RADIO
Happy July, and welcome to Week 15 of fantasy baseball 1B and 3B waiver wire pickups! This week's edition features all-new names for you to contemplate adding to your fantasy lineups. How exciting! Among these options are rookies and veterans – all of whom can perhaps add a bit of a spark to your team as the All-Star break swiftly approaches.
Speaking of that, I take a look at the week ahead for each of these hitters and how their opponent may affect them so you can more carefully consider picking them up. I know I say it every week, but it's unbelievable how quickly we've reached the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby this year. Oh well, time flies when you're having fun, right? Hopefully, your fantasy team has been able to cash in on the fun too, and these articles have helped to provide that!
Here are some first and third-base fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 15 – July 3 through July 9.
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Waiver Wire Pickups For Shallow Leagues (30-50% rostered)
Luke Raley, 1B/OF, Tampa Bay Rays (38% rostered)
What has made Tampa Bay such a threat this year is that their lineup is talented from top to bottom, and each player has had their own individual hot streak where they are nearly unstoppable. The latest Ray to do so is Luke Raley, slashing .304/.407/.609 with a couple of long balls, six RBI, and three walks in his last seven games. He hit .348 alongside a whopping 1.039 OPS across 19 games in June overall.
The 28-year-old started July off on the right foot as well, launching a two-run homer off of George Kirby in the sixth inning on Saturday, although it resulted in an 8-3 loss against the Mariners. Tampa Bay will return home on Tuesday, and while Raley's road numbers are a bit better than his numbers at home, his peripherals are still excellent. He ranks in the 92nd percentile or better in Average Exit Velocity, Max Exit Velocity, xwOBA, Barrel %, and xSLG, per Statcast.
Josh Bell, 1B, Cleveland Guardians (36% rostered)
Cleveland is only 1.5 games back of the Twins in the AL Central, and it would undoubtedly help the Guardians to gain ground if free-agent signee Josh Bell could begin to pick it up. The 30-year-old power bat has hit just eight home runs this season but is only two seasons removed from a 27-homer campaign in 2021 – which is likely what Cleveland was hoping for when they signed Bell this past offseason.
If it's any consolation, the switch-hitter is hitting the ball hard – ranking in the 93rd percentile in Max Exit Velocity. Although a series against the NL-best Atlanta Braves likely won't fare well for Cleveland, it's possible a series against the lackluster Royals can jumpstart Bell. He hit this moonshot against them just a few days ago, after all.
Waiver Wire For Deeper Leagues (10-30% rostered)
Maikel Garcia, 3B/SS, Kansas City Royals (28% rostered)
To say the Royals have been bad this year would be an understatement. They're dead last in a division in which no team is above .500, lost their first baseman/DH Vinnie Pasquantino for the remainder of the season, just traded Aroldis Chapman to the Texas Rangers, and quite frankly, there just aren't many bright spots for Kansas City. That is except for third baseman Maikel Garcia, who's begun to heat up. In June, he slashed .280/.327/.376 with a pair of home runs, eight RBI, and nine stolen bases.
Not to mention, the 23-year-old is a solid defender at the hot corner, ranking in the 99th percentile in Outs Above Average (per Statcast), while ranking 87th in Hard Hit% and Average Exit Velocity – using all parts of the field. The Royals' number three prospect will look to keep his hot streak alive against division rivals Twins and Guardians prior to the All-Star break.
Carlos Santana, 1B, Pittsburgh Pirates (11% rostered)
Although the biggest Carlos Santana-related news of the week may be his dance moves, the veteran slugger has been mashing for the Pirates recently. In his last seven games, he's batted .393/.433/.821 with three home runs (including this walk-off blast) and seven RBI.
That ball certainly got out of there in a hurry. Overall, Slamtana's peripherals aren't great, but Pittsburgh (and his fantasy owners) will welcome the hot streak. Although, the struggling Pirates face a daunting task ahead of the All-Star break as they take on the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Deeper Waiver Wire Options to Consider (Under 10%)
Nick Madrigal, 2B/3B, Chicago Cubs (5% rostered)
It's possible the Cubs are experiencing a bit of jet lag since returning from MLB's London Series across the pond against longtime rival St. Louis Cardinals. However, Nick Madrigal has been on fire for Chicago upon their return to the states. He's posted a .423/.423/.654 slash line and added a home run and four RBI in his last seven games.
His first home run as a Cubbie traveled 390 feet and came off the bat at 98.2 mph. Not too shabby for the 26-year-old. Chicago will face the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees before the All-Star break, where Madrigal will be put to the test against some premier pitching.
More Players to Consider
- Andy Ibanez, 1B/2B/3B/OF, Detