Waiver Wire Report (Week 25)

The following recommendations are based on just winning next week. Nothing matters at this point so don’t be afraid to release any “stars” if they don’t help you win. It could mean all closers for a pitching staff. Or dropping all closers. Putting in all sluggers (e.g. DJ Peters and Jesus Sanchez). There are no weeks like but it’s time to bring home some trophies and cash.

In the article, I cover the players using CBS’s (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.

Hitters

Lane Thomas: He continues to go off (.310/.402/.549 with 5 HR and 2 SB) while batting leadoff since leaving St. Louis. The only available all-around contributor.

Evan Longoria: He is one of the few Giants who is platoon proof (started seven of eight) while hitting .290/.386/.548 with 13 HR in 246 PA. And he’ll play three games in Colorado.

Garrett Hampson: At home, he’s been great by hitting .301/.350/.507 with 7 HR and 10 SB. Additionally, he has leadoff in the last two games.

Note: While the Rockies have six home games, they face four of the league’s best pitchers (Urias, Buehler, Scherzer, Gausman), so it’s not an ideal week for Colorado hitters.

Jesús Sánchez: He’s providing some power (12 HR in 204 PA), but not much batting average (.243 AVG).

Austin Hays: Hays doesn’t get platooned by the Orioles, but his results point to two different hitters (.883 OPS vs LHP, .682 vs LHP). This upcoming week, he is scheduled to face two lefties early in the week and that’s it. Just check the waiver wire for possible better options.

LaMonte Wade Jr.: He dominates righties (.282/.359/.565 with all 18 HR). This week he faces five of them including two at Colorado.

Bryan De La Cruz: He still has a BABIP over .400 keeping his batting average at .333. There is some power in his profile (5 HR), but the key with him is that he’s playing every day and batting third in the Marlins lineup.

Leury García: Even with Tim Anderson off the IL, he has started four of five games. At this point in his career, he’s more of an all-around accumulator (.262/.333/.373 with 5 HR and 6 SB in 362 PA), not a stolen base threat.

DJ Peters: A right-handed power-only option (.200/.249/.432 with 12 HR in 201 PA) who is scheduled to face five lefty starters next week.

Jose Siri: He has been great (.444/.500/.778 with 2 HR and 3 SB) in his first 20 PA and has started four of five games since being recalled. Playing time will remain up in the air with Chas McCormick and Jake Meyers in the outfield mix for two outfield spots and Michael Brantley on the IL (knee). Dice roll.

Tommy La Stella: He has been starting against righties and the Giants face five next week (and three games at Colorado). His production (.242/.299/.388 with 5) is acceptable … at best.

Yonny Hernandez: For those hunting for steals, Hernandez might not be the answer and rostering him could backfire. Hernandez has been in a platoon with Charlie Culberson with Culberson facing the lefties. SO with five lefties on the schedule next week, Hernandez might only start two games. Culberson (.243/.300/.370 with 4 HR and 7 SB) might be the better option.

Seth Beer: On the IL (shoulder). Unrosterable.

Catchers

Alejandro Kirk: He’s hitting just fine (.264/.343/.480 with 8 HR) for a catcher.

Elias Díaz: With six home games, Diaz (.236/.304/.469 with 18 HR) is back in demand.

Starters

Erick Fedde: While not a safe play at all, Fedde’s two-step at the Marlins and Reds is my top play for the week. He’s been nearly unstoppable since mid-August when he dropped his sinker (5% SwStr%) usage and started throwing his slider (15% SwStr%) more. During that time, he has a 10.9 K/9, 1.8 BB/9, and 5.28 ERA (3.51 xFIP) and faced the Marlins twice, limiting them to two earned runs over 11 innings while striking out 18. I’m betting on a three-peat.

Adrian Houser: The groundball pitcher (59% GB%) continues to post a good ERA (3.43) while striking out some batters (6.9 K/9).

Eric Lauer: He’s been decent (3.10 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 8.8 K/9) this year and his matchup against the Mets shouldn’t scare anyone off.

Joe Ryan: See if he starts on Sunday or is he still hurt. He left his last start after being hit with a comebacker. He’s an extreme flyball pitcher (27% GB%) who has been able to limit the home runs (1.1 HR/9) thereby maintaining a low ERA (2.12). WILDCARD.

Alex Cobb: Cobb’s return was under-the-radar. He threw 66 pitches over five innings striking out five batters and allowing no runs. He faces the Astros this upcoming week, so there might be better options, but in the final week, he might have two starts (at, TEX, at SEA) depending on if Ohtani is still in the rotation.

Dillon Peters: He’s trying to pull an Adrian Houser by treading water in strikeouts (7.6 K/9) and walks (3.0 BB/9) while a 51% GB% helps limit his batted ball damage (0.4 HR/9, .292 BABIP). To become a reasonable option, he added a sinker, dropped his slider, and is featuring his changeup (24% SwStr%, 58% GB%). Additionally, he has added about 1 mph to the velocity of all his pitches. With the improvements, he has two starts at the Reds (Gutierrez) and the Phillies (Suarez). He’s one of the better available two-start options.

Drew Rasmussen: While he was limited to just 52 pitches in his last start, he completed five innings and got the win. Also, he did throw over 70 pitches in his previous two starts. The strikeouts (6.5 K/9) haven’t been the highest as a starter, but the walks (1.7 BB/9) and home runs (0.3 HR/9) are minuscule putting him at a 3.79 xFIP. With all the hype, it’ll be hard to start him against Toronto (Manoah).

José Suarez: He’s been a below-average starter (4.39 ERA, 4.35 xFIP 1.30 WHIP, 8.1 K/9) for the season, but picked it up in his two September starts (2.29 ERA, 3.31 xFIP, 8.4 K/9, 1.19 WHIP) when he dropped his sinker (4% SwStr%). The wire is going to need to be bare if I start him against the Astors (McCullers).

Paolo Espino: He’s in the middle of a two-start week with the first start being acceptable (6 IP, 6 K, 1 ER). After facing Colorado on Sunday, he is lined up to face the Reds in Cincinnati. He’s not a horrible option, but there is likely a better one on the waiver wire.

Jordan Lyles: He’s been bad most of the season (5.20 ERA, 4.81 xFIP, 1.40 WHIP, 7.3 K/9), but has been damn good over his last three starts (1.74 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and 7.4 K/9). He has made some changes throwing his sinker (7% SwStr%, 57% GB%) and slider (15% SwStr%, 41% GB%) more and his curve (10% SwStr%, 48% GB%) and four-seamer (9% SwStr%, 21% GB%) fewer times. On the season he has a 36% GB% and a 2.0 HR/9 but in September it is at 56% GB% and 0.0 HR/9. Even with the changes (and a possible good Sunday start), I’d have to be pretty desperate to start him at Baltimore next week.

Michael Wacha: He just continues to get hit around (.350 BABIP and 2.2 HR/9 in 2H) but has a 3.51 ERA in the second half. A pitch-mix adjustment has him striking out more batters (7.2 K/9 in 1H, 8.9 K/9 in 2H). While I might add Wacha if there were months left in the season, I’m not adding him to face Toronto next week.

Jon Lester: Last week, I couldn’t believe fantasy managers were adding Lester. Lester then goes out and throws seven innings allowing two runs and a season-high seven strikeouts. I’ll double down on my take not recommend him against the Brewers (Woodruff) and Cubs (Mills).

Alec Mills: Mills might be lined up for a two-start week for those managers hoping for him to add to his six Wins. And that’s it since he’s useless otherwise with a 1.40 WHIP, 4.50 ERA, and a 6.6 K/9.

Josh Rogers: He has posted good results (2.60 ERA and 1.04 WHIP) but against the Marlins, Pirates, and Mets. And he gets the Marlins and the Reds in a two-start week. For his career, he has a 6.23 ERA and the projection systems have him with an ERA around 6.00. I look for any possible changes and the only thing is a 1 mph increase in fastball velocity. Maybe I’m missing something, but I just don’t see a reason to roster him for the two starts.

Jake Woodford: As a starter, he has a 4.98 ERA, 5.8 K/9, and 1.57 WHIP is being rostered for a two-start week against the Brewers (Peralta) and Cubs (Sampson). Over his last five starts, his pitch total is getting limited (88, 72, 74, 66, and finally to 61).

Antonio Senzatela: It’s going take some cajones to start him, at home, against the Dodgers (Urias) and Giants (Gausman). The matchup could end a person’s season a week early.

Packy Naughton: He must have been added after his five shutout innings against the Angels, but then in his next start the White Sox lit him up for 4 ER in not even three innings. There is nothing in his profile that’s even remotely above average. A 46% GB% is his best trait.

Dietrich Enns: He has been dominant as a multi-inning follower (3.15 ERA, 9.9 K/9, 1.15 WHIP). As of right now, he’s not scheduled to be in the Rays “rotation” but could follow Wacha. It’s not a chance to take with two weeks left unless some news changes.

Relievers – Saves based

Mychal Givens: Good reliever who is the closer.

Rowan Wick: OK reliever who is the closer.

Chris Stratton: OK reliever who is the closer.

Joe Barlow: Barely average reliever who is the closer.

Dylan Floro: Barely average reliever who is the closer.

Drew Steckenrider: Average reliever who may be the closer.

Daulton Jefferies: On the IL (elbow).