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Points League Hitters: Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball for Week 13 (2024)

Nick Gonzales - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups - icon rotoballer

Welcome RotoBallers to the Week 13 edition of our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of June 17 - June 23, looking at players below ~50% rostered on ESPN or Yahoo.

We'll be doing this points league roundup every week here at RotoBaller because we know points players get neglected and we're here to help. Player values can vary wildly from platform to platform, so we'll make sure to highlight where players are the best and worst fits, with waiver wire targets being evaluated in terms of the different scoring systems on ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, Fantrax, and NFBC.

Position eligibility is taken from Fantrax and players are grouped by their most valuable fantasy position, using a hierarchy of C > 2B > OF > 3B > 1B > SS. Stats and rankings are calculated using games through Saturday, June 15.

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

 

Waiver Wire Caveats and APR Explanation

Roster% Thresholds

We use a combination of Roster% to assess who is in our target pool, relying mostly on Yahoo and ESPN. For some players, you'll notice a wide discrepancy between the two. This is because ESPN's Roster% is heavily weighted by points players, with guys who don't do well in their system (often because of an inflated K% but also sometimes, who really knows?) lagging behind the Yahoo Roster%. For this reason, you'll sometimes see players (especially early) who might make you question my sanity in including them in a waiver wire article but don't worry, it's just a necessary glitch for coverage purposes.

APR stands for "Average Platform Rank" and is the average hitter rank between the four major point platforms: ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, and Fantrax.

 

First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Jeimer Candelario, CIN, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 68%, ESPN: 22%) - Well, my pleading (and pleading!) the last month has finally paid off, with Candelario's Roster% finally moving into a respectable zone after back-to-back top-10 weeks. But 68% is still far from being universally rostered and 22% on ESPN still remains a crime against humanity. C'mon y'all - Candelario is a top-75 hitter on the platform and shouldn't be on anyone's waiver wire.

Josh Bell, MIA, 1B (Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 30%) - We've been hyping up Bell's points-prowess for a while but even players with a high-floor skillset like his can turn in a stinker like a 357 APR in Week 12. But never fear, as Bell will look to get back on track with six games against the Cardinals and Mariners, with none scheduled vs the lefthanders that tend to give him fits.

Andrew Vaughn, CHW, 1B (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 9%) - Let's keep the victory laps going, as we've preached all season that Vaughn's scoring profile is super points-friendly, even when his roto value deserves mocking. Vaughn has an 8 APR in Week 12 after a top-20 result in Week 11 but might have a lower ceiling in Week 13, with the White Sox only scheduled to face one left-handed starter.

Next Choices

Joey Meneses, WSH, 1B (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 4%) - Meneses is in the midst of his best scoring period to date (#20 APR) but has been somewhat solid for over a month now; over his last 25 games, Meneses is slashing .282/.330/.424, with 2 HR, 9 R, and 17 RBI. Oh, and did I mention he'll get three games in Colorado? Well, he will.

Michael Toglia, COL, 1B/OF  (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 2%) - Toglia has a 57 APR in Week 12 but has been smashing since getting recalled from Triple-A, starting nine games straight for the Rockies while slashing .300/.371/.467 over 35 PA, with a .362 wOBA and 121 wRC+. Granted, a .381 BABIP over that small sample should give us pause but do you know where the BABIP gods tend to celebrate their awesomeness more generously? Coors Field, where Toglia has seven games in Week 13.

Jake Burger, MIA, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 55%, ESPN: 17%) - Burger has dropped back into our Roster% range but I'm not sure why given a 61 APR in Week 12 will give him his third top-100 week in the past four. And while his 17% rostering on ESPN says people are likely wary of the strikeouts, Burger's 25% K% might still be on the high side but it's certainly manageable, as evidenced by a ranking on ESPN that is only ~10 spots lower than on Yahoo and Fantrax (and higher on CBS). Plus, in Week 13, Burger won't have to deal with any of the lefty starters that have vexed him so - he's slashing .194/.239/.242 against LHP, compared to .256/.293/.440 vs RHP.

Desperate Choices

Donovan Solano, SD, 1B/2B/3B (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - Donovan Solano SZN!?! Wait, that can't be right - but Solano has seen a recent resurgence, with a 94 APR in Week 12 soon after a 36 APR in Week 10. Why? Well, it probably rhymes with "San Diego has faced a bunch of LHP lately", against who Solano has a 149 wRC+, compared to a 110 wRC+ vs RHP.  Solano had started eight games in a row prior to Sunday (including four in a row vs LHP) and sh0uld again get a chunk of PAs in Week 13, with San Diego having three left-handers on the books.

Nolan Schanuel, LAA, 1B (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 2%) - The lightly-rostered Schanuel is posting another top-100 period in Week 12, making that three in the past five weeks (with a #130 and #369) sandwiched in the middle. Like a younger Joey Meneses, Schanuel's ceiling isn't high but he has good enough plate discipline and PAs to compile his way to a usable asset.

Gavin Sheets, CHW, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 6%) - Just as fast as Gavin Sheets SZN can come, and too it can get canceled, like it was in Week 12, with Sheets bluntly rolling up a meager 345 APR. Normally, the process says to keep trusting him in weeks without a lot of left-handed pitching on the board but as we've mentioned previously, the White Sox face a really tough slate of righties in Week 13 (in addition to left-handed, Framber Valdez), with starts scheduled vs Ronel Blanco, Hunter Brown, Jack Flaherty, Kenta Maeda, and Reese Olson.

Anthony Rizzo, NYY, 1B (Yahoo: 41%, ESPN: 22%) - Last week, we said you might just have to hold your nose and trust the process, as Rizzo looked like a decent bet to return a top-1oo week, even though he'd been dirt for a month. Well, it's process-trusting time again - and by that, I mean you better be really desperate if looking to stream a big performance from Rizzo in Week 13, as the Yankees are scheduled to face LHP in three of six games, with Rizzo currently slashing .206/.257/.221 against them, with a .222 wOBA and 2.7% Brl%.

On the IL

  • Brandon Drury, LAA, 1B/2B (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
  • LaMonte Wade Jr., SF, 1B/OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
  • Ty France, SEA, 1B (fractured heel - no timetable)
  • Kris Bryant, COL, 1B/OF (rib contusion - no timetable)
  • Joey Gallo, WSH, 1B/OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
  • Miguel Sano, LAA, 1B (knee discomfort - rehab assignment)

 

Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Joey Ortiz, MIL, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 46%, ESPN: 17%) - Is Ortiz really still sticking around our eligibility? Apparently so, even though he has a 99 APR since Week 5 and is showing the kind of elite plate discipline (15% K, 13% BB%) that tends to lead to points success. And that level of discipline makes his 17% rostered on ESPN seem even sillier given their full-point penalty per strikeout. And the rankings back that silliness up - Ortiz is the #68 hitter on ESPN, which 25 spots higher than on CBS (-0.5 per K) and nearly 50 spots higher than on Yahoo and Fantrax (no strikeout penalty). Continue slighting him at your own peril.

Nick Gonzales, PIT, 2B (Yahoo: 47%, ESPN: 17%) - Listen, bros* - what's a Nick gotta do to get one of his fellow Nick-iacs** universally rostered, hmm? Apparently, the answer isn't "keep posting top-100 periods every single week". Gonzales had just a 256 APR in his first week up but to be fair, it was only a three-day week since he got called up on a Friday. Since then, he has a 61 APR (min: #22, max: #93), reaching points success via a well-rounded profile and lots of playing time, having started every game but two since getting called up on May 10. Oh, and in case you were wondering, Gonzales has the highest ranking under ESPN scoring, even though his 17% Roster% is the lowest of any platform. Makes total sense. Actually, no it doesn't and I refuse to take this blatant NickSlander anymore! We ride at dawn.

