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Welcome, RotoBallers, to the Week 27 edition of our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of September 23 - September 29, 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 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, September 21.
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Waiver Wire Caveats and APR Explanation
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.
APR stands for "Average Platform Rank" and is the average hitter rank between the four major point platforms: ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, and Fantrax. All player data is from FanGraphs and Baseball Savant, with injury information pulled from the Roster Resource section on the former.
Fantasy Baseball First Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Michael Toglia, COL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 8%) - Like I'm not going to hype the guy I've been riding all season. Toglia has been a virtual lock for a top-125 floor and ends his season with six games on the moon. I implore you to pick him up one final time.
Justin Turner, SEA, 1B (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 28%) - Turner has dipped below our Roster% threshold but I'm not sure why, as he's averaged a 96 APR over the last four periods. He'll end with six games (@HOU, vs OAK), with three scheduled vs LHP.
Andrew Vaughn, CHW, 1B (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 8%) - Vaughn has been a top-50 hitter in two of the last three periods and has three LHP on the schedule in Week 27 (vs LAA, @DET).
Next Choices
Nolan Schanuel, LAA, 1B (Yahoo: 14%, ESPN: 6%) - Low in excitement but high on the floor, Schanuel has been red-hot recently finishing at #7 last week and currently sitting #71 heading into Sunday's action. The left-hander ends with three games at the White Sox and three at home vs TEX, with two of the six scheduled vs LHP.
Carlos Santana, MIN, 1B (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 17%) - Our points god is failing us this week but Santana has a good chance to finish strong with suspect pitching and two LHP from Miami and Baltimore at home.
Desperate Choices
Spencer Horwitz, TOR, 1B/2B (Yahoo: 38%, ESPN: 15%) - Horwitz is "only" the #166 hitter this week but considering that's his lowest ranking since Week 14, I think we should give him a pass. He'll get six games in the final week (vs BOS, vs MIA) with only one scheduled vs an LHP.
On the IL
- Jeimer Candelario, CIN, 1B/3B (fractured toe - no timetable)
- DJ LeMahieu, NYY, 1B/3B (hip impingement - no timetable)
- Alex Kirilloff, MIN, 1B/OF (back discomfort - no timetable)
- Brooks Baldwin, CHW, 1B/2B (sprained wrist - no timetable)
Fantasy Baseball Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Gavin Lux, LAD, 2B (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 12%) - You know how much I hate to push a positive Lux narrative but three games in Colorado means you might have to trust his Royal Mid-ness.
Otto Lopez, MIA, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 25%, ESPN: 12%) - Don't mind Otto Lopez; all he's done is average a 48 APR over the past four weeks. No big deal. With no LHP on the schedule (@MIN, @TOR) things are set up for him to finish strong.
Brendan Rodgers, COL, 2B (Yahoo: 14%, ESPN: 5%) - Rodgers has been a disaster for three weeks but six games at home means he's a must-roster for most formats.
Miguel Rojas, LAD, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 2%) - Rojas has been quietly playable for a while now, averaging a 112 APR over the last six weeks, and finishes the year out in Colorado. That's good enough, babes.
Next Choices
Lenyn Sosa, CHW, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Sosa is the #48 hitter headed into Sunday after back-to-back top-150 weeks and could again succeed in a week that will see three LHP on the schedule (vs LAA, @DET).
Joey Ortiz, MIL, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 14%, ESPN: 7%) - Another hitter with sizzled hype whose been much better lately, Ortiz will finish the season getting LHP in three of Milwaukee's six games (@PIT, vs NYM).
Desperate Choices
Spencer Horwitz, TOR, 1B/2B (Yahoo: 38%, ESPN: 15%) - Horwitz is "only" the #166 hitter this week but considering that's his lowest ranking since Week 14, I think we should give him a pass. He'll get six games in the final week (vs BOS, vs MIA) with only one scheduled vs an LHP.
Geraldo Perdomo, ARI, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 39%, ESPN: 13%) - Perdomo is having a down week but will pile up enough PAs to give him a high floor in his final six games (vs SF, vs SD).
On the IL
- Richie Palacios, TB, 2B/OF (sprained knee - rehab assignment)
- Oliver Dunn, MIL, 2B/3B (strained back - no timetable)
- Brooks Baldwin, CHW, 1B/2B (sprained wrist - no timetable)
Fantasy Baseball Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Miguel Rojas, LAD, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 2%) - Rojas has been quietly playable for a while now, averaging a 112 APR over the last six weeks, and finishes the year out in Colorado. That's good enough, babes.
Lenyn Sosa, CHW, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Sosa is the #48 hitter headed into Sunday after back-to-back top-150 weeks and could again succeed in a week that will see three LHP on the schedule (vs LAA, @DET).
Next Choices
Joey Ortiz, MIL, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 14%, ESPN: 7%) - Another hitter with sizzled hype whose been much better lately, Ortiz will finish the season getting LHP in three of Milwaukee's six games (@PIT, vs NYM).
Desperate Choices
Ernie Clement, TOR, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 17%, ESPN: 4%) - Clement has put up below-replacement value in Week 26 but don't let that dissuade you from his high-floor profile. He and his 9% K% finish with a six-game homestand (vs BOS, vs MIA), with one LHP on the books.
