RADIO
Josh Smith is a top fantasy baseball waiver wire pickup for Week 8 (2024). Fantasy managers in most formats should add Smith as a waiver wire free agent who is eligible at multiple positions.
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues
ROSTERED IN: 47% of Leagues
ANALYSIS: Since Josh Jung went on the IL, Josh Smith has filled in admirably and made himself fantasy-relevant in the process. On the season, the 26-year-old is slashing .295/.402/.464 with two home runs, 17 RBI, 21 runs scored, and even picked up his first stolen base of the season on Wednesday. In games where he's been a starter, Smith has got on base via hit, walk, or HBP in 29 of 30 games. Also included in his 33 hits on the season are 11 doubles. Only five players have more than that.
The Rangers have had 11 plate appearances of 10-or-more pitches, MOST IN MLB.
Josh Smith leads the team and is T-2nd in MLB with three such plate appearances.
3-Smith
2-Lowe, Langford
1-Semien, Taveras, Jankowski, Duran— Jared Sandler (@JaredSandler) May 9, 2024
So, is this sustainable? Well, there are certainly signs that point to yes, including the following stats that are all better than the league average:
- 20.5% K% (league avg. 22.4%)
- 10.6% BB% (league avg. 8.7%)
- 79.7% Contact% (league avg. 76.9%)
- 28.1% O-Swing% a.k.a. "chase rate" (league avg. 31.1.%)
One number to the contrary is his BABIP of .373. That is abnormally high and supports his xBA of .251 compared to his actual batting average of .295. The former second-round MLB draft pick may see a drop in BA over the coming weeks, but the stats don't support it falling dramatically. If he can continue to hit for extra bases, it may not matter all that much to fantasy managers anyway.
All Smith needs to do is hold down the fort while Josh Jung recovers. Jung is expected back around mid-season and Smith should continue to produce enough until then to make himself a rosterable fantasy asset in the meantime. This is especially so due to his multi-position eligibility in Yahoo leagues, where he can be slotted into 3B, SS, and OF. You can go grab him off the waiver wire in over 50% of Yahoo leagues.
More Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups
Jordan Lawlar - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Waiver Wire Stashes (Week 10)
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14-team leagues CALL-UP ETA: July ANALYSIS: Welcome back to the stash list, Jordan Lawlar. I'm sure he's not excited to be back, but that's what happens when you go hitless in 22 plate appearances spread across sporadic playing time. There's simply no everyday lineup spot for Lawlar right now, and probably won't […]
Logan Henderson - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Waiver Wire Stashes (Week 10)
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14-team leagues CALL-UP ETA: June ANALYSIS: Milwaukee Brewers right-handed pitching prospect Logan Henderson looked quite sharp during his first taste of MLB action and is worth stashing in all 14-team formats. During his first 21 innings in Milwaukee, the No. 12-ranked prospect in the system posted a 1.71 ERA with a 0.95 […]
Anthony Seigler - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Waiver Wire Stashes (Week 10)
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14-team leagues CALL-UP ETA: June ANALYSIS: Anthony Seigler has been in the minors since 2018, but has some pedigree as a former first-round pick. Selected by the Yankees out of Cartersville High School, Seigler received a $2.8 million bonus. He joined the Brewers organization this offseason and looks like a different player. […]
Matt Shaw - Prospects Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups, Breakouts (Week 10)
BALLER MOVE: Add in all leagues ROSTERED IN: 45% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Chicago Cubs top infield prospect Matt Shaw has begun to find his footing in the major leagues and should be added in all formats. Shaw was able to break camp with the MLB roster but could not find much success during his first stint […]
Cade Horton - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 10)
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12-team leagues ROSTERED IN: 25% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Cade Horton looks like he is here to stay in the major leagues. Injuries to Javier Assad, Shota Imanaga, and Justin Steele made his recall necessary for a competing Cubs team. Of interest to me in the chart below is the growing chase […]
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!
Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!