*Never question how super young/hip I am. Fact.

**Trademark pending

Next Choices

Mauricio Dubon, HOU, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 2%) - Don't look now but Dubon and his points-friendly profile has been having minor SZN since Kyle Tucker went on the IL, starting nine of the 10 games since Tucker went down. But to be fair, Dubon had already been carving out more playing time even before that injury, having started the prior four games after previously having been relegated to a two-three games(ish) a week kind of role. In total, Dubon has now started 13 of Houston's last 15 games, slashing .260/.302/.380, with 1 HR, 6 R, and 3 RBI. Those numbers might seem empty from a roto perspective but combined with Dubon's absolute refusal to strikeout (7% K% in 2024) gives him a really nice scoring floor as long as he's playing a lot.

Brendan Donovan, STL, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 17%) - His weekly ceiling remains mostly unimpressive but Donovan is at least slightly more than just a warm body, with five top-100 periods in 2024, including the current one (#84). The Cardinals have six games in Week 13 with three coming against Donovan's fellow lefthanders but do realize that he's been more of a reverse-splits guy this season, slashing .267/.321/.373, with just an 8% K%.

Jonathan India, CIN, 2B (Yahoo: 57%, ESPN: 13%) - Not a great week to stream India, as the Reds are only scheduled to face one of the left-handers that he tends to feast more on, and have a date with Paul Skenes and his mustache on Monday. But 13% rostered on ESPN remains ridiculous, as it's the platform that India's 21% K% and 14% BB% are the most valuable on.

Desperate Choices

Donovan Solano, SD, 1B/2B/3B (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - Donovan Solano SZN!?! Wait, that can't be right - but Solano has seen a recent resurgence, with a 94 APR in Week 12 soon after a 36 APR in Week 10. Why? Well, it probably rhymes with "San Diego has faced a bunch of LHP lately", against who Solano has a 149 wRC+, compared to a 110 wRC+ vs RHP.  Solano had started eight games in a row prior to Sunday (including four in a row vs LHP) and sh0uld again get a chunk of PAs in Week 13, with San Diego having three left-handers on the books.

Luis Garcia, WSH, 2B (Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 9%) - Garcia has been hit or miss this season but it might be a good week to bet on the latter, the leftie is only scheduled to face one LHP and gets three games in Colorado.

Brandon Lowe, TB, 2B (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 4%) - I'm concerned that if we speak too loudly, Lowe's vertebrae will fall apart like a Jenga tower, so let's keep things to a whisper for now. Lowe has been quietly producing since returning from the IL, running an 89 APR in Week 12, after a 54 APR in the period prior. His .200 AVG is ugly but a .235 xBA is more respectable, while a .301 wOBA is also backed by a better .341 xwOBA. But specific to points, a 24% K% for the year is a welcome positive after jumping a few points to the bad in 2023, with a 12.7% SwStr% that is down three points from 15.1% SwStr% in 2023 which was a career-best. Unfortunately, I can't recommend starting him this week given the absolute meatgrinder the Rays have scheduled - they'll only face one of the LHP that Lowe tends to sit after that but the righties are brutal, with matchups against Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, Jared Jones, and Paul Skenes on the menu. Bru. Tal.

Emmanuel Valdez, BOS, 2B (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) - Valdez has kept hitting since returning from the minors, posting a very nice 69 APR over the past three weeks, including a 46 APR in our current period. But the problem is that his value will hinge on how many LHP on the schedule, as Valdez has yet to start against one of them since being recalled, sitting in favor of Jamie Westbrook. With Boston facing LHP in two of their six games, betting on Valdez is a risky move.

Lenyn Sosa, CHW, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 0%) - Sosa has posted a top-60 APR the last two weeks but let's not get too excited for a mid-level player on baseball's worst team. Especially since Sosa has been his best in his small sample (24 PA) vs LHP, slashing .348/.375/.696, with a .457 wOBA, compared to a much more Lenyn-like .213/.250/.262, with a .231 wOBA vs RHP. Considering the White Sox have only one leftie on the schedule, only the desperate need bet on Lenyn in Week 13.

