Point League Hitters: Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 20

August 8, 2021

Nicklaus Gaut's H2H points league waiver wire pickups for Week 20 of the 2021 fantasy baseball season, identifying free agents hitters to add.

We'll be doing this roundup of points leagues every week here at RotoBaller, with waiver wire targets and streaming pitchers being evaluated in terms of the different scoring systems of ESPN, Yahoo!, CBS, and Fantrax.

Player values can vary wildly from platform to platform, so we'll make sure to highlight where players are the best and worst fits. We know points league players get neglected and we're here to help.

These waiver-wire adds are for the week of August 9 - August 15, looking at players below 50% rostered for ESPN and Yahoo! Stats and rankings are calculated using games through Friday, July 31.

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Know Your System

If you've read me even a little, you likely know what I'm going to say...You must account for, as precisely as possible, how a player performs under your particular scoring system. Don't be fooled into believing you can just make rough adjustments in your head, bumping up guys with high on-base percentages and low strikeout rates. Every point, in every category, counts.

For example, ESPN and Fantrax are virtually identical in their scoring for hitters and roster size. The only difference is that stolen bases are worth one more point on Fantrax and ESPN subtracts one point per strikeout. That's the difference between Ronald Acuna Jr. being a top-five hitter versus top-20.

If your league uses standard settings, then great! Turn to page 94 and you can skip ahead to the leaderboards. If you play with custom settings, it'll still be fine. Go back to page 43 and look below at the scoring systems of the four major platforms. I bet there's a chance that you'll find that your league's scoring is very similar to one of the four (well, not Yahoo!'s), even if it's not the platform you actually play on.

For example, my home league started on a now-defunct platform before moving first to ESPN and is now at Fantrax. But our scoring is basically ESPN standard only with two points for stolen bases and a handful of other minor adjustments.

If you look above, you'll likely find a suitable mirror to your own system. While every point counts, as long as they aren't seismic changes you can get away with some "close enough" calls. IE. If everything is the same except for HBP (or something similar), you're probably fine.

Waiver Wire Leaderboards

In addition to our overall waiver wire leaderboards, we're deep enough into the season that we'll also start doing a 14-day leaderboard (21 days for pitchers), as well, giving us a window into recent production. The charts are updated prior to Saturday's games, on stats and ownerships. All leaderboards, overall and 14-day, are sorted according to the player's APR*, and clicking on a chart will open a new page with a magnified version.

*APR = Average Platform Ranking - the average platform ranking between ESPN, CBS, Yahoo, and Fantrax (standard point settings)

The Hansels

Let the recency bias wash over you because these players are just so hot, right now. So, just for fun, let's start making a chart of the players in the top-100 of APR over the last two weeks before diving into the position-by-position analysis.

First Base

Must Add

• Rowdy Tellez, 1B, MIL - His playing time might dry up some when Dan Vogelbach (hamstring) returns from injury but we can't ignore what Tellez has done since being traded to Milwaukee on July 7. In his 68 PA as a Brewer, Tellez is slashing .351/.441/.667, with five home runs, 10 runs, and 17 RBI, with a .454 wOBA that's the 7th-highest in baseball over that period (min 50 PA).

Can Add

• Brandon Belt, SF - Belt is back from the IL, going 2-for-8 in his first two games back, with one home run. The problem with relying on Belt right now is that he's returning to a Giants team that is absolutely packed to the gills with hitters following their trade for Kris Bryant, as well as Tommy La Stella also returning from the IL. While the left-handed Belt helps himself with a .426 wOBA and 170 wRC+ vs LHP (42 PA) compared to a .365 wOBA and 131 wRC+ vs RHP, there are a lot of mouths to feed in San Francisco and Belt might be facing more days off than he did prior to his injury. Oh, and after I finished writing all of that, Belt went 2-for-5 on Saturday night, with two home runs.
• C.J. Cron, COL - Cron has been heating up again, running a 95 APR over the last two weeks but his upcoming schedule keeps him from being a must-add, as Colorado has six games on the road.
• Miguel Sano, 1B, MIN - Sano still only has a 148 APR for the year but has run a 60 APR over the last two. And while I'm more likely to believe his body of work over a month, can we just ask where in the hell his newfound plate discipline is coming from? I mean, let's not get carried away, as Sano has still has 33.0% K% over the last month but that's a lot better than his usual fare of near 40% K%. But when you hit the ball hard as Sano does, any decrease in whiffs is a good thing.

• Nate Lowe,  1B, TEX - It looks more and more like Lowe is yet another cautionary tale about not trusting players Tampa Bay is willing to trade away. He has a 218 APR over the last two weeks, with a wOBA that is going very much the wrong way.

