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Mike's midweek fantasy baseball waiver-wire pickups for points leagues and H2H points leagues for Week 21 (2024). Add these free-agent hitters and pitchers.
As Yogi Berra said, it's getting late early. My giant points league is in the final week of the regular season. I'm fighting for the division lead and these are the players I'm targeting to get me over the hump this week. Hopefully, they can help you, too!
It's important to know your league's scoring. It will be harder to unearth the pitcher to 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 that 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. Roster percentages and positions are taken from ESPN.
Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups - Points Leagues
Shallow Leagues
Spencer Schwellenbach, ATL (46.7% Rostered)
Schwellenbach has 36 strikeouts over 26 innings in his last four starts. I don't care about the nine runs allowed. Those strikeouts erase most of the damage done in points leagues. He has a great matchup in Anaheim tomorrow night. Don't be shocked if Schwelly doesn't cut this list by tomorrow once managers figure out who he's facing this weekend. Get him while you can!
12-Team Leagues
JP Sears, OAK (24.7% Rostered)
JP sears since the start of July:
7 starts
43.1 ip (6.18 per start)
2.91 era
3.71 FIP
23.1 k%
4.7 bb%
18.3 k-bb%— AdamThaSportFan (51-111) (8-9) (46-36) (@AdamThaSportFan) August 12, 2024
Sears has figured something out and the Giants haven't. The Giants are striking out at an alarming 29.7% rate against lefties over the last month. When they make contact, they have hit it hard, but Sears struck out nine Giants in seven scoreless innings (while only allowing three hits) at the end of July. Sears is a strong option if you need to make up some ground on Sunday. He has gone seven innings in each of his last three starts.
Spencer Arrighetti, HOU (21.8% Rostered)
Just saw #Astros SP Spencer Arrighetti dropped in a home league, only rostered in 43% of Yahoo leagues.
Over the last 30 days (25 IP):
-30.9% K-BB% | 26.8% vs. RHH
-.275 BABIP | 76% left on base
-2.90 xFIP | 2.64 SIERA
-83.7% zone contact | 15.1% SwStr%ROS add in all leagues! pic.twitter.com/OVquUYFCx0
— the Fantasy Gospel™ (@fantasy_gospel) August 13, 2024
That's not all! Arrighetti has racked up 25 strikeouts in 13 innings over his last two starts. He draws a terrible White Sox offense to start the weekend. By the way, the Pale Hose are also striking out at a 25.1% rate against RHP in the last month. Arrighetti might have the highest ceiling of any pitcher available on waivers.
Deep Leagues
Ryne Nelson, ARI (10.3% Rostered)
Nelson has 25 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings over his last three starts, but he has given up six runs. The Rays aren't usually a team that strikes out a lot, but that has changed in the last month. They are striking out at a 26.1% clip in the last month, bad enough for 26th in the majors. Add to that a low 92 wRC and below-average .146 ISO, and Nelson looks like a nice way to start your weekend.
Nick Martinez, CIN (7.8% Rostered)
Martinez followed up his triumphant return to the Cincinnati rotation with seven strong against the Brewers last week. That's 12 strikeouts in 12 innings in his two starts without allowing a run and only five hits. Perhaps the best part is Martinez hasn't even walked a batter. He's a WHIP dream and will help everywhere. Let's see how he does at home against a solid Royals team.
Also consider:
- Nick Lodolo, CIN (49.6% Rostered), Saturday vs. KC
- Sean Manaea, NYM (46.3% Rostered), Friday vs. MIA
- Jake Irvin, WAS (32.4% Rostered), Sunday at PHI
- Colin Rea, MIL (28.4% Rostered), Sunday vs. CLE
- Michael Wacha, KC (24.2% Rostered), Saturday at CIN
- Brayan Bello, BOS (23.4% Rostered), Saturday at BAL
- Gavin Williams, CLE (15.1% Rostered), Friday at MIL
- Jose Soriano, LAA (11.1% Rostered), Friday vs. ATL
- Kyle Freeland, COL (2.5% Rostered), Saturday vs. SD
Fantasy Baseball Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups - Points Leagues
Shallow Leagues
Tyler Stephenson, CIN (25.8% Rostered)
Stephenson already has five homers in August and he finishes the week at home against a mostly questionable Kansas City pitching staff. He's not going to do much aside from the power numbers, but Stephenson should have another homer in that bat at home this weekend.
12-Team Leagues
Shea Langeliers, OAK (17.1% Rostered)
Langeliers has two four-hit games in his last three starts. He'll bat cleanup twice more against lefties this week. Langeliers is a strong pickup if you need help at catcher.
Austin Wells, NYY (12.6% Rostered)
Wells is in a platoon, but he bats cleanup against RHP in the middle of a loaded Yankees lineup. He is hitting .344 with a homer and eight RBI in the last week. Tell me that you don't have room for that in your points league lineup!
Deep Leagues
Joey Bart, PIT (5.3% Rostered)
Bart, once a top prospect in the San Francisco system, has broken through in Pittsburgh. He has 11 homers in only 165 at-bats this year and hasn't slowed down at all. He has three homers and six RBI over the last week while drawing starts at DH when he's not catching. He's an everyday player at catcher available in nearly every league. He's doing better than your struggling starter that you're hanging on to just because you drafted him.
Also consider:
- David Fry, CLE (38.9% Rostered)
- Jonah Heim, TEX (35.8% Rostered)
- Danny Jansen, BOS (4.5% Rostered)
- Adrian Del Castillo, ARI (2% Rostered)
Fantasy Baseball Infield Waiver Wire Pickups - Points Leagues
Shallow Leagues
Jeremy Pena, SS, HOU (49.7% Rostered)
Hey! How did that get in here? Somehow, Pena's rostered percentage snuck below the threshold, but it won't stay there. Pena is hitting a staggering .440 over the last week with three homers, four runs, and a steal. The five RBI is more a reflection of the struggles of his teammates than his skills. Pena has three homers in the last four games. Don't be the guy that leaves a matchup winner out there on waivers this week!
Jake Burger, 1B/3B, MIA (37.7% Rostered)
Jake Burger's last 17 games: .353/.423/.868, 11 HR, 16 RBI, 16 R 🔥@Marlins | #MarlinsBeisbol pic.twitter.com/9BKLk5H0aH
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) August 14, 2024
Burger has six of those homers in the last seven games. His newfound success against righties is turning the Marlins into an offense no one wants to play right now. Pick up Burger and ride this hot streak as long as it lasts.
12-Team Leagues
Zach Neto, SS, LAA (26.4% Rostered)
Neto has slowed down a little after a blistering week last week, but he is still hitting .346 with a homer and two steals this week. Neto is hitting .325 with five homers, 19 RBI, and eight steals in 24 games since the break. He's an asset even without a huge week like last week.
Jose Caballero, 2B/SS/3B, TB (11.2% Rostered)
It's amazing what can happen when your job is threatened. The Rays finally called up Junior Caminero and...BAM! Caballero wakes up. He's hitting .375 with three doubles, four runs, a homer, three RBI, and two steals in the last week. His ability to play multiple positions will keep Caballero in the lineup so long as he's hitting. The multi-positional eligibility is what's important to us fantasy players as well.
Deep Leagues
Jonah Bride, 1B/3B, FLA (1.1% Rostered)
It's all Brides and Burgers in South Florida right now. Bride has two homers and seven RBI in the last five games. We have a new version of the Killer B's. Pick both of them up for a massive boost to your corner infield slots to help you win your week!
Gavin Sheets, 1B/OF, CWS (1.6% Rostered)
Hey, the White Sox are people, too! Not Sheets. Sheets is a dude. He is hitting .524 with a homer, five doubles, and six RBI in the last week. The team around him may be one of the worst ever assembled, but Sheets isn't letting that stop him. Don't let it stop you, either.
Also consider:
- Xavier Edwards, 2B/SS, MIA (47.3% Rostered)
- Josh Bell, 1B, ARI (41.1% Rostered)
- Luis Garcia Jr., 2B, WAS (37.1% Rostered)
- Eugenio Suarez, 3B, ARI (19.5% Rostered)
- Carlos Santana, 1B, MIN (14.4% Rostered)
- Matt Vierling, 3B/OF, DET (9.2% Rostered)
- Geraldo Perdomo, 2B/SS, ARI (5.4% Rostered)
Fantasy Baseball Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups - Points Leagues
Shallow Leagues
Daulton Varsho, TOR (34.9% Rostered)
The more that I watch Varsho, the more I'm convinced that he's a poor man's Kyle Schwarber. He has epic power, hits lefties better than he should, and is capable of scorching hot streaks. He also strikes out enough to make Adam Dunn blush. Varsho has two homers and four RBI in the last four games. The Jays have a series at Wrigley to end the week, the place where Varsho's dad started his career. How fitting would it be for Varsho to keep up the hot streak this weekend?
TJ Friedl, CIN (30.8% Rostered)
The Reds end the week at home and Friedl has four homers in the last eight games. Friedl hasn't stolen a base in 19 games since his return, but he swiped six in 26 games before his June injury. If he can add a couple of steals to the homers, Friedl will be a top-tier fantasy asset. Get him while he's still free and hang on to him for the long haul.
12-Team Leagues
Jake McCarthy, ARI (20.3% Rostered)
McCarthy is hitting .460 with 19 RBI over the last 17 games. 12 of those RBI are in the last five games! Expect McCarthy to stay hot against the Rays this weekend.
JJ Bleday, OAK (15.7% Rostered)
Bleday is hitting .333 with nine runs, five RBI, and a pair of homers over the last 13 games. Oakland is starting to leave him out there against lefties and it has made him a better hitter. Bleday's power won't wow you, but he's getting on base and not striking out. That's a recipe for success in points leagues.
Deep Leagues
Jo Adell, LAA (4.4% Rostered)
Every year at about this time, Adell shows up to remind us why he was a highly touted prospect. He's an epic tease just like Byron Buxton. Much lIke Buxton, Adell has struggled with injuries and inconsistency in his career. That's not to say that we shouldn't pick him up during one of his hot stretches. Adell has two homers and six RBI in the last week, but perhaps the most intriguing thing is the four walks. Improved plate discipline is enough to give us home that Adell's success might not be as fleeting this time around.
David Peralta, SD (0.6% Rostered)
What is this, 2018? That was the last season in which Peralta had fantasy relevance. He's back with a vengeance. Peralta has homered in back-to-back games and has four of his six homers on the season in August. He's playing every day (even against lefties) and closes the week in Coors. Peralta is a sneaky guy to put in your lineups for a nice boost.
Also consider:
- Alex Verdugo, NYY (43.3% Rostered)
- Wyatt Langford, TEX (39.5% Rostered)
- Jackson Chourio, MIL (41.6% Rostered)
- Colton Cowser, BAL (33.8% Rostered)
- Andrew Benintendi, CWS (12.4% Rostered)
- Kerry Carpenter, DET (11.7% Rostered)
- Leody Taveras, TEX (2.9% Rostered)
- Jesus Sanchez, MIA (1.5% Rostered)
- Kyle Isbel, KC (0.3% Rostered)
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