On the IL

  • Brendan Rodgers, COL, 2B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
  • Jorge Polanco, SEA, 2B (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
  • Michael Massey, KC, 2B (strained back - no timetable)
  • Brandon Drury, LAA, 1B/2B (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
  • Vaughn Grissom, BOS, 2B/SS (strained hamstring - no timetable)
  • Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - no timetable)
  • Ji Hwan Bae, PIT, 2B/OF (strained wrist - no timetable)
  • Justin Foscue, TEX, 2B/OF (strained oblique - rehab assignment)

 

Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Jeimer Candelario, CIN, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 68%, ESPN: 22%) - Well, my pleading (and pleading!) the last month has finally paid off, with Candelario's Roster% finally moving into a respectable zone after back-to-back top-10 weeks. But 68% is still far from being universally rostered and 22% on ESPN still remains a crime against humanity. C'mon y'all - Candelario is a top-75 hitter on the platform and shouldn't be on anyone's waiver wire.

Joey Ortiz, MIL, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 46%, ESPN: 17%) - Is Ortiz really still sticking around our eligibility? Apparently so, even though he has a 99 APR since Week 5 and is showing the kind of elite plate discipline (15% K, 13% BB%) that tends to lead to points success. And that level of discipline makes his 17% rostered on ESPN seem even sillier given their full-point penalty per strikeout. And the rankings back that silliness up - Ortiz is the #68 hitter on ESPN, which 25 spots higher than on CBS (-0.5 per K) and nearly 50 spots higher than on Yahoo and Fantrax (no strikeout penalty). Continue slighting him at your own peril.

Next Choices

Jake Burger, MIA, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 55%, ESPN: 17%) - Burger has dropped back into our Roster% range but I'm not sure why given a 61 APR in Week 12 will give him his third top-100 week in the past four. And while his 17% rostering on ESPN says people are likely wary of the strikeouts, Burger's 25% K% might still be on the high side but it's certainly manageable, as evidenced by a ranking on ESPN that is only ~10 spots lower than on Yahoo and Fantrax (and higher on CBS). Plus, in Week 13, Burger won't have to deal with any of the lefty starters that have vexed him so - he's slashing .194/.239/.242 against LHP, compared to .256/.293/.440 vs RHP.

Desperate Choices

Donovan Solano, SD, 1B/2B/3B (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - Donovan Solano SZN!?! Wait, that can't be right - but Solano has seen a recent resurgence, with a 94 APR in Week 12 soon after a 36 APR in Week 10. Why? Well, it probably rhymes with "San Diego has faced a bunch of LHP lately", against who Solano has a 149 wRC+, compared to a 110 wRC+ vs RHP.  Solano had started eight games in a row prior to Sunday (including four in a row vs LHP) and sh0uld again get a chunk of PAs in Week 13, with San Diego having three left-handers on the books.

Matt Vierling, DET, 3B/OF (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 16%) - Vierling has been back on the good side in Week 12, posting a 78 APR after a disastrous 333 APR in Week 11, and has further cemented himself near the top of Detroit's order, having batted first or second in his last 18 games. But Week 13 isn't a great one to bet on him again, as the Tigers will only see one of the left-handers that he's been significantly better against - and that leftie is Max Fried.

Lenyn Sosa, CHW, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 0%) - Sosa has posted a top-60 APR the last two weeks but let's not get too excited for a mid-level player on baseball's worst team. Especially since Sosa has been his best in his small sample (24 PA) vs LHP, slashing .348/.375/.696, with a .457 wOBA, compared to a much more Lenyn-like .213/.250/.262, with a .231 wOBA vs RHP. Considering the White Sox have only one leftie on the schedule, only the desperate need bet on Lenyn in Week 13.

