FAAB & Waiver Wire Report (Week 17)
In the article, I cover the players using CBS’s (about 40% or less initial roster rate) and Yahoo’s ADD/DROP rates. Both hosting sites have the option for daily and weekly waiver wire adds. CBS uses a weekly change while Yahoo looks at the last 24 hours. Yahoo is a great snapshot of right now, while CBS ensures hot targets from early in the week aren’t missed. The players are ordered for redraft leagues by my rest-of-season preference, grouped by starters, relievers, and hitters.
Batters
Ramón Laureano: The most under-rostered player in the game right now with 14 HR, 4 SB, and a .273 AVG.
Isaac Collins: Collins (6 HR, 11 SB, .268 AVG) has almost the identical stats to Caleb Durbin, but rostered in way fewer leagues.
Josh Jung: I wish he was better but still a solid option at third base (9 HR, 4 SB, .245 AVG).
Angel Martínez: Batting first or second in the lineup with steady production (9 HR, 6 SB, .253 AVG).
Brady House: Starting to become productive. In July, he’s batting .306/.313/.452 with 2 HR.
Andrew Vaughn: Solid since joining the Brewers (.303/.400/.545, 2 HR).
Caleb Durbin: Losing some playing time (just five starts in the last eight games) with 5 HR and 9 SB in 292 PA.
Mickey Moniak: Great when at home and/or facing righties (sits against lefties). Not the worst bench bat to stream when the matchup is right.
Colson Montgomery: Performing better than I expected (.273/.344/.509, 3 HR in 62 PA). Maybe he’s finally healthy.
Brett Baty: Playing time can be sporadic and has been on fire since the break (.348/.400/.652, .400 BABIP).
Lenyn Sosa: Some power (9 HR) but not much else.
Kody Clemens: Strong-side platoon bat with 12 HR but a .216 AVG.
John Rave: Eight starts in the last nine games with 3 HR and 5 SB. A .237 BABIP has him with a .200 AVG.
Spencer Horwitz: Strong-side platoon bat who has done very little so far this season (3 HR, 0 SB, .245 AVG in 210 PA).
Brice Matthews: It’s either a home run (33% HR/FB%) or a strikeout (41% K%) for him. He has a 34% SwStr% against fastballs.
Catchers
Adrian Del Castillo: In seven games since being called up, he has only started as the DH against righties. At least he’s not getting owned by MLB pitching with an 8% SwStr% (24% K%).
Victor Caratini: A respectable 10 HR and .266 AVG for a catcher.
Francisco Alvarez: Started in three of four games since returning from the IL
Hitters returning from injury
Luke Keaschall: In six rehab games so far, he’s batting .227/.346/.227 with 2 SB.
Hitting Prospects
Owen Caissie: In AAA, the 22-year-old outfielder is batting .276/.377/.563 with 20 HR and 3 SB in 353 PA.
Spencer Jones: Across two minor league levels (AA and AAA), the 24-year-old outfielder is batting .314/.411/.706 with 29 HR and 16 SB in 302 PA.
JJ Wetherholt: Across two minor league levels (AA and AAA), the 22-year-old middle infielder is batting .309/.426/.520 with 11 HR and 14 SB in 312 PA.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Jung 3B TEX | 36% | 37% | 1% |
| Caleb Durbin 3B MIL | 35% | 38% | 3% |
| Luke Keaschall DH MIN | 29% | 36% | 7% |
| Brady House 3B WAS | 29% | 31% | 2% |
| Francisco Alvarez C NYM | 23% | 31% | 8% |
| Mickey Moniak RF COL | 22% | 35% | 13% |
| Ramon Laureano RF BAL | 22% | 29% | 7% |
| Colson Montgomery SS CHW | 21% | 24% | 3% |
| Brice Matthews 2B HOU | 20% | 28% | 8% |
| Victor Caratini C HOU | 19% | 26% | 7% |
| Spencer Jones CF NYY | 19% | 26% | 7% |
| JJ Wetherholt 2B STL | 19% | 21% | 2% |
| Andrew Vaughn 1B MIL | 18% | 19% | 1% |
| Brett Baty 3B NYM | 17% | 22% | 5% |
| Owen Caissie OF CHC | 14% | 16% | 2% |
| Angel Martinez CF CLE | 12% | 29% | 17% |
| Lenyn Sosa 2B CHW | 12% | 16% | 4% |
| Isaac Collins LF MIL | 11% | 14% | 3% |
| Spencer Horwitz 1B PIT | 6% | 8% | 2% |
| Adrian Del Castillo DH ARI | 5% | 8% | 3% |
| Kody Clemens 2B MIN | 5% | 7% | 2% |
| John Rave RF KC | 0% | 2% | 2% |
Starting Pitchers
Eric Lauer 라우어: The 30-year-old’s history is holding back his rostership rate while having a great season (2.61 ERA, 3.85 xFIP, 0.93 WHIP, and 9.3 K/9).
