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Welcome back, RotoBallers! This article will discuss our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for the outfield in Week 18, July 22 through July 28. As we come out of the All-Star break, it's an excellent time to evaluate our rosters and examine some names that may be due for a big second half.
Roster spots and playing time are changing league-wide every day. Fantasy managers better be ready to stay on their feet all summer long and prepare for their playoff pushes. This article will highlight the guys deserving of more attention and introduce some new names on this list, such as Michael Toglia and Juan Yepez.
The names in this article are in order of rostered percentage and are not indicative of a confidence ranking. Rostered percentages can change quickly, so check your leagues for availability.
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Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Standard Leagues
Heston Kjerstad, Baltimore Orioles (35% Rostered)
At the time of writing this, Heston Kjerstad remains on the seven-day injured list with a concussion. However, he is due back any day now, and we will proceed with that notion. Before getting hit in the head, Kjerstad was finally starting to carve out a regular role in the Baltimore Orioles lineup, hitting .378 with three home runs and 12 runs batted in over 14 games since being recalled.
Overall this season, Kjerstad is slashing .314/.417/.529 with a 170 wRC+ across 21 appearances. His success in the majors picks up right where he left off in the minor leagues. Kjerstad posted a .998 OPS with 16 home runs and a 150 wRC+ over 56 games in Triple-A this season. Consistent playing time has been the only thing preventing him from breaking out, but that may soon be a thing of the past if Kjerstad can keep up the strong performance.
Lars Nootbaar, St. Louis Cardinals (28% Rostered)
Lars Nootbaar made his return from the injured list prior to the All-Star break, and it is only a matter of time until he catches on in fantasy leagues. The 26-year-old was limited to just 46 games played in the first half. Nootbaar's 228/.319/.394 slash line isn't particularly impressive, though there is reason to believe that his outlook is much better for the remainder of the season.
Looking under the hood, Nootbaar's underlying numbers paint the picture of a much better hitter than what we have seen on the surface. His impressive batted-ball metrics include a .470 xSLG, 91.7 MPH average exit velocity, 9.9% barrel rate, and a 51.1% hard-hit rate. Further, Nootbaar is striking out at only a 20.7% clip, on par with his 20.4% career strikeout rate. If he can stay healthy, better days are ahead for Nootbaar.
Lawrence Butler, Oakland Athletics (26% Rostered)
Lawrence Butler was featured on this list last week when he was rostered in hardly any fantasy leagues. In the short time since, he has become one of fantasy baseball's fastest risers. Butler's overall numbers are ugly this season, but something has evidently clicked. Since the beginning of July, the 24-year-old owns a 1.242 OPS with seven home runs and a 245 wRC+. The strong performance has even earned Butler a promotion to the leadoff spot for the Oakland Athletics.
It's a THREE-homer day for Lawrence Butler! pic.twitter.com/nyJuzwIwKJ
— MLB (@MLB) July 14, 2024
Until recently, Butler has never found much success at the major league level. He did flash a worthwhile upside during his time in the minor leagues. Over 89 games between Double-A and Triple-A last season, Butler generated a .825 OPS with 15 home runs and 21 stolen bases. He possesses a legitimate 20-home run and 20-stolen base upside, and the underlying numbers support a potential breakout. Butler's surprising batted-ball profile includes an 11.6% barrel rate, .459 xSLG, 48.8% hard-hit rate, and a 91.9 MPH average exit velocity.
Michael Toglia, Colorado Rockies (21% Rostered)
Michael Toglia makes his 2024 debut on this list today. His fantasy value is complicated, featuring obvious downsides in his .199 batting average and 31.1% strikeout rate, mixed with tremendous upside. Through 52 games played this season, Toglia is slugging .506 with 16 home runs. There is a ceiling worth chasing.
Looking deeper at Toglia's advanced numbers, there is reason to believe he is a strong candidate for positive regression. The strikeout rate shows no signs of slowing down; however, Toglia's .245 xBA and .358 xwOBA suggest he is a much more well-rounded hitter than the surface stats tell us. Additionally, Toglia's batted-ball metrics are outstanding, including a .542 xSLG, 17.8% barrel rate, 92.9 MPH average exit velocity, and a 53.4% hard-hit rate.
Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Deeper Leagues
Juan Yepez, Washington Nationals (10% Rostered)
Seemingly out of nowhere, Juan Yepez has become one of the Washington Nationals' most important hitters. Since debuting with the team on July 5th, the 26-year-old has hit safely in 11 consecutive games, including five multi-hit performances. Overall, that brings Yepez to a fantastic .390/.468/.610 slash line with a 202 wRC+.
Juan Yepez since his call-up on July 5th:
11 games (11 game hit streak)
.390 AVG
1 HR
6 RBI
8 Runs
1 SBpic.twitter.com/HWLC7lQUwo— Kirk Snyder (@dynastyinfo411) July 20, 2024
While Yepez cannot be expected to continue operating as a borderline .400 hitter, it is reasonable to suspect he will continue to be a worthwhile producer. He demonstrated flashes of his offensive prowess during previous major league stints with the St. Louis Cardinals, though he failed to maintain consistent playing time. Regardless, Yepez has showcased prolific power-hitting upside in the minor leagues, and it would not be surprising if that translated to the majors.
Joey Loperfido, Houston Astros (5% Rostered)
Joey Loperfido is another name on this list whose biggest hurdle to fantasy baseball relevancy has been playing time. He appears to have finally overcome the problem, playing nearly every game against right-handed pitching of late. Loperfido has surpassed Trey Cabbage in the pecking order while outperforming Chas McCormick and Mauricio Dubon. With Kyle Tucker still without a timetable for return, Loperfido has a golden opportunity to establish himself as a key piece of the Houston Astros lineup.
Loperfido's .261/.317/.402 slash line through 32 games isn't remarkable, though it is noticeably better than what the Astros' alternatives have produced. He flashed his ceiling during his time in the minors, generating a .933 OPS with 13 home runs and nine stolen bases over 39 games played this season, following a 25-home run and 27-stolen base campaign in 2023. Loperfido is capable of filling up a box score across every category.
Jesus Sanchez, Miami Marlins (4% Rostered)
Jesus Sanchez debuted on this list earlier this month and is again worth highlighting as a deep sleeper. Overall, he owns an underwhelming .245/.293/.422 slash line with 11 home runs. That includes a horrible 36.2% chase rate alongside a mediocre 5.4% walk rate. If you can overlook the results, Sanchez may secretly be a hidden gem waiting to break out.
Sanchez's underlying numbers are something to marvel at. He has crushed the ball in 2024, generating a phenomenal .494 xSLG, .266 xBA, 12.6% barrel rate, 51.7% hard-hit rate, and a 93.3 MPH average exit velocity. Further, Sanchez does not strike out at an exceptional rate and, more than anything else, appears to be the recipient of very bad luck. If he continues striking the ball like he has, Sanchez could be primed for a big second half.
More Players to Consider
- Bryan De La Cruz, Miami Marlins (50% rostered)
- Ryan O'Hearn, Baltimore Orioles (44% rostered)
- Masataka Yoshida, Boston Red Sox (43% rostered)
- Joc Pederson, Arizona Diamondbacks (30% rostered)
- Brandon Marsh, Philadelphia Phillies (25% rostered)
- Eloy Jimenez, Chicago White Sox (25% rostered)
- Matt Vierling, Detroit Tigers (22% rostered)
- Andy Pages, Los Angeles Dodgers (17% rostered)
- Angel Martinez, Cleveland Guardians (12% rostered)
More Deep-League Players to Consider
- Jhonkensy Noel, Cleveland Guardians (10% rostered)
- LaMonte Wade Jr., San Francisco Giants (9% rostered)
- Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates (8% rostered)
- Jake Meyers, Houston Astros (7% rostered)
- Wenceel Perez, Detroit Tigers (5% rostered)
- Will Brennan, Cleveland Guardians (2% rostered)
- Trevor Larnach, Minnesota Twins (1% rostered)
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