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Things are back to normal after the break. This is the home stretch for many leagues. You have six to eight weeks to make moves that will decide whether you make the playoffs or watch from afar while the guy from accounting wins your entry fee and everyone else's. We are here to help you with mid-week waiver pickups that could get you that all-important win in your head-to-head points league this week.
It's important to know your league's scoring. It's going to be harder to unearth the pitcher that can swing your matchup in the next three days. Points league scoring vastly differs on ESPN, CBS, Yahoo!, and Fantrax. Most leagues also have start limits. Remember those when deciding whether to go after a streamer this week. For example, pitchers gain two points for a win on ESPN but also lose two points for a loss. Yahoo gives eight points for a win, and losses don't count against you at all!
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We're not saying to drop a key piece of your team for these guys, but dropping a bench player for a guy on a heater could be the difference between winning and losing your matchup in a points league. It's okay to be patient in roto and category leagues. Points leagues are a different animal. These pickups will help you win this week, not necessarily in the future. The tomorrows are getting fewer and fewer, with most leagues only six weeks away from the playoffs! Roster percentages and positions are taken from ESPN.
Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups - Points Leagues
Shallow Leagues
Brandon Pfaadt, ARI (34.8% Rostered)
It was a rough start to the season for Pfaadt, and the next month or so wasn't much better. However, he has heated up with the weather in the desert. Pfaadt has only allowed two earned runs in 23 1/3 innings over his last four starts while notching 25 strikeouts in that span. The Pirates have cut down the strikeouts, striking out only 21.5% of the time against righties over the last month. They still aren't drawing walks or getting timely hits, though. This is still a plus matchup for Pfaadt this weekend.
Kyle Harrison, SF (25.8% Rostered)
Harrison one-hit the Rockies in Coors last week, but he did walk four batters. The good news is that he didn't allow a run in five innings and struck out six. We can work with that. He should be able to come close to those numbers at home against the Rockies tomorrow.
12-Team Leagues
Drew Thorpe, CWS (14.1% Rostered)
Drew Thorpe has looked good over his last 5 starts outside of some lackluster command:
30.1 IP
1.50 ERA
20:10 K:BB😬Not an overpowering fastball but his changeup is his bread and butter👀. .156 BA against it with a 4 RV🔥
pic.twitter.com/QeNgEhhSjz— Andrew DeCeglie (@Andrew_FBB) July 22, 2024
Another week, another strong start from Thorpe. He pitched six scoreless against the Royals on Sunday to cap off your week the right way. If your resident streamer dropped him because they didn't look at the next matchup, their loss is your gain. Thorpe draws a Mariners team this weekend that is striking out at a staggering 31.6% rate against RHP over the last month. It's nearly that high over the last two months and the season as a whole.
This is not a new development. The Mariners strike out far more than any other team. Couple that with anemic ISO (.126), wRC (57), and average (.189) in the same span, and Thorpe could be in for a ceiling game.
Andrew Heaney, TEX (13.4% Rostered)
I know...we've seen this movie before, and the ending always sucks. That doesn't mean that there aren't some good parts in the movie. Heaney, despite a 3.60 ERA and a 4-10 record, still hasn't allowed more than three runs in a start this season. He hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his last five outings. The strikeouts are also on the rise and the Jays are striking out 23.4% of the time against LHP over the last month. There is potential here.
Deep Leagues
Luis L. Ortiz, PIT (9.3% Rostered)
Back on June 21, Ortiz gave up six runs on 10 hits to the Rays in just four innings. Many thought his time in the Pittsburgh rotation was up, but he has responded by allowing only three earned runs in 26 2/3 innings over his last five appearances. The 23 strikeouts are a solid number, and he's not giving up walks, either. Arizona isn't going to help him pad those strikeout numbers either, but Ortiz should provide that if you need a solid start in a deep league.
Kyle Freeland, COL (3.7% Rostered)
Freeland has only allowed seven runs in 32 1/3 innings over five starts since returning from the IL. Three of those were in Coors Field, and one was in Cincinnati. That's not just good, considering those parks. It borders on great. Freeland allowed two earned in six innings against the Giants at Coors last week. He should be at least as effective at sea level this week.
