wild season it has been behind the plate in Pittsburgh. Remember when the season began, it was believed that Henry Davis would break out and be one of the league's best pitchers. Then, Yasmani Grandal was added for depth and leadership. Now, here we are months later, and a third option may be the one to rule them all.
Joey Bart over his last 11 games:
.359 AVG
3 HR
9 RBI
10 Runspic.twitter.com/drQYj5lE55— Kirk Snyder (@dynastyinfo411) August 8, 2024
Those aforementioned numbers don't include the mammoth home run that he hit the following night in Los Angeles. Joey Bart has been nothing short of amazing since the All-Star Break, batting well over .300 in that time frame and lowering his strikeout rate. If he continues to prove the doubters wrong and produce at the plate, there may need to be serious conversations in the offseason by the Pirates to make him the permanent catcher in 2025. As for this upcoming week, Pittsburgh plays at San Diego before heading home to play Seattle. Bart has hit well against tough opponents before, so let it ride here and make him your second catcher this week.
Tyler Holton - SP/RP Detroit Tigers
10% owned
The Tigers bullpen has fluctuated this year with some ins and outs, but they may have someone emerging as someone worth keeping. Tyler Holton has been nothing short of amazing in whatever situation arose. He went through an incredible streak that reached 22/0 innings where he didn't surrender an earned run from the end of June until August 8, striking out eighteen batters, picking up three saves, one hold, and a win.
Dating back to the start of last season, Tyler Holton has been one of the baseball's most reliable relievers.
Among pitchers with at least 100 appearances over that span, nobody has a lower WHIP (0.85) or OBP allowed (.233), while he ranks 3rd in OPS allowed (.527), 4th in walk… pic.twitter.com/QMwEMea1SL
— Tigers PR (@DetroitTigersPR) August 7, 2024
Behind only Jason Foley, Holton should get opportunities down the road. He possesses SP and RP eligibility in some formats, giving him a bonus for roster construction. While this run of dominance is unlikely to continue at this capacity, he does throw four pitches more than fourteen percent of the time and has a batting average of well under .200 and a high whiff rate. This week the Tigers play at home to the Mariners and Yankees, and he should see some more opportunities to help your team.
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