On the IL
- Jeimer Candelario, CIN, 1B/3B (fractured toe - no timetable)
- Ke'Bryan Hayes, PIT, 3B (lower back - no timetable)
- DJ LeMahieu, NYY, 1B/3B (hip impingement - no timetable)
- Anthony Rendon, LAA, 3B (strained oblique - no timetable)
- Oliver Dunn, MIL, 2B/3B (strained back - no timetable)
Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Masyn Winn, STL, SS (Yahoo: 38%, ESPN: 16%) - Welp, kids, we tried to push Winn and his excellence above our Roster% threshold but ultimately fell short. It turns out being nearly a top-75 hitter (currently #79 on the season) just isn't good enough. Winn ends his season with a six-game road trip, including three games at Coors Field. Maybe pick him up?
Miguel Rojas, LAD, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 2%) - Rojas has been quietly playable for a while now, averaging a 112 APR over the last six weeks, and finishes the year out in Colorado. That's good enough, babes.
Next Choices
Trevor Story, BOS, SS (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 6%) - The story right now is, "I'm not dead, yet!". Trevor has a top-75 APR in his first two full weeks back and would love to add on some garbage-time stats in six games (@TOR, vs TB), with no LHP on the schedule.
Desperate Choices
Geraldo Perdomo, ARI, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 39%, ESPN: 13%) - Perdomo is having a down week but will pile up enough PAs to give him a high floor in his final six games (vs SF, vs SD).
Fantasy Baseball Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Michael Toglia, COL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 8%) - Like I'm not going to hype the guy I've been riding all season. Toglia has been a virtual lock for a top-125 floor and ends his season with six games on the moon. I implore you to pick him up one final time.
Charlie Blackmon, COL, OF (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 5%) - We told you to trust him last week and the old man came through; it's time to do it one more time. Chuck finishes out with six games (vs STL, vs LAD) and all RHP at home.
Victor Robles, SEA, OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 8%) - The Victor Robles Renaissance...Continues! Robles has only been a top-150 guy this week after averaging an 18 APR in the previous three periods but should end strong, with three of his six games (@HOU, vs OAK) coming vs LHP.
Otto Lopez, MIA, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 25%, ESPN: 12%) - Don't mind Otto Lopez; all he's done is average a 48 APR over the past four weeks. No big deal. With no LHP on the schedule (@MIN, @TOR) things are set up for him to finish strong.
Next Choices
Andrew Benintendi, CHW, OF (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 11%) - Benintendi has averaged a 96 APR over the last seven weeks but has actually been much better, as 316 APR in Week 22 drags the whole shebang under. In those other six weeks, Benintendi has finished in the top-50 four times and the top-20 twice. He'll finish with shaky pitching (vs LAA, @DET) but three LHP.
Hunter Goodman, COL, C/OF (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 6%) - This one's easy -- the end-of-season wire is almost totally bare at catcher and Goodman gets three games at Coors after averaging a 67 APR the last two weeks.
Mike Yastrzemski, SF, OF (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - The ghost of Carl has been strong lately; baby Yaz has a 23 APR in Week 26 after cinching with a 60 APR last week. He'll only see one of his fellow lefties in one of his final six games (@ARI, vs STL).
Desperate Choices
Jordan Walker, STL, OF (Yahoo: 25%, ESPN: 9%) - A tale as old as time, with a formerly top-prospect doing enough in the final weeks to make the people say, "Hmm?". Walker had a 44 APR last week and gets three games in Colorado to start the week before heading to San Francisco.
Leody Taveras, TEX, OF (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 3%) - Don't expect a high ceiling and you won't be disappointed. Taveras has finished in the top-125 for three straight weeks and finishes up with six games on the road against suspect pitching (@LAA, @OAK)
Jesus Sanchez, MIA, OF (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 2%) - Sanchez was sneaky-excellent prior to his injury...As long as you don't try and use him against left-handed pitching, against whom he is a Gallo-esque trainwreck. No such (bad) luck this week, though, as Miami has zero LHP scheduled in their six games (@MIN, @TOR).
On the IL:
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- Chas McCormick, HOU, OF (fractured hand - no timetable)
- Max Kepler, MIN, OF (knee tendinitis - no timetable)
- Henry Davis, PIT, C/OF (hand - no timetable)
- Alex Call, WSH, OF (foot - no timetable)
- Austin Hays, BAL, OF (kidney infection - rehab assignment)
- Alex Kirilloff, MIN, 1B/OF (back discomfort - no timetable)
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Fantasy Baseball Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Hunter Goodman, COL, C/OF (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 6%) - This one's easy -- the end-of-season wire is almost totally bare at catcher and Goodman gets three games at Coors after averaging a 67 APR the last two weeks.
Shea Langeliers, OAK, C (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 20%) - There's always Shea Langeliers; I'll stop making the same joke once it gets proven wrong. Langeliers continues to have one of the highest floors you'll find available and has a top-75 APR in two of the last three weeks.
Next Choices
Austin Wells, NYY, C (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 13%) - Wells is pitching a dud in Week 26 but will again be a high-floor play in a week that sees the Yankees get six games at home and only one LHP on the schedule.
Desperate Choices
Gary Sanchez, MIL, C (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 1%) - He can't do much these days but hitting lefties hard is still in his toolbelt and Milwaukee has three on them on their schedule. Facing LHP this season, Sanchez has a 52% HH% and a .349 xwOBA.
On the IL
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- Henry Davis, PIT, C/OF (hand - no timetable)
- Tom Murphy, SF, C (sprained knee - no timetable)
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