🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE THANKS
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Points Leagues Waiver Wire - Week 4

Matthew Stamper recommends some waiver wire adds at each position for fantasy baseball owners in points leagues. These players could be sleepers for 2017.

As we close in on the last week of the first month of the season, let's remember one thing: there is a lot of baseball left to be played! A lot of waiver wire guys are out there for a reason, so let's try to find some diamonds in the rough. Maybe some of these diamonds shine for the rest of the season and maybe some of them get dull after a few weeks, but it's always worth the dig!

Here are a few guys who can contribute in points leagues, one at each position to consider for the next week. All of these guys have ownership numbers between 30% and 50% so if you're not picking them up, target them in a trade! These are your points leagues waiver wire pickups for Week 4. Let's get to it.

Note: All ownership percentages are courtesy of Yahoo! Fantasy Sports.

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

 

Points League Waiver Wire Adds - Week 4

C - Francisco Cervelli, Pittsburgh Pirates - 21% owned 

I know Cervelli doesn't meet the minimum of 30% ownership number, but there's no one in that range that I feel like I can safely recommend this week. He's only hitting .214, but we don't care in points leagues! The 31-year-old catcher has already mashed five doubles this year in 61 plate appearances after hitting 14 in almost 400 last year. He's hit a couple of home runs too, which is something he hasn't really done in the past. If he can keep this up, he can be a sneaky play at catcher with some newly found power.

1B - Greg Bird, New York Yankees - 45% owned 

Yes, Greg Bird has been awful since his red-hot spring, but bear with me. Bird finally busted out of his slump last week with a big game, in which he hit a homer, a double, a single and walked once too. Since last Sunday he's struck out less and he's been on base a few more times, but most importantly, he's just missing, which in time should turn into something. I've held onto my Bird shares in my points leagues waiting for the big breakout, but many owners have dropped him, so this is your chance to grab him and give him a shot. The minuses for strikeouts should slowly decrease and he'll hopefully hit a more consistent stride. This is a guy you need to hang on to because of his huge upside.

2B - Brandon Phillips, Atlanta Braves - 44% owned

Phillips has been the definition of consistency in the first month of the season. There's only been a single game where he didn't record a hit or pick up a walk. A guy like Phillips is great in your lineup so you know you're guaranteed to see some points. An even bigger plus is that Phillips moved up in the lineup on Sunday, which can hopefully give him a chance to score some more runs, and add to his four stolen bases.

3B - Yulieski Gurriel, Houston Astros - 28% owned 

Gurriel was a late draft pick in a lot of leagues because of the potential he showed in the Cuban and Japanese leagues. He averaged .335 across his 15 seasons outside of the MLB. However, he disappointed many owners out of the gate with a slow start, as it took him seven games to record an extra base hit and nine to pick up an RBI. This past week though, Gurriel has started to turn it around as he hit his first home run of the year on Tuesday, smashed two doubles on Friday, and reached base three times on Sunday. Gurriel is almost 33, but with the track record he's had elsewhere, he's bound to show some sort of promise with Houston. Give him a few weeks to see if he can continue the hot streak.

SS - Zack Cozart, Cincinnati Reds - 40% owned

Cozart is another member of the "Consistency Club", but his performance in the past few weeks makes him worthy of a short-term pickup. I don't think that Cozart will keep up his .370 average, seeing as his career average is around the .250 mark, but he's already hit three triples and five doubles this year, which definitely plays well in points leagues. He hasn't shown tons of power this year after hitting 16 homers last year, but he plays in a hitter-friendly ballpark so there's a chance that he can find the seats at a similar rate this year. I'd give Cozart a shot for at least a week, and maybe a few more, although his nagging wrist injury may complicate matters.

OF - Kevin Kiermaier, Tampa Bay Rays - 36% owned 

Kiermaier and the Rays have been drawing lots of attention this year with their hot start, so it's surprising to see such a low ownership number. A guy like Kiermaier will never hit for tons of power, but his prime spot in the two hole in the Rays lineup has led to him getting on base a lot and being driven in. His singles may only give you one point, but if he gets to first a few times a game and then comes around to score a few more, you're looking at six or seven points each game. If he can stay healthy, he'll be a source of solid points, as he's ranking in the top 100 players in Yahoo right now.

SP - Wade Miley, Baltimore Orioles - 29% owned 

This has turned into the "two-start" section, as having a second start for the week can give you tons of extra points. It also helps to use your other moves for the week or the year on other bats, or another streamer. Miley is an intriguing option this week, with starts against Tampa Bay at home and against New York in Yankee Stadium. Tampa has been hitting well, but doesn't worry me, since they're striking out at the third-highest rate against lefties. Miley, being a lefty, will also have an advantage on lefty hitters at Yankee Stadium, since they would be the ones using the short porch the most. The veteran's 24 strikeouts in 19 innings should also bump up your points totals.