On the IL

  • Anthony Rendon, LAA, 3B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
  • Yoan Moncada, CHW, 3B (strained groin - likely out until All-Star break)
  • Jon Berti, NYY, 3B/SS (strained calf - no timetable)

 

Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Zach Neto, LAA, SS (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 5%) - What, you thought the victory lappin' was done? Foolish mortals, this is a fantasy baseball column - the Victory Lapping is NEVER finished! Ba-ha-ha. Last week's cover man held up his end of the bargain, currently rolling a 28 APR headed into Sunday's action. Neto showered us with the bad in April but has been fantasy flowering ever since, slashing .261/.313/.485, with 7 HR, 18 R, 17 RBI, and 5 SB (4 CS)  in 145 PA since the start of May,.m /. Does anyone want to do the pacing math? Fine, I will: that's about 30 HR and 20 SB in 600 PA. No big deal.

J.P. Crawford, SEA, SS (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 48%) - Crawford has been pretty junky so far in Week 12 (242 APR) but had near top-50 APR the past two weeks and continues bat leadoff every day with a super points-friendly profile, compiling his way to relevance with a 20% K% and 11% BB%. And while you might think that facing four LHP in Week 13 would be a downgrade for the left-handed Crawford, you'd be mistaken - Crawford is slashing .293/.369/.466 vs LHP this season, with a 14% K%, compared to .165/.267/.307, with a 23% K% vs RHP.

Next Choices

Paul DeJong, CHW, SS (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 6%) - DeJong remains inexplicably usable...Well, at least as long as you don't have a strikeout penalty, given his 32% K% (and 4% BB%). Oh, and also as long as you don't have to start him against any lefthanders (.170/.224/.377, .261 wOBA/.601 OPS). But hey, the White Sox only have one LHP on the schedule! Unfortunately, the RHP they'll face are no picnic, with Houston trotting out Ronel Blanco and a recently resurgent Hunter Brown (not to mention the lone leftie, Framber Valdez), while Detroit will have Jack Flaherty, Kenta Maeda, and Reese Olson take the bump.

Desperate Choices

Ceddanne Rafaela, BOS, SS/OF (Yahoo: 41%, ESPN: 9%) - Rafaela dropped back into our Roster% zone after a tough three-week stretch in May but has been pretty solid for about a month now, with a 95 APR over his past four periods. But his overall numbers are still being carried by much better splits vs LHP and those aren't backed by any statcast-based strength - Rafaela's .320 wOBA vs LHP has a .264 xwOBA behind it, while a .262 AVG is supported by just a .221 xBA, with a .366 BABIP. The Red Sox have six games in Week 13, with two coming vs LHP (Y. Kikuchi, A. Abbott).

On the IL

  • Vaughn Grissom, BOS, 2B/SS (strained hamstring - no timetable)
  • Javier Baez, DET, SS (back sprain - no timetable)
  • Jon Berti, NYY, 3B/SS (strained calf - no timetable)
  • Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - no timetable)

 

Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Charlie Blackmon, COL, OF (Yahoo: 14%, ESPN: 10%) - Listen, y'all,  I get it - Blackmon is super old*. But also, he's always kind of been a points god when healthy, even as he rolls into his sunset years, and has now peeled off three straight top 50 weeks, with a 13% K% for the year that makes him even more valuable in leagues with a strikeout penalty. In Week 13, Blackmon gets seven games at home, with four coming vs LHP, against whom the left-handed Rockie is slashing .333/.417/.452, with a .385 wOBA and .400 xwOBA. If not now, then when - continue punishing Blackmon with ageism to your detriment.

*Unlike me, as we've previously covered.

Andy Pages, LAD, OF (Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 10%) - Oh baby, get him while you can. Pages has not only been heating right back up after a tricky May, posting top-100 APRs in Weeks 10/11 and currently sitting at #54 heading into Sunday but will also get three juicy games in Colorado to start the week off right before heading home to face some shaky Angels pitching. And of those six games, four are scheduled vs LHP - Pages has slashed .354/.373/.458, with a .362wOBA vs LHP, compared to .243/.302/.417, with a .315wOBA vs RHP.

