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.
| Name | Prev Roster% | Current Roster% | Change% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison Bader CF NYY | 42% | 45% | 3% |
| Isiah Kiner-Falefa SS NYY | 37% | 38% | 1% |
| Luis Rengifo 2B LAA | 36% | 45% | 9% |
| Seth Brown 1B OAK | 36% | 38% | 2% |
| Gio Urshela 3B MIN | 34% | 36% | 2% |
| Albert Pujols DH STL | 33% | 34% | 1% |
| Danny Jansen C TOR | 25% | 29% | 4% |
| Myles Straw CF CLE | 24% | 27% | 3% |
| Nick Gordon LF MIN | 23% | 26% | 3% |
| Tony Kemp 2B OAK | 12% | 19% | 7% |
| Carlos Santana DH SEA | 11% | 20% | 9% |
| David Villar 3B SF | 11% | 14% | 3% |
| Ezequiel Tovar SS COL | 10% | 15% | 5% |
| Akil Baddoo LF DET | 10% | 11% | 1% |
| Rodolfo Castro 2B PIT | 7% | 17% | 10% |
| Oswaldo Cabrera RF NYY | 7% | 12% | 5% |
| Aristides Aquino RF CIN | 7% | 9% | 2% |
| Edward Olivares RF KC | 7% | 8% | 1% |
| Yonathan Daza CF COL | 5% | 7% | 2% |
| Dylan Moore RF SEA | 2% | 4% | 2% |
| Bryan De La Cruz RF MIA | 2% | 4% | 2% |
| Nathan Eaton RF KC | 1% | 5% | 4% |
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.
| Name | Prev Roster% | Current Roster% | Change% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Civale SP CLE | 39% | 41% | 2% |
| Jose Suarez SP LAA | 35% | 37% | 2% |
| Brayan Bello SP BOS | 25% | 29% | 4% |
| Mitch Keller SP PIT | 25% | 28% | 3% |
| Kyle Freeland SP COL | 19% | 23% | 4% |
| Bailey Ober SP MIN | 19% | 23% | 4% |
| Michael Lorenzen SP LAA | 18% | 20% | 2% |
| Wade Miley SP CHC | 16% | 29% | 13% |
| Cody Morris SP CLE | 10% | 12% | 2% |
| Adrian Sampson RP CHC | 7% | 11% | 4% |
| Hayden Wesneski RP CHC | 6% | 10% | 4% |
| Drey Jameson SP ARI | 4% | 8% | 4% |
| Bryce Elder SP ATL | 4% | 6% | 2% |
| Joey Wentz SP DET | 3% | 6% | 3% |
| Davis Martin SP CHW | 1% | 4% | 3% |
| Luis Ortiz SP PIT | 1% | 3% | 2% |
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.
| Name | Prev Roster% | Current Roster% | Change% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jose Leclerc RP TEX | 15% | 22% | 7% |
| Dylan Floro RP MIA | 13% | 15% | 2% |
| Domingo Acevedo RP OAK | 2% | 7% | 5% |
| Sam Hentges RP CLE | 2% | 3% | 1% |
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.
Luis Rengifo has been especially hammering LHP this season: 169 wRC+, ranked #16 among players with 70+ PA vs. LHP per Splits Leaderboard https://bit.ly/3dHmaHf