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Welcome back to our fantasy baseball waiver wire hitter category boosters for Week 19 of the 2024 MLB season -- free-agent hitters to consider adding to help boost your team in HR, SB, RBI, AVG, and runs. Today, we'll look at names like Juan Yepez, Brandon Lowe, Masataka Yoshida, and more.
Each week, you should be looking at the categories and where you are concerning your competition.
There are dozens of waiver-wire articles across the industry each week, but how many of them break down the available hitters by which categories they are most capable of contributing? I aim to give you the top options this week for each of the five offensive categories. All hitters will be under 50% rostered on Yahoo and listed in order of my preference. Take heed: even terrible teams have useful fantasy players on them, so dig deep and find those bargains. Let's take a look.
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Runs Scored (R) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
Eugenio Suarez, Arizona Diamondbacks (rostered in 33% of leagues)
This guy is hot right now. Three home runs on Tuesday night means three more runs (plus one more) scored in July, running his total to a whopping 20 in the month. His rostership should shoot up this weekend, and if you need HR, RBI, or runs, this could be your man. Below is his rolling xwOBA, which is improving daily.
Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals (rostered in 25% of leagues)
It's funny to me; every week I write this article, and every week I find myself slightly puzzled as to why some players are so low rostered in so many leagues. Winn is one of those guys for me. He has continued to be productive each month, with three home runs, nine RBI, and 16 runs scored in July. I think of the dearth of good options at the middle infield spot and wonder why Winn is on the waiver wire. If you're looking for consistent, unsexy production, consider Winn.
Jacob Young, Washington Nationals (rostered in 16% of leagues)
I know; he has no power and a middling batting average. But in July, he scored 13 runs and stole seven bases. Those are helpful even if he struggles to hit for batting average. With his elite defense and top speed, he is almost guaranteed playing time down the stretch.
Also Consider: Gavin Lux (LAD)
Home Runs (HR) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays (rostered in 34% of leagues)
Full admission: I love this guy. And he's been productive when in good health. He hit .329 in July, with six home runs, 12 RBI, and 13 runs scored. With all the moves Tampa Bay made ahead of the trade deadline, he's batting second in the lineup, which means he is getting more at-bats and more opportunities. Look at his slugging chart below; he's murdering the baseball this month. Grab him before your league mates get wise.
Michael Toglia, Colorado Rockies (rostered in 34% of leagues)
Many people have assumed that Toglia is an addition just for pure power, but did you know he hit a decent .244 in July as well? If you get dinged for strikeouts, you might not want to add Toglia. But if you need home runs, he could be a good bet for you.
Josh Bell, Arizona Diamondbacks (rostered in 33% of leagues)
Bell was acquired this week when Christian Walker hit the IL with an oblique strain. While Bell has never approached his monster 2019 season (.277/37/116/94), he's still usable in many formats. Bell quietly has 14 home runs and 49 RBI this season, with six of those home runs coming in July. If you need help with Walker being done or have unsatisfactory corner-infield play (as I do in multiple leagues), take a look at Bell.
Also consider: Eugenio Suarez (ARZ), Luis Garcia Jr. (WAS)
Runs Batted In (RBI) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
Austin Wells, New York Yankees (rostered in 27% of leagues)
Wells was a preseason darling in fantasy circles, but a .178 April quickly stopped that. Fast forward to July, and Wells hit .277 with five home runs, 14 RBI, and 12 runs scored. He should continue to get the bulk of at-bats behind the plate for the Yankees. With the shortage of good options in two-catcher leagues, lean into adding Wells this week.
Masataka Yoshida, Boston Red Sox (rostered in 45% of leagues)
I am not sure what people expect Yoshida to be anymore, but being available on the waiver wire given his level of production is outrageous. He hit .342 in July with three home runs and 20 RBI. Nine of those RBI have come in the last week. I know he's not a big power or steals guy, but he will likely end up with double digits in both categories. Yoshida can hit, and we all need batting average boosters in our lineups. Yoshida can help you in leagues where you have to start four or five outfielders.
Hunter Renfroe, Kansas City Royals (rostered in 7% of leagues)
Renfroe is another guy who fantasy players seem to avoid, yet I find him to be useful in stretches every season. He's hitting an even .300 over the last month with three home runs, 13 RBI, and eight runs scored. In Yahoo, Renfroe can help at both first base and outfield, so extra eligibility might help you in a bind. Quiet reliability can be such a key to success in fantasy baseball.
Also consider: Jorge Polanco (SEA), Ryan O'Hearn (BAL)
Stolen Bases (SB) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
TJ Friedl, Cincinnati Reds (rostered in 36% of leagues)
I love Friedl and what he brings to a crowded Reds lineup, which is the combination of speed and power in one package. He's not clicked yet, but this is a skill set that could help you. Last year, he hit .279 with 18 home runs and 27 stolen bases. In 2024, he has five home runs and six stolen bases in very limited playing time; he just came off the IL last week.
Victor Robles, Seattle Mariners (rostered in 17% of leagues)
Robles has been a godsend for the Mariners after being rescued off the scrap heap last month. In July, he hit .375 with two home runs, four RBI, and eight stolen bases. Who knows how long it will last, but the change of scenery seems to be doing him some good. He's cut the strikeout rate and improved his walk rate, too. If you need outfield help and some speed, Robles would be a good gain for you.
Dylan Moore, Seattle Mariners (rostered in 9% of leagues)
Moore has lots of blemishes in his game. Yet, he brings a combination of power and speed, with nine home runs and 20 stolen bases. The batting average is brutal at .213, but if you can stomach it, he can help you with the counting stats. Moore had six stolen bases in July.
Also consider: Jose Caballero (TB), Austin Hays (PHI)
Batting Average (AVG) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
Juan Yepez, Washington Nationals (rostered in 43% of leagues)
Yepez appears to be yet another example of an outfielder type who leaves St. Louis and finds success. Helping his cause is that he also has first-base and outfield eligibility, which helps mitigate injury losses on your team as we hit the so-called dog days of August.
Nolan Schanuel, Los Angeles Angels (rostered in 10% of leagues)
Schanuel appeared in danger of being sent down, but a hot July cooled that talk. He's now one of the better hitters in the Angels lineup.
Miguel Vargas, Chicago White Sox (rostered in 2% of leagues)
This is more of a speculative play. One look at the awful White Sox lineup and you will see there is no reason why Vargas should not be playing daily and getting at-bats near the top or middle of the lineup. In his debut Tuesday night, he was the DH and batted second.
Also consider: Victor Robles (SEA), Max Schuemann (OAK)
I hope this helps you out! Good luck and happy hunting, RotoBallers! You can always message me @mdrc0508 on X to complain about picks or make other suggestions!
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