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Welcome back to our fantasy baseball waiver wire hitter category boosters for Week 20 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 Jose Miranda, Brandon Lowe, Joc Pederson, and more.
Each week, you should be looking at every single category 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 the categories that they are most capable of contributing to? 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
Connor Wong, Boston Red Sox (47% rostered)
Wong continues to have a surprising year for many fantasy players. He has provided good production out of the catcher spot this year, which can often turn into a black hole for fantasy players. Wong is hitting .302 with 10 home runs, 40 RBI, six stolen bases and 42 runs scored for the Red Sox. He is also getting some looks at first base, which could add to his favorability as a rostered player for you. He's scored five runs in his last five games, and seven in his last eight. If someone told you at the beginning of the season you could get double-digit home runs and stolen bases from a catcher, you would have been ecstatic. Take this production, especially in two-catcher leagues.
Keibert Ruiz, Washington Nationals (26% rostered)
Another catcher on the runs-scored list? Yes. Ruiz is the starting catcher for the Nationals, and he has a long leash so he will continue to start for them. Ruiz is hitting an even .400 in August with a home run, two RBI, and five runs scored. He's scored five runs in four August games. People in two-catcher leagues might need to churn one of their catchers as the dog days hit, and Ruiz could be a guy you get to replace a struggling catcher. He's up to .228 on the season with nine home runs, 37 RBI and 32 runs scored.
Geraldo Perdomo, Arizona Diamondbacks (13% rostered)
Perdomo is eligible at second base, third base, and shortstop in Yahoo! leagues, giving him that Swiss Army knife usage for your fantasy team. The switch-hitter doesn't have lots of pop, but he steals bases and scores runs, even though he bats down in the lineup for the Diamondbacks. Perdomo is hitting .333 with three runs scored in five August starts. If you're looking for counting stats in runs and steals, Perdomo could fit on your roster.
Home Runs (HR) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox (42% rostered)
Abreu was a player that I felt would get ample playing time and could be productive given the opportunity. He is very quietly on the verge of a double-digit home run and stolen base season. During the season, Abreu has hit .273 with 12 home runs, 42 RBI, seven stolen bases, and 46 runs scored, with three of those home runs over his last five games. Yet he's rostered in only 42% of leagues. Likely this has to do with the 28.1% K%, which is a bit high, but this is still a productive player, especially if you are looking for those counting stats. See his Statcast below and decide for yourself.
Joc Pederson, Arizona Diamondbacks (37% rostered)
Ho hum. Another year, another team, another productive year for Pederson. I love this guy. Every year he lands on his feet and pounds the baseball in stretches. He's got 18 home runs, five of which have come in his last nine games. Two of those home runs have been pinch hits, coming after the seventh inning, to help the Diamondbacks go ahead in games. Playing against right-handed pitchers, Pederson is hitting .285 with 18 homers, 51 RBI, five stolen bases, and 42 runs scored. He should be rostered far more often than he is in most leagues.
Tyler Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds (28% rostered)
It feels like we have been waiting years for Stephenson to blossom into this player. With his 14th home run this week, he has set his career-high in long balls. Perhaps even more importantly, he's hitting .294 in August, as seen below, and is squaring up the ball at a 34.1% clip, which puts him in the 97th percentile for MLB hitters. Stephenson is worth an addition in one-catcher leagues at this point for his power potential, and he's had good health this season to boot. Let's hope that continues for him, and for us.
Runs Batted In (RBI) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
Michael Busch, Chicago Cubs (48% rostered)
Busch was a player many circled before the season, as he had a high prospect pedigree who could get an opportunity after moving from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Chicago Cubs. All he has done with that chance is hit .258 with 15 home runs, 44 RBI, two stolen bases, and 53 runs scored. He is also eligible for both corner infield positions. If you are anything like me, you have lacked counting stats at those positions, and Busch could help you out.
Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays (40% rostered)
Have you ever had one of those players that you have a bit of a crush on from far away? For me, Lowe has been that guy for a long time. Many fantasy players forget that he had 39 home runs not that long ago, but that a history of injuries and back problems have kept him from being able to play daily. Well, he's doing great now, hitting .269 with 13 home runs, 40 RBI, two stolen bases and 33 runs scored. This is a very productive bat in the middle of the Tampa Bay lineup who could be helping your lineup as well,
Jorge Polanco, Seattle Mariners (28% rostered)
For the season, Polanco is hitting .211 with 10 home runs, 29 RBI, three stolen bases and 29 runs scored. In August, he's hitting .231 with two RBI and one run. But Polanco had a solid July with 12 RBI, and he's batting fourth or fifth most nights in an improving Seattle lineup. With the remade top of the lineup with Victor Robles, Randy Arozarena, and Justin Turner, the opportunity to knock runs in is there for Polanco.
Stolen Bases (SB) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
Jake McCarthy, Arizona Diamondbacks (9% rostered)
People always seem to ask questions about McCarthy. How much is going to play? Can he actually hit? He's never going to hit for power, but McCarthy has stolen over 20 bases over the last two seasons, and with 16 this season, he seems poised to surpass that number again in 2024. He only has one stolen base in August thus far, but he's hitting .293 for the season with a .371 OBP, so he is getting on base, and getting on base should lead to more stolen base opportunities. The lack of power will cause players to shy away from him, but if you need runs and steals, consider McCarthy.
Whit Merrifield, Atlanta Braves (8% rostered)
If you read my weekly articles, you know I always like to speculate on someone based on a perceived opportunity. Merrifield has exactly that with the Atlanta Braves. Fighting for their playoff lives, the Braves seem poised to offer Merrifield a chance to play every day, and we will see how he maximizes that. The veteran has hit double-digit home runs and stolen bases in the last two seasons, and he could do that again this year.
Ernie Clement, Toronto Blue Jays (7% rostered)
Clement is hitting .273 with six home runs, 32 RBI, eight stolen bases and 28 runs scored. In August the multiple-eligibility player is hitting .368 with three stolen bases. Most importantly, he is playing every day and getting at-bats. With the Blue Jays out of contention, expect Clement to continue to play. His 6.8% K% is in the 100th percentile in MLB, and he makes good contact, meaning he gets on base.
Batting Average (AVG) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
Jose Miranda, Minnesota Twins (47% rostered)
Miranda is back and playing daily for the Twins. He's hitting .300 in August after hitting .439 in July, and .318 overall with nine home runs, 44 RBI, two stolen bases, and 37 runs scored. He is eligible at both first and third base, and if you need help at the corner spots, Miranda might be a good option for you. See his rolling xwOBA below.
Tommy Pham, St. Louis Cardinals (14% rostered)
Pham was traded from the moribund Chicago White Sox to the St. Louis Cardinals and should play frequently down the stretch. Signed by the Sox a month into the season, Pham is hitting .277 with seven home runs, 28 RBI, six stolen bases and 38 runs scored. Since joining the Cards, Pham is hitting .379 with two home runs, nine RBI, and five runs scored.
Michael Conforto, San Francisco Giants (13% rostered)
There were rumors about Conforto being moved at the trade deadline, but the Giants held on to him. Conforto is hitting .236 with 12 home runs, 47 RBI, and 34 runs scored. Pedestrian. Conforto is hitting .409 in August, with two homers, seven RBI, and four runs scored.
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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