Frankie Montas: Solid in three July starts (3.86 ERA, 3.60 xFIP, 7.2 K/9, 1.16 WHIP) as he’s leaned into his splitter (20% SwStr%). He might even have some upside if he stops throwing his below-average slider (9% SwStr%) as much (27% usage). He has the most upside of any pitcher analyzed.
Joey Cantillo: A solid points league option because the strikeouts (11.5 K/9) drown out the walks (4.7 BB/9). The problem with the walks is that they lead to a 1.41 WHIP, which does as much ratio damage as a 4.99 ERA. He gives us hope by putting up zeros in the walk column in one game and then walking everyone in the next one. It’s all or nothing. If a team can handle the walks, a viable sub-4.00 ERA streamer.
Troy Melton: Melton is the one pop-up starter this week. In his first start, he struggled with runners on base (48% LOB%) but did have 7 K in 5 IP. I’d not start him at Arizona, but I want to add him to see how he responds.
Patrick Corbin: He’s maxing out his strikeouts for a starter with a 91-mph fastball by not throwing it (36% usage). A solid 4.00 ERA streaming starter.
Kumar Rocker: A different pitcher after returning in early June but still not great (4.29 ERA, 4.07 xFIP, 8.1 K/9, and 1.21 WHIP). He’s just walking too many batters (3.3 BB/9) to be reliable option. I’d have him as a 4.25 ERA talent streamer.
Michael McGreevy: He’s been a great groundball pitcher for his career but his year in the majors, he’s throwing a subpar (results and STUFF models hate it) four-seamer 27% of the time. His one saving grace has been an earned 1.0 BB/9 and a lucky 0.6 HR/9.
Marcus Stroman: Better over his last four starts (3.00 ERA, 4.30 xFIP, 5.1 K/9, and 1.24 WHIP) with his walks under control (2.1 BB/9, down from 6.8 BB/9). I don’t see any signs of a turnaround.
Logan Evans: Even though he shouldn’t be on managers’ radars, a 3.64 ERA means he is for now. His 6.5 K/9 barely helps. His 1.40 is a disaster. All his ERA estimators and projection point to a near 5.00 ERA talent.
Jose Quintana: The only stat that has him under consideration to be added is a 3.49 ERA (4.72 xFIP). Other stats in his profile point to a below-average starter.
Brandon Walter: On the IL (elbow). After weeks topping these rankings, Walter takes a fall because of the injury. With such a short season left, he might be a drop, especially with several other Astros pitchers on the mend.
Davis Daniel: So far a 5.40 ERA (5.78 xFIP), 1.60 WHIP, and 8.1 K/9. Why add unless tanking a team.
Pitchers Returning from Injury
Kyle Bradish: Should return to the team in about a month if he experiences no hiccups in his recovery.
Cristian Javier: No. Javier was unrosterable (4.44 ERA, 5.23 xFIP, 1.29 WHIP) before going on the IL for elbow surgery. Why roster him now?
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Lauer SP TOR | 39% | 52% | 13% |
| Jose Quintana SP MIL | 35% | 38% | 3% |
| Brandon Walter SP HOU | 33% | 45% | 12% |
| Patrick Corbin SP TEX | 31% | 40% | 9% |
| Kumar Rocker SP TEX | 31% | 34% | 3% |
| Kyle Bradish SP BAL | 27% | 30% | 3% |
| Frankie Montas SP NYM | 18% | 27% | 9% |
| Joey Cantillo RP CLE | 18% | 21% | 3% |
| Michael McGreevy SP STL | 12% | 17% | 5% |
| Cristian Javier SP HOU | 12% | 16% | 4% |
| Marcus Stroman SP NYY | 12% | 14% | 2% |
| Logan Evans SP SEA | 11% | 14% | 3% |
| Troy Melton SP DET | 2% | 7% | 5% |
| Davis Daniel SP ATL | 2% | 4% | 2% |
| Name | IP | BotERA | Pitching+ERA | SwStr% ERA | FBv ERA | SIERA | xFIP | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frankie Montas | 10.2 | 3.92 | 3.39 | 4.21 | 3.86 | 3.23 | 2.85 | 3.58 |
| Eric Lauer | 14.0 | 2.28 | 4.26 | 3.67 | 4.34 | 3.48 | 3.47 | 3.59 |
| Troy Melton | 5.0 | 4.18 | 4.00 | 3.41 | 3.62 | 3.31 | 3.28 | 3.63 |
| Brandon Walter | 13.0 | 3.25 | 3.63 | 4.41 | 4.36 | 3.40 | 3.43 | 3.75 |
| Patrick Corbin | 11.1 | 4.56 | 4.57 | 4.27 | 4.36 | 2.82 | 2.78 | 3.89 |
| Marcus Stroman | 6.0 | 3.31 | 3.72 | 4.50 | 4.66 | 3.77 | 3.50 | 3.91 |
| Joey Cantillo | 10.1 | 4.22 | 4.28 | 3.77 | 4.29 | 3.67 | 3.28 | 3.92 |
| Kumar Rocker | 6.1 | 4.12 | 4.08 | 3.47 | 3.80 | 4.30 | 3.88 | 3.94 |
| Brad Lord | 6.1 | 3.69 | 4.43 | 5.03 | 3.79 | 4.41 | 3.72 | 4.18 |
| Logan Evans | 9.0 | 3.00 | 4.22 | 5.17 | 4.15 | 5.23 | 5.31 | 4.51 |
| Jose Quintana | 6.0 | 6.13 | 4.57 | 5.00 | 4.55 | 3.29 | 3.67 | 4.53 |
| Michael McGreevy | 7.0 | 4.98 | 4.21 | 5.66 | 4.30 | 5.12 | 4.09 | 4.73 |
| Davis Daniel | 9.0 | 4.79 | 5.13 | 5.37 | 4.64 | 5.78 | 5.80 | 5.25 |
Relief Pitchers: Saves-Base Ranks
Note: I’m not going to guess who might get traded and to where. I’m just focusing on current roles.
Robert Garcia: Good reliever who is the closer.
Seranthony Dominguez: Good reliever who is likely the closer.
Matt Strahm: Good reliever who is sharing the closer’s role.
Alex Vesia: Great reliever who seems to be sharing closer duties.
Anthony Bender: OK reliever who could be sharing closing duties.
David Robertson: Good reliever who will have an unknown bullpen role soon.
Shelby Miller: Good reliever who could end up the closer but is currently on the IL.
Griffin Jax: Great reliever who is the backup closer.
Dennis Santana: OK reliever who is the backup closer.
Blake Treinen: Good reliever with an unknown bullpen role, but is currently on the IL.
Brendon Little: Great reliever who is a step or two away from closing.
Cade Smith: Great reliever who is a step or two away from closing.
JoJo Romero: Good reliever who is a step or two away from closing.
Gregory Soto: Good reliever who is a step or two away from closing.
Tony Santillan: Average reliever who is a step or two away from closing.
Jeremiah Estrada: Great reliever who is a few steps away from closing.
Adrian Morejon: Good reliever who is a few steps away from closing.
Kirby Yates: OK reliever who is a few steps away from closing.
| Name | Previous Roster% | Current Roster% | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby Miller RP ARI | 38% | 40% | 2% |
| Cade Smith RP CLE | 31% | 32% | 1% |
| Robert Garcia RP TEX | 25% | 32% | 7% |
| Kirby Yates RP LAD | 24% | 33% | 9% |
| Matt Strahm RP PHI | 19% | 22% | 3% |
| Adrian Morejon RP SD | 18% | 23% | 5% |
| Alex Vesia RP LAD | 18% | 21% | 3% |
| Dennis Santana RP PIT | 18% | 19% | 1% |
| Jeremiah Estrada RP SD | 16% | 18% | 2% |
| Griffin Jax RP MIN | 16% | 18% | 2% |
| Blake Treinen RP LAD | 11% | 13% | 2% |
| Brendon Little RP TOR | 10% | 13% | 3% |
| Tony Santillan RP CIN | 7% | 8% | 1% |
| Seranthony Dominguez RP BAL | 5% | 14% | 9% |
| Anthony Bender RP MIA | 4% | 8% | 4% |
| JoJo Romero RP STL | 3% | 4% | 1% |
| Gregory Soto RP NYM | 2% | 4% | 2% |
| David Robertson RP PHI | 1% | 4% | 3% |
Jeff, one of the authors of the fantasy baseball guide,The Process, writes for RotoGraphs, The Hardball Times, Rotowire, Baseball America, and BaseballHQ. He has been nominated for two SABR Analytics Research Award for Contemporary Analysis and won it in 2013 in tandem with Bill Petti. He has won four FSWA Awards including on for his Mining the News series. He's won Tout Wars three times, LABR twice, and got his first NFBC Main Event win in 2021. Follow him on Twitter @jeffwzimmerman.
For pitchers coming back from injury, is lack of Bieber because he is rostered too much to make your cutoff, or are you just not interested?