Points League Hitters: Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 15

1 year ago by Nicklaus Gaut

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In This Article hide

2. Week 15 Leaderboards

3. First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

4. Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

5. Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

6. Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

7. Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

8. Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

9. More Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Advice

Welcome to Week 15 and our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of July 3 - July 9, 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, July 1.

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 15 Leaderboards

Here are our waiver wire leaderboards headed into Week 15, 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: 16%, ESPN: 9%) - Prospect development is not always linear and there were probably a few good reasons that Torkelson was taken number-one overall by Detroit. He's now up to a 104 APR for the season and made us all look smart by posting a 17 APR in Week 14 heading into Sunday's action after being one of our best choices at the position last week, slashing .263/.391/.737, with 3 HR. With three LHP on the schedule for Week 15, Tork should be a full go again.

LaMonte Wade Jr., SF, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 38%, ESPN: 25%) - Not a good week for our guy LaMonte (258 APR) but Wade still remains one of the better options you'll find on most waiver wires.

Luke Raley, TB, 1B (Yahoo: 39%, ESPN: 9%) - Raley keeps raking but also keeps playing, having started the five straight heading into Sunday, posting a 13 APR in Week 14 after slashing .333/.455/.722, with 2 HR, 7 R, 5 RBI, and 1 SB. He's not starting vs LHP but the Rays are only scheduled to face one leftie out of their six games in Week 15.

Next Choices

Carlos Santana, PIT, 1B (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 8%) - Santana is always a great points profile when running right but sweet lord, the old man has gone full turbo so far in Week 14, posting a 6 APR after hitting 3 HR in 21 PA, slashing .476/.476/1.048.

Garrett Cooper, MIA, 1B (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 3%) - When he's actually healthy, Cooper can hit but, running a 106 APR for Week 14 and a 64 APR over the past two weeks. But a 30% K% and 5% BB% will limit his usefulness in many scoring formats.

Desperate Choices

Dominic Smith, WSH, 1B (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 1%) - With the Nationals scheduled to face three LHP in their seven games next week, you'd think it wouldn't be the time to snag the left-handed Smith, even if he's running a 42 APR in Week 14. But don't let that dissuade you too much, as he's slashing .301/.351/.330 over 111 PA vs LHP.

Seth Brown, OAK, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 4%) - Brown has been heating up, running a 70 APR in Week 14 after slashing .333/.375/.733, with 2 HR. But Oakland is set to face three LHP in Week 14 and Brown hasn't started against a leftie in the last four opportunities. And nor should he; over 32 PA vs LHP, Brown is slashing .037/.188/.037, with a .137 wOBA.

Owen Miller, MIL, 1B/2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 5%) - Miller has had his moments as a solid hole-filler but it might be a great week to gamble on a full stream, with Milwaukee getting seven games, with four scheduled vs LHP. Facing lefties this season, Miller is slashing .333/373/.406 over 75 PA, with a .342 wOBA.

Joey Gallo, MIN, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 5%) - Gallo has posted a 32 APR in Week 14 after hitting three home runs heading into Sunday, bringing his total for the year up to an impressive 15 HR in 217 PA. He also has a .195 AVG and 40% K%, so-ooo...

On the IL

Patrick Wisdom, CHC, 1B/3B/OF (sprained wrist - rehab assignment)
Yu Chang, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS (hamate surgery - rehab assignment)
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

Luis Garcia, WSH, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 14%) - Okay, we're getting to the point where Garcia needs to be picked up under most formats. The (still inexplicably just) 23-year-old doesn't much take a walk but has also just stopped striking out in 2023, posting a 12% K% and 7% SwStr% that is down from a 22% K% and 13% SwStr% in 2022. Garcia has settled into a consistent top-100 option and should be treated as such until further notice.

Andy Ibanez, DET, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 1%) - We've been touting Ibanez for a few weeks now, as he's hit himself into a near-everyday role in the middle of Detroit's order. We were hoping for a big week in Week 14 (and not just in points, as yours truly added him in about eight NFBC leagues ; ) and Ibanez has delivered, posting a 39 APR heading into one more game at Coors on Sunday, with a .280 AVG, 2 HR, 2 R, and 6 RBI. The Tigers are scheduled to face three LHP in Week 15, against whom Ibanez has a .573 SLG and .381 xwOBA.

Next Choices

Nick Madrigal, CHC, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 2%) - Now this is starting to look like the high-contact, no-striking-out, points god we were promised. Madrigal has a 69 APR so far in Week 14, with a 45 APR over the past two weeks. Since being recalled on June 9, Madrigal has started every game but two, slashing .321/.406/.446, with a .379 wOBA and 10% K%. Points gold, Jerry. Points gold.

Zach McKinstry, DET, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 10%) - Even with McKinstry sitting against three of the four left-handers that Detroit faced in Week 14, he still managed to post a 67 APR in just 17 PA. But you're gambling if trying to pull off the same feat in Week 15, with Detroit scheduled to again face a mess of LHP (3-of-6 games) and McKinstry unlikely to start against more than one of them.

Tony Kemp, OAK, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 3%) - We all know that this will end in sudden burnout but Tony Kemp SZN continues for now, running a 24 APR over the past two weeks and a 65 APR so far in Week 14. With three LHP scheduled in Week 15 (.304/.467/.565, .442 wOBA), perhaps Kemp-erella can stave off midnight once again.

Desperate Choices

Joey Wendle, MIA, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 2%) - Whoa, Joey Wendle has a 67 APR so far in Week 14, slashing .450/.476/.500, with a .430 wOBA??? Wow! Oh, it's with a .563 BABIP, .240 xBA, and .258 xwOBA? Okay, now that tracks.

On the IL

Jorge Polanco, MIN, 2B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
Chris Taylor, LAD, 2B/3B/SS/OF (knee discomfort - no timetable)
Nick Gordon, MIN, 2B/SS/OF (fractured shin - no timetable)
Yu Chang, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS (hamate surgery - rehab assignment)
Michael Massey, KC, 2B (finger laceration - rehab assignment)
Ehire Adrianza, ATL, 2B/3B/OF (elbow inflammation - no timetable)

Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Jeimer Candelario, WSH, 3B (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 14%) -Who has a 58 APR for the season and is only ~25% rostered? You guessed it - our new Cande man. Candelario is compiling tons of PAs and points, with 10 HR, 40 R, 38 RBI, and 3 SB. For context, even after a bonkers June, Nolan Arenado is just one slot above Candelario with a 57 APR, while the likes of Matt Chapman, Ryan McMahon, and Tommy Edman are all behind him. In case you were wondering, none of them are anywhere close to being rostered just 25%.

Royce Lewis, MIN, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 11%) - Lewis has struggled in Week 14 but gets a slate of subpar starting pitchers in Weeks 15, with a series against the Royals (Austin Cox, Jordan Lyles, Zack Greinke, Zack Greinke's 88 mph "fastball") on the books.

Next Choices

Maikel Garcia, KC, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 5%) - The rookie is in the midst of a mediocre Week 14 (151 APR) but still has a 20 APR over the past two weeks and has slowly worked his way up to the top half of Kansas City's lineup.

Anthony Rendon, LAA, 3B (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 32%) - Let's get real; Rendon will probably be a good points asset until right about he inevitably hits the IL again in a couple of weeks. Temper expectations accordingly.

Desperate Choices

Brett Baty, NYM, 3B (Yahoo: 13%, ESPN: 6%) - If you've been joining us for long, you probably understand how much I loves me some numbers, spreadsheets, nerd stuff, etc. But I also factor in some intangibles when applicable and avoiding players on sinking, stank-filled ships tends to be one of my red flags. Baty might not have to worry anymore about his starts getting ganked by a washed Eduardo Escobar but slashing .242/.312/.361 on a cursed Mets team is not nearly good enough to make up the difference.

On the IL

Patrick Wisdom, CHC, 1B/3B/OF (sprained wrist - rehab assignment)
Chris Taylor, LAD, 2B/3B/SS/OF (knee discomfort - no timetable)
Yoan Moncada, CHW, 3B (lower back inflammation - no timetable)
Yu Chang, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS (hamate surgery - rehab assignment)
Ehire Adrianza, ATL, 2B/3B/OF (elbow inflammation - no timetable)
Kevin Smith, OAK, 3B/SS (strained back - no timetable)

Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Ezequiel Tovar, COL, SS (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 10%) - It's always hard to trust a Colorado hitter going on the road after a long homestand but Tovar is really starting to come into his own, posting a 20 APR so far in Week 14, a 43 APR over the past two weeks, and is now up to a 93 APR for the season. But with only five games, his PAs will necessarily be limited, even if the Rockies have started moving him up in the batting order.

Next Choices

J.P. Crawford, SEA, SS (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 6%) - Low-key points star, J.P. Crawford, just keeps doing what point guys do - compiling numbers that don't impress anyone but keeps him racking plenty of points. Crawford has a 91 APR for the season and a 21 APR so far in Week 14 but remains ~5% rostered.

Desperate Choices

On the IL

Chris Taylor, LAD, 2B/3B/SS/OF (knee discomfort - no timetable)
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 - rehab assignment)
Kevin Smith, OAK, 3B/SS (strained back - no timetable)

Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Tommy Pham, NYM, OF (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 5%) - I might be more inclined to avoid so-so players in the rotten apple but we can't just keep ignoring ol' Tommy Two-Slaps, who has posted a 15 APR over the past two weeks and a 13 APR so far in Week 14, slashing an outrageous .476/.500/.857 over 22 PA, with a .571 wOBA. Pham will eventually cool but at this point, you gotta jump on that train and ride the lava for as long as it's flowing. Just do not - I repeat, DO NOT - try to screw him in fantasy football. Tommy don't forget.

Jack Suwinski, PIT, OF (Yahoo: 25%, ESPN: 8%) - We talked last week about how if you're going to use Suwinski, it should probably be in a light-LHP schedule. Well, the Pirogi Padawan delivered on that assumption last week, pulling a 10 APR heading into Sunday's games. Well, we should probably run it back again in Week 15, with the Pirates facing two LHP but also getting seven games. Plus, the lefties he'll likely hit the pine against are very good (Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias), while the righties (with the exception of Zac Gallen) are decidedly less so, getting a pair of Dodgers rookies, along with Zach Davies and Ryne Nelson.

Andrew McCutchen, PIT, OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 13%) - McCutchen's Roster% remains unconscionable - slashing .282/.395/.448, with a 67 APR for the season, the veteran remains hilariously available. If you're looking for context-thirty, McCutchen has a 67 APR over 301 PA in 71 games...And Mike Trout has a 52 APR in 349 PA in 79. Clearly, McCutchen > Trout.

Andrew Benintendi, CHW, OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 15%) - Benintendi remains about what he's been for a while now; a no-power compiler that doesn't impress anyone in roto but is super points-friendly, yet tragically under-rostered. Even on the south side dumpster fire, Benintendi has a 70 APR for the season and is consistently in the top 100 hitters from week to week.

LaMonte Wade Jr., SF, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 38%, ESPN: 25%) - Not a good week for our guy LaMonte (258 APR) but Wade still remains one of the better options you'll find on most waiver wires.

Trent Grisham, SD, OF (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 3%) - For those with short memories, it wasn't that long ago that the draft-SZN hype train had Grisham as a consensus top-100 pick. And it might be a few years late but those point-painted dreams have been the reality as of late in 2023, with Grisham up to a 138 APR for the year, with a 21 APR over the past two weeks and a 25 APR so far in Week 14.

Will Benson, CIN, OF (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 1%) - Less than 10%, huh? Benson has a 49 APR so far in Week 14, with a 57 APR over the past two weeks, slashing .400/.500/.760 over 30 PA, with 2 HR and 3 SB. Granted, a .500 BABIP says that average is coming down a bunch but a .334 xBA over the same period is still pretty damn good. But the biggest indication of Benson's upward trajectory might be how Cincinnati (one of baseball's hottest teams) is handling their roster, seemingly clearing the way for Benson by DFA'ing Wil Myers and sending Stuart Fairchild back to Triple-A. He still hasn't broken into getting starts vs LHP (7 PA vs LHP in 2023) but has now started five games in a row and seems to have the organization's support behind him. With seven games in Week 15 and only two scheduled vs LHP, another big week by Benson could send his Roster% shooting up in a hurry.

