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Welcome RotoBallers to the Week 15 edition of our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of July 1 - July 7, 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 29.
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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
Michael Toglia, COL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 2%) - Toglia has two top-100 weeks since being recalled from Triple-A on June 6, hitting five home runs in 83 PA, with 12 runs and 15 RBI. Oh, and he gets six games at Coors Field this week -- yeah, that'll play.
Ryan O'Hearn, BAL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 47%, ESPN: 34%) -That's three top-100 weeks for O'Hearn in the past month but somehow he's still meeting our Roster% threshold. Six games on the books in Week 15 but more importantly only one LHP on the schedule, so O'Hearn should be playing in five of them.
Justin Turner, TOR, 1B (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 29%) - Justin Turner -- what are you doing here? Turner Roster% makes him eligible but you should probably do your part to help correct that if he's sitting around on your wire. Turner has been going through a rough stretch for a month-plus but now has two top-70 weeks in a row, still posting an elite 16% K% and 13% BB%. Toronto has seven games in Week 15 (vs HOU, @SEA), with one scheduled vs an LHP.
Carlos Santana, MIN, 1B (Yahoo: 39%, ESPN: 20%) - Listen, I'm gonna keep making cracks about Santana being a points God until his Roster% kicks him into that 70's show and out of our points place*. Santana has a top-100 APR for four of the past five periods and is now up to a 79 APR for the season.
*wordplay!
Next Choices
Andrew Vaughn, CHW, 1B (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 12%) - You know the deal, babes -- Vaughn is a high-floor/low-ceiling play that can hot for a few weeks at a time but generally turns right back into what he's always been. Which is totally fine! In points, at least. Expect another top-150ish week from Vaughn in Week 15, facing manageable matchups against the Guardians and Marlins, but with no LHPs on the projected board.
Nolan Schanuel, LAA, 1B (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 2%) - In the last 10 scoring periods, Schanuel has finished with a top-150 APR in all but two of them, with five coming inside the top-100. It's not flashy, especially in roto, but Schanuel (and his 17% K% and 9% BB%) continues cementing himself as a solid points asset. Schanuel will face two left-handers (against whom he really struggles) but otherwise has good matchups against the subpar pitching of the A's and Cubs.
Michael Busch, CHC, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 19%) - Busch has continued turning things around lately but a 34% K% will probably keep him untenable if your league has a strikeout penalty.
Desperate Choices
Nathaniel Lowe, TEX, 1B (Yahoo: 50%, ESPN: 16%) - Lowe sneaks back under our Roster% threshold just in time for a great stream, coming off of a 57 APR in Week 14, with two others in the top-150 over the past four periods. In Week 15, the left-handed Lowe and the Rangers are set to face zero LHP in matchups with the Padres and Rays.
Josh Bell, MIA, 1B (Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 28%) - Bell hasn't rung anything and while he remains a high-floor play, he may struggle in Week 15, facing a tough Boston staff and Garrett Crochet in a series against Chicago.
On the IL
- Anthony Rizzo, NYY, 1B (fractured forearm - no timetable)
- Brandon Drury, LAA, 1B/2B (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
- Kris Bryant, COL, 1B/OF (rib contusion - no timetable)
- Wilmer Flores, SF, 1B/3B (knee tendinitis - no timetable)
- Alex Kirilloff, MIN, 1B/OF (back discomfort - no timetable)
- Joey Gallo, WSH, 1B/OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Joey Ortiz, MIL, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 20%) -It's been another junky period for Ortiz in Week 14 but a trip to Coors Field is just the slump-buster he needs. Even when he's not hitting, Ortiz's 16% K% and 14% BB% will give him a super high ceiling under most scoring formats.
Nick Gonzales, PIT, 2B (Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 11%) - My fellow Nick has gotten right back off of the snide, kind of, posting a 143 APR in Week 14 after a season-worst 336 APR in Week 13. Gonzales has a points-friendly profile and will face two left-handers in Week 15, against whom he has a .289 AVG and .350 wOBA.
