NFBC Waiver Wire Report for Week 7 - Deeper Hitter Pickups for Fantasy Baseball

We have completed another week of MLB action, making it time to make more waiver wire moves. However, things will be slightly different for our weekly look into the high-stakes NFBC landscape. For those that do not know, in the NFBC, there are no IL spots and no trades, making waiver moves a bit different. Also, offensive roster moves are made bi-weekly, so some waiver claims are made for the player in a great matchup early or later in the week. This weekly article will outline the upcoming schedule, two-start pitchers, and a few waiver targets that are rostered in less than 50% of leagues according to the 12-team online championships.

As the season goes on and we are churning and burning on the waiver wire, sometimes a hot bat is worth a pick-up. Besides "hot bats," we can also look at upcoming schedules to try and maximize at-bats. With all of the injuries, we are also looking into players that may be receiving more playing time. Some of the lower rostered players, or some not mentioned here, are on the solid side of platoons, so make sure you are not adding them if they have a negative schedule. Lastly, the names in the article are in order of percentage rostered, not so much in my preference of adding to your roster. This article will discuss NFBC fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 7, May 23 through May 29.

In the first few weeks, rostered percentages can change quickly. So be quick to check your leagues for their availability. When you want to chat it up regarding outfielders, prospects, or dynasty leagues, message me directly on Twitter at @bdentrek. Key points - this list will focus on rostered players in less than 50% of Yahoo! leagues.

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Schedule Outlook

This week, nearly all teams play at least six or seven games. There are a few doubleheaders, but overall a nice slate for collection at-bats. If you want to look ahead to next week, the Rockies have seven more in Coors, and the Cubs play nine games, so try and grab some cheaper pieces of those clubs now.

• 7 Games- ATL, BAL, BOS, CIN, CLE, COL, DET, LAD, MIL, MIN, NYY, OAK, PHI, WAS
• 6 Games- AZ, CHC, HOU, KC, LAA, NYM, PIT, SD, SEA, SF, STL, TB, TEX, TOR
• 5 Games- CWS, MIA

Two-Start Pitchers

• Zach Davies (vs. KC, vs. LAD)
• Tucker Davidson (vs. PHI, vs. MIA)
• Max Fried (vs. PHI, vs. MIA)
• Jordan Lyles (@NYY, @BOS)
• Bruce Zimmermann (@NYY, @BOS)
• Nick Pivetta (@CWS, vs. BAL)
• Drew Smyly (@CIN, @CWS)
• Tyler Mahle (vs. CHC, vs. SF)
• Zach Plesac (@HOU, @DET)
• Cal Quantrill (@HOU, @DET)
• Kyle Freeland (@PIT, @WAS)
• Beau Brieske (@MIN, vs. CLE)
• Luis Garcia (vs. CLE, @SEA)
• Zack Greinke (@AZ, @MIN)
• Tyler Anderson (@WAS, @AZ)
• Walker Buehler (@WAS, @AZ)
• Pablo Lopez (@TB, @ATL)
• Adrian Houser (@SD, @STL)
• Corbin Burnes (@SD, @STL)
• Chris Archer (vs. DET, vs. KC)
• Gerrit Cole (vs. BAL, @TB)
• James Kaprielian (@SEA, vs. TEX)
• Zach Logue (@SEA, vs. TEX)
• Zack Wheeler (@ATL, @NYM)
• Kyle Gibson (@ATL, @NYM)
• JT Brubaker (vs. COL, @SD)
• Blake Snell (vs. MIL, vs. PIT)
• Marco Gonzales (vs. OAK, vs. HOU)
• Alex Cobb (vs. NYM, @CIN)
• Miles Mikolas (vs. TOR, vs. MIL)
• Shane McClanahan (vs. MIA, vs. NYY)
• Dane Dunning (@LAA, @OAK)
• Jose Berrios (@STL, @LAA)
• Joan Adon (vs. LAD, vs. COL)
• Josiah Gray (vs. LAD, vs. COL)

Infield Waiver Wire Pickups

Abraham Toro (2B/3B), Seattle Mariners 

11% Rostered

It has been a slow start to the season for Toro, but he may just be waking up at the plate. After hitting a home run on Friday night, Toro has now hit safely in five of his last six games with two home runs. Toro entered Friday night hitting .313 over his previous five games with a .308 BABIP and an impressive 157 wRC+. Over this stretch, Toro is barreling the ball 7% of the time with a 43% hard-hit rate. In addition, he is putting the ball in play with an 85% contact rate and 7% SwStr.

