Points League Hitters: Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 14

1 year ago by Nicklaus Gaut

Link copied to clipboard!

Welcome to Week 14 and our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of June 26 - July 2, looking at players below ~50% rostered on ESPN, Yahoo!, or Fantrax.

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, June 24.

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

Know Your Scoring System

Platform	AB	Hits	TB	1B	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	HBP
ESPN	0	0	1	1	2	3	4	1	1	1	-1	1	0	0
Yahoo!	0	0	2.6	2.6	5.2	7.8	10.4	1.9	1.9	2.6	0	4.2	0	2.6
CBS	0	0	1	1	2	3	4	1	1	1	-0.5	2	-1	1
Fantrax	0	0	1	1	2	3	4	1	1	1	0	2	0	0
NFBC	-1	4	0	0	0	0	6	2	2	0	0	5	0	0

You'll likely find a suitable mirror to your own system if you look above. While every point counts, as long as they aren't seismic changes, you can get away with some "close enough" calls. IE. You're probably fine if everything is the same except for HBP (or something similar).

Week 14 Leaderboards

Here are our waiver wire leaderboards headed into Week 14, with players ordered by their Yahoo Roster%:

And here are the stats driving the above ranks:

First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Spencer Torkelson, DET, 1B (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 10%) - Torkelson had a bad Week 13 (.100/.100/.100, .089 wOBA) but is up to a 121 APR for the year and a 97 APR over the past two weeks. He'll also get seven games in Week 14, with three coming vs LHP. Facing LHP, Torkelson has a .338 wOBA/.353 xwOBA, with a 16% K% and 12% BB%, compared to a .285 wOBA/.322 xwOBA, with a 27% K% and 8% BB%. Oh, and did I mention three games are at Coors?

LaMonte Wade Jr., SF, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 39%, ESPN: 26%) - You may have noticed...So I shouldn't continue to drone on...I think you should pick up LaMonte Wade Jr. - he's been a top 60ish hitter for a while now. Plus, it would just make me happy...Why don't you want Nicklaus to be happy? To be fair San Francisco will face a really strong slate of starters in two series against the Blue Jays and Mets. But still ; )

Next Choices

Garrett Cooper, MIN, 1B (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 2%) - The perennially underrated Cooper is finally starting to heat up, posting a 31 APR in Week 13 after slashing .348/.400/.465 over 25 PA, with 1 HR and 6 RBI. Unfortunately, one of Cooper's favorite things to do is to go on the IL shortly after hitting a hot streak, so you better use him while you can.

Joey Votto, CIN, 1B (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 9%) - And just like that, ol' man Votto is back in our fantasy lives. Votto has returned from injury to make his season debut in spectacular fashion, with 3 HR, 4 R, 7 RBI, and a .294 AVG in his first five games back. He's always been a points god when healthy, so as long as he is (and the Reds stay so hot), he'll be worth taking a chance on.

Ryan Noda, OAK, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 3%) - Noda is a low-key on-base machine, with a .387 OBP and 18% BB% but a 33% K% is the reason why he's been a top-75 hitter on Yahoo and Fantrax but is #114 on CBS (-.5 per K) and #141 on ESPN (-1 per K).

Migues Vargas, LAD, 1B/2B/OF (Yahoo: 29%, ESPN: 17%) - Vargas is mired in a slump (358 APR over the past two weeks) but has a favorable week of matchups, with three games in Colorado and three against the Royals.

Triston Casas, BOS, 1B (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 28%) - Casas has a 93 APR over the past two weeks and while the left-hander is scheduled to face three LHP in Week 14, Casas has greatly improved his plate discipline vs lefties, with a .391 OBP and 24% BB% against them, compared to a .319 OBP and 12% BB% vs RHP.

Desperate Choices

Nick Pratto, KC, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 3%) - Pratto has been useable but mostly mundane, with a 109 APR so far in Week 13, and a 145 APR over the past two weeks. A .271 AVG, .356 OBP, and .343 wOBA should give him the bones of a better points asset but he won't make a leap until an untenable 35% K% gets under control.

Christian Arroyo, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - Arroyo is close to being locked back into Boston's regular second baseman, having now started 10 of their last 12 games, and has a 50 APR in Week 13, with a 123 APR over the past two weeks.

Carlos Santana, PIT, 1B (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 16%) -Santana might be a minor points deity, but this probably isn't the week to try and roll him (or any other Pirates) for a stream considering the starting pitchers that await him. Pittsburgh is scheduled to face Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, Joe Musgrove, and Corbin Burnes in Week 14.

On the IL

Patrick Wisdom, CHC, 1B/3B/OF (sprained wrist - no timetable)
Wilmer Flores, SF, 1B/2B/3B (foot contusion - no timetable)
Yu Chang, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS (hamate surgery - no timetable)
Ji-Man Choi, TB, 1B (strained Achilles - rehab assignment)
Darin Ruf, MIL, 1B/OF (knee laceration - no timetable)

Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Geraldo Perdomo, ARI, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 16%) - Does Perdomo have a .297 AVG and .376 wOBA that is only backed by a .207 xBA and .285 xwOBA? Yes. But he's also up to a 72 APR for the season and a 33 APR so far in Week 13, so it's not like we can just keep blaming batted-ball flukiness. Perdomo is fast, doesn't strike out, walks a lot, and has now batted leadoff for eight straight games - this is points gold that can't be left on the wire any longer.

Ha-Seong Kim, SD, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 11%) - Kim has been cooking for a while, now up to a 99 APR for the year and a 59 APR over the past two weeks. But he's dominated in Week 13, running a 6 APR after slashing .333/.385/.583 over 26 PA, with 2 HR, 5 R, 6 RBI, and 2 SB. Plus, Kim has also started to battle his way out of the bottom third of San Diego's lineup, having now batted leadoff for the past three games.

Next Choices

Andy Ibanez, DET, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 1%) - Ibanez has settled into a more full-time role with Detroit, having started 11 of the last 13, while batting third when facing a left-handed starter. Detroit plays seven games in Week 14, with three coming vs LHP, and three in Colorado - including one against the left-handed, human gas can/home run bingo machine, Austin Gomber. Gomber has a 9.40 ERA at home and has allowed 12 HR in 37 IP—another friendly reminder to lock and load your Detroit righties.

Taylor Walls, TB, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 29%) - Walls might only be slashing .213/.318/.386 for the season but (an inexplicable) 7 HR, along with 36 R and 16 SB have him at a 107 APR for the year. Even more remarkable, though, is that he's one of the few Rays you can trust to start every game, having started 22 of the last 23.

Luis Garcia, WSH, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 14%) - Garcia has settled into a points profile with a high floor but a low ceiling, compiling PAs and points near the top of Washint0n's lineup.

Elvis Andrus, CHW, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 1%) - I'm seriously convinced that Andrus will still be putting up above-average point-scoring rates when he's 50 years old. Andrus has now started 10 games in a row, over which he slashed .250/.308/.389, with a .306 wOBA. That might not sound great at all but it can still be very useful given an 18% K% and 8% BB for the year.

Desperate Choices

Nick Madrigal, CHC, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 1%) - Since being recalled from the minors, Madrigal is slashing .294/.429/.353 over 45 PA, with 5 R, 5 RBI, and 4 SB. Power will never be a part of his slappy game but a high-OBP/low-whiff profile can play very well in points if given everyday playing time.

C.J. Abrams, WSH, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 9%) - Abrams has mostly had a ho-hum points profile and will see a week of tough pitching matchups in series against the Mariners and Phillies.

Tony Kemp, OAK, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 2%) - It will inevitably end soon but it looks like we're in the middle of a classic Tony Kemp hot streak, as the Oakland veteran has posted a 35 APR in Week 13, with a .353 AVG that is backed by an even better .378 xBA. But remember when Oakland was the hottest team in baseball? Well, they're back to being awful, having now lost nine of their last 10 games, and without some added lineup juice, Kemp's fall will be as cliffy as ever.

On the IL

Jean Segura, MIA, 2B/3B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
Wilmer Flores, SF, 1B/2B/3B (foot contusion - no timetable)
Nick Gordon, MIN, 2B/SS/OF (fractured shin - no timetable)
Yu Chang, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS (hamate surgery - no timetable)
Michael Massey, KC, 2B (finger laceration - no timetable)
Ehire Adrianza, ATL, 2B/3B/OF (elbow inflammation - no timetable)

Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Royce Lewis, MIN, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 38%, ESPN: 9%) - Lewis has been in our lives for so long as an oft-injured top prospect that I think it's easy to forget he still has just 120 PA in the majors and will be as subject to early up-and-downs as any other young players. After an initial burst of interest following 2 HR in his first games, a 13-game homer drought (and .261 wOBA/64 wRC+) has made that fantasy interest wane. But as a long-time fan, I implore you not to keep waiting; dude's got fantasy chops.

The plate discipline leaves something to be desired but he's a high-average guy with a good bit of everything (though, I wouldn't count on a ton of running in 2023 in the name of keeping him healthy) and has been heating up. After collecting just two hits in five games, Lewis is on a six-game hitting streak that is modest in length but comes with a .409 AVG, 2 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, and 2 SB. AKA, Lil' bit of everything.

Maikel Garcia, KC, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 29%, ESPN: 4%) - We've been talking for a while about Garcia's potential for growing into a great points asset, given his profile. Well, it's been coming to fruition as of late, with the rookie posting a 20 APR over the past two weeks and a 14 APR so far in Week 13. He's playing every day, slowly hitting his way up the lineup a little bit, starting the past 10 games, with none coming lower than sixth, even getting a shot at leadoff in one.

