Deeper Hitter Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - NFBC Waiver Wire Report for Week 14

We have completed another week of MLB action, making it time to make more waiver wire moves heading into Week 12. However, things will be slightly different for our weekly look into the high-stakes NFBC landscape. For those who do not know, in the NFBC, there are no IL spots and trades, making waiver moves a bit different. Also, offensive roster moves are made bi-weekly, so some waiver claims are made for the player in a great matchup early or later in the week. This weekly article will outline the upcoming schedule, two-start pitchers, and a few waiver targets that are rostered in less than 50% of leagues according to the 12-team online championships.

As the season continues and we are churning and burning on the waiver wire, sometimes a hot bat is worth a pick-up. Besides "hot bats," we can also look at upcoming schedules to try and maximize at-bats. With all of the injuries, we are also looking into players that may be receiving more playing time. Some of the lower rostered players, or some not mentioned here, are on the solid side of platoons, so make sure you are not adding them if they have a negative schedule. Lastly, the names in the article are in order of percentage rostered, not so much in my preference of adding to your roster. This article will discuss NFBC fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 14, July 11th through July 17th.

In the first few weeks, rostered percentages can change quickly. So be quick to check your leagues for their availability. Also, when you want to chat about outfielders, prospects, or dynasty leagues, please message me directly on Twitter at @bdentrek. Key points - this list will focus on rostered players in less than 50% of NFBC OC leagues.

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Fantasy Baseball Schedule Outlook

We have a pretty full week of games. The entire AL Central plays eight games this week, meaning you can add some extra at-bats off the wire; looking at you Schoop. Most other teams all play six or seven games, so a rather standard week. The only teams that will really hurt you are the Orioles, Angels, and Dodgers with their five games. Lastly, we get a full week in Coors field so load up on your Coors bats where you can.

• 8 Games- CLE, CWS, DET, KC
• 7 Games - ATL, BOS, COL, MIA, NYM, PIT, SD, SF, STL, TB, TEX
• 6 Games - ARI, CHC, CIN, HOU, MIL, MIN, NYY, OAK, PHI, SEA, TOR, WAS
• 5 Games- BAL, LAA, LAD

Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers

• Merrill Kelly (@ SF, @ SD)
• Max Fried (vs. NYM, @ WAS)
• Spencer Strider (vs. NYM, @ WAS)
• Chris Sale (@ TB, @ NYY)
• Cal Quantrill (vs. CWS, vs. DET)
• Shane Bieber (vs. CWS, vs. DET)
• Jose Urena (vs. SD, vs. PIT)
• Austin Gomber (vs. SD, vs. PIT)
• Lance Lynn (@ CLE, @ MIN)
• Dylan Cease (@ CLE, @ MIN)
• Michael Pineda (@ KC, @ CLE)
• Beau Brieske (@ KC, @ CLE)
• Brad Keller (vs. DET, @ TOR)
• Daniel Lynch (vs. DET, @ TOR)
• Trevor Rogers (vs. PIT, vs. PHI)
• Daniel Castano (vs. PIT, vs. PHI)
• Jason Alexander (@ MIN, vs. CWS)
• Josh Winder (vs. MIL, vs. CWS)
• Max Scherzer (@ ATL, @ CHC)
• David Peterson (@ ATL, @ CHC)
• Luis Severino (vs. CIN, vs. BOS)
• Aaron Nola (@ STL, @ MIA)
• Mitch Keller (@ MIA, @ COL)
• Sean Manaea (@ COL, vs. ARI)
• Logan Gilbert (@ WAS, @ TEX)
• Alex Cobb (vs. ARI, vs. MIL)
• Logan Webb (vs. ARI, vs. MIL)
• Miles Mikolas (vs. PHI, vs. CIN)
• Steven Matz (vs. LAD, vs. CIN)
• Jeffrey Springs (vs. BOS, vs. BAL)
• Corey Kluber (vs. BOS, vs. BAL)
• Spencer Howard (vs. OAK, vs. SEA)
• Glenn Otto (vs. OAK, vs. SEA)
• Jose Berrios (vs. PHI, vs. KC)
• Josiah Gray (vs. SEA, vs. ATL)

Infield Waiver Wire Pickups

Jonathan Schoop (1B/2B), Detroit Tigers

45% Rostered

It has taken quite a while this season, but it seems Schoop's bat is waking up and returning to being fantasy relevant. He enters Saturday hitting safely in six straight games for a .435 batting average. He only has one double and a .043 ISO, which is not ideal, but Schoop has stolen four bases over these six games. Schoop is also striking out less than 5% of the time, which is outstanding, and has a 54.5% hard-hit rate.