Next Choices

Luis Matos, SF, OF (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 7%) - Probably since the days of Dummy Hoy tearing things up St. Louis, one thing remains immutable true about prospects - their growth isn't linear and there will be ups and downs. Matos may be in one of the downs at the moment but the Giants seem to be happy to let him keep figuring things out, starting every game since getting called up on June 14. If you have the room, I'm still down with keeping him as a stash, given not just the toolsy profile but also his 11% K% and 10% BB% in his first 62 PA.

Harrison Bader, NYY, OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 17%) - Much like Anthony Rendon, I'm sure Bader will be a fine points asset right up until he heads back to IL in a few weeks.

Desperate Choices

Joey Wiemer, MIL, OF (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 3%) - Like many rookies, Wiemer can run hot and cold in extreme ways but he's worked his way up to a 160 APR after a disastrous start to his major league career and could be set up for a great Week 15. The Brewers get seven games, with three scheduled vs LHP - facing left-handers, Wiemer is slashing .313/333/.656, with a .414 wOBA over 66 PA. But don't get too crazy because it still comes with a 32% K%, 3% BB%, and a more mundane .333 xwOBA. Basically, you're hoping he hits a couple of jacks and doesn't whiff an outrageous amount of times.

Jose Siri, TB, OF (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 6%) - Siri may be a rare bird in Tampa Bay going by playing time, having started nine of the last 10 games. But even with an impressive 16 HR, 33 R, 37 RBI, and 7 SB in just 193 PA, it's really hard to get behind a player in points that has a 33% K% and 7% BB%.

Will Brennan, CLE, OF (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - Brennan has settled into a full-time role in the outfield, posting a 128 APR over the past two weeks and a 48 APR in Week 14, heading into Sunday. But the rookie remains hapless vs LHP, even if continuing to get starts against them, slashing .167/.186/.238 over 43 PA, with a .186 wOBA and 2% BB%. Cleveland is scheduled to face LHP in 3-of-7 games in Week 15.

Stone Garrett, WSH, OF (Yahoo: 0%, ESPN: 0%) - Garrett really only starts vs LHP but still managed a 114 APR in Week 14, with a 150 APR over the past two weeks. That's pretty decent considering he got just 11 PA but he should get more in Week 15, with the Nationals scheduled to face three LHP.

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 - rehab assignment)
Mitch Haniger, SF, OF (forearm surgery - expected to miss 10 weeks)
Chris Taylor, LAD, 2B/3B/SS/OF (knee discomfort - no timetable)
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)
Avisail Garcia, MIA, OF (back tightness - no timetable)
Ehire Adrianza, ATL, 2B/3B/OF (elbow inflammation - no timetable)
Heliot Ramos, SF, OF (strained oblique - rehab assignment)

Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Remember last week when it actually seemed like there were a few good options? Well, 'dem days have gone again - good luck.

Best Choices

Patrick Bailey, SF, C (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 6%) - Joey Bart is in Triple-A and Bailey continues to rack PAs and rake baseballs, yet he's still widely available. Bailey has a 111 APR over the past two weeks, an 84 APR so far in Week 14, and will face two LHP in Week 15, against whom he is slashing .414/.452/.793 in this first 32 PA sample.

Next Choices

Yainer Diaz, HOU, C (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 5%) - Diaz does have a 115 APR over the past two weeks but his biggest value-add continues to be his playing-time share, having now started 16 of the last 18 games for Houston. While he has been a liability vs LHP, the Astros will only face two out of their seven games in Week 15.

Desperate Choices

Francisco Alvarez, NYM, C(Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 17%) - Alvarez might have 13 HR in 198 PA but is only playing 3-4 times a week for the sinking ship that is the Mets, with a .217 AVG and .273 OBP, with a .287 xwOBA.

On the IL

Logan O'Hoppe, LAA, C (shoulder surgery - out 4-6 months)
James McCann, BAL, C (sprained ankle - rehab assignment)

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