Jesse Winker, WSH, OF (Yahoo: 46%, ESPN: 15%) - Winker has slowed down in Week 12 after back-t0-back 36 APRs the previous two periods (and was #86 the week before that). But being #126 this week still isn't too shabby, and Winkers combination of playing time and on-base ability (.376 OBP, .362 xOBP, 13% BB% ) will continue to serve him well under most scoring systems. If available, Week 13 is a great week to jump on the Winker train, as Washington gets three games in Colorado and only has one LHP on the schedule. Plus, that one leftie is Austin Gomber, who, after tricking some people for a few months into thinking he wasn't a human gas can, has now allowed 15 ER over his last three starts (all on the road).

Next Choices

Byron Buxton, MIN, OF (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 13%) - Recently named "Twin most in need of an adamantium skeleton" in a super official poll I conducted over at MLBtraderumors.com during last week's chat, Buxton is currently on a heater. This means you should probably hurry to pick him up before he sneezes out his orbital bone or something.

Michael Toglia, COL, 1B/OF  (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 2%) - Toglia has a 57 APR in Week 12 but has been smashing since getting recalled from Triple-A, starting nine games straight for the Rockies while slashing .300/.371/.467 over 35 PA, with a .362 wOBA and 121 wRC+. Granted, a .381 BABIP over that small sample should give us pause but do you know where the BABIP gods tend to celebrate their awesomeness more generously? Coors Field, where Toglia has seven games in Week 13.

Mauricio Dubon, HOU, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 2%) - Don't look now but Dubon and his points-friendly profile has been having minor SZN since Kyle Tucker went on the IL, starting nine of the 10 games since Tucker went down. But to be fair, Dubon had already been carving out more playing time even before that injury, having started the prior four games after previously having been relegated to a two-three games(ish) a week kind of role. In total, Dubon has now started 13 of Houston's last 15 games, slashing .260/.302/.380, with 1 HR, 6 R, and 3 RBI. Those numbers might seem empty from a roto perspective but combined with Dubon's absolute refusal to strikeout (7% K% in 2024) gives him a really nice scoring floor as long as he's playing a lot.

Brendan Donovan, STL, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 17%) - His weekly ceiling remains mostly unimpressive but Donovan is at least slightly more than just a warm body, with five top-100 periods in 2024, including the current one (#84). The Cardinals have six games in Week 13 with three coming against Donovan's fellow lefthanders but do realize that he's been more of a reverse-splits guy this season, slashing .267/.321/.373, with just an 8% K%.

Max Kepler, MIN, OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 14%) - Just when you thought the kraut was completely cooked, Kepler turned things around nicely in Week 12 with a 69 APR and will get some subpar pitching in Week 13 in series against Oakland and Tampa Bay, with only one LHP on the schedule.*

*Kepler is out of Sunday's lineup with a sore elbow; consider him day-to-day.

Desperate Choices

Matt Vierling, DET, 3B/OF (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 16%) - Vierling has been back on the good side in Week 12, posting a 78 APR after a disastrous 333 APR in Week 11, and has further cemented himself near the top of Detroit's order, having batted first or second in his last 18 games. But Week 13 isn't a great one to bet on him again, as the Tigers will only see one of the left-handers that he's been significantly better against - and that leftie is Max Fried.

Gavin Sheets, CHW, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 6%) - Just as fast as Gavin Sheets SZN can come, and too it can get canceled, like it was in Week 12, with Sheets bluntly rolling up a meager 345 APR. Normally, the process says to keep trusting him in weeks without a lot of left-handed pitching on the board but as we've mentioned previously, the White Sox face a really tough slate of righties in Week 13 (in addition to left-handed, Framber Valdez), with starts scheduled vs Ronel Blanco, Hunter Brown, Jack Flaherty, Kenta Maeda, and Reese Olson.