RP - Nate Jones, Chicago White Sox - 50% owned 

Another week, another non-closer to recommend. Unlike Hector Neris last week, Jones won't have the opportunity to win the closing job anytime soon. David Robertson has a firm grasp on the White Sox gig with a scoreless 5.2 innings so far this year. The reason I'm recommending Jones is because of the likelihood that Robertson gets moved in a trade. The White Sox won't be competitive for a while, and they know it, giving them incentive to move a closer, especially while he's got elite stats. Robertson has also been involved in trade talk since the MLB winter meetings, so he should get traded at some point this year, which will open the door for Jones to take over. If you have room to hold him, grab him, but be warned, it might be a while for a trade to happen.

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Adds




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Logan O'Connor

Still Not Ready for Season Debut
Lukas Dostal

Activated From Injured Reserve
NJ

Arseni Gritsyuk Ruled Out for Weekend's Action
Connor Bedard

Ruled Out for Saturday
Zeev Buium

Canucks Acquire Zeev Buium From Wild
Marco Rossi

Moves to Vancouver
Quinn Hughes

Traded to WIld
Joel Embiid

Available Against Indiana
Ja Morant

Back on Friday Night
Rickard Rakell

Available Saturday
Tre Jones

is Returning on Friday
Coby White

Cleared for Action Versus Hornets
Jake Ferguson

Listed as Questionable for Week 15
Bo Horvat

Ruled Out for Saturday
Tre Johnson

to be Limited in Return on Friday
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Could Return Monday
Geno Smith

Officially Ruled Out for Week 15
Victor Hedman

to Be Out Until February
Kenny Pickett

to Start in Week 15 Against Eagles
Moussa Diabaté

Moussa Diabate Available on Friday
Jared McCann

to Miss Three Weeks With Lower-Body Injury
Tyrese Maxey

Under the Weather on Friday
Josh Jacobs

Officially Questionable to Face the Broncos
Victor Wembanyama

Expected to Return on Saturday
Stuart Skinner

Shipped to Pittsburgh
Tristan Jarry

Oilers Acquire Tristan Jarry From Penguins
Anthony Edwards

Sidelined on Friday Evening
Deebo Samuel Sr.

Questionable for Week 15
CFB

Washington State Expected to Hire Kirby Moore as Next Head Coach
CFB

Kyle Whittingham Stepping Down as Utah Head Coach
T.J. Watt

Officially Ruled Out for Monday Night
Manel Kape

Set For UFC Vegas 112 Main Event
Davante Adams

to be Questionable, Expected to Play on Sunday
Brandon Royval

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 112
Rome Odunze

Questionable for Sunday
Kevin Vallejos

Set For His Third UFC Fight
Alvin Kamara

Ruled Out for Sunday
Giga Chikadze

In Dire Need Of Victory
Cesar Almeida

Set To Welcome Cezary Oleksiejczuk To The UFC
Cezary Oleksiejczuk

Set To Make His UFC Debut
Jayden Daniels

Not Cleared for Contact
T.J. Watt

Undergoes Surgery for Collapsed Lung
Maikel Garcia

Royals Agree on Five-Year Extension
Melquizael Costa

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Looks to Win Second Consecutive Fights
Marcus Buchecha

Looks To Bounce Back
Kennedy Nzechukwu

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 112
King Green

Returns At UFC Vegas 112
Lance Gibson jr

Lance Gibson Jr. Set To Open Up UFC Vegas 112 Main Card
Jake Ferguson

on Track to Play in Week 15
CFB

Sherrone Moore Charged with Home Invasion, Among Other Charges
Jayden Daniels

Cleared for Contact
Tee Higgins

Ruled Out Against Ravens
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Ruled Out for Week 15, Expected Back This Year
Josh Jacobs

"Feeling Pretty Good," Will Practice on Friday
Daniel Gafford

Still Unlikely to Play Friday
Brady Cook

to Get Starting Nod for Jets in Week 15
Khris Middleton

Misses Second Straight Game
Collin Sexton

Sidelined Again Versus Bulls
Tee Higgins

Absent From Practice on Friday
Coby White

On Track To Suit Up Versus Charlotte
De'Von Achane

Should Be Available Monday
Tre Jones

Expected To Play Friday Vs. Hornets
Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers to Utilize Hot-Hand Approach in Backfield Moving Forward?
Ayo Dosunmu

to Miss Friday's Game Vs. Hornets
T.J. Watt

Trending Towards Missing Week 15
CFB

Freddie Kitchens Fired from North Carolina Coaching Staff
Joel Kiviranta

Hurt in Thursday's Win
Lars Eller

Departs Early Versus Blue Jackets
Viktor Arvidsson

Makes Early Exit Against Jets
Bo Horvat

Suffers Lower-Body Injury in Thursday's Win
Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Sustains Lower-Body Injury
Roope Hintz

Exits Loss With Injury
Logan Cooley

to Miss at Least Eight Weeks
Mike Conley

Unavailable Friday
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Downgraded to Out Thursday
Anthony Edwards

Iffy to Face Warriors
Kris Murray

Makes Third Start of the Campaign Thursday
Gary Trent Jr.

