Points League Hitters: Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball for Week 25 (2024)

2 months ago by Nicklaus Gaut

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In This Article hide

2. Fantasy Baseball First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

3. Fantasy Baseball Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

4. Fantasy Baseball Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

5. Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

6. Fantasy Baseball Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

7. Fantasy Baseball Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

8. More Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Advice

Welcome, RotoBallers, to the Week 25 edition of our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of September 9 - September 15, 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 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, September 8.

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. All player data is from FanGraphs and Baseball Savant, with injury information pulled from the Roster Resource section on the former.

Fantasy Baseball First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Michael Toglia, COL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 8%) -Since getting called up in Week 11, Toglia has finished in the top-150 in all but two weeks, bouncing back from his most recent bad period (#273 hitter in Week 23) with a #40 ranking headed into Sunday. He's been amazing at home and playable on the road but is still available in ~75% of leagues. If yours is included in that sample, make him disappear -- Toglia has three games in Detroit before coming home for a set against the Cubs.

Spencer Horwitz, TOR, 1B/2B (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 5%) - Horwitz's Roster% is downright bonkers considering how good he's been, basically since hitting the scene. In the eight periods since the All-Star break, Horwitz has averaged a 92 APR but has hit the gas lately, averaging a 41 APR over the last three weeks (#24, #71, #29). He'll have six games in Week 25 (vs NYM, vs STL), scheduled to see his fellow left-handers in two of the six.

Ryan O'Hearn, BAL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 35%) - Alright, kids; everyone ready to play along at home? What do we do when Ryan O'Hearn (.270/.343/.446, .342 wOBA, .375 xwOBA, 13% K%) is set to face all RHP in his six games (@BOS, @DET) in Week 25? That's right! We start him.

Next Choices

Carlos Santana, MIN, 1B (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 18%) - Our points god has come back to where he belongs (#54 in Week 24) and will see some subpar pitching (Detmers, Canning, Kochanowicz, Aguiar, Martinez, Lowder) in a six-game homestand (vs LAA, vs CIN).

Andrew Vaughn, CHW, 1B (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 7%) - I might be a known-hater but you can still ride Vaughn when in the midst of one of his infrequent hot streaks. The White Sox have six games in Week 25 (vs CLE, vs OAK) with two starts scheduled vs the left-handers that Vaughn tends to handle well.

LaMonte Wade Jr., SF, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 3%) - Wade Jr. doesn't start vs LHP, so it's a good thing the Giants aren't scheduled to face any in their six games this week (vs MIL, vs SD). Facing RHP this season, Wade Jr. has a .370 OBP, .333 wOBA, and .357 xwOBA, with an impressive 15% BB%.

Desperate Choices

Romy Gonzalez, BOS, 1B/2B/SS (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - This is really only a play for those in daily leagues, as Gonzalez doesn't much start vs RHP, but the Red Sox are scheduled to face three LHP in their seven games (vs BAL, @NYY), which likely means three starts for our guy, Romy. Facing LHP this season in a decent chunk of a sample (108 PA), Gonzalez is slashing .319/.389/.521, with a .910 OPS, .389 wOBA, and 54(!)% Hard Hit%. Yah, kid; that'll play.

Jose Miranda, MIN, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 10%) - After a great first half, Miranda has mostly disappointed in the second half but has a 129 APR in Week 24 and has favorable matchups in Week 25 (vs LAA, vs CIN), facing shaky pitching and only one LHP.

Andres Chaparro, WSH, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 0%, ESPN: 1%) - Another young National with an impressive start to his MLB career, Chaparro has averaged a 101 APR over his first four periods and has exploded to #19 in Week 24. Unfortunately, most of his success has come vs LHP and the Nationals are only scheduled to face one in their six games this week (vs ATL, vs MIA).

Jonah Bride, MIA, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 2%) - There is a lot of smoke and mirrors behind Bride's recent successes but (outside of opening the week with Paul Skenes) he'll have a favorable schedule for keeping it up, with seven games (@PIT, @WSH) and five LHP on the board.

Rowdy Tellez, PIT, 1B (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 2%) - A disaster in the first half, Tellez has quietly been a little rowdy over the past couple of months, at least relative to what he showed before. Tellez has four straight weeks in the top-100 and is scheduled to see five RHP in his six games (vs MIA, vs KC).

Seth Brown, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 17%, ESPN: 5%) - Brown stayed hot and now has back-to-back top-50 weeks (#43, #34) but be forewarned about his schedule in Week 25. The A's face two LHP that he likely won't start against, as well as facing Hunter Brown and Garrett Crochet.

On the IL

Jeimer Candelario, CIN, 1B/3B (fractured toe - no timetable)
Kris Bryant, COL, 1B/OF (strained back - no timetable)
Tyler Soderstrom, OAK, 1B (wrist bruise - rehab assignment)
Alex Kirilloff, MIN, 1B/OF (back discomfort - no timetable)
Brooks Baldwin, CHW, 1B/2B (sprained wrist - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Tommy Edman, LAD, 2B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 23%) - As long as Edman's playing every day (he's started every game but one since coming off of the IL), his points-friendly profile gives him a pretty high floor in the Dodgers lineup. The switch-hitting Edman is scheduled to see LHP in three of his six games; for his career, Edman is slashing .281/.322/.486 vs LHP, with an .807 OPS (.696 OPS vs RHP) and .342 wOBA (.304 wOBA vs RHP).

Brendan Rodgers, COL, 2B (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 6%) - It's time to dip and dive again, mon freres because we've been over it many times before. Rodgers is a classic "only start at Coors" kind of guy and three games at home (vs CHC) could fulfill his destiny in Week 25.

Jared Triolo, PIT, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) - Triolo is on his way to yet another strong week, currently with a 52 APR after finishing #68 and #89 in the previous two periods. The right-hander is only scheduled to face one LHP in his six games (vs MIA, vs KC) but that actually a good thing considering the reverse splits he's shown thus far.

Next Choices

Nick Gonzales, PIT, 2B (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 4%) - Hola, fellow Nick - welcome back to the land of the living! Gonzalez struggled before and after the ASB before hitting the IL but has returned to producing since coming back, with a 123 APR in Week 23 and a 59 APR so far in Week 24. The Pirates are only scheduled to face one of the LHP that Gonzales tends to feast more on in their six games (vs MIA, vs KC) but if you can (without looking) name one fact about any of the three pitchers that Miami is bringing to t0wn, I'll give you one dollar.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa, PIT, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 9%) - You know the deal, babes --IKF is a high-floor/lower-ceiling guy who brings points-goodness via excellent plate-discipline and a pile of PAs. He'll get six games to do so in Week 25 (vs MIA, vs KC), with only one of the six coming vs a left-hander.

Desperate Choices

Otto Lopez, MIA, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) - Are we even still making Otto's??? I don't know but this one exists and is continuing to produce some points goodness. Lopez is the #54 hitter in Week 24, after finishing #71 last week, and #121 in Week 22. Granted, when he's bad, he's really bad; in the eight periods since returning from the IL, Lopez has finished in the top-75 four times...and outside of the top-225 three times (#121 in the other period). Unfortunately, this week might be more of the latter, as Lopez struggles vs LHP, and the Marlins are scheduled to face five of them in road matchups with the Pirates and Nationals. Not to mention, one of the two RHPs is Paul freaking Skenes.

Geraldo Perdomo, ARI, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 16%) - Perdomo likes to put up a top-100 period every other week, or so, but his value will start behind the eight ball in Week 25 with only five games (vs TEX, vs MIL) and one LHP on the schedule.

On the IL

David Hamilton, BOS, 2B/SS (fractured finger - questionable for season)
Ramon Urias, BAL, 2B/3B (sprained ankle - no timetable)
Vidal Brujan, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF sprained shoulder - no timetable)
Oliver Dunn, MIL, 2B/3B (strained back - no timetable)
Brooks Baldwin, CHW, 1B/2B (sprained wrist - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Matt Vierling, DET, 3B/OF (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 10%) - In the nine scoring periods since the ASB, Vierling has averaged a 107 APR, with a #240 finish in Week 19 representing his only true stinker. Vierling has excellent discipline and his racking up a ton of PAs; this is the way to compiling points successes. He's a good bet to keep it up in a week that'll see him face three Colorado pitchers on the road.

Next Choices

Jose Tena, WSH, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 0%, ESPN: 1%) - Tena's 160 APR in Week 24 isn't the top-75(ish) performance he's put up the last two weeks but it's not exactly a stinker, either. It's only 93 PA but a .295 AVG (.296 xBA) isn't too shabby, nor is a .316 wOBA backed by a .368 xwOBA, and a .394 wOBA (on contact) that has a .468 xwOBAcon behind it. The left-handed Tena will have a chance to keep it up in six games at home against Atlanta and Miami, with only one LHP scheduled.

Desperate Choices

On the IL

Ramon Urias, BAL, 2B/3B (sprained ankle - no timetable)
Jon Berti, NYY, 3B/SS (strained calf - rehab assignment)
Yoan Moncada, CHW, 3B (strained groin - rehab assignment)
Vidal Brujan, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF sprained shoulder - no timetable)
Oliver Dunn, MIL, 2B/3B (strained back - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Masyn Winn, STL, SS (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 19%) - Clearly hurt by the blatant disrespect he's been shown all season, Winn saved his worst performance of the year for Week 24, currently coming in as the #340 hitter headed into Sunday. Cut the kid some slack, though; we can't expect him to be a top-50 hitter every single week, right? I'll still go ahead and bet on a return to form in Week 25, with Winn and his reverse-splits not scheduled to face any LHP in St. Louis's six games (vs CIN, @TOR).

Next Choices

Desperate Choices

Brayan Rocchio, CLE, SS (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 1%) - Rocchio has mostly been waiver-wire fodder all season but has at least shown he's capable of turning in a top-100 week, even if they are few and far between. The switch-hitter has two top-60 weeks in the last three periods and will have seven games in Week 25 (@CHW, vs TB), with one scheduled against the left-handers that have absolutely dominated him.

On the IL

David Hamilton, BOS, 2B/SS (fractured finger - questionable for season)
Wenceel Perez, DET, SS/OF (strained oblique - rehab assignment)
Jon Berti, NYY, 3B/SS (strained calf - rehab assignment)
Vidal Brujan, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF sprained shoulder - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Dylan Crews, WSH, OF (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 19%) - Wait a tick -- how the hell is Crews still below our Roster% threshold?? Well, he shouldn't be, so correct that mistake if it still exists in your league. Crews has 3 HR and 5 SB in his first 50 PA, finishing #54 in Week 23 and #14 in Week 24.

T.J. Friedl, CIN, OF (Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 30%) - There aren't many good reasons for Friedl to still be on a third of all waiver-wires, particularly given how well he is set up for Week 25. The Reds have seven games (@ATL, @STL, @MIL) with zero LHP scheduled.

Victor Robles, SEA, OF (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 4%) - OMG you guys, that Victor's so hot right now. The #15 hitter in Week 24 (after finishing #35 last week), Robles has caught back on fire after cooling his heels for a few weeks. The right-hander get six games this week (vs SD, vs TEX), and while only two come vs LHP, one of those two is Martin Perez, so maybe it should count double?

Matt Wallner, MIN, OF (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 2%) - Wallner's 35% K% makes him mostly unplayable in leagues with a strikeout penalty but what he's done since returning to the club on July 7 is overly impressive. Over 171 PA, Wallner is slashing .295/.398/.610, with 10 HR, and a .427 wOBA. Yeah, it's like that.

Next Choices

Andrew Benintendi, CHW, OF (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 11%) - Ahh, a tradition like no other; finding value from ignored players on trash teams. Benintendi has three top-50 weeks in the past five periods and will see some shaky pitching from the Guardians and A's in Week 25.

Daulton Varsho, TOR, OF (Yahoo: 42%, ESPN: 35%) - After a summer of sorrow, Varsho has quietly turned things around the last month or so, averaging a 93 APR over the last five periods. The LHH will see two LHP in his six games (vs NYM, vs STL) but maybe that's a good thing considering his substandard numbers vs RHP.

Lars Nootbaar, STL, OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 13%) - Low-ceiling Noot has two top-100 finishes in the last three weeks and won't have to see a left-handed starter in St. Louis's six games (vs CIN, @TOR).

Parker Meadows, DET, OF (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 3%) - Meadows has been playable since returning from the IL and the left-hander will get six games in Week 25, including three against the hapless pitching from the Rockies of Colorado.

Desperate Choices

J.J. Bleday, OAK, OF (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 24%) - Bleday is only a top-150 hitter this week after living in the top-50 for three straight periods but Week 25 could be a struggle (@HOU, @CHW) with three LHP on the schedule.

Grant McCray, SF, OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Since getting called up on August 14, McCray has started all but two games in center field, slashing .262/.294/.569 over 68 PA, with 5 HR and 3 SB. Grant(ed), a 40% K% makes him virtually unplayable in leagues with a strikeout penalty but the left-handed McCray could have another strong week after finishing #30 in Week 24, with no LHP on the Week 25 schedule (vs MIL, vs SD).

Tommy Pham, KC, OF (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 15%) - Batting leadoff and only at 12%? Y'all are just asking to get Tommy-slapped. Pham has a 68 APR in Week 24 but the Royals are only scheduled to face one LHP in their six games in Week 25 (@NYY, @PIT).

Charlie Blackmon, COL, OF (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 15%) - The old man has basically been washed in the second half but the desperate can always find some hope in him getting a series at Coors this week against the Cubs.

On the IL:

- - Max Kepler, MIN, OF (knee tendinitis - no timetable)
  - Jo Adell, LAA, OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
  - Heston Kjerstad, BAL, OF (concussion - no timetable)
  - Alex Call, WSH, OF (foot - no timetable)
  - Kris Bryant, COL, 1B/OF (strained back - no timetable)
  - Kevin Pillar, COL, OF (sprained thumb - no timetable)
  - Austin Hays, BAL, OF (kidney infection - no timetable)
  - Wenceel Perez, DET, SS/OF (strained oblique - rehab assignment)
  - Alex Kirilloff, MIN, 1B/OF (back discomfort - no timetable)
  - Vidal Brujan, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF sprained shoulder - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Connor Wong, BOS, C (Yahoo: 42%, ESPN: 18%) - Wong probably shouldn't be available anywhere but still is, and if so, this is a good week to capitalize, as the Red Sox are scheduled to face three LHP in their seven games. In 137 PA vs LHP this season, Wong is slashing .301/.372/.480, with a .370 wOBA and .852 OPS.

Keibert Ruiz, WSH, C (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 49%) - Ruiz is about to post his best week of the season (#13 hitter entering Sunday) but has mostly been sparkling in the second half. With six games (vs ATL, vs MIA) and no LHP on the board, expect another solid performance in Week 25.

Next Choices

Austin Wells, NYY, C (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 11%) - Wells (#191 in Week 25) is in the midst of an unimpressive period but with his continued elite plate discipline and only one LHP scheduled in New York's seven games (vs KC, vs BOS), he's should again be a solid bet for Week 25.

Miguel Amaya, CHC, C (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 12%) - Amaya has come back to earth in Week 24 (#387) after back-to-back strong weeks (#8, #91) but readers of this column probably weren't using him given the murderer's row of starters that he was staring down. Last week isn't this week, though, and when searching for a bounceback, three games in Colorado is a good place to start.

Patrick Bailey, SF, C (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 4%) - Bailey is back to hitting after returning from his concussion, currently in the top-100 of hitters (#91) headed into Sunday. The Giants have six games in Week 25 (vs MIL, vs SD) but none are scheduled vs the left-handers that tend to give Bailey fits.

Desperate Choices

Shea Langeliers, OAK, C (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 22%) - One of the steadiest catchers in the second half (and basically everything post-April), Langeliers should cross our Roster% threshold with another strong week. The A's have six games on the road (@HOU, @CHW), with two scheduled vs the left-handers that tend to give Langeliers more fits.

Nick Fortes, MIA, C (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Nick Fortes SZN??? Umm...no. But if you're desperate for a hole-filler, Fortes should at least pick up a bulk of the Marlins PAs this week at catcher, with the Marlins scheduled to face LHP in five of their seven games.

On the IL

- - Gabriel Moreno, ARI, C (strained groin - no timetable)
  - Tom Murphy, SF, C (sprained knee - no timetable)

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