Also consider:
- Jake Irvin, WAS (46.5% Rostered), Saturday at STL
- Tyler Anderson, LAA (35.8% Rostered), Saturday vs. OAK
- Andrew Abbott, CIN (32.6% Rostered), Saturday at TB
- Jon Gray, TEX (26.6% Rostered), Sunday at TOR
- Tobias Myers, MIL (18.9% Rostered), Sunday vs. MIA
- Spencer Schwellenbach, ATL (10.2% Rostered), Saturday at NYM
- David Peterson, NYM (6.7% Rostered), Sunday vs. ATL
- Joey Estes, OAK (2.9% Rostered), Friday at LAA
Fantasy Baseball Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups - Points Leagues
Shallow Leagues
David Fry, CLE (44.9% Rostered)
Fry was a hot pickup early in the season but has cooled off significantly. He has two multi-hit games in his last five and will close out this week with a game in Detroit today and three in Philly. Two of those will be against left-handed starters. He's worth a short-term look to see if he can keep this mini-hot streak going.
12-Team Leagues
Tyler Stephenson, CIN (13.3% Rostered)
Stephenson has cooled off a bit, but he still has five homers over his last 10 starts. What other catcher is going to do that for you, especially one that you can have for free?
Deep Leagues
Jacob Stallings, COL (0.2% Rostered)
The veteran has started four of the last five games behind the plate for the Rockies and has responded with seven hits in 16 tries. Stallings homered once, drove in five, and scored three times in that span. As long as he keeps playing, Stallings could provide a nice short-term boost until he cools off.
Also consider:
- Keibert Ruiz, WAS (43.4% Rostered)
- Jonah Heim, TEX (39.4% Rostered)
- Connor Wong, BOS (19.2% Rostered)
- Kyle Higashioka, SD (1.9% Rostered)
- Austin Wells, NYY (2.4% Rostered)
Fantasy Baseball Infield Waiver Wire Pickups - Points Leagues
Shallow Leagues
Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/OF, BAL (36.3% Rostered)
O'Hearn continues to hit righties well (.282, 12 HR, 36 RBI) and finishes off this week facing all right-handed pitching. That means four more starts for O'Hearn against the scrumptious Marlins and Padres pitching staffs.
Josh Bell, 1B, MIA (25.7% Rostered)
Bell is always a solid contributor in points leagues because he doesn't strike out a lot and usually draws a decent amount of walks. This week is no different. He has as many walks as strikeouts, but what is really standing out is the two homers in the last three games. Bell finishes the week with one more against the Orioles at home before heading to Milwaukee. That's a nice park upgrade for those of you harboring a struggling 1B...
12-Team Leagues
Nathaniel Lowe, 1B, TEX (20.1% Rostered)
Lowe stumbled into the break with just one hit in the seven games leading up to it. The few days off did him a lot of good. Lowe is hitting .316 with a pair of homers and five RBI since. Facing the White Sox staff helped, but Toronto's hasn't been that much better. He has another good series in store this weekend.
Zach Neto, SS, LAA (12.4% Rostered)
Neto is hitting .350 with a homer and three steals since the break. The homer and two of those steals came against the A's...the same A's that come to Anaheim this weekend.
Deep Leagues
Juan Yepez, 1B/OF, WAS (10.4% Rostered)
The Juan Yepez renaissance continues. He extended his hitting streak to 15 games last night with a first-inning homer. That's right...Yepez hasn't been held hitless in a game in his entire career for the Nationals. Ride him until he cools off. It will happen at some point, maybe not this weekend. Yepez returns to St. Louis for a weekend series against his former team. You can bet he'll be amped up for that one!
Tyler Fitzgerald, SS/OF, SF (3.9% Rostered)
Four of Fitzgerald's six homers on the season have come since the break. Five of them have come in his last six games. Don't stop now! The Rockies are coming to town this weekend!
Five consecutive games with a homer for Tyler Fitzgerald!
He's the first @SFGiants rookie to accomplish the feat. pic.twitter.com/kUAJWlb1CU
— MLB (@MLB) July 24, 2024
Also consider:
- Matt Chapman, 3B, SF (47.5% Rostered)
- Ezequiel Tovar, SS, COL (32.4% Rostered)
- Jake Burger, 1B/3B, MIA (20.3% Rostered)
- Jose Iglesias, 2B/SS/3B, NYM (16.6% Rostered)
- Carlos Santana, 1B, MIN (16.6% Rostered)
- Gavin Lux, 2B/OF, LAD (7.1% Rostered)
- Wenceel Perez, 2B/OF, DET (3.7% Rostered)
- Xavier Edwards, 2B/SS, MIA (3.3% Rostered)
- Nolan Schanuel, 1B, LAA (3.2% Rostered)
Fantasy Baseball Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups - Points Leagues
Shallow Leagues
Tyler O'Neill, BOS (46.8% Rostered)
Tyler O'Neill's 2nd HR of the game and 20th HR of the season travels 465 feet! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/nzWLeukDhC
— MLB (@MLB) July 24, 2024
The fact that I can still mention O'Neill here is ludicrous. He's hitting .267 with 20 homers on the season. He's not hurting the average and doesn't strike out more than anyone else. O'Neill has four homers in the last four games and finishes the week with one more game in Coors before heading home to Fenway. He has a great chance to keep up the hot hitting.
Byron Buxton, MIN (32.8% Rostered)
Buxton exited the game on Wednesday after being hit by a pitch, but preliminary reports say he should be ready for the Tigers this weekend. He isn't quite as hot as he was going into the break, but Buxton still has two homers and a steal in the five games this week. A series against the Tigers should help him move your team towards a win this week.
12-Team Leagues
Jackson Chourio, MIL (27.7% Rostered)
Chourio has come out of the break running with nine hits in five games with a homer, six RBI, and two steals. The weekend series with the Marlins in Milwaukee is shaping up to be a good one for Chourio. At least one lefty will man the bump at Miller Park. The hot streak should continue at least through the weekend.
Lawrence Butler, OAK (23.8% Rostered)
Since making a mechanical fix on June 30th, Lawrence Butler is slashing .419/.471/.936 with 8 HR (14 XBH), 24 RBI and 16 R over 18 games played 🔥@Athletics | #Athletics pic.twitter.com/nuxAi8rnbO
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 24, 2024
Butler's hot streak didn't end with the break. He is hitting a blistering .591 with a homer, four doubles, two triples, seven runs scored, and seven RBI since. Butler hasn't gone hitless since July 13. With a great series coming up against the Angels in L.A., his crazy hot streak should continue.
Deep Leagues
Miguel Andujar, OAK (6.9% Rostered)
Under any other circumstances, Andujar's .444 average since the break with three doubles, a homer, five RBI, and four runs scored (with just one strikeout, by the way) would be big news. Now he's just one of Lawrence Butler's teammates. The same holds true for Andujar as Butler. They get a nice four-game series this weekend.
Jacob Young, WAS (5.4% Rostered)
Young has very little power to speak of (one homer in 283 at-bats), but he has some wheels. Young has 24 steals on the season. Four of those have come since the break. With four more games to close out the week and Young getting on base (.400 OBP since the break), he should keep running. That's a great path to sneaky points on all sites and he's not striking out, giving him a little extra nod on ESPN.
Also consider:
- Wyatt Langford, TEX (47% Rostered)
- Jorge Soler, SF (44.5% Rostered)
- James Wood, WAS (25.6% Rostered)
- JJ Bleday, OAK (15.7% Rostered)
- Colton Cowser, BAL (15.4% Rostered)
- Max Kepler, MIN (9.6% Rostered)
- Max Schuemann, OAK (8.2% Rostered)
- Hunter Renfroe, KC (2.7% Rostered)
- Victor Robles, SEA (1.6% Rostered)
- Justyn-Henry Malloy, DET (1.2% Rostered)
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