Next Choices

Jeimer Candelario, WSH, 3B (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 8%) - Serious question; why the hell is Candelario rostered so low? The most recent capitol city candy man is up to a 77 APR for the year, with a 60 APR over the past two weeks and a 72 APR so far in Week 13. But it's actually better than that, as his overall score is being dragged down by being #122 on NFBC (whose scoring most mimics classic 5x5 roto value). It's nothing flashy but Candelario compiles a ton of PAs and R+RBI, with decent power and a 19% K%.

Jake Burger, CHW, 3B (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 8%) - The good news is that Burger is finally in a regular role with Yoan Moncada's newest injury making the decision a lot easier. But the worse news is that Burger is mired in a horrific slump, having slashed just .149/.200/.447 over the past two weeks, with a 40(!)% K%. But the 4 HR over the same period reminds you of the prodigious power he carries even when not hitting much of anything else. With seven games and three vs LHP in Week 14, it might be time for a hot Burger to show back up on the grill.

Desperate Choices

On the IL

Anthony Rendon, LAA, 3B (wrist contustion - no timetable)
Patrick Wisdom, CHC, 1B/3B/OF (sprained wrist - no timetable)
Jean Segura, MIA, 2B/3B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
Yoan Moncada, CHW, 3B (lower back inflammation - no timetable)
Wilmer Flores, SF, 1B/2B/3B (foot contusion - no timetable)
Yu Chang, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS (hamate surgery - no timetable)
Ehire Adrianza, ATL, 2B/3B/OF (elbow inflammation - no timetable)
Brad Miller, TEX, 3B/OF (strained oblique - rehab assigment)
Kevin Smith, OAK, 3B/SS (strained back - no timetable)

Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Javier Baez, DET, SS (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 26%) - Baez has a 58 APR over the past two weeks but he's a decent right-hander for Detroit, so he therefore must be started. As a refresher, the Tigers face three LHP in Week 14, with a series in Colorado.

Ezequiel Tovar, COL, SS (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 8%) - The power hasn't (and may never) come around yet but Tovar is in the middle of a base-knock summer, currently in the midst of an eight-game hit streak that has come with three multi-hit games. But he's also has a hit in 13 of the last 14, only failing to get a hit in three games so far in June, with 3 HR in 78 PA that matches the 3 HR he had in 195 PA in April/May. Oh, did I mention he'll also have six games at home in Week 14? Because he does.

Next Choices

Luis Garcia, WSH, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 14%) - Garcia has settled into a points profile with a high floor but a low ceiling, compiling PAs and points near the top of Washint0n's lineup.

Desperate Choices

C.J. Abrams, WSH, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 9%) - Abrams has mostly had a ho-hum points profile and will see a week of tough pitching matchups in series against the Mariners and Phillies.

On the IL

Zach Neto, LAA, SS (strained oblique - no timetable)
Nick Gordon, MIN, 2B/SS/OF (fractured shin - no timetable)
Yu Chang, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS (hamate surgery - no timetable)
Kevin Smith, OAK, 3B/SS (strained back - no timetable)

Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Luis Matos, SF, OF (Yahoo: 35%, ESPN: 11%) - If Matos is still around your wire, this will likely be your last chance to grab him. Rookies can falter at any time but Matos has started 10 games in a row since being called up, with 11 runs and 2 SB in 41 PA, running just a 7% K%. But do be aware that two series against the Blue Jays and Mets are fraught with great pitching and could make it a rough week.

Marcell Ozuna, ATL, OF (Yahoo: 39%, ESPN: 15%) - I'm not sure why Ozuna is still hanging around on so many wires but he shouldn't be, batting in the middle of one of baseball's better offenses, with a points-friendly profile.

Bryan De La Cruz, MIA, OF (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 19%) - Is this it? Is this really the last week before my guy BDLC crosses our Roster% threshold? De La Cruz has an 86 APR so far in Week 13 which looks a lot like his 85 APR for the season. He has been slumping some in June but a marked improvement in his strikeout rate (33% in Mar/Apr, 22% in May/June) will continue to serve his points value well.

T.J. Friedl, CIN, OF (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 6%) - Friedl has an impressive 15 APR in Week 13 and a 15 APR over the past two weeks but don't get too crazy in those numbers because a lot of those points came from a 4-for-5 night with a three-run home run on Tuesday. However, he's finally warming up, overall, with a .324 AVG and .444 OBP over those two weeks, along with 5 SB.

Jack Suwinski, PIT, OF (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 10%) - I might be a known Suwinski-doubter but a week with just one left-handed starter on the starter docket is certainly the time you want to try and catch some of that homer lightning.

