Waiver Wire Report (9/24/22)

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

Nate Eaton: A must-add if some manager is needing steals (10 SB in 96 PA) while providing some batting average (.274 AVG).

Luis Rengifo: Continues to lead off while providing a balanced profile (.273 AVG, 15 HR, 6 SB).

Rodolfo Castro: While his batting average (.234 AVG, 27% K%) could be a drain, he has provided some power (11 HR) and speed (5 SB) in limited playing time (241 PA).

Edward Olivares: It has been six straight starts for Olivares who is hitting .295/.346/.451 with 4 HR and 2 SB in 133 PA.

Nick Gordon: Below average, balanced profile (9 HR, 6 SB, .278 AVG).

Ezequiel Tovar: The 21-year-old prospect is getting a shot in the major after hitting a combined .319/.387/.540 with 14 HR and 17 SB in the minors this season. Colorado has no more home games and the final six games are against the Dodgers.

Gio Urshela: Hitting .270/.323/.415 with 12 HR and has 23 straight starts.

Albert Pujols: He got #700, it’ll be interesting to see how much he plays to end the season. Have a back in case he sits.

Harrison Bader: An outfielder provides a decent number of steals (16) and is not a complete zero in batting average (.261) and home runs (5).

Isiah Kiner-Falefa: A decent number of steals (20 SB), a decent batting average (.265), but no power (.063 ISO, 3 HR).

David Villar: He’s playing (nine straight starts) and hitting for power (7 HR in 152 PA).

Oswaldo Cabrera: While he’s been just OK at the plate (.228/.294/.377, 3 HR, 1 SB in 126 PA), he is at least playing.

Carlos Santana: Seven September home runs (.197 AVG) have him on some fantasy manager radars.

Aristides Aquino: A reasonable September strikeout rate (27% K%) has him making enough contact to get to his power (.225/.286/.521, 5 HR in Sept). He has started in 18 of the last 19 games for the Reds.

Bryan De La Cruz: He’s been getting some playing time (started 10 of the last 11 games) since he’s hitting .317/.383/.585 in September. His strikeout rate is down at 19% K% this month.

Dylan Moore: The speedster (18 SB, 6 HR, .215 AVG) has started in four out of six games since coming off the IL.

Tony Kemp: He’s caught fire in September (.313/.378/.537) and has leadoff for eight straight games (two versus LHP).

Myles Straw: Zero home runs and a .217 AVG on the season. I guess the 18 SB might be worth adding him if all the other stolen base options are rostered.

Yonathan Daza: Batting average only play (.309 AVG, 2 HR, 0 SB) who will be on the road until the season’s end.

Akil Baddoo: Detroit is giving him seven straight starts but Baddoo continues to struggle at the plate (.206/.325/.441 with a 35% K% in September).

Seth Brown: The A’s face three lefties next week. Unrosterable.

Catchers

Danny Jansen: He’s been fine this season (.255 AVG and 13 HR) and was playing more with Kirk hurt.

Starters

Bailey Ober: He lines up for two starts next week against the White Sox and at the Tigers. His fastball velocity is down about 1 mph and so are his strikeouts (9.4 K/9 to 7.6 K/9). I would normally be worried about the Chicago start with his flyball nature (25% GB%) but the projected high for the day in Chicago will be under 60 degrees. A must roster for those streaming for Wins and strikeouts.

Aaron Civale: Civale was more likely added for his two starts this week against the White Sox (5 IP, 2 K, 2 ER) and Rangers (Sunday). He’s been decent since coming off the IL (3.46 ERA, 3.54 xFIP, 0.92 WHIP, 8.7 K/9). He faces KC in his last start.

Joey Wentz: Wentz has been acceptable so far this season (3.13 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, .231 BABIP, 4.11 xFIP, 7.4 K/9). He is lined up for two starts against the Royals and Twins. Nice volume play.

Hayden Wesneski: In 22 IP, he has been lights out (2.45 ERA, 3.16 xFIP, 9.8 K/9, 0.82 WHIP). He draws two tough matchups. He is home against the Phillies (Nola) and on the road against the Reds (Ashcraft).

Cody Morris: He has just a start versus the Rays this week and finishes out with the Royals. I have issues trusting him with the 4.8 BB/9 even though he has a 2.18 ERA (1.45 WHIP). The walks have been down in his last two starts (3 BB in 11 IP).

Michael Lorenzen: I would have been completely off Lorenzen but he gets two starts, both against Oakland. He is going with a new pitch mix since coming off the IL (more changes, sliders, and a new curve – 61% usage). This makes sense because his slider (14% SwStr%) and change (18% SwStr%) are his best pitches. In his three games back, he has a 4.02 ERA, 4.05 xFIP, 8.6 K/9, 4.6 BB/9, and 1.09 WHIP.

Bryce Elder: Elder is lined up to face the Nationals next week and then the Marlins in the final week. His 8.1 K/9 and 49% GB% are decent but a 4.7 BB/9 (1.33 WHIP) will hamper any upside and be a WHIP killer.

Mitch Keller: He’ll get two more starts to end the season. He’ll be against the Reds this week and the Cardinals next week. He continues to be a decent pitcher since going with the sinker (3.25 ERA, 3.75 xFIP, 50% GB%, 7.8 K/9) in late May.

José Suarez: He will get only one more start (Rangers) after facing the Twins this Sunday. In 51 IP since the All-Star break, he has a 2.81 ERA, 3.74 xFIP, 1.05 WHIP, and 8.1 K/9.

Drey Jameson: He has been great (1.38 ERA, 2.72 xFIP, 60% GB%, 0.85 WHIP) in 13 IP. It looks like he is lined up for just one start to end the season against the Giants. Fantasy managers can do better and they can also do worse.

Luis Ortiz: He is the cool option this week with his 99 mph fastball that’s lacking control (4.2 BB/9). Besides the fastball, he’s been featuring a slider (36% usage, 25% SwStr%). For now, he is lineup up for a start this Sunday (Cubs) and one more against the Cardinals (Montgomery).

Adrian Sampson 샘슨: He is in the middle of a two-start week against the Marlins (6 IP, 3 K) and the Pirates (Sunday). He has one start left where he faces the Reds at home. I’m not sold on his talent (6.2 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, 41% GB%).

Wade Miley: He might face the Reds next week if the injury from Saturday’s game isn’t too severe. He’s been OK (3.60 ERA, 3.84 xFIP, 7.2 K/9, 3.6 BB/9, 54% GB%) this season so he might be worth streaming if he makes the start.

Davis Martin: He has been a bit below average (6.3 K/9, 1.18 WHIP, 3.78 ERA) but has had some batted ball luck (0.9 HR/9, .255 BABIP). He was likely added for his start against the Tigers but can be dropped with the Padres and Twins as his future matchups.

Brayan Bello: He had two starts this past week. He got a Win with five strikeouts against the Reds. He faces the Yankees on Sunday night and is in line to face the Blue Jays next week. While his 8.9 K/9 and 57% GB% are acceptable, his 4.4 BB/9 causes issues (4.75 ERA and 1.73 WHIP). He’s likely a drop for the season.

Kyle Freeland: Even though he has been decent on the road (3.18 ERA, 7.0 K/9, and 1.27 WHIP), he has one more start at the Dodgers so I’ll pass.

Relievers: Saves-based ranks

José Leclerc: Average reliever who is the closer.

Dylan Floro: Below-average reliever who is the closer.

Domingo Acevedo: Below-average reliever who is probably the closer.

Evan Phillips, Alex Vesia, Brusdar Graterol, Chris Martin: One of these arms might be the Dodgers closer.