• Miguel Cabrera, DET - If anyone is looking for an old man renaissance, now's your chance, with Cabrera running a 19 APR over the last two weeks. He has a .337 wOBA and 113 wRC+ in the second half and gets three games in Baltimore's bandbox this week.
• Ji-Man Choi, 1B, TB - Choi is a perfectly fine fill-in just don't expect any fireworks.

Desperate Adds

• Christian Walker, ARI

Notable IL

• Garrett Cooper, MIA
• Daniel Vogelbach, MIL
• Danny Santana, BOS

Second Base

Must Adds

• Cesar Hernandez, 2B, CHW - The new Joey Votto, Hernandez just keeps trucking, slashing .290/.375/.522 over his 80 PA in the second half, with four home runs, 10 runs, and 11 RBI. And he's been even better since being traded to the first-place White Sox, slashing .320/.452/.440, with a .378 wOBA and 144 wRC+. Oh, and after I wrote this he went yard again on Saturday night. Please do your part to make sure he's not in this space next week. Pretty please?
• Brendan Rodgers, 2B/SS - We might finally be seeing the talent of Colorado's former number-one prospect start to shine, with Rodgers posting a 21 APR over the last two weeks. Rodgers started off slow after his return in late May, slashing .192/.276/.192 over 29 PA. But he started hitting in June and really hasn't looked back, slashing .299/.356/.525, with nine home runs in 194 PA, and a .375 wOBA. Rodgers has collected at least one hit in 34 of his 44 games started since June 1, getting multiple hits in 16 of them.

Can Adds

• Luis Arraez, 2B/3B/OF, MIN - Arraez is still dealing with a balky knee but has gotten right back to hitting since returning from the IL on July 31, going 8-for-23, with three doubles and a .445 wOBA.
• Kolten Wong, 2B, MIL - Besieged by injuries, Wong has yet to really get it going for Milwaukee but continues to bat leadoff and is running a 118 APR over the last two weeks.
• Aledmys Diaz, 2B/3B/OF - Diaz has started at one of the corners for each of his nine games since returning from the IL, as Alex Bregman (hamstring), and now Yuli Gurriel (neck), remain on the IL. In those 41 PA, he's slashing .275/.293/.550, with a .355 wOBA.
• Tommy La Stella, 1B/2B, SF - While he's started both games since returning from the IL, it's hard to judge La Stella's value until we have a clear idea of how the crowded Giants offense will shake out.

Desperate Adds

• Rougned Odor, 2B, NYY - It looked like he was headed to a limited role but Gio Urshela (hamstring) hitting the IL has given him a reprieve, with Odor currently manning third base. In his last 55 PA over the past two weeks, he has a 115 APR but is only slashing .234/.345/.319, with a .290 wOBA.
• Jed Lowrie, 2B/3B, OAK - In the rollercoaster of production that is Jed Lowrie, it looks like we're back on the downslope:

Notable IL

• Gavin Lux, LAD
• Nick Madrigal, CHW
• Jurickson Profar, SD
• Jon Berti, MIA
• Christian Arroyo, BOS
• Chris Owings, COL

Third Base

Must Adds

• Jeimer Candelario, 1B/3B, DET - In addition to running a 34 APR over the last two weeks, Candelario is slashing .333/.419/.547 over his 86 PA in the second half, with a .413 wOBA and 165 wRC+.
• Abraham Toro, 3B, SEA - Since being traded to Mariners, Toro is slashing .432/.488/.757 in 41 PA, with three home runs and a .522 wOBA, batting fifth or sixth in every game.

Can Adds

• Brian Anderson, 3B, MIA - Anderson has been solid but unspectacular since returning from the IL, slashing .263/.349/.447, with a .348 wOBA.
• Carter Kieboom, 3B, WSH - Kieboom's most recent major league call-up has went far better than his previous stints, posting a 78 APR and slashing .308/.391/.487 in his 46 PA since July 24, with a .378 wOBA.

Desperate Adds

• Patrick Wisdom, 3B, CHC - There isn't much upside here but in his 76 PA since the All-Star break, Wisdom has a .351 wOBA and has a 97 APR over the last two weeks.
• Maikel Franco, BAL

Notable IL 

• Evan Longoria, SF 
• Travis Shaw, MIL

Shortstop

Must Adds

• Meh.

Can Adds

• J.P. Crawford, SS, SEA - Crawford was really struggling leading up to, and following the All-Star break but has gotten back on track lately. He has a 93 APR over the last two weeks and has collected multiple hits in six of his past 12 games. Over those dozen games, he's slashing .333/.404/.373, with a .349 wOBA.
• Amed Rosario, SS/OF, CLE - Nothing Rosario does is special but he can be a useful point compiler, batting second in every game for Cleveland since late May. Since the All-Star break, he's slashing .305/.341/.439, with a .333 wOBA, and has a 46 APR over the last two weeks.
• Miguel Rojas, SS, MIA - Rojas has an 87 APR over the last two weeks and has hit safely in eight of his last nine games, slashing .281/.324/.500 over that period.

Desperate Adds

• Paul DeJong, SS, STL - DeJong was hot in July, running a .357 wOBA but has fallen right back in the doldrums. Over his past 10 games, he's slashing just .139/.162/.222, with a .169 wOBA. Dol. Drums. He can go nuclear for stretches with the best of them but it's hard to deal with the rock bottoms he is also capable of.
• Jose Iglesias, SS, LAA

Notable IL

• Josh Rojas, ARI
• Nico Hoerner, CHC
• Freddy Galvis, PHI
• Niko Goodrum, DET
• Erik Gonzalez, PIT

Outfielders

Must Adds

• Rafael Ortega, OF, CHC - Manning centerfield, Ortega has now batted leadoff for the past 10 games, slashing .421/.476/.816, with a .536 wOBA. He's collected at least one hit in nine of those games, and multiple hits in five - including his three home run extravaganza on August 1.
• Jarred Kelenic, OF, SEA - Kelenic has started to show why he was such a hyped prospect, running a 55 APR over the last two weeks, hitting three home runs in his last 55 PA.
• Harrison Bader, OF, STL - Bader has slowed down, running a 106 APR over the last two weeks, but just came off of a red-hot July that saw him post a .430 wOBA and 173 wRC+ over 92 PA.
• Lorenzo Cain, OF, MIL - Don't be fooled by his ho-hum 136 APR over the last two weeks, as Cain has been crushing since coming off of the IL on July 27. In 41 PA since returning, Cain is slashing .342/.366/.388.

Can Adds

• Yadiel Hernandez, OF, WSH - Hernandez has a 59 APR over the last two weeks and has now started in eight straight games, batting in the middle of the order. Over that time, Hernandez is slashing .387/.424/.613, with a .443 wOBA.
• Sam Hilliard, OF, COL - I suppose it's about time to get sucked into some Hilliard love, as he has a 29 APR over the last two weeks, and has hit three home runs in his last five games. Granted, two of those were at Coors.
• Myles Straw, OF, CLE - Straw has an 87 APR over the last two weeks but his speed will always make him a better roto asset than he is in points.
• Brandon Nimmo, OF, NYM - Nimmo came back from the IL with a week of hotness but has really struggled since the All-Star break, slashing .219/.425/.297. But a .347 wOBA over that period makes me stay a believer.
• Andrew Vaughn, 1B/OF, CHW
• Jo Adell, OF, LAA
• LaMonte Wade Jr., OF, SF
• Darin Ruf, 1B/OF, SF - If you play in a league with daily moves, don't ignore the value that Ruf can provide, even if he's only playing against LHP. Ruf has a .399 wOBA (.391 xwOBA) in 200 PA this season. On a point-per-PA basis, Ruf puts up similar rates to Nick Castellanos. That's pretty good.

Desperate Adds

• Kole Calhoun, OF, ARI
• Brent Rooker, OF, MIN
• Jake Fraley, OF, SEA

Notable IL

• Kyle Lewis, SEA
• Jarren Duran, BOS
• Nick Senzel, CIN
• Alex Kirilloff, MIN
• Clint Frazier, NYY
• Aaron Hicks, NYY
• Jesus Sanchez, MIA
• Ben Gamel, PIT
• Miguel Andujar, NYY
• Jason Heyward, CHC
• Willie Calhoun, TEX

Catchers

Must Adds

• Elias Diaz, C, COL - Diaz has a 26 APR over the last two weeks and since the start of July is slashing .305/.345/.683, with a .428 wOBA and 9 home runs. And lest you think this is just some Coors Field shenanigans, six of those home runs have come on the road.
• Max Stassi, C, LAA - Over his 62 PA in the second half, Stassi is slashing .309/.371/.582, with a 400 wOBA. That'll play.
• Mitch Garver, C, MIN - Since returning from the IL on July 19, Garver only has a .237 AVG but has hit five home runs in 43 PA, running a .416 wOBA.

Can Adds

• Daulton Varsho, C/OF, ARI - Varsho's playing time has started to dry up following the return of Ketel Marte to center field. He's still rotating in but isn't currently an everyday starter.
• Carson Kelly, C, ARI

Desperate Adds

• All catcher adds are desperate adds.

Notable IL

• Travis d'Arnaud, ATL
• Danny Jansen, TOR

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