The streak checks out nicely, and when looking into other stats, Toro looks to be quite unlucky, and a solid run is coming. He only has a .153 BABIP with a near 9% barrel rate and .257 xBA. However, Toro's plate discipline is solid, and the bat is finally responding. The week the Mariners play six games, five versus right-handed pitchers, and then line up for six strong games next week versus the Rangers and Orioles. Toro also brings excellent positional flexibility, which is always a plus in deeper league formats.

Brendan Donovan (3B), St. Louis Cardinals

10% Rostered

Donovan came into Friday's action hitting safely in seven of ten games since he started receiving regular playing time for the Cardinals. Donovan has been playing SS, 2B, and 3B, which will make him even more valuable when the new eligibilities join the party. Over the last ten games, Donovan is hitting .400 with five extra-base hits and a stolen base. The average is excellent, not sustainable with a .529 BABIP, but still great. The most impressive part of this hot stretch from Donovan is the fact he is walking over 29% of the time. Additionally, Donovan is not chasing pitches with a 19.3% O-swing and is taking advantage of pitches in the zone with a 90.9% Z-contact. Donovan is looking great, but I do realize a slump could deter some playing time with the crowded situation in St. Louis.

 Willi Castro (2B/SS/OF), Detroit Tigers

5% Rostered

With so many injuries in the outfield for the Tigers, Castro has seen regular playing time and is flourishing. Castro entered Friday hitting safely in nine of his last 11 games with three extra-base hits, including a home run. He struck out only 12% of the time with a 160 wRC+. Castro does not bring a ton of power to your lineup, maybe four or five home runs, but he can run. He would steal double-digit bags throughout the minors while also hitting for an excellent batting average. With regular playing time for Castro, we could get some excellent average runs and speed from Castro with that positional flexibility.

Isaac Paredes (2B), Tampa Bay Rays 

0% Rostered

This is purely a speculative add that comes with a lot of risks. Paredes is a former high-end prospect for the Tigers who came over in an offseason trade. Throughout his time with the Tigers, things never panned out in the bigs but he did have double-digit power with a little bit of speed throughout the minors. He was called up by the Rays recently when Brandon Lowe hit the IL (he'll be out for a while), and Paredes immediately hit two home runs in one game. Paredes's talent is there. The playing time is the question, as he can platoon with Mike Brosseau and others with the Rays. I'd put Paredes on your watch lists for now unless you are in an intense league and want to go for some serious upside.

Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups

David Peralta (OF), Arizona Diamondbacks

21% Rostered

Peralta is not a world-beater, but he has been flexing some muscle of late. Entering Friday, Peralta is only hitting .238 over the past two weeks but has three home runs, a .238 ISO, and eight RBI. Peralta's 130 wRC+ is very serviceable, as are his 9.4% barrel rate and 40.6% hard-hit rate. Peralta may drain your batting average slightly, but he is showing power and a 14.3% walk rate that keeps Peralta on base for more run-scoring chances. Peralta kept things going with two more home runs on Friday at Wrigley. The DBacks face five more RHP in their six games this week, so feel free to roll with Peralta again.

 Rafael Ortega (OF), Chicago Cubs

5% Rostered

It has been a slow go for Ortega this season. He was getting platooned early in the season, but of late, he is playing every day and even leading off versus LHP. Ortega entered Friday only hitting .222 over his last nine games with a home run and a stolen base. The overall numbers are not great, including a 28.1% strikeout rate, but he is walking 12.5% of the time, giving some optimism. The Cubs have six nice games this week, including four at Great American Small Park, but most importantly, play NINE games next week. So adding some Cubs this week for cheap before next week's nine-game schedule is smart.

Yonathan Daza (OF), Colorado Rockies

2% Rostered

Daza may have one of the quietest 11-game hitting streaks in baseball. Daza is hitting .390 with three extra-base hits and is only striking out 10.9% of the time. A 92% Z-contact rate and 9.3% SwStr are solid, and Daza hit 2nd over the last four games. Colorado has a nice schedule for the next few weeks too. This week, they play seven games on the road, but it's terrific matchups against the Pirates and Nationals. Then the following week, the Rockies have seven more games in Coors Field. So ride Daza's hot streak while you can, and look to add some Rockies a week ahead of seven games in Coors.

Kole Calhoun (OF), Texas Rangers

1% Rostered

Calhoun came into Friday night swinging a hot bat. He had hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games with a .372 batting average. Calhoun has three extra-base hits, 12 RBI, and a 257 wRC+. When Calhoun is making contact, he is mashing with a 21.9% barrel rate and 50% hard-hit rate. On Friday night, Calhoun went deep again. This week, the Rangers have six games with some solid matchups, but three are versus LHP. Calhoun has been playing versus lefties, but you never know if he'll get a day off there. The Rangers play seven games the following week, which is a plus. Calhoun is worth a look in deeper leagues, as he is locked in for now.

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