We’ve officially entered crunch time, no matter which format you play. If you’re still the hunt for glory, congratulations! The players we’ll cover today are far from sexy names, but if you’ve gotten this far, you likely understand that nothing matters but the numbers – especially now.

These waiver wire columns typically use a 50% ownership rate as the cutoff point. Today’s edition dives a bit deeper, as the ownership rate of all five players combined comes out just above that mark, at 52%. Roster management in September requires finding magic on the margins.

Editor’s Note: to read about even more waiver wire options for first base and third base, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily.

First Base / Third Base Waiver Wire for Week 24

Yangervis Solarte (1B/2B/3B, SD) – 21 percent owned

The Padres utilityman has been a surprisingly useful fantasy asset in the second half, running a .313/.363/.497 line with seven homers and 57 R+RBI in 50 games. He’s been even better so far in September, rocking a 1.188 OPS as San Diego plays out the string in a disappointing season. Owners looking for a versatile plug and play with sneaky all-around value can find Solarte languishing on the wire in nearly 80 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Danny Valencia (1B/3B/OF, OAK) – 12 percent

Valencia was having himself a solid year as a bench bat in Toronto and hasn’t missed a beat since being traded to the Athletics. Despite the switch from a homer haven to a pitcher’s paradise, Valencia has continued to flash plus power. He’s totaled 13 homers and 96 R+RBI in only 273 at-bats and has hit safely in 22 of his 27 games with Oakland. Now that he appears to be the everyday third baseman, power-starved owners should consider adding him to their rosters.

Jed Lowrie (3B/SS, HOU) – 8 percent

As usual, Lowrie has struggled to stay healthy this season but has performed well when on the field. So far this month, he’s hit .321/.367/.643 with a pair of homers and 12 R+RBI in just eight games. The Astros are in solid shape to make the playoffs for the first time since being swept in the World Series a decade ago, but will need to hold off the Rangers to avoid the wild-card playoff. Continued production from Lowrie, who is eligible at shortstop as well as the hot corner, would certainly help.

Greg Bird (1B, NYY) – 7 percent

With Mark Teixeira’s shin injury casting doubt on his return this season, the Yankees have to be happy with the production they’ve gotten from Bird so far. The rookie has posted a respectable .777 OPS with five homers and 32 R+RBI in 24 games since being promoted. Three of those home runs have come in the last week, as New York looks to overtake the Blue Jays in the AL East race. Both teams are virtual locks to make the postseason at this point, but avoiding the crapshoot of a one-game playoff is paramount for both clubs.

Justin Bour (1B, MIA) – 4 percent

While Bour’s ratios have taken a hit since the All-Star break, he’s still contributing plenty in the counting stats. Over the past month, he’s hit half a dozen homers and knocked in 20 runs while serving primarily as the Marlins’ cleanup hitter. With Giancarlo Stanton’s wrist injury threatening to keep him out for the remainder of the year, Bour should remain a fixture in the heart of the order. His emergence has been a pleasant surprise in what can only be considered a disastrous season in Miami.

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