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Welcome RotoBallers to the Week 7 edition of our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of May 6 - May 12, 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 for charts are calculated using games through Saturday, May 4.
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Early Season Waiver Wire Caveats
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. For example, Christian Encarnacion-Strand has a 98% Roster% on NFBC and is at 80% on Yahoo, but on ESPN, he's only at 20% -- hence, we'll include him (and others like him).
First Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Nathaniel Lowe, TEX, 1B (Yahoo: 74%, ESPN: 24%) - We've talked since before he returned about what a great points asset Lowe is but somehow he's still widely available on ESPN, even though he's done nothing but produce since coming off of the IL, currently running a 29 APR in Week 6. And the ESPN roster slander is even more egregious considering that Lowe's discipline (16% K%, 13% BB%) helps him the most in leagues with a strikeout penalty.
Anthony Rizzo, NYY, 1B (Yahoo: 64%, ESPN: 26%) - I know it's just ESPN lagging but 26% is silly - Rizzo has a 60 APR for the year and a 5 APR over the past two weeks. He's still miserable vs LHP but the Yankees are only scheduled to face one of them out of their six games in Week 7.
Next Choices
Connor Joe, PIT, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 33%) - Another scoring period goes by, another top-100 week by Joe, who now rocks a 73 APR for the season. Only 33% rostered on both Yahoo and ESPN, Joe is currently slashing .292/.376/.469, with 3 HR, 18 R, 14 RBI, and 2 SB...Again, he's just 33% rostered.
Josh Bell, MIA, 1B (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 30%) - After a disastrous Week 6 (328 APR), Bell is back to doing Josh Bell things -- like being a top-120ish hitter in most leagues, and top-100 hitter (or better) in leagues with a strikeout penalty. It's a tough slate of pitching in Week 7, though, with series against the Dodgers and Phillies.
Desperate Choices
Elehuris Montero, COL, 1B (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) - Montero has quietly had back-to-back top-100 weeks and gets a week of Coors cooking in Week 7. You could do worse if you're in a bind.
Nolan Schaunel, LAA, 1B (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 2%) - Schaunel does have a 76 APR over the past two weeks but the left-hander will see LHP in three of his seven games -- Schaunel has a .380 wOBA and .250 AVG over his handful (14 PA) of appearances vs LHP this year but a .311 xwOBA and .108 xBA tell just how much those numbers are skewed by a 29% BB%.
Ryan O'Hearn, BAL, 1B (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 28%) - O'Hearn continues to put up solid numbers but Baltimore only has five games this week, and with one coming against a left-hander, he'll almost certainly top out at just four games for the period.
On the IL
- DJ LeMahieu, NYY, 1B/3B (foot fracture - no timetable)
- Miguel Sano, LAA, 1B (knee discomfort - no timetable)
- Gio Urshela, DET, 1B/3B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
- Joey Gallo, WSH, 1B/OF (strained shoulder - no timetable)
Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Jose Caballero, TB, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 16%) - Caballero only has a 141 APR in Week 6 but has an 88 APR for the year, posting three top-75 weeks. He's still allergic to walks (3% BB%) but his scoring profile will remain solid as long as he continues to play regularly -- which he definitely still is, having started 18 of the Rays' last 19 games.
Brendan Donovan, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 17%) - The Cardinals aren't going anywhere but Donovan continues to be a top-90 hitter on every platform but NFBC.
Jorge Polanco, SEA, 2B (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 7%) - Polanco has been heating up (31 APR in Week 6) but remains too inconsistent from week to week to trust with any sort of certainty. Seeing just one left-hander in seven games this week should certainly help his cause.
Josh Rojas, SEA, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 4%) - I've never been a big Rojas guy but he can certainly be electric in spurts, even if he's never (ever) going to start vs LHP. Since J.P. Crawford went on the IL, Rojas has started every game vs RHP, batting leadoff in all of them. With seven games in Week 7 (and only one vs an LHP), Rojas could again be in for a top-100 week.
Next Choices
Jonathan India, CIN, 2B (Yahoo: 54%, ESPN: 12%) - Playing on ESPN and need a top-100 hitter? Easy-peasy! Just slot in India and his 20% K% and 14% BB% and watch the points (com)pile in.
Brendan Rodgers, 2B, COL (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 2%) - Brendan Rodgers is slashing .200/.214/.273, with a .215 wOBA on the road and .267/.340/.400, with a .332 wOBA at home...Guess where he's playing in Week 7?
Luis Garcia, WSH, 2B (Yahoo: 13%, ESPN: 6%) - His .375 BABIP is doing a lot of work but Garcia has only been a dud in two of the six scoring periods so far (and one was in the short Week 1), with two top-50 APRs and a top-100 in the remainders. Unfortunately, the Nats only have five games this week, with the pitching staffs of Boston and Baltimore unlikely to make things easy.
Desperate Choices
Michael Massey, KC, 2B (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 1%) - Massey has been on a bender in Week 6 (8 APR) but the Royals will face three LHP in Week 7, AKA, Massey sits three games.
On the IL
- Zack Gelof, OAK, 2B (strained oblique - no timetable)
- Brandon Lowe, TB, 2B (strained oblique - rehab assignment)
- Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - no timetable)
- Geraldo Perdomo, ARI, 2B/SS (torn meniscus - 4-6 weeks)
- Justin Foscue, TEX, 2B (strained oblique - no timetable)
Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Josh H. Smith, TEX, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 71%, ESPN: 22%) - Since Josh Jung went on the IL on April 2 (ushering in the age of Josh H.), Smith is slashing .305/.405/.495, with a .399 wOBA and 159 wRC+. And yet, he's still not universally rostered. Pure silliness, I tell ya'.
Willi Castro, MIN, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 14%) - Oh my gGt APR of all hitters over the past two weeks. His Roster% has risen accordingly but he's still available in a lot of leagues. With triple-position eligibility and a points-friendly profile, Castro should be, at minimum, a solid upgrade to your bench.
Next Choices
Josh Rojas, SEA, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 4%) - I've never been a big Rojas guy but he can certainly be electric in spurts, even if he's never (ever) going to start vs LHP. Since J.P. Crawford went on the IL, Rojas has started every game vs RHP, batting leadoff in all of them. With seven games in Week 7 (and only one vs an LHP), Rojas could again be in for a top-100 week.
Desperate Choices
Tyler Nevin, OAK, 3B/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 7%) - Nevin has started every game but one for Oakland since April 15, slashing .313/.384/.531 over 73 PA, with a .40o wOBA and 166 wRC+...Yes, Tyler Nevin. Now up to a 139 APR for the season (and a 20 APR in Week 6), now is the time to grab this hot hand before he flames out of wire.
On the IL
- Anthony Rendon, LAA, 3B (strained groin - no timetable)
- DJ LeMahieu, NYY, 1B/3B (fractured foot - no timetable)
- Yoan Moncada, CHW, 3B (strained groin - likely out until All-Star break)
- Gio Urshela, DET, 1B/3B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Josh H. Smith, TEX, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 71%, ESPN: 22%) - Since Josh Jung went on the IL on April 2 (ushering in the age of Josh H.), Smith is slashing .305/.405/.495, with a .399 wOBA and 159 wRC+. And yet, he's still not universally rostered. Pure silliness, I tell ya'.
Willi Castro, MIN, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 14%) - Oh my god, that Willi Castro's so hot right now. Much like Hansel is all the time, Castro has been a white-hot ball of fire recently, posting the second-highest APR of all hitters over the past two weeks. His Roster% has risen accordingly but he's still available in a lot of leagues. With triple-position eligibility and a points-friendly profile, Castro should be, at minimum, a solid upgrade to your bench.
Jose Caballero, TB, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 16%) - Caballero only has a 141 APR in Week 6 but has an 88 APR for the year, posting three top-75 weeks. He's still allergic to walks (3% BB%) but his scoring profile will remain solid as long as he continues to play regularly -- which he definitely still is, having started 18 of the Rays' last 19 games.
Next Choices
Ezequiel Tovar, COL, SS (Yahoo: 75%, ESPN: 17%) - This is obviously only for our ESPN peeps - Tovar has been a disaster for three periods but a week of Coors is often just what the fantasy doctor orders.
Desperate Choices
Zach Neto, LAA, SS (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 4%) - Neto has finally stopped doing his impression of a fantasy corpse, posting a 61 APR over the last two weeks. With three of seven games coming vs LHP in Week 7, another top-100 week could be in the works.
On the IL
- J.P. Crawford, SEA, SS (strained oblique - no timetable)
- Geraldo Perdomo, ARI, 2B/SS (torn meniscus - 4-6 weeks)
- Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - no timetable)
- Trevor Story, BOS, SS (dislocated shoulder - no timetable)
Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Andy Pages, LAD, OF (Yahoo: 47%, ESPN: 17%) - Surely, Pages isn't still on your wire - I said...SURELY, ANDY PAGES ISN'T STILL ON YOUR WIRE, RIGHT?? If he happens to still be, may I politely suggest you remedy the situation?
Brenton Doyle, COL, OF(Yahoo: 41%, ESPN: 11%) - Doyle had a 220 APR in Week 4 and a 338 APR so far in Week 6 -- in every other week, he's been a top-80 hitter. With six games at home in Week 7, Doyle is arguably the easiest pickup available.
Josh H. Smith, TEX, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 71%, ESPN: 22%) - Since Josh Jung went on the IL on April 2 (ushering in the age of Josh H.), Smith is slashing .305/.405/.495, with a .399 wOBA and 159 wRC+. And yet, he's still not universally rostered. Pure silliness, I tell ya'.
Max Kepler, MIN, OF (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 8%) - Fun Fact: Did you know that Kepler was able to return from the IL so quickly because he wrapped his bruised right knee with a daily poultice of sauerkraut and cabbage leaves? It's (probably) true! Regardless, Herr Kepler has been chugging boots since returning from the IL, running a 22 APR over the past two weeks, with two home runs and 11 RBI. He may have started poorly before the injury but Kepler has come back on fire and should be rostered until he slows down.
Willi Castro, MIN, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 14%) - Oh my God, that Willi Castro's so hot right now. Much like Hansel is all the time, Castro has been a white-hot ball of fire recently, posting the second-highest APR of all hitters over the past two weeks. His Roster% has risen accordingly but he's still available in a lot of leagues. With triple-position eligibility and a points-friendly profile, Castro should be, at minimum, a solid upgrade to your bench.
Brendan Donovan, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 17%) - The Cardinals aren't going anywhere but Donovan continues to be a top-90 hitter on every platform but NFBC.
Next Choices
Connor Joe, PIT, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 33%) - Another scoring period goes by, another top-100 week by Joe, who now rocks a 73 APR for the season. Only 33% rostered on both Yahoo and ESPN, Joe is currently slashing .292/.376/.469, with 3 HR, 18 R, 14 RBI, and 2 SB...Again, he's just 33% rostered.
Brent Rooker, OAK, OF (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 4%) - Brent Rooker (he of the 4 APR in Week 6), has a top-70 APR in three of his past four periods and is just smoking lasers with his SLG, OPS, and wOBA also virtually the same as their x-versions. Rooker has been so productive that his APR on ESPN (-1 per K) is nearly the same as on the other platforms, even with a 37%(!) K%.
Lars Nootbaar, STL, OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 18%) - He has been mostly a dumpster since making his 2024 debut in Week 3 but expected stats closer to his career norms say we're still dealing with a similar Noot as from before. Nootbaar is slashing .162/.253/.270 but has a .255 xBA, .335 xOBP, and .427 xSLG, while a .243 wOBA has a .334 xwOBA behind it. Things will start to level out, as a .196 BABIP can't continue forever, and once it does Nootbaar's excellent discipline (20% K%, 11% BB%) will again make him a boon under most scoring systems.
Jo Adell, LAA, OF (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 10%) - Adell went nuclear in Week 5 (20 APR) and promptly fell back to earth in Week 6 (141 APR). Cutting his strikeout rate to a manageable 24% K% in 2024 is certainly helping his cause but I'm not yet tripping over myself to add him under most scoring systems.
J.J. Bleday, OAK, OF (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) - Bleday has had a bad run for three weeks but came back with a vengeance in Week 6, posting a 2 APR headed into Sunday's finale. Let's not get too carried away but Bleday has a 20% K% and 8% BB%, piling up PAs in an everyday role. That'll play in many leagues.
Desperate Choices
Tyler Nevin, OAK, 3B/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 7%) - Nevin has started every game but one for Oakland since April 15, slashing .313/.384/.531 over 73 PA, with a .40o wOBA and 166 wRC+...Yes, Tyler Nevin. Now up to a 139 APR for the season (and a 20 APR in Week 6), now is the time to grab this hot hand before he flames out of wire.
Bryan De La Cruz, MIA, OF (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 16%) - My guy BDLC has been back up to his old tricks in Week 6, posting a 33 APR headed into Sunday's action, going 6-for-22, with two doubles and one home run. Unfortunately, De La Cruz still struggles with consistency and is prone to going to the absolute basement in any given week. Facing the excellent pitching of Philadelphia and the Dodgers in Week 7, I'd probably look elsewhere.
Leodys Taveras, TEX, OF (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 3%) - APR by week: 216, 112, 307, 138, 270, 70. Every other week Taveras is mid, and every other week he's mostly worthless. Maybe he'll break the trend in Week 7, or maybe he keep being the inconsistent scorer he's always been. Dealer's choice but the house is stacked on the latter.
- Chas McCormick, HOU, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
- Byron Buxton, MIN, OF (knee inflammation - no timetable)
- Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - no timetable)
- Kris Bryant, COL, OF (lower back - no timetable)
- Garrett Mitchell, MIL, OF (fractured finger - 6-to-8 weeks)
- Alek Thomas, ARI, OF (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
- Austin Hays, BAL, OF (strained calf - no timetable)
- Joey Gallo, WSH, 1B/OF (strained shoulder - no timetable)
- Justin Foscue, TEX, 2B (strained oblique - no timetable)
- Dylan Carlson, STL, OF (shoulder strain - rehab assignment)
- TJ Friedl, CIN, OF (wrist fracture - rehab assignment)
- Victor Robles, WSH (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups
Best Choices
Elias Diaz, COL, C (Yahoo: 35%, ESPN: 11%) - Hmm, I wonder if Colorado is at home this week? Well, they are but Diaz also hasn't been a terrible option most weeks, regardless of where he's played. Diaz has a 103 APR over the past two weeks and has yet to clock in worse than a 200 APR; which, for catchers, is pretty good. In fact, outside of a 196 APR in Week 2 and a 188 APR in Week 4, Diaz has been in the top 140 twice and the top 90 twice. Considering what's on most wires (and where his homestand is), I'm not sure you could ask for more.
Shea Langeliers, OAK, C (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 4%) - Langeliers is having himself quite the nice fortnight, running a 69 APR over the last two weeks, capping things off with a monster Saturday night, collecting three hits, with a triple and three-run home run, scoring five total runs. A .186 AVG might kill him in roto but 7 HR, 13 R, and 16 RBI are making him a killer in points. Most important to his overall value, though, particularly in leagues with a strikeout penalty, are the strides he's made in the whiff department. Langeliers entered 2024 with a 31% K% backed by a 17% SwStr% but through 114 PA (a not totally insignificant sample size) he's running a 23% K% with a 12% SwStr% that tells us this isn't just a blip. With only one LHP on the schedule in Week 7 (against whom he is a complete disaster), Langeliers should again keep things rolling.
Next Choices
Connor Wong, BOS, C (Yahoo: 29%, ESPN: 9%) - Wong hasn't been quite as good in Week 6 as he was in Week 4 (57 APR) and Week 5 (38 APR) but a 164 APR is still pretty respectable for a catcher. He only has five games on the schedule in Week 7 but three of them will come vs LHP, against whom Wong is slashing .308/.379/.462, with a .376 wOBA and .841 OPS. And while starts against Chris Sale and McKenzie Gore aren't ideal, the third lines up against Patrick Corbin -- and you know that he's itching for a blowup after "only" allowing 7 ER over his past three starts...It's in his genetic code.
Desperate Choices
Mitch Garver, SEA, C (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 13%) - The power is finally starting to heat up for Garver, who has two home runs and three doubles over his past seven games, good for a .360 ISO and .560 SLG. Unfortunately, Garver has been making most of his hay against LHP and the Mariners are only scheduled to face one of them in Week 7.
On the IL
- Patrick Bailey, SF, C (concussion - no timetable)
- Max Stassi, CHW, C (hip inflammation - no timetable)
- Yasmani Grandal, PIT (plantar fascitis - rehab assignment)
- Jason Delay, PIT (knee surgery - no timetable)
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