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Welcome RotoBallers to our AL-only and NL-only deeper fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 4 - April 15 through April 21. 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, then 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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Matt Vierling - 3B/OF Detroit Tigers
Perhaps the one player on this list who has the biggest chance of sustained success is Matt Vierling. Coming off a season where he surprised many with a mini-breakout, he came into the season fighting for a defined role in the Tigers' lineup. After a slow start, there was some worry that he would regress to the mean and be placed on the back burner of everyone's minds. Instead, this past week he was able to record a six-game hitting streak heading into action today.
The amount of red here is a treat to the eyes. He's been seeing the ball well, hitting it hard, and has produced in all areas of his game. Additionally, this past week alone he was able to make two incredibly hustle-filled catches in center field, demonstrating speed and instincts with the glove. All of the above characteristics add up to a player who plays hard, produces well, and will be granted additional playing time in the future because of his defensive abilities. These are the attributes of a player who has some long-term value in fantasy. This upcoming week, the Tigers play four games versus the Rangers before a weekend series in Minnesota. Vierling needs to be rostered.
Josh Smith - 3B Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers have been working through a slew of injuries to start the season. One of the biggest benefactors of having an opportunity to fill in the empty spaces is Josh Smith. He's filled in Admirably at third base while Josh Jung is absent with a wrist injury. He worked hard in the offseason to make some adjustments and they seem to be paying off.
Josh Smith has four hits (two doubles) in his first three starts this season with Josh Jung on the IL
Not sure how much of anything it is just yet, but his stance is a bit different from last year. Will have to ask about it
Left= today Right= Sept 2023 pic.twitter.com/HbHZKGrfuZ
— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) April 6, 2024
Those changes to his stance and swing have paid dividends to begin the season. His strikeout rate has dropped considerably, as it now stands at just over 10%. It's also helped his patience, as his walk rate is the highest it's been throughout his Major League career.
While he won't hit for much power or speed, his presence in a loaded Rangers' lineup should substantiate enough value with batting average and runs scored. Texas plays seven games this week, and while the matchups aren't favorable (at Detroit, at Atlanta), he should play close to every day and still get on base.
Keaton Winn - SP San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Gants came into the offseason knowing that the back end of their rotation could be worrisome. After all, with both Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray on the Injured List for part of the season, they had some big holes to fill. They were hoping for someone to step up and prove themself in the meantime with some consistency and reliability. They may have found just that and more with Keaton Winn.
Keaton Winn's splitter is 🤌
He spoke with @pavlovicnbcs about the evolution of his wicked pitch pic.twitter.com/ImvlhWGeJm
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) April 12, 2024
The splitter is an important pitch for him. He throws it just under 42% of the time and has held batters to a .192 batting average while limiting hard contact. Additionally, he's introduced a slider into his repertoire, throwing it now 16.5% of the time. So far this season, that pitch has held batters to an even lower .111 batting average. These are two solid weapons that he is looking to utilize. He is also trying to mix alongside his fastball, but that has yet to develop into something viable, despite some improvements over last season.
He is on track to pitch at the Marlins this week, followed by a game against the Mets the week after. These are two good matchups and could be what he needs to take his next step in solidifying a long-term spot in the team's rotation.
David Hamilton - SS Boston Red Sox
Consider this recommendation to be a long shot, but David Hamilton has an opportunity to be very useful in fantasy. With Trevor Story out for the season and Vaughn Grissom still rehabbing from an injury, Hamilton is likely the team's everyday shortstop for the time being. Why is this important? Hamilton stole 127 bases over two minor league levels in 2022 and 2023 while also hitting 29 home runs.
Unfortunately through sporadic playing time opportunities, those numbers and skills have not transitioned to success at the major league level. However, now that he has a chance to play every day, he's one to keep an eye on. If he struggles to do much of anything, he's someone to drop. In an AL-Only League, he's worth a speculative add with a short leash.
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