Miguel Rojas, LAD, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 1%) - Miguel Rojas SZN, anyone? Umm, no but Rojas has always had a points-friendly profile when he actually plays every day, something he'll continue to do until Mookie Betts returns or the Dodgers make a move. Since Betts went on the IL, Rojas is slashing .350/.386/.450 over 44 PA, with a .364 wOBA and 139 wRC+.
Brandon Lowe, TB, 2B (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 4%) - Lowe has cooled down in Week 14 (207 APR) after a pretty decent three-week stretch, but more importantly, he remains off of the IL. The Rays go on the road to Texas and Kansas City in Week 15, with only one of Lowe's left-handed nemesis on the schedule.
Next Choices
Brendan Rodgers, COL, 2B (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 2%) - Brendan Rodgers is healthy and at home all week -- yes, that's good enough for a stream.
Colt Keith, DET, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 6%) - Keith has been junky for a few weeks but gets favorable matchups on the road in Minnesota and Cincinnati, with Detroit not scheduled to see any left-handed starters. Facing LHP, Keith is slashing .241/.290/.276, with a .257 wOBA and .169 xwOBA.
Desperate Choices
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, TOR, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 12%) - IKF has a top-50 APR in the last two weeks but the sledding will be a lot tougher in Week 15, with matchups against Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco, Framber Valdez, Luis Castillo, and George Kirby on the schedule.
Michael Massey, KC, 2B (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 4%) - Massey was red-hot before hitting the IL, posting three top-50ish weeks in four periods but while he's come back with a 150 APR in his return, the more troubling sign for his future value is that he's only played in four of seven games, all at DH, with Nick Loftin and Maikel Garcia holding down second and third base. I still like him a lot long-term but Loftin will need to head to the bench (or Triple-A) if Massey is to retain starter value. The Royals will get a series in Colorado but will face LHP in two of their six games for the week, meaning Massey will likely only start four games, best case.
Luis Garcia, WSH, 2B (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 8%) - Just another top-75 week for the perennially underrated Garcia, who now has one for the past two weeks, and is up to a 106 APR for the season. Just be forewarned that Garcia really struggles against left-handers and the Nationals will face three of them this week.
On the IL
- Abraham Toro, OAK, 2B/3B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
- Brandon Drury, LAA, 1B/2B (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
- Vaughn Grissom, BOS, 2B/SS (strained hamstring - no timetable)
- Adael Amador, COL, 2B/SS (strained oblique - no timetable)
- Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - no timetable)
- Adam Frazier, KC, 2B/OF (sprained thumb - no timetable)
Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Mark Vientos, NYM, 3B (Yahoo: 41%, ESPN: 12%) - Forget about that lumpy pile of purple, Grimace -- have you heard about Vientos??? Since the Mets finally abandoned the Brett Baty experiment, shipping him back to Triple-A on May 31, Vientos has been straight cooking. Vientos has started 26 of the Mets' last 28 games, and since Baty was sent down, he has slashed .298/.355/.571 over 93 PA, with a .395 wOBA...Oh, and also seven home runs. With a top-25 APR in Week 14, Vientos now has a top-100 APR in five of his last six weeks. Yeah, that's pretty good.
And in case you need more reasons to snag Vientos in what will likely be his last eligible week in this space, consider that the Mets are set for seven games against some shaky pitching aside from the Pirates and Nationals, with four of them scheduled vs LHP -- Vientos is slashing .358/.414/.679 vs LHP in 2024, with a .464 wOBA, 14.3% Brl%, and a 52% Hard Hit%. Take that, you misshapen grape.
Noelvi Marte, CIN, 3B (Yahoo: 47%, ESPN: 9%) - I guess not everyone has remembered that Marte has returned from his suspension but don't expect him to be hanging around many wavier wires for long, as he has posted a 111 APR in his first week back.
Joey Ortiz, MIL, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 20%) -It's been another junky period for Ortiz in Week 14 but a trip to Coors Field is just the slump-buster he needs. Even when he's not hitting, Ortiz's 16% K% and 14% BB% will give him a super high ceiling under most scoring formats.
Next Choices
Jose Miranda, MIN, 3B (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 7%) - The path of many prospects remains unlinear. Wait, that can't be a word..Anywell, you know what I mean. Miranda has posted a top-50 APR in back-to-back weeks but has also been a fairly steady presence near the top-100 since returning to a regular role -- in those 11 periods, Miranda has seven weeks in the top-110, with only three periods being totally lost (>230 APR). Miranda is seriously well-rounded, now slashing .294/.335/.486 over 237 PA, with 8 HR, 27 R, 36 RBI, and 2 SB, along with an elite 14% K%. He won't be a proper points star unless he can tap into more power but that profile is going to be super friendly under most scoring systems.
Michael Busch, CHC, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 19%) - Busch has continued turning things around lately but a 34% K% will probably keep him untenable if your league has a strikeout penalty.
Desperate Choices
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, TOR, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 12%) - IKF has a top-50 APR in the last two weeks but the sledding will be a lot tougher in Week 15, with matchups against Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco, Framber Valdez, Luis Castillo, and George Kirby on the schedule.
Jhonkensy Noel, CLE, 3B (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 3%) - Noel has destroyed Triple-A in 2024, slashing .295/.359/.578 over 284 PA, with 18 HR, 41 R, and 59 RBI, with a .402 wOBA and 136 wRC+. He came up to help after the Will Brennan injury but that doesn't appear to be serious, with Brennan trying to convince manager Stephen Vogt to let him play through it. Even while Brennan is on the IL, Noel isn't looking at a full-time role, likely platooning with Daniel Schneeman in right field and occasionally spelling Josh Naylor at first base. Let's be clear -- no one on your waiver wire has a cooler name to say.
On the IL
- Abraham Toro, OAK, 2B/3B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
- Wilmer Flores, SF, 1B/3B (knee tendinitis - no timetable)
- 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: 30%, ESPN: 8%) - Can you guess who has a 91 APR for the season and is now pacing for better than a 20/20 season? I'll give you a hint -- it's Zach Neto. He might only have a top-75ish ceiling but Neto remains remarkably consistent in never really hurting you either, with his two worst periods in the past 10 weeks being a 207 APR in Week 10, and a 183 APR all the way back in Week 4. This is a classic case of an underwhelming roto profile translating to a solid compiler getting underrated in points.
J.P. Crawford, SEA, SS (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 46%) - Ugg, Crawford's Roster% seriously annoys me probably too much. Okay, definitely way too much. Crawford has an 89 APR in Week 14, his fourth in the top 90 over the past five periods.
Miguel Rojas, LAD, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 1%) - Miguel Rojas SZN, anyone? Umm, no but Rojas has always had a points-friendly profile when he actually plays every day, something he'll continue to do until Mookie Betts returns or the Dodgers make a move. Since Betts went on the IL, Rojas is slashing .350/.386/.450 over 44 PA, with a .364 wOBA and 139 wRC+.
Next Choices
Maysn Winn, STL, SS (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 13%) - Blech -- Maysn Winn has been gross in Week 14, posting just a 308 APR. But hey, at least he'll manage to miss Paul Skenes in a series against the Pirates and will instead get a chance for an easy bonfire on a date with Patrick Corbin.
Colt Keith, DET, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 6%) - Keith has been junky for a few weeks but gets favorable matchups on the road in Minnesota and Cincinnati, with Detroit not scheduled to see any left-handed starters. Facing LHP, Keith is slashing .241/.290/.276, with a .257 wOBA and .169 xwOBA.
Desperate Choices
Paul DeJong, CHW, SS (Yahoo: 13%, ESPN: 4%) - There are few things more thrilling than grabbing a ticket for the Paul DeJong lottery. Will he have a top-50 APR? Or maybe a bottom 50 after running an 80% K% for the week? Who knows! The good news is that DeJong won't face any LHP in Week 15, against whom he's posted a 38% K% in 2024.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, TOR, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 12%) - IKF has a top-50 APR in the last two weeks but the sledding will be a lot tougher in Week 15, with matchups against Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco, Framber Valdez, Luis Castillo, and George Kirby on the schedule.
On the IL
- Vaughn Grissom, BOS, 2B/SS (strained hamstring - no timetable)
- Javier Baez, DET, SS (back sprain - no timetable)
- Adael Amador, COL, 2B/SS (strained oblique - 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
Brenton Doyle, COL, OF (Yahoo: 63%, ESPN: 18%) - This is mostly for our ESPN peeps but it still needs to be mentioned just how low-key great Doyle has been in points this season, currently with 7 HR, 45 R, 27 RBI, and 19 SB over 318 PA. With six games at Coors, Doyle is a no-brainer if he happens to still be on your wire.
Jackson Chourio, MIL, OF (Yahoo: 62%, ESPN: 21%) - Just like Doyle, this is an ESPN thang but we should at least pause to recognize how much the rookie has turned things around in June. For the month, Chourio is slashing .314/.355/.543, with a .380 wOBA and 148 wRC+. With a series in Colorado on the docket, Chourio might have blasted his way completely out of our Roster% zone by this time next week.
Michael Toglia, COL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 2%) - Toglia has two top-100 weeks since being recalled from Triple-A on June 6, hitting five home runs in 83 PA, with 12 runs and 15 RBI. Oh, and he gets six games at Coors Field this week -- yeah, that'll play.
Ryan O'Hearn, BAL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 47%, ESPN: 34%) -That's three top-100 weeks for O'Hearn in the past month but somehow he's still meeting our Roster% threshold. Six games on the books in Week 15 but more importantly only one LHP on the schedule, so O'Hearn should be playing in five of them.
Andy Pages, LAD, OF (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 10%) - What's a guy gotta do to get a little Roster% respect? Pages hasn't blown the doors off in Week 14, ranked #158 entering Sunday's action but that's not exactly a basement-level week, either. Before this period, Pages had four straight top-100 weeks and continues to bat squarely in the middle of a Dodgers lineup that is still ridiculous even after losing Mookie Betts. Pages gets six games at home against Arizona and Milwaukee, with two coming against left-handed starters; facing LHP this season, Pages is slashing .362/.387/.534, with a .396 wOBA and .921 OPS.
Next Choices
Charlie Blackmon, COL, OF (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 8%) - Before his most recent IL trip, Blackmon had peeled off three straight top-50 APRs and now gets six games at home to shake the cobwebs back off. To be fair, that's still a tough ask, considering his ligaments may be ~70% cobwebs at this point.
Jose Siri, TB, OF (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 18%) - His 36% K% still whiffs too much to be reliable in leagues with a strikeout penalty, but the Tampa Bay outfielder has really turned around what was a mostly bomber of a season. He has a 41 APR in Week 14 but over his last five periods (starting on May 27th), Siri is slashing .280/.350/.613, with 8 HR, 20 R, 15 RBI, and 2 SB. Granted, a 34% K%, but we don't want to get greedy. Siri only has a 152 APR for the season but keep in mind that includes the strikeout penalty leagues, where he's ranked #202 on ESPN, and #164 on CBS. On the other three platforms, he's #134 (Yahoo), #133 (Fantrax), and #129 (NFBC).
Tommy Pham, CHW, OF (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 4%) - Do I always include my guy Tommy because a part of me is secretly afraid that he constantly monitors the internet for any mention (on non-mention) of his name and might show up to deliver an in-person slap if I don't put the proper amount of respect on it? No, of course, I don't...That's crazy talk. I do it because he plays a lot, rarely strikes out, and walks a fair bit; and that's a recipe for points compiling.
But also, the slapping fear.
Andrew McCutchen, PIT, OF (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 3%) - Like Charlie Blackmon just without Coors, McCutchen continues to have a super points-friendly profile, even in his current geriatric state*. McCutchen has compiled himself to nearly a top-100 APR for the season and will get six games against non-superior pitching courtesy of the Mets and Cardinals.
*he said, knowing full well that McCutchen is younger than him.
Desperate Choices
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, TOR, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 12%) - IKF has a top-50 APR in the last two weeks but the sledding will be a lot tougher in Week 15, with matchups against Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco, Framber Valdez, Luis Castillo, and George Kirby on the schedule.
Sal Frelick, MIL, OF (Yahoo: 13%, ESPN: 6%) - Frelick has mostly done a whole lot of nothing but a series at Coors can be an elixir for any mundane profile.
Harrison Bader, NYM, OF (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 3%) - The glove-first Bader has a 40 APR in Week 14, with three of his past four periods living in the top-140 (#64, #137, #341, #40). So, you know what that means, right? Harrison Bader...IL trip...Collision course. Probably after a collision with Grimace. Well, we can only hope...
Hamburglar 4-Life, y'all melon-farmers!
On the IL:
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- Kerry Carpenter, DET, OF (stress fracture - no timetable)
- T.J. Friedl, CIN, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
- Lars Nootbaar, STL, OF (strained oblique - rehab assignment)
- Esteury Ruiz, OAK, OF (strained wrist - no timetable)
- Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - no timetable)
- Mike Tauchman, CHC, OF (strained groin - no timetable)
- Kris Bryant, COL, 1B/OF (rib contusion - no timetable)
- Henry Davis, PIT, C/OF (concussion - rehab assignment)
- Alek Thomas, ARI, OF (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
- Alex Kirilloff, MIN, 1B/OF (back discomfort - no timetable)
- Will Brennan, CLE, OF (rib cage strain - no timetable)
- Joey Gallo, WSH, 1B/OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
- Mike Yastrzemski, SF, OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
- Adam Frazier, KC, 2B/OF (sprained thumb - no timetable)
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Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Patrick Bailey, SF, C (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 12%) - It's been a ho-hum Week 14 for Bailey (180 APR) but he remains a high-floor option under most scoring systems, currently slashing .280/.352/.423, with a 19% K% and 11% BB%. If you're trying to pull out a stream that'll end up being a regular, Bailey is the current best bet behind the plate.
Jacob Stallings, COL, C (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) - Hmm, let's see...We have a perennial backup catcher who has done a whole lot of nothing while filling in for starter, Elias Diaz -- and yet, he's recommended? Must be a Coors Field homestand!
Next Choices
Shea Langeliers, OAK, C (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 15%) - Langeliers remains what he's been -- not someone you're thrilled to start for long periods but perfectly capable as a high-floor band-aid. Given the current quality of most catcher waiver wires, there might not be a better option.
Ben Rice, NYY, C/1B (Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 4%) - Nothing much for counting stats but the rookie has a .267 AVG and .343 OBP though his first 11 games, along with a points-friendly 14% and 11% BB%. He hasn't been a full "everyday" player yet but that should be expected for the left-hander, as the Yankees have seen a glut of LHP lately, facing them in seven of their last 10 games. With only one leftie on the books in Week 15, expect Rice to play a majority of New York's six games.
Desperate Choices
Kyle Higashioka, SD, C (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 1%) - Higashioka had already been running hot lately in a part-time role (two top-100 weeks entering Week 14) but is up to a 9 APR in Week 14, taking on a more substantial role after Luis Campusano went on the IL. Campusano shouldn't miss substantial time but Higashioka is worth a flyer until he returns.
Korey Lee, CHW, C (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) - The White Sox are awful but Lee hasn't matched them completely, finishing in the top 150 for three weeks in a row. Sure, you really never want to roster a White Sox, let alone a catcher, but sometimes desperation is a stinky cologne.
On the IL
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- Luis Campusano, SD, C (thumb contusion - no timetable)
- Elias Diaz, COL, C (strained calf - no timetable)
- Ivan Herrera, STL, C (back strain - no timetable)
- Henry Davis, PIT, C/OF (concussion - rehab assignment)
- Gary Sanchez, MIL, C (strained calf - no timetable)
- Joey Bart, PIT, C (thumb sprain - rehab assignment)
- Victor Caratini, HOU, C (strained hip - no timetable)
- Tom Murphy, SF, C (sprained knee - no timetable)
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