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Fantasy managers scouring for first base and third base fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 8 – May 13 through May 19 should look no further than this installment of options.
There are plenty of hidden gems and potential breakout performers listed below. Whether you're seeking a power bat to bolster your lineup or a versatile contributor capable of delivering across multiple statistical categories, this week's waiver wire is ripe with intriguing possibilities at both corners of the infield.
From promising young stars to seasoned veterans enjoying unexpected surges in production, the Week 8 waiver wire offers something for every fantasy manager looking to gain a competitive edge.
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Waiver Wire Pickups for Shallow Leagues (30-50% rostered)
Mark Canha, 1B/OF, Detroit Tigers (32% rostered)
On Saturday, it was a slugfest for the Tigers as they took on the Astros in Detroit, and Mark Canha joined the fun. In the second inning, the 35-year-old broke the game open by launching a grand slam off of Houston's Cristian Javier, who was making his first start since being activated from the injured list. Canha also added two walks to his batting line for the day.
Mark Canha and the @Tigers are having a grand start to this game!
(MLB x @DairyQueen) pic.twitter.com/26pVevycEm
— MLB (@MLB) May 11, 2024
Before the slam, Canha had been struggling mightily, with just a .243 OPS over his last seven games. However, he had decent career numbers against Javier, including a .286 batting average and an RBI. That now includes a homer and four RBI. It was Canha's sixth homer of the season, bringing his RBI total up to 20. His .817 OPS places third on the team.
Nolan Gorman, 2B/3B, St. Louis Cardinals (47% rostered)
Not much has gone right for the Cardinals since the beginning of the 2023 campaign. After finishing in the basement of the NL Central last season, they again find themselves at the bottom of the division at 15-24. Nearly everyone in their lineup is underperforming, particularly 2022 NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt, but Nolan Gorman is also. Fortunately, Gorman has begun to show signs of turning his season around.
A birthday blast for Nolan Gorman. 🎂 #STLCards pic.twitter.com/EkIaE4cDZK
— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) May 11, 2024
On Friday, his 24th birthday, Gorman came off the bench and hit a solo shot in the ninth inning to end a 0-for-14 skid to begin the month. He then went 2-for-3 on Saturday with a single, double, RBI, a run scored and a walk. Although his struggles have seen him move out of an everyday spot in the lineup, he can regain it. After all, Gorman is just one year removed from a 27-homer, 76-RBI season. It's a matter of finding his power stroke again. Whether or not he can help the Cardinals in the standings seems unlikely unless the rest of the club gets it going.
Waiver Wire for Deeper Leagues (10-30% rostered)
LaMonte Wade Jr., 1B/OF, San Francisco Giants (14% rostered)
Why do we like LaMonte Wade Jr.? Because he gets on base! Indeed, the 30-year-old has reached base at a .517 clip over his last seven games and owns an overall OBP of .475 in 39 games this year. He currently has a seven-game hitting streak, culminating in a .375 batting average for May.
LaMonte Wade Jr.:
4️⃣ times on base
3️⃣ walks
2️⃣ RBI
1️⃣ OBP king pic.twitter.com/0Z7eYvpr8l— SFGiants (@SFGiants) May 8, 2024
Wade has also walked (23 BB) almost as much as he's struck out (29 K) and has 12 RBI. The one category he's lacking in is home runs. He has only one to his name for the season, back on April 13. Wade could stand to step it up in the power department; he also doesn't play every day, which is perhaps why his roster percentage is so low. Still, he's a hitting machine when he does appear in the lineup.
Abraham Toro, 2B/3B, Oakland Athletics (24% rostered)
Last week, Tyler Nevin appeared on this list as a potential pick-up. He has since cooled off significantly, and another one of his A's teammates has heated up. Abraham Toro has slashed .313/.353/.375 with 10 hits, three runs, three RBI, and a walk across his last seven games.
What a pleasant surprise Abraham Toro has been in Oakland. Over the last week he’s 12-for-32, 3 2B, 4 RBI…second on the A’s in fWAR, rocking a 134 wRC+!
— Discuss Baseball (@discussbaseball) May 10, 2024
The switch hitter has a .429 OBP and .511 slugging percentage in May and has quickly played a significant role in the Athletics' lineup. He can also hit lefties, sporting a 1.026 OPS vs. southpaws. Toro was acquired by Oakland in November from Milwaukee. He has three homers and 16 RBI and owns a .775 OPS across 38 games in 2024.
Deeper Waiver Wire Options to Consider (Under 10%)
Joey Ortiz, 2B/3B, Milwaukee Brewers (4% rostered)
A former fourth-round pick of the Orioles in 2019, Joey Ortiz is in his first year with the Brewers after being sent over in the trade for Corbin Burnes. He was Baltimore's 15th-ranked prospect in 2022 and has begun to show why in 2024, especially within the last week.
Joey Ortiz makes it back to back with his second career homer! That’s my everyday third baseman! pic.twitter.com/HyOWTda3Lr
— The Brew Crew Scoop (@BrewCrewScoop) May 8, 2024
The batting average (.211) might not show for it, but the 25-year-old's slugging percentage (.632) certainly does. Ortiz hit home runs in back-to-back games this week, the first two long balls of his MLB career, and collected two walks and a stolen base. He's beginning to play his way into an everyday role for Milwaukee, which is great news for 3B-needy fantasy teams.
More Waiver Wire Pickups to Consider
- Ezequiel Duran, 1B/3B/SS/OF, Texas Rangers (3% rostered)
- Joey Meneses, 1B, Washington Nationals (5% rostered)
- Carlos Santana, 1B, Minnesota Twins (6% rostered)
- Luke Raley, 1B/OF, Seattle Mariners (6% rostered)
- David Fry, C/1B/OF, Cleveland Guardians (7% rostered)
- Jon Singleton, 1B, Houston Astros (8% rostered)
- Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/OF, Baltimore Orioles (27% rostered)
- Connor Joe, 1B/OF, Pittsburgh Pirates (32% rostered)
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