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Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups For Fantasy Baseball - Week 22

Max Kepler - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, MLB Injury News

Kevin Hickey's fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for outfielders and Week 22 of the 2023 MLB season. Consider adding and streaming these free agent hitters.

This article will discuss fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for the outfield in Week 22 -- August 21 through August 27. Whether your team is derailed by injuries or you’re simply ready to give up on your draft day darlings, navigating the waiver wire will be crucial to finding long-term success in fantasy baseball. 

As we move through the season, trends fluctuate, and we must learn to react on the fly. When it comes to hot streaks, you have to act fast, or you may miss out. This set of outfield-eligible players may not all have the longest track records, or their success could be considered unsustainable. However, you have to take risks early in the season in order to uncover your breakout stars. It will already be too late if you wait until these names are established. 

Names listed are in order of roster percentage, not confidence ranking. Position eligibility and roster percentage are based on Yahoo!, so check your leagues for availability! 

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Standard Leagues

Bryan De La Cruz, Miami Marlins - 41% Rostered

Bryan De La Cruz is having a quietly productive season at the plate. He sports a strong .257/.305/.424 slash line with 16 home runs. The 26-year-old has an everyday role in the heart of an underrated Miami Marlins offense and should remain a key contributor as they attempt to make a playoff push. 

Looking under the hood, De La Cruz's advanced numbers are encouraging. He carries a .268 xBA, .434 xSLG, 44.3% hard-hit rate, and a 90.6 mph average exit velocity. However, his ceiling probably isn't much higher than what we already see. De La Cruz's 24.3% strikeout rate and 6.8% walk rate leave something to be desired, but the results are worthwhile when he puts the bat on the ball.

Nolan Jones, Colorado Rockies - 30% Rostered

Nolan Jones' breakout season has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise bleak Colorado Rockies campaign. Through 66 games, he boasts a .275/.355/.500 slash line with 12 home runs, seven stolen bases, and a 116 wRC+. Jones has etched out an everyday playing spot in the Rockies' lineup, including against southpaws more often than not. 

Though Coors Field notoriously boosts offensive statistics, Jones' underlying numbers support his continued success. He carries an outstanding .500 xSLG, 15.6% barrel rate, 91.8 mph average exit velocity, 45.2% hard-hit rate, and .354 xwOBA. He strikes out at a gratuitous 34.1% rate but supplements that well with a strong 10.6% walk rate.

Luke Raley, Tampa Bay Rays - 28% Rostered

With Wander Franco likely out for the remainder of the season, the Rays are relying on Luke Raley now more than ever to be a crucial source of left-handed offensive production. He's been navigating a second-half slump but still owns a respectable .256/.338/.512 with 17 home runs and 12 stolen bases. Raley should get consistent playing time down the stretch and has a higher upside than most players around his ownership level.

If we can overlook his 30.3% strikeout rate, there's not a lot to dislike about Raley's batting profile. He crushes the ball to the tune of a .466 xSLG, 14.1% barrel rate, 91.3 mph average exit velocity, and 45.5% hard-hit rate. Further, Raley possesses deceptively elite sprint speed, which has translated into 12 stolen bases this season. Whether through power or speed, we can count on Raley for valuable fantasy production.

Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins - 21% Rostered

Max Kepler has been red-hot since the All-Star break. In that time, he boasts a .939 OPS, .394 wOBA, 156 wRC+, eight doubles, and eight home runs. He's one of the most locked-in hitters in baseball at the moment and is absolutely worth roster consideration. Overall, Kepler is having one of the best seasons of his career, posting a .238/.302/.470 with 20 home runs.

Kepler's advanced stats suggest he may be hitting the ball better than the surface numbers tell us. He carries a phenomenal .510 xSLG alongside similarly impressive figures like a 13% barrel rate, 91.6 mph average exit velocity, 45.5% hard-hit rate, .264 xBA, and .358 xwOBA. Kepler has been overdue for positive regression, and the recent hot streak should come as no surprise.

 

Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Deeper Leagues

Lawrence Butler, Oakland Athletics - 4% Rostered

Lawrence Butler debuted in the majors last week and immediately attracted some fantasy attention. Despite a successful first week of action, his roster percentage has halved in the time since. Through seven games, Butler sports a .280/.280/.480 slash line, including a home run and a pair of doubles. He made his first appearance in Oakland's leadoff spot on Friday and could maintain a prominent role through the last part of the season.

The fifth-ranked prospect in Oakland's farm system, Butler is a heralded rookie. He possesses above-average power and above-average running speed, projecting as a potential 20-20 producer when he settles in at the major-league level. Butler posted a .284/.350/.475 slash line with 15 home runs and 21 stolen bases across 89 games between Double-A and Triple-A this season. There's plenty of upside.

Nelson Velazquez, Kansas City Royals - 4% Rostered

Since being traded from the Cubs at the deadline, Nelson Velazquez has made a strong impression with the Royals. He's homered four times across seven starts, posting a 1.217 OPS. Though Velazquez failed to maintain a role with Chicago's major-league roster, he did manage a .621 slugging percentage during 13 appearances for the Cubs earlier this season. The power is apparent, though it remains to be seen whether he'll be able to find consistency. In any event, Velazquez has a much clearer path to playing time in a thinned-out Kansas City offense.

The sample size is small, but Velazquez's advanced metrics are encouraging. That includes a .644 xSLG, 21.1% barrel rate, 93 mph average exit velocity, 57.9% hard-hit rate, .313 xBA, and .418 xwOBA. Uncertain playing time appears to be the main thing that's held Velazquez back until this point. If he can maintain anywhere close to this level of output, his ownership should start to spike.

Jesus Sanchez, Miami Marlins - 2% Rostered

If you've been following this list on a weekly basis, you've probably noticed Jesus Sanchez highlighted here several times before. His consistent production continues to defy the lack of attention he receives in fantasy leagues. Overall, Sanchez sports a .271/.333/.469 slash line with 10 home runs and a 117 wRC+ this season. The surface numbers alone justify more fantasy consideration, though the advanced metrics point to an even higher ceiling.

Sanchez's batted-ball metrics are among the best you'll find anywhere near this level of ownership. He carries a .485 xSLG, .280 xBA, 48.1% hard-hit rate, 91.1 mph average exit velocity, and 11.4% barrel rate, alongside a .355 xwOBA. The only downside is Sanchez's 25.7% strikeout rate. Even so, there's positive regression to be found here.

 

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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Griffin Conine

To Have Shoulder Surgery On Tuesday
Luke Keaschall

Twins Prospect Luke Keaschall Suffers Broken Forearm
Logan Gilbert

Leaves Friday's Start With Forearm Tightness

Vikings Select Tai Felton To Finish Day 2

Seahawks Select Quarterback Jalen Milroe With The 92nd Pick Overall

Browns Select Dillon Gabriel 94th Overall

Packers Pick Savion Williams At No. 87 overall

Steelers Snag Kaleb Johnson In Round 3

Broncos Select Wide Receiver Pat Bryant With The 74th Overall Pick

Texans Select Jaylin Noel With 79th Pick

Lions Select Wide Receiver Isaac TeSlaa With The 70th Overall Pick
Jack Leiter

To Start On Sunday

Patriots Add Wide Receiver Kyle Williams In Round 3

Browns Draft Harold Fannin Jr. With 67th Pick
Garrett Mitchell

Makes Early Exit
Luke Keaschall

Removed Early On Friday
Blake Snell

Likely Avoids Major Injury
Cole Ragans

Dealing With Mild Groin Strain

Broncos Add RJ Harvey To Backfield With 60th Pick

Raiders Select Jack Bech With 58th Pick

Chargers Add Wide Receiver Tre Harris In Round 2
Detroit Lions

Lions Acquire 57th Pick From Broncos

Seahawks Draft Elijah Arroyo 50th Overall
Carolina Panthers

Panthers Acquire 51st Pick From Broncos
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Snag Will Johnson At No. 47

