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Welcome, RotoBallers, to our AL-only and NL-only deeper fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 22 -- August 19 through August 25. 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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Ty France - 1B, Cincinnati Reds
6% owned
It's been quite the roller-coaster ride for Ty France this season. He started the year fresh off winter at Driveline, where he worked on elevating the ball for power. Then he struggled to find consistency through the first part of the season before being released by the Mariners.
He was later traded to the Reds, giving him a second opportunity for success. In such a short timeline, he has already delivered on his promise to be better.
GONE!
Ty France extends the @Reds' lead! pic.twitter.com/y29AckYavz
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) August 13, 2024
Since joining the Reds, he is hitting the ball harder, making better decisions at the plate, and is doing what the Mariners hoped he would do for them back in the spring. With an OPS 50 points higher as a member of the Reds, he goes from one of the worst parks for hitting to arguably the best outside of Coors Field, especially for power.
He should get close to everyday at-bats for Cincinnati, and next week it has great matchups at Toronto and Pittsburgh. If you need a corner infielder, take a chance that France delivers.
Adrian Del Castillo - C, Arizona Diamondbacks
4% owned
The injury to Gabriel Moreno was a big one for Arizona, as his presence behind the plate will be missed. What the team didn't count on was having his replacement, Adrian Del Castillo, make as much of an impact as he has already, crushing the baseball and doing everything that's expected of a bona fide MLB player.
The first player in #Dbacks history whose first career homer is also a walkoff homer.
What a moment for Adrian Del Castillo! pic.twitter.com/VolEmaw8xd
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 10, 2024
With ice in his veins, Del Castillo has made his presence known in such a short time. He's been confident, stoic, and impressive at and behind the plate. There has been talk about how impressed the team's pitchers are with him calling games and framing, which is an added non-fantasy bonus, but does ensure that he should get more playing time down the road.
This past season in the minor leagues, he swatted 24 home runs in 100 games while also finishing with a .319/.403/.608 slash line. If you need a second catcher, take a chance on the upside here, as Arizona plays at Miami and Boston next week.
Bryan Sammons - RP, Detroit Tigers
1% owned
This two-start pitcher pick comes with a bit of a warning, as his first start is slated to be in Chicago to take on the Cubs, who are a good team when playing at home. However, at this point in the season, volume and matchups are key, and if Sammons can give you five innings with minimal damage done, he has a chance for a win.
It's his second matchup, at the White Sox, which is incredibly juicy, playing against one of the worst offenses in the history of baseball. While he hasn't pitched enough to be a qualified pitcher, he does offer an intriguing skill set of results thus far.
Overall, he's done most of his damage with a fastball that has yet to yield a hit despite being thrown 92 times. The accompanying 24.6% whiff rate has given way to nine of his 13 strikeouts this season, making it by far his best pitch. What's even better is that his cutter has traditionally been his calling card, though this season it's been rarely used.
If he can get that going, there may be something long-term. For now, he lines up to face both Chicago teams on the road and qualifies as a good option for fantasy owners looking for a two-start option next week.
Spencer Torkelson - 1B, Detroit Tigers
31% owned
The final recommendation this week is someone who is more highly owned than most on these lists, but also someone who can be an impactful addition. It was reported yesterday that the Tigers recalled Spencer Torkelson, which is big news in its own right.
Through 58 games in Triple-A following his demotion, he lowered his strikeout rate and worked on handling pitch velocity, which were two issues he was having early on in the season.
He was also asked to change his batting stance and use more of his weight in his swing, rather than his arm and shoulder strength. The attempt was to create a more fluid swing, hence his long departure from Detroit. While his overall numbers in Triple-A Toledo aren't overly impressive, he's done enough to warrant a return.
That's the key right there. Despite his .239 batting average in Triple-A Toledo, he's been able to improve the quality of contact and fix the problems he had early on. This is a major green flag for me, and I would look to add him everywhere as a corner infielder or for depth down the stretch.
I think he will play every day to let the Tigers see exactly what they have for next year. Last season, he hit 31 home runs, and it's hard to find that kind of upside on the waiver wire.
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