Randal Grichuk, COL, OF (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 3%) - He's disappointed me so many times that I'm officially downgrading Grichuk's Lava Factor from an outrageous 96.5 LF to a more reasonable (but still great) 90.2 LF. Of course, this probably means his anger at this blatant disrespect (that he'll definately be aware of) will fuel him toward going totally nuclear during this Week 14 homestand. Happens every time.

Trent Grisham, SD, OF (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 2%) - San Diego will face some sketchy starters in Week 14 during a road trip to Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, and two left-handers being on the schedule isn't as dissuasive as it once was, with Grisham now having started against the last seven that the Padres have faced.

Tommy Pham, NYM, OF (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 4%) - Pham is hot but more important to his point value, is playing every day (not just vs RHP), having now started the last 15 games.

Andrew Benintendi, CHW, OF (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 15%) - Even on a Northside mess, Benintendi really shouldn't be so low-rostered, particularly in leagues with a strikeout penalty. Don't let his mostly roto-junkiness keep him on your points wire.

Next Choices

Jurickson Profar, COL, OF (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 10%) - Profar has a 125 APR for the season, particularly excelling in leagues with a strikeout penalty (19% K%, 10% BB%). But let's get real; you know the deal, babe - he bats leadoff and has six games at Coors. Mmmm, that smells streamy.

Joc Pederson, SF, OF (Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 9%) - Like a boujee Randal Grichuk, Pederson can light the world on fire for stretches at a time. While these stretches are usually driven by dongs, this most recent hot streak (26 APR in Week 13, 19 APR over the last two weeks) has been driven more by general production and getting on base, than by all homers. But while just one LHP on the schedule is usually a good thing (as Pederson doesn't much start against them), the pitching slate isn't easy, with Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios, and Justin Verlander all getting a turn.

Matt Vierling, DET, OF (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 1%) - Hey, look - it's a Detroit right-hander that's scheduled against three LHP and has a series in Colorado...Ya know, I'm starting to sense a pattern.

Kerry Carpenter, DET, OF (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 1%) - Hey, look - it's a Detroit ~~right-hander~~ that's scheduled against three LHP and has a series in Colorado...Oh, whoops; Carpenter's a leftie himself, and has only seen limited action against LHP (33 PA) in his two partial seasons. But hey, he has slashed a non-embarrassing .258/.303/.452, with a .194 ISO in that small sample; plus, one of the scheduled opponents is Austin Gomber so perhaps they'll let Carpenter try and cook before Gomber's inevitable hook.

Desperate Choices

Andrew McCutchen, PIT, OF (Yahoo: 35%, ESPN: 23%) - There's a lot of stank on that Pittsburgh offense but McCutchen can always work as a solid stand-in if you're in a pinch.

Jose Siri, TB, OF (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 4%) - Siri has a 74 APR over the past two weeks but a 34% K% keeps him a liability in leagues with a strikeout penalty.

On the IL

Tyler O'Neill, STL, OF (strained lower back - no timetable)
Charlie Blackmon, COL (fractured hand - no timetable)
Patrick Wisdom, CHC, 1B/3B/OF (sprained wrist - no timetable)
Mitch Haniger, SF, OF (forearm surgery - expected to miss 10 weeks)
Ramon Lauerano, OAK, OF (fractured hand - no timetable)
Mike Yastrzemski, SF, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
Austin Meadows, DET (anxiety - no timetable)
Victor Robles, WSH, OF (back spasms - no timetable)
Nick Gordon, MIN, 2B/SS/OF (fractured shin - no timetable)
Trayce Thompson, LAD, OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
Akil Baddoo, DET, OF (strained quad - no timetable)
Kyle Isbel, KC, OF (strained hamstring - expected to miss six weeks)
Avisail Garcia, MIA, OF (back tightness - no timetable)
Ehire Adrianza, ATL, 2B/3B/OF (elbow inflammation - no timetable)
Brad Miller, TEX, 3B/OF (strained oblique - rehab assignment)
Heliot Ramos, SF, OF (strained oblique - no timetable)

Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Eric Haase, DET, C/OF (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - Sweet lord - maybe there's hope! It's a Detroit right-hander that faces three LHP and has a series at Coors.

Patrick Bailey, SF, C (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 3%) - Bailey has cooled off some but still has an 80 APR for the past two weeks as well as in Week 13, racking up nearly full-time PAs.

Next Choices

Yainer Diaz, HOU, C (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 4%) - Diaz is racking up a fair number of PAs for Houston and is set to face three LHP in Week 14.

Desperate Choices

Henry Davis, PIT, C (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 13%) - Davis is a prodigious hitting prospect and has come up firing but betting on a young catcher's bat skills is always a dicey proposition. He might end up mashing but I'd like to see more before investing too substantially.

On the IL

Logan O'Hoppe, LAA, C (shoulder surgery - out 4-6 months)
James McCann, BAL, C (sprained ankle - no timetable)

Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!