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

Jayden Reed

Packers Open Jayden Reed's Practice Window on Friday
Chris Godwin

Trending Toward Playing on Sunday
Joe Burrow

Officially Questionable for Week 12
Bucky Irving

Out for Week 12, Bucs Targeting a Week 13 Return
Sam LaPorta

Likely to Miss Remainder of 2025 Season
Josh Jacobs

"Feeling Pretty Good," Practicing Again on Friday
Trey Benson

Could Suit Up in Week 12
Jaxson Dart

Won't Play Vs. Detroit
Chris Godwin

Completes Another Week of Practice
Dan Hooker

An Underdog At UFC Qatar
Arman Tsarukyan

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Ian Machado Garry

A Favorite At UFC Qatar
Belal Muhammad

Looks To Bounce Back
Alonzo Menifield

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Collin Murray-Boyles

Ruled Out Friday Against Wizards
Volkan Oezdemir

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Jaylon Tyson

Tagged as Questionable on Friday
Sam Merrill

Won't Play on Friday Vs. Pacers
Myktybek Orolbai

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Jack Hermansson

Makes His Welterweight Debut
Kyoji Horiguchi

Returns To The UFC
Bucky Irving

May Be Out Longer Than Expected?
Tagir Ulanbekov

Set To Open Up UFC Qatar Main Card
Marvin Bagley III

Doubtful as Wizards Frontcourt Thins
Draymond Green

Set to Rejoin Lineup vs. Blazers
Jimmy Butler III

Probable for Friday's Home Game
Aaron Gordon

Expected Back in the Lineup on Friday
Coby White

Uncertain Against Heat
Tre Jones

Questionable Ahead of Heat Matchup
Sergei Bobrovsky

Frustrates Devils With Shutout
Adam Fantilli

Leads Blue Jackets to Victory in Toronto
Ilya Sorokin

Posts Second Shutout of the Season
Alex Ovechkin

Nets 33rd Career Hat Trick
Andre Burakovsky

Ruled Out for Friday
Gavin Brindley

Hurt Versus Rangers
Jake Evans

Exits With Injury Thursday
Khalil Shakir

Eclipses Century Mark in Loss to Texans
James Cook

Breaks Off Long Touchdown in Primetime Loss
Elly De La Cruz

Played Through Partially Torn Quad to End 2025
C.J. Stroud

in Good Position to Return in Week 13
Darius Garland

Might Play on Friday Night
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Out Against Sacramento, Santi Aldama Starting
Tyrese Maxey

Available Versus Milwaukee
Zaccharie Risacher

Cleared to Face Spurs
Kristaps Porzingis

Back in Action on Thursday
Chris Godwin

Could Play in Week 12 After Return to Full Practice
Keon Coleman

to be a Healthy Scratch Again on Thursday Night
Tarik Skubal

Tigers "Doubtful" to Trade Tarik Skubal
Jarrett Allen

Questionable for Friday
Simon Holmstrom

Ready for Action Thursday
Lars Eller

Available Thursday
Domantas Sabonis

Will Miss at Least 3-4 Weeks
Ridly Greig

Out Against Ducks
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Out Against Bulls on Friday
Jake Neighbours

Back for Blues Thursday
Alexandre Sarr

Listed as Questionable for Friday Against the Raptors
TB

Nicholas Paul Available Thursday
Paul George

Set to Suit Up Thursday
Victor Hedman

Out for "Couple of Weeks"
Tyler Bertuzzi

Set to Return Thursday
Gary Harris

Added to the Injury Report as Questionable for Thursday
Daniel Jones

Added to Colts' Injury Report With Calf Issue
Andrew Wiggins

Unavailable For Friday's Matchup With Chicago
Joe Burrow

Logs Second Straight Full Practice on Thursday
Aaron Rodgers

Seen at Practice on Thursday
Jaylen Warren

Moving Around Well on Thursday
Bucky Irving

Will be on a Snap Count When he Returns
Jaxson Dart

Could Clear Concussion Protocol Thursday
Rasmus Andersson

Bags Three Points Wednesday Night
Morgan Geekie

Nets Two Power-Play Goals Wednesday
Connor McMichael

Posts Three Assists in Wednesday's Win
Alexander Romanov

Islanders Place Alexander Romanov on Injured Reserve
Lars Eller

to Miss Thursday's Action
Nic Dowd

Out on Thursday
Adam Lowry

Inks Extension With Jets
Raisel Iglesias

Returning to the Braves on One-Year Deal
Sahith Theegala

Looking to Continue Fall Run at RSM Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Looking to Bounce Back at RSM Classic
Tom Hoge

Looking to Regain Form at RSM Classic
Joe Highsmith

Searching for Turnaround at RSM Classic
Adam Hadwin

Looking to Build on T11 Finish in Bermuda
Austin Eckroat

Searching for Momentum at RSM Classic
Joel Dahmen

Trying to Find Form at the RSM Classic
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Doubtful to Play Against Western Kentucky
Michael Thorbjornsen

Hopes to End 2025 Campaign With Another Solid Finish
Andrew Novak

Looks to End 2025 Season on High Note at RSM Classic
Harry Higgs

Teetering for PGA Tour Card in 2026
PGA

Nico Echavarria has the Potential to Contend at the RSM Classic
Sam Stevens

Finishing Out Year in Georgia
Seamus Power

Playing Better at the Right Time
Beau Hossler

Roller Coaster Comes to Saint Simons Island
Quade Cummins

The Time is Now for Quade Cummins in Georgia
Austin Cook

Needs a Win at the RSM Classic
Cameron Champ

on the PGA Tour Card Bubble
Grayson Rodriguez

Shipped to Angels
Taylor Ward

Orioles Acquire Taylor Ward From Angels
Shota Imanaga

Accepts Cubs Qualifying Offer
Brandon Woodruff

Returning to Milwaukee in 2026
Denny McCarthy

Looking For Another Solid Finish at RSM Classic
Si Woo Kim

Looking To Use Current Momentum to Flip Script at RSM Classic
Mackenzie Hughes

a Good Bounce-Back Candidate at RSM Classic
Harris English

Making 14th Start at This Week's RSM Classic
Konnor Griffin

Could Compete for Starting Shortstop Job in 2026
Gleyber Torres

Accepts Tigers Qualifying Offer
CFB

Sam Leavitt Set to Enter Transfer Portal?
Jose Altuve

Undergoes Foot Surgery
Alex Bregman

Red Sox Going for Either Alex Bregman or Pete Alonso?
CFB

James Franklin to be Virginia Tech's Next Head Coach
CFB

Fernando Mendoza the Clear Heisman Trophy Favorite?
CFB

Beau Pribula Has Chance to Face Oklahoma on Saturday
Jack Della Maddalena

Gets Dominated
Islam Makhachev

Claims UFC Welterweight Belt
Zhang Weili

Gets Outclassed
Valentina Shevchenko

Wins Unanimous Decision At UFC 322
Sean Brady

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss
Michael Morales

Remains Unbeaten
Leon Edwards

Suffers Second-Round Knockout Loss
Leon Edwards

Carlos Prates Becomes The First Man To Knock Out Leon Edwards
Beneil Dariush

Suffers Brutal First-Round Knockout Loss
Beneil Dariush

Benoit Saint Denis Knocks Out Beneil Dariush In 16 Seconds
Josh Naylor

Mariners Finalizing Five-Year Contract
CFB

Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate Not Dealing With Long-Term Injuries
CFB

Virginia Tech Close To Naming James Franklin As Head Coach

RANKINGS

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