Deeper Hitter Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - NFBC Waiver Wire Report for Week 17

We have completed another week of MLB action, making it time to make more waiver wire moves heading into Week 17. 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 pick-ups for Week 17, August 1 through August 7.

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 quite a week on tap. There are three teams with eight games; two have a front-loaded schedule. Most teams play seven games, with the Braves and Angels having four games per week. The Mariners are a unique team with three games in the first half of the week but four in the second half. One team with five games in the A's hurts their weekly value. Lastly, the A's and the Giants do not play on Friday, so they have only two games in the second half of the week. There are many ways to stack up at-bats, which will be highlighted in the weekly pick-ups.

• 8 Games- COL (5 in 1H of the week), NYM (4 in 1H & 2H), SD (5 in 1H of the week)
• 7 Games- ATL (4 on the weekend), BOS, CLE, CWS, DET, HOU, KC, LAA (4 on the weekend), LAD, MIN, SEA (3 in 1H & 4 in 2H), TEX, WAS
• 6 Games- ARI, BAL, CHC, CIN, MIA, MIL, NYY, PHI, PIT, SF, STL, TB, TOR
• 5 Games- OAK

Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers

• Zac Gallen (@ CLE, vs. COL)
• Spencer Strider (vs. PHI, @ NYM)
• Spenser Watkins (@ TEX, vs. PIT)
• Nathan Eovaldi (@ HOU, @ KC)
• Rich Hill (@ HOU, @ KC)
• Keegan Thompson (@ STL, vs. MIA)
• Hunter Greene (@ MIA, @ MIL)
• Cal Quantrill (vs. ARI, vs. HOU)
• Triston McKenzie (vs. ARI, vs. HOU)
• Antonio Senzatela (@ SD, @ ARI)
• Jose Urena (@ SD, @ ARI)
• Michael Kopech (vs. KC, @ TEX)
• Lucas Giolito (vs. KC, @ TEX)
• Tarik Skubal (@ MIN, vs. TB)
• Matt Manning (@ MIN, vs. TB)
• Luis Garcia (vs. BOS, @ CLE)
• Brad Keller (@ CWS, vs. BOS)
• Brady Singer (@ CWS, vs. BOS)
• Andrew Heaney (@ SF, vs. SD)
• Tyler Anderson (@ SF, vs. SD)
• Braxton Garrett (vs. CIN, @ CHC)
• Corbin Burnes (@ PIT, vs. CIN)
• Chris Archer (vs. DET, vs. TOR)
• Devin Smeltzer (vs. DET, vs. TOR)
• Max Scherzer (@ WAS, vs. ATL)
• Jacob deGrom (@ WAS, vs. ATL)
• Domingo German (vs. SEA, @ STL)
• Kyle Gibson (@ ATL, vs. WAS)
• Bryse Wilson (vs. MIL, @ BAL)
• Mike Clevinger (vs. COL, @ LAD)
• Yu Darvish (vs. COL, @ LAD)
• Marco Gonzales (@ NYY, vs. LAA)
• Logan Webb (vs. LAD, @ OAK)
• Adam Wainwright (vs. CHC, vs. NYY)
• Drew Rasmussen (vs. TOR, @ DET)
• Jon Gray (vs. BAL, vs. CWS)
• Spencer Howard (vs. BAL, vs. CWS)
• Kevin Gausman (@ TB, @ MIN)
• Josiah Gray (vs. NYM, @ PHI)
• Patrick Corbin (vs. NYM, @ PHI)

Infield Waiver Wire Pickups

Eric Hosmer (1B), San Diego Padres

40% Rostered

Hosmer is not a world beater by any means, but he is streaking at the plate and at the right time with eight games on the schedule this week. Hosmer has hits in six of his last seven games, suitable for a .360 batting average. The power is often missing from Hosmer's game, but he has two doubles and two home runs over the last seven games. He has a .320 ISO, 1.109 OPS, and 211 wRC+. The power numbers are great, but Hosmer has not struck out in his last seven games. With the favorable schedule on tap, he is hitting tremendous and is worth a streak for now.

Ha-Seong Kim (2B/SS/3B), San Diego Padres

28% Rostered

Kim has been taking advantage of his everyday playing time, which means you should also be, with eight games on tap this week. Since July 12, he has been hitting .295 with a home run and two stolen bases. He has a .136 ISO and a 116 wRC+ while supplying eight runs scored. Kim will get regular playing time as long as Fernando Tatis Jr. is out. Kim will provide a decent batting average, a bit of power, and some stolen bases, making him valuable in deeper formats and 12-team leagues this week.

Jose Iglesias (SS), Colorado Rockies

22% Rostered

Iglesias has been an excellent batting average asset this season, which has not changed. In July, Iglesias is hitting .321, adding two home runs, 13 runs scored, and 15 RBI. Iglesias has a surprising .148 ISO with a .818 OPS and 114 wRC+. He is hitting .303 on the season and will toss in his fair share of runs scored and stolen bases. The Rockies have a healthy schedule this week, which should lead to many at-bats for Iglesias and a chance to rack up some excellent counting stats. Make sure to roster Iglesias in deeper leagues.

Jeimer Candelario (3B), Detroit Tigers

13% Rostered

I have been waiting for Candelario to start hitting for some time, and it is finally happening. Since July 8, Candelario has been hitting .321 with five home runs and 13 RBI. He has an incredible .340 ISO, 1.018 OPS, and 186 wRC+. Candelario has even improved his flyball rate to 40.5%. He is barreling the ball 14.3% of the time, which plays well with the improved flyball rate. Candelario is raking and should enjoy a solid seven-game schedule next week. Candelario should be valuable for more than next week, so add him in all 12-team and deeper leagues.

Outfield Waiver Wire Pick-ups

David Peralta (OF), Arizona Diamondbacks  

31% Rostered

Peralta has come out of the All-Star break swinging a scorching bat. He is hitting .421 since the break with four extra-base hits and only striking out 8.3% of the time. He also walks 12.5% of the time, so he continually reaches base. Peralta does not have a home run since the break but is hitting with power with a .263 ISO, 1.184 OPS, and 217 wRC+. Peralta is never the sexy play, but he is producing in a big way and can help most fantasy teams.

Raimel Tapia (OF), Toronto Blue Jays  

28% Rostered

Tapia does not play every game as he mainly plays on the strong side of a platoon, but when he does play, he is raking. Tapia is hitting .400 in July with six extra-base hits, including two home runs. He has even tossed in a stolen base to go with 15 RBI. Tapia had a .220 ISO in July with a 1.032 OPS and 190 wRC+. The Jays face four RHP this next week, with some great matchups later in the week versus the Twins. Tapia is definitely in play in deeper formats and some 12-team leagues.

Victor Robles (OF), Washington Nationals  

14% Rostered

Robles has never reached the prospect hype many of us hoped for, but he is becoming a bit of a deep-league fantasy play. In July, he is hitting .250 with two home runs and, more importantly, five stolen bases. Robles is even hitting leadoff in recent games for the Nats, improving his fantasy value. If Robles continues to lead off, then runs will accumulate and plenty more stolen bases. As a result, Robles is now viable in deeper formats.

Trayce Thompson (OF), Los Angeles Dodgers  

4% Rostered

Since the all-star break, Thompson has been one of the best players on the Dodgers. He has hit safely in seven of nine games, suitable for a .379 batting average. In addition, Thompson has five extra-base hits, including two home runs with eight RBI. His .345 ISO, 1.210 OPS, and 234 wRC+ are outstanding and will also help detract from his near 35% strikeout rate. Thompson is playing every day on one of the best offenses in baseball, so lock and load Thompson as the Dodgers play seven games this week.

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