Randal Grichuk, ARI, OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Not for those with a weak stomach (or a league with weekly moves) but Grichuk still loves to smash (and mostly start against) LHP and the Diamondbacks will face three in Week 13, with one being the Earl of Gas Can, himself, Patrick Corbin. If you're able to throw a daily dart, Grichuk vs Corbin is highly recommended.

On the IL:

      • Kerry Carpenter, DET, OF (back inflammation - no timetable)
      • Wilyer Abreu, BOS, OF (sprained ankle - no timetable)
      • Lars Nootbaar, STL, OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
      • Esteury Ruiz, OAK, OF (strained wrist - no timetable)
      • Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - no timetable)
      • LaMonte Wade Jr., SF, 1B/OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
      • Kris Bryant, COL, 1B/OF (rib contusion - no timetable)
      • Tommy Pham, CHW, OF (sprained ankle - no timetable)
      • Henry Davis, PIT, C/OF (concussion - no timetable)
      • Hunter Renfroe, KC, OF (fractured toe - no timetable)
      • Alek Thomas, ARI, OF (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
      • Ji Hwan Bae, PIT, 2B/OF (sprained wrist - no timetable)
      • Justin Foscue, TEX, 2B/OF (strained oblique - rehab assignment)
      • Joe Gallo, WSH, 1B/OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)

 

Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Mitch Garver, (Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 12%) - We told you last week that this Mitch was so hot right now and Garver didn't disappoint, posting a top-100 APR headed into Sunday's action. And in a week that's super thin on the catching waiver wire, he's again easily the best choice. Garver will face LHP in four of Seattle's six games, against whom he's carrying a .355 wOBA (.385 xwOBA), with 23% K% (32% vs RHP) and 16% Brl% (6% vs RHP).

Jacob Stallings, COL, C (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Wait, Jacob Stallings?!? How'd you get in here? Oh, that's right - Elias Diaz is hurt and Colorado is at home for seven games. That'll do it! It also doesn't hurt that the Rockies have three LHP on the schedule and Stallings has a career wOBA vs lefties that is forty points higher than against right-handers.

Next Choices

Shea Langeliers, OAK, C (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 16%) -It's been another top-100 week for Langeliers in Week 12, his fourth in the last seven periods, and he'll look to keep it going with matchups against the Royals and Twins in Week 13. Unfortunately, only one of the six will come vs the lefthanders that he's been crushing far more in 2024.

Ivan Herrera, STL, C (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 3%) - We talked last week about how Herrera has shown enough hitting prowess to continue getting at-bats even after Willson Contreras returned from the IL but we also mentioned that we can't always trust the Cardinals to make the right personnel moves. Case in point - Herrera on received three starts in Week 12 (two at DH, one at catcher), while Pedro Pages has started at catcher in five of the last six games. Who's Pedro Pages, you might ask? Perhaps a young upstart who has been crushing lasers and simply cannot be denied a spot in the everyday lineup? Umm...No. Pages is a backup-level talent who is slashing .114/.214/.229 for the season, with a .205 wOBA and 31 wRC+. But sure, St. Louis, make sure and keep getting him reps.

Desperate Choices

Keibert Ruiz, WSH, C (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 10%) - Ruiz has had few bright spots in his 2024 campaign but beggars can't be choosers on the wire this week and the Washington backstop gets a series in Colorado to try and earn your waiver claim.

Korey Lee, CHW, C (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 1%) - Lee has a 61 APR in Week 12 but more importantly, to his long-term value, is that he's clearly cemented himself an everyday role, starting six straight and 15 of the last 17. Relying on a White Sox is a dicey proposition but Lee is at least getting the reps to give you a high (relatively speaking) floor.

On the IL

      • Elias Diaz, COL, C (strained calf - no timetable)
      • Henry Davis, PIT, C/OF (concussion - no timetable)
      • Francisco Alvarez, NYM, C (thumb surgery - July return)
      • Joey Bart, PIT, C (thumb sprain - no timetable)
      • Tom Murphy, SF, C (sprained knee - no timetable)



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