Jets Add A Pass-Catcher With Mason Taylor At No. 42

Rams Select Terrance Ferguson With 46th Pick
Houston Texans

Texans Acquire 48th Pick From Raiders, Draft Aireontae Ersery

Saints Snag Tyler Shough At No. 40
Brenton Doyle

Out For Personal Reasons On Friday
Brandin Podziemski

Not On Injury Report For Game 3
Jimmy Butler III

Warriors Optimistic About Jimmy Butler III Playing Saturday
Jae'Sean Tate

To Remain Out Saturday
Jock Landale

Unavailable For Game 3
Terry Rozier

Out On Saturday
Jrue Holiday

Ruled Out For Friday Night's Game 3 Against Orlando
Kevin Love

To Miss Saturday's Game
Jaylen Brown

Available For Friday Night's Game 3 Against Magic
Gary Payton II

Iffy For Saturday's Action
Jayson Tatum

Officially Available On Friday For Game 3 Against Magic
Will Smith

Back From Injury On Friday
Luke Kennard

Questionable For Game 4 On Saturday
Darius Garland

Listed As Questionable For Game 3
Ja Morant

To Miss Game 4 On Saturday
Rui Hachimura

Available For Game 3 In Minnesota
Aaron Ekblad

Available To Return Saturday
Erik Swanson

Ryan Burr Progressing
Daulton Varsho

To Return On Tuesday At The Latest
Max Scherzer

Takes Positive Step On Friday
Aleksander Barkov

Questionable For Saturday
Gabriel Landeskog

Set For Larger Role In Game 4
Calvin Pickard

To Start Game 3 For Oilers
Randy Arozarena

Resting For First Time This Year
Jonas Siegenthaler

To Play Limited Minutes In Game 3
MLB

Red Sox-Guardians Game Postponed On Friday
Luke Hughes

Remains Out On Friday
MLB

Tigers-Orioles Postponed On Friday
Patrik Laine

A Game-Time Decision Friday
Yainer Diaz

Out On Friday Against Royals
Iván Herrera

Ivan Herrera Hopes To Start Rehab Assignment Next Week
Salvador Perez

Sitting Out For First Time This Season
Jaylen Brown

Questionable For Game 3 On Friday
Brendan Donovan

Back In Action On Friday
Jimmy Butler III

Could Miss Game 3 On Saturday
Coby Mayo

Getting On A Roll At Triple-A
Carlos Prates

Looks To Remain Undefeated In The UFC
Ian Machado Garry

Set For UFC Kansas City Main Event
Cade Cunningham

Collects Double-Double In Loss
Jalen Brunson

Drops 30 Points In Game 3
Karl-Anthony Towns

Leads All Scorers In Game 3 Victory
Zhang Mingyang

Scheduled For Co-Main Event
Anthony Smith

Set For His Final UFC Bout
David Onama

Set For Featherweight Bout
Giga Chikadze

Looks To Bounce Back
Abus Magomedov

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Michel Pereira

Returns To Action At UFC Kansas City
Nicolas Dalby

An Underdog At UFC Kansas City
Randy Brown

A Favorite At UFC Kansas City
Andre Muniz

Set To Open Up UFC Kansas City Main Card
Ikram Aliskerov

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Sergei Bobrovsky

Shuts Out Lightning In Game 2
Cam Fowler

Finishes Thursday's Win With Five Points
Robert Thomas

Posts Four Assists In Game 3 Win
Pavel Buchnevich

Celebrates Hat Trick During Four-Point Performance
Dylan DeMelo

Battling An Illness
Marcus Johansson

Exits Early Thursday
Aleksander Barkov

Hurt In Game 2
Jrue Holiday

Tagged As Questionable For Friday
Jayson Tatum

Likely Out Again On Friday
Anthony Cirelli

Good To Go Thursday
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Looks To Bounce Back In Game 2
Rasmus Ristolainen

To Miss Training Camp
Jonas Siegenthaler

Returns To Practice
Aliaksei Protas

Traveling With Capitals
Gabriel Vilardi

Still Out On Thursday
Max Pacioretty

Set To Join Maple Leafs Lineup For Game 3
Cam Davis

Looking For Better Fortunes At TPC Louisiana
Adam Svensson

Making Third Apperence At Zurich Classic
Max Greyserman

Aiming For Similar Success At TPC Louisiana
Lee Hodges

A High-Upside Player In New Orleans
PGA

Nico Echavarria Looks To Ride Off Of Elite Putting In New Orleans
Gary Woodland

A Player Worth Watching In New Orleans
Max McGreevy

Returns To The Zurich Classic Of New Orleans
Rasmus Hojgaard

In Search Of Consistency Ahead Of Zurich Classic
Sam Stevens

A Boom-Or-Bust Candidate In New Orleans
Nicolai Hojgaard

Looking To Turn Season Around At Zurich Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looks To Sway A Hot Putter In Teams Favor At Zurich Classic
Akshay Bhatia

Looking To Bounce Back At TPC Louisiana
Carson Young

Looks To Turn Things Around At TPC Louisiana
Erik Van Rooyen

Looking For Momentum In Louisiana
Andrew Novak

Making Start At TPC Louisiana After Near Miss At Harbour Town
Ben Griffin

Making Third Career Start At Zurich Classic
Taylor Moore

Competing With A New Teammate In New Orleans
Wyndham Clark

Making Return To New Orleans
Kurt Kitayama

Teeing It Up Again In New Orleans
Collin Morikawa

Back At Zurich Classic For Fifth Time
Thomas Detry

Making Third Appearance At New Orleans Team Event
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