Schoop has been a consistent 20+ home run bat who hits for a good batting average, but he has not showcased those tools this season. Hopefully, this little stretch is a sign of things to come in the second half, and he can build on his .210 batting average, six home runs, and five stolen bases. His CI/MI eligibility is also outstanding.

Cavan Biggio (1B/2B/3B), Toronto Blue Jays

22% Rostered

I may be too optimistic, as Biggio has let us down for most of his young career, but this past week has given me some earnest hope. Over his last nine games, Biggio is hitting .300 with four doubles and a 12% walk rate. Biggio has not hit a home run or stole a base over this stretch, but he still has a .833 OPS and 140 wRC+, proving his value to the Jays and your fantasy teams. The rest of season projections from the BAT X have Biggio hitting five home runs and stealing three bases while hitting .224. I will politely disagree with those projections. If this is a new and improved Biggio, which it seems we are seeing, then we should see a much better batting average with more power and speed. Lastly, the Jays are even hitting Biggio leadoff from time to time which only increases his fantasy value with all that power behind him.

Harold Ramirez (1B/OF), Tampa Bay Rays

20% Rostered

In the past, Ramirez has showcased decent batting average skills, but the consistency was an issue that helped push Ramirez out of Cleveland. However, Ramirez has a new home in Tampa Bay and is raking. He has hit safely in 15 of his last 18 games, suitable for a .373 batting average. Ramirez has six extra-base hits, including two home runs, while also stealing a base. In addition, Ramirez has a great 1.017 OPS, .196 ISO, and 196 wRC+. Ramirez is a hitting machine worth a roster spot in all deep leagues with some 12-team appeal.

David Villar (2B), San Francisco Giants

0% Rostered

Villar has been up with the Giants for only five games, and with the recent oblique injury to Evan Longoria, Villar should be up for quite a while. On Friday night, Villar hit his first home run and has two extra-base hits with a 22.2% barrel rate over his first five games. Villar jumped onto the prospect radar with the development of some significant power. Last season, Villar hit 20 home runs with a .275 batting average in Double-A. It got even better this season in Triple-A as Villar hit 21 home runs in 66 games while hitting .284. There may be a learning curve in the bigs for Villar, but the power looks legit, and Villar should be on your fantasy radar, especially in deeper leagues.

Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups

Tyler Naquin (OF), Cincinnati Reds  

34% Rostered

Naquin returned from the IL a few games ago and already has one home run. He is now hitting .255 on the season with six home runs and three stolen bases. Naquin has a .208 ISO with .778 OPS and 109 wRC+. Naquin brings some great power, especially versus RHP. He also plays in Great American Small Park, the best hitting ballpark in baseball, which gives Naquin even more fantasy appeal. Naquin is a definite add in deep leagues with some major attraction in 12-team leagues.

 Jake Meyers (OF), Houston Astros

33% Rostered

Meyers brings an eight-game hitting streak into Saturday's action. Since being called up on June 24th, Meyers is hitting .313 with four extra-base hits and 10 RBI. Meyers's contact quality is pretty solid with a 107 mph maxEV, 8.6% barrel rate, and 45.7% hard-hit rate. He continues to play every day for the Astros, sadly hitting at the bottom of the lineup but still producing on an outstanding Astros team. Last season, Meyers combined for 22 home runs and 13 stolen bases between Triple-A and the bigs, so he may be able to provide an excellent power and speed source to your team. For now, Meyers is a deeper league target for me but can be streamed in 12-team leagues where your fantasy team is battling injuries.

Eddie Rosario (OF), Atlanta Braves

19% Rostered

Rosario made his triumphant return from his scary eye injury on July 4th. Rosario has hit safely in three of five games with a home run. Rosario is knocking the rust off. After Rosario gets comfortable, he will become a fantasy stud again. Rosario consistently hits around .250 with reliable power and even steals some bases. The Braves' offense is on fire these days, so Rosario will have plenty of chances to drive in or score runs. Jump on Rosario before he heats up, and his waiver wire price goes up.

Gavin Sheets (OF), Chicago White Sox

2% Rostered

We are back to Gavin Sheets season. We rode Sheets' power bat earlier this season, but he is a streaky hitter, and we moved on once Jake Burger took over and took Sheets' job. Now Burger is on the IL, and Sheets is back as an everyday player for the White Sox. Sheets has been producing of late, hitting safely in five of seven games with a .350 batting average. He has a .909 OPS, .150 ISO, and 164 wRC+ with a 53.3% hard-hit rate. Sheets has some serious power potential, and when he faces right-handed pitching, he is an even better fantasy asset.

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers