Points League Hitters: Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball for Week 8 (2024)

Welcome RotoBallers to the Week 8 edition of our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of May 13 - May 19, 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 11.

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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: 78%, ESPN: 29%) - Umm, we're still doing this? I know it's only the ESPNers who are lagging on rostering Lowe but that's the silliest part. With a 17% K% and 17% BB%, Lowe has been most valuable with ESPN and their -1 per strikeout scoring, posting an APR that is 40-50 ranks higher than on the other platforms.

Connor Joe, PIT, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 31%) - We'll just keep repeating ourselves, I guess...Another scoring period, another week of Connor Joe being around a top-100 hitter. Joe now has a 79 APR for the season and is lined up for another solid week, with three of his seven games scheduled vs LHP. Over 53 PA vs LHP this season, Joe is slashing .298/.377/.574, with a .412 wOBA and .951 OPS.

Next Choices

Andrew Vaughn, CHW, 1B (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 6%) - I'm a known-Vaughn hater but have always been consistent in his value being higher in point leagues. After a disastrous April, Vaughn has at least started to come out of things on the points-front, posting top-150 APRs in Weeks 6 and 7, and currently running a 76 APR headed into Sunday's actions. I'm still not going out of my way to roster him (or most White Sox) but you could do worse if you're needing a CI sub.

Jeimer Candelario, CIN, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 12%) - Candelario has finally started to come out of his early-season doldrums, slashing .333/.351/.556 over his last 10 games, with 2 HR, a .394 wOBA, and 11% K%. Most important to his points value is that last number; Candelario has a 23% K% for his career coming into the season but was running over 30% prior to this resurgence in discipline.

Desperate Choices

Tyler Nevin, OAK, 1B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 4%) - Nevin has done a whole lot of nothing in Week 8 but is still a solid swap-in if you're in need, as he still collects a lot of PAs and has a points-friendly profile. But series against the Royals and Astros might make for some dicey matchups.

On the IL

• Christian Encarnacion-Strand, CIN, 1B (fractured wrist - 4 to 6 weeks)
• Brandon Drury, LAA, 1B/2B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• DJ LeMahieu, NYY, 1B/3B (foot fracture - no timetable)
• Miguel Sano, LAA, 1B (knee discomfort - no timetable)
• Gio Urshela, DET, 1B/3B (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
• Joey Gallo, WSH, 1B/OF (strained shoulder - no timetable)

Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Abraham Toro, OAK, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 11%) - Abraham Toro SZN, anyone? Toro has been on a torrid streak the past two weeks, with a 14 APR heading into Sunday. Yes, that Abraham Toro, who has now batted leadoff in five games straight, with 10 of his last 12 starts coming no lower than fourth in the order. But while he won't keep up this heat forever, Toro has only been a total bum in two of the eight periods so far, and has an 18% K% that makes his value even sweeter in leagues with a strikeout penalty.

Jose Caballero, TB, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 56%, ESPN: 18%) - Don't be fooled by Caballero's superior slash-line vs LHP; his .323 AVG has a .161 xBA and .588(!) BABIP behind it, not to mention an Oneil Cruz-esque 40% K%. Luckily the Rays have seven games in Week 8, with none scheduled vs LHP.

Next Choices

Luis Garcia, WSH, 2B (Yahoo: 47%, ESPN: 15%) - Garcia has put up duds in two of the past three weeks but his combination of PAs, discipline, and speed should continue to serve him well in most scoring systems. With a series against the White Sox on tap, he's a good way to upgrade your bench (at minimum) in leagues where he's been dropped (or never picked up).

Brendan Donovan, STL, 2B/OF(Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 17%) - Donovan is coming off of his second-worst period of the year but gets six manageable matchups vs LAA and BOS, with only one of the six scheduled vs an LHP.

Jonathan India, CIN, 2B (Yahoo: 52%, ESPN: 11%) - India has been solid, though, unspectacular but the biggest hit to his value is the return of T.J. Friedl to the top of the Reds order. He'll still bat near the top vs LHP but the rest of the time he'll be in the bottom-third until he hits his way out of it. He will get a couple of lefties in Week 8, with the Reds scheduled to face two of them out of their seven games.

Desperate Choices

Josh Rojas, SEA, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 8%) - Don't look now but Rojas is slowly turning back into Josh Rojas, putting up his third-straight week of a declining APR. With J.P. getting closer to a rehab assignment, the sun is setting on Rojas's value.

Edouard Julien, MIN, 2B (Yahoo: 53%, ESPN: 12%) - Want to know why Julien's Roster% continues to lag so much on ESPN? It rhymes with "35% K%.

Jorge Polanco, SEA, 2B (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 7%) - I tried to tell y'all about Polanco's (totally scientific and not just sample-based) "superpower" of only being good every other week and he didn't disappoint, posting a 324 APR headed into Sunday after a 31 APR in Week 7. Clearly, the rollercoaster will come back up this week - just know the peak is usually around a top-100 APR and Polanco's 32% K% shouldn't be messed with at all in leagues with a K-penalty.

On the IL

• Zack Gelof, OAK, 2B (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Brandon Drury, LAA, 1B/2B (strained hamstring - 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/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Danny Mendick, CHW, 2B/3B (lower back - no timetable)

Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Josh Smith, TEX, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 27%) - Oh cool, Smith is still available in a majority of leagues but at least his Roster% has finally increased enough to keep me from getting visibly angry. Smith continues to do everything you want from a points player: a lot of PAs and production, with a 21% K% and 10% BB%. And we're still waiting, why?

Maikel Garcia, KC, 3B (Yahoo: 81%, ESPN: 36%) - It's only on ESPN and I know we talk about it every week but still...why in the hell is Garcia still available? He's literally had two bad weeks and has an 18% K% that only helps him in systems like ESPN that have a K-penalty.

Abraham Toro, OAK, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 11%) - Abraham Toro SZN, anyone? Toro has been on a torrid streak the past two weeks, with a 14 APR heading into Sunday. Yes, that Abraham Toro, who has now batted leadoff in five games straight, with 10 of his last 12 starts coming no lower than fourth in the order. But while he won't keep up this heat forever, Toro has only been a total bum in two of the eight periods so far, and has an 18% K% that makes his value even sweeter in leagues with a strikeout penalty.

Matt Vierling, DET, 3B/OF (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 2%) - Vierling has struggled in Week 7 after back-to-back weeks with a top-75 APR but could be in for a good week with three left-handers on the schedule. Over his first 41 PA vs LHP this season, Vierling has a .401 xwOBA and a .325 AVG backed by a .383 xBA.

Next Choices

Willi Castro, MIN, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 70%, ESPN: 25%) - Only available on ESPN but Castro just continues to produce, posting a 66 APR in Week 7 after a top-10 APR over the previous two weeks.

Eugenio Suarez, SEA, 3B (Yahoo: 41%, ESPN: 15%) - After back-to-back poohs, Suarez has gotten back on the good foot in Week 7, running an 86 APR heading into Sunday. He's still tough to use in leagues with a K-penalty but you can't deny the sheer compiling he's doing, with 3 HR, 17 R, and 22 RBI over 163 PA.

Jake Burger, MIA, 3B (Yahoo: 74%, ESPN: 24%) - Another player only lagging on ESPN but also another player who doesn't have an onerous K%. Burger has a .195 AVG but that's backed by a more respectable .230 xBA and a .211 BABIP that is sure to rise eventually. He had a bad time in his first week back from the IL but don't forget that he had a top-40 APR prior to his injury.

Desperate Choices

Josh Rojas, SEA, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 8%) - Don't look now but Rojas is slowly turning back into Josh Rojas, putting up his third-straight week of a declining APR. With J.P. getting closer to a rehab assignment, the sun is setting on Rojas's value.

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 - rehab assignment)
• Danny Mendick, CHW, 2B/3B (lower back - no timetable)
• Oswald Peraza, NYY, 3B (strained shoulder - rehab assignment)

Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Josh Smith, TEX, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 27%) - Oh cool, Smith is still available in a majority of leagues but at least his Roster% has finally increased enough to keep me from getting visibly angry. Smith continues to do everything you want from a points player: a lot of PAs and production, with a 21% K% and 10% BB%. And we're still waiting, why?

Jose Caballero, TB, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 56%, ESPN: 18%) - Don't be fooled by Caballero's superior slash-line vs LHP; his .323 AVG has a .161 xBA and .588(!) BABIP behind it, not to mention an Oneil Cruz-esque 40% K%. Luckily the Rays have seven games in Week 8, with none scheduled vs LHP.

Next Choices

Jackson Merrill, SD, SS/OF (Yahoo: 55%, ESPN: 29%) - Merrill is yet another player whose Roster% lags behind on the platform where he carries the highest value. Merrill's 17% K% has helped make him a top-100 hitter on ESPN, outpacing the other platforms by 20-30 spots.

Willi Castro, MIN, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 70%, ESPN: 25%) - Only available on ESPN but Castro just continues to produce, posting a 66 APR in Week 7 after a top-10 APR over the previous two weeks.

Desperate Choices

Orlando Arcia, ATL, SS (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 16%) - He who rarely strikes out (15% K%) continues to provide better scoring than a lot of higher-rostered players, with a top-120 APR for the season, continuing to pile up PAs in Hotlanta's offense.

Zach Neto, LAA, SS (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 5%) - His Roster% tells me the general public still hasn't forgiven him for a brutal start to the season but Neto has been quietly producing for a few weeks now, with a top-30 APR in Week 5 and a top-75 APR in each of the past two weeks. With two LHP in Week 8, against whom he has slashed .458/.458/.542 over a (small) 24 PA sample, Neto will look to continue getting himself in the conversation.

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)
• Nick Ahmed, SF, SS (sprained wrist - no timetable)

Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Max Kepler, MIN, OF (Yahoo: 49%, ESPN: 20%) - Listen, I know it's natural to instinctively not trust Germans but Kepler has been an absolute maniac since returning from the IL, slashing .424/478/.712 over 67 PA, with 3 HR, 12 R, and 15 RBI, posting APR of #15, #37, and #15 (again). Look at those numbers again and ask yourself if that's someone who should still exist on the wire.

Brent Rooker, OAK, OF (Yahoo: 75%, ESPN: 28%) - Sweet lord, someone turn the hose on Rooker! Rooker has a 7 APR in Week 7, following a 4 APR in Week 6, and a 58 APR in Week 5. Our beefy boy is now slashing .284/.371/.608 for the season, with 9 HR, 19 R, and 25 RBI. The 33% K% is what's holding people back on ESPN but even that high rate can be outrun when you're blasting fools like Rooker currently is.

Jo Adell, LAA, OF (Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 9%) - With top-20 APRs in two of the past three weeks and a dramatically better 25% K%, it's time to trust the former flameout.

Josh Smith, TEX, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 27%) - Oh cool, Smith is still available in a majority of leagues but at least his Roster% has finally increased enough to keep me from getting visibly angry. Smith continues to do everything you want from a points player: a lot of PAs and production, with a 21% K% and 10% BB%. And we're still waiting, why?

Bryan De La Cruz, MIA, OF (Yahoo: 64%, ESPN: 26%) - De La Cruz has a top-50 APR in three of the past four weeks and while his 26% K% doesn't do him any favors in leagues with a K-penalty, it's also not such an anchor that he can't outhit his way past.

Wilyer Abreu, BOS, OF (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 15%) - The ol' "what have you done for me lately?", huh? I guess Abreu's Roster% has dropped him back down under our threshold because of a 139 APR in Week 7 but I'm still confident in the top-75 (#15, #39, #72) he had in the previous three periods. If he's been dropped, you should snag him while you can.

Connor Joe, PIT, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 31%) - We'll just keep repeating ourselves, I guess...Another scoring period, another week of Connor Joe being around a top-100 hitter. Joe now has a 79 APR for the season and is lined up for another solid week, with three of his seven games scheduled vs LHP. Over 53 PA vs LHP this season, Joe is slashing .298/.377/.574, with a .412 wOBA and .951 OPS.

Matt Vierling, DET, 3B/OF (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 2%) - Vierling has struggled in Week 7 after back-to-back weeks with a top-75 APR but could be in for a good week with three left-handers on the schedule. Over his first 41 PA vs LHP this season, Vierling has a .401 xwOBA and a .325 AVG backed by a .383 xBA.

Next Choices

Mike Tauchman, CHC, OF (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 9%) - Injuries have helped matriculate Tauchman back up the order and he's taken advantage; batting 1st/2nd in 16 of Chicago's last 17 games, Tauchman has slashed .276/.427/.397, with a .376 wOBA.

Jackson Merrill, SD, SS/OF (Yahoo: 55%, ESPN: 29%) - Merrill is yet another player whose Roster% lags behind on the platform where he carries the highest value. Merrill's 17% K% has helped make him a top-100 hitter on ESPN, outpacing the other platforms by 20-30 spots.

Willi Castro, MIN, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 70%, ESPN: 25%) - Only available on ESPN but Castro just continues to produce, posting a 66 APR in Week 7 after a top-10 APR over the previous two weeks.

Michael Conforto, SF, OF (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 35%) -

Brendan Donovan, STL, 2B/OF(Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 17%) - Donovan is coming off of his second-worst period of the year but gets six manageable matchups vs LAA and BOS, with only one of the six scheduled vs an LHP.

Tommy Pham, CHW, OF (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 4%) - Don't make him angry...You wouldn't like Tommy Pham when he's angry. But unfortunately, 29 teams made Tommy angry by waiting so long to sign him and now he's taking it out on their poor pitchers. The Incredible Pham has a top-50 APR the past two weeks but remains <10% rostered. Just know that if he asks me, I'm pointing the finger at y'all - snitches may get stitches but it'll be worth it if it keeps me from getting slapped by Tommy.

JJ Bleday, OAK, OF (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 3%) - Another surprising Athletic who has been scorching the points scene lately, posting a 56 APR this week after a crazy #2 rating in Week 7. Don't expect him to stay this hot but a 20% K% and 10% BB% over a pile of PAs is a solid way to keep compiling yourself into relevancy.

Richie Palacios, TB, OF (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 2%) -

Leody Taveras, TEX, OF (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 4%) -

Desperate Choices

Mark Canha, DET, OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 17%) -

Kerry Carpenter, DET, OF (Yahoo: 50%, ESPN: 9%) -

Tyler Nevin, OAK, 1B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 4%) - Nevin has done a whole lot of nothing in Week 8 but is still a solid swap-in if you're in need, as he still collects a lot of PAs and has a points-friendly profile. But series against the Royals and Astros might make for some dicey matchups.

• Chas McCormick, HOU, OF (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
• Byron Buxton, MIN, OF (knee inflammation - no timetable)
• Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - no timetable)
• Kris Bryant, COL, OF (lower back - rehab assignment)
• Garrett Mitchell, MIL, OF (fractured finger - likely mid-June return)
• Alek Thomas, ARI, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Austin Hays, BAL, OF (strained calf - rehab assignment)
• Joey Gallo, WSH, 1B/OF (strained shoulder - rehab assignment)
• Justin Foscue, TEX, 2B/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Victor Robles, WSH (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)

Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Shea Langeliers, OAK, C (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 7%) - Langeliers has been one of our best choices for a few weeks but his Roster% still refuses to budge much, even if he has been a top-50 hitter in three of the past five weeks and has an 11 APR over the last two periods. Still not many walks but Langeliers now has a 22% K% over 131 PA, a dramatic change from previous seasons that is now over a large enough sample for us to start trusting it.

Danny Jansen, C, TOR (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 17%) - Jansen has been getting more regular playing time lately, starting seven of the last eight games, with Alejandro Kirk continuing to fade into the sea. Over those seven games, Jansen has slashed .357/.400/.714 over 30 PA, with two home runs and a .475 wOBA.

Next Choices

Elias Diaz, C, COL (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 15%) - I love it when a plan comes together - and by "plan", I mean starting a catcher who has been a top-five option for most of the year and was heading into a homestand at Coors. Unfortunately, Diaz goes back on the road for Week 8, and while he hasn't been completely terrible away from home, you're looking at a .397 wOBA and .916 OPS that drops to a .309 wOBA and .701 OPS away from Coors.

Logan O'Hoppe, LAA, C (Yahoo: 62%, ESPN: 27%) - O'Hoppe has been streaky but is coming off of a top-80 week and has some solid matchups against STL and TEX in Week 8.

Desperate Choices

Mitch Garver, SEA, C (Yahoo: 38%, ESPN: 13%) - Garver turned continues to keep up a solid streak, posting a top-100 APR in three of the last four weeks. But his value is still dong-driven and a 32% K% makes him nearly impossible to use in leagues with a strikeout penalty.

Tyler Stephenson, C, CIN (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 5%) - Stephenson has been useful as a fill-in but will face some really though pitching matchups on the road in Week 8 against the Diamondbacks and Dodgers.

On the IL

• Tyler Heineman, BOS, C (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Max Stassi, CHW, C (hip inflammation - no timetable)
• Jason Delay, PIT (knee surgery - no timetable)

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