Replaces Jericho Sims in Starting Unit Thursday
Jarrett Allen

to Remain Sidelined Friday
CFB

Bryce Underwood Could Leave Michigan Without Buyout
Fernando Tatis Jr.

Padres Not Considering Trading Fernando Tatis Jr.
Tarik Skubal

Tigers Engaged in "Serious Talks" Around Trading Tarik Skubal at the Winter Meetings
CFB

Chris Brazzell II Declaring for NFL Draft
CFB

Fernando Mendoza Named AP College Football Player of the Year
Raisel Iglesias

to Remain the Braves Closer
Robert Suarez

Agrees on Three-Year Deal With Braves
CFB

Sherrone Moore Remains in Police Custody
CFB

Joe Klanderman Joining Baylor Coaching Staff
CFB

Kentucky Hiring Jay Bateman as Next Defensive Coordinator
Si Woo Kim

Closes 2025 With Strong Finish Among Putting Woes
Akshay Bhatia

Looks to Rebound in 2026 After Down Year Off the Tee
Brian Harman

2025 Season a Step Back Despite Spring Win
Sam Burns

' Elite Putting Headlines a Solid 2025 Season
Sepp Straka

Ends Stellar 2025 Campaign on a High Note
Robert MacIntyre

Closes Out a Steady 2025 Campaign
CFB

Chip Kelly Interviews for Georgia Tech Offensive Coordinator Job
CFB

Louisville Receiver Chris Bell has a Torn ACL
Min Woo Lee

Breaks Through to Win in Texas This Year
PGA

Alex Noren Wins Twice on European Tour This Year
Wyndham Clark

has Up-and-Down 2025 Golf Season
CFB

Michigan Fires Head Coach Sherrone Moore
Corey Conners

Comes Close to Winning Again in Very Good 2025
Justin Rose

Turns Back the Clock in 2025
CFB

Jim Knowles Expected to be Hired as Tennessee's Defensive Coordinator
Harris English

Enjoys Solid Finish at Hero World Challenge
CFB

Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles Not Being Retained at Penn State
CFB

Indiana's Stephen Daley Done for Season After Post-Game Injury
Pete Alonso

Orioles Finalizing Five-Year Deal
Kyle Finnegan

Tigers, Kyle Finnegan Agree on Two-Year Deal
Bo Bichette

Red Sox Out on Bo Bichette For Now
Philadelphia Phillies

Phillies Extend Manager Rob Thomson Through 2027 Season
Michael King

the Mets' Top Rotation Target?
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Could Move Back to Leadoff Spot
CFB

Florida, Wisconsin Among Suitors for QB Transfer Kenny Minchey
CFB

Bryan Harsin, Justin Wilcox Candidates for Washington State Head Coach Job?
Edwin Díaz

Edwin Diaz Agrees to Deal With the Dodgers
Kyle Schwarber

Returning to Phillies on Five-Year Deal
CFB

Ole Miss Hiring John David Baker as Offensive Coordinator
CFB

Ty Howle the Top Target for Virginia Tech Offensive Coordinator Job
Shohei Ohtani

to be Used More as Traditional Starting Pitcher Next Year
Yordan Alvarez

to Become Full-Time DH in 2026?
Mason Miller

Padres Plan to Keep Mason Miller in the Bullpen
Ranger Suárez

Orioles Interested in Signing Ranger Suarez
Anthony Volpe

Yankees Don't Expect Anthony Volpe to be Ready in April
Gerrit Cole

Targeting a Return in May/June
CFB

Heisman Trophy Finalists Announced on Monday
Rory McIlroy

Ends 2025 as the Year's Most Unburdened Player
Aaron Rai

Needs to Figure Out Putting Woes This Offseason
Jordan Spieth

Plays Better on Paper in 2025 Than Results Show
PGA

Chris Gotterup Needs to Find Better Touch and Consistency This Offseason
Hideki Matsuyama

Ends 2025 Season With a Bookend Victory
Scottie Scheffler

Comes Up Just Shy of Hero World Challenge Victory
Merab Dvalishvili

Drops A Decision At UFC 323
Petr Yan

Reclaims Bantamweight Title
Alexandre Pantoja

Era Ends With Gruesome Injury
Joshua Van

Becomes Second-Youngest UFC Champion
Brandon Moreno

Suffers His First TKO Loss
Brandon Moreno

Tatsuro Taira Becomes First Fighter To Finish Brandon Moreno
Henry Cejudo

Payton Talbott Retires Henry Cejudo
Henry Cejudo

Retires After UFC 323 Loss
Jan Blachowicz

Bogdan Guskov Vs. Jan Blachowicz Ends In A Majority Draw
San Francisco Giants

Jeff Kent Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
Ketel Marte

Red Sox Interested in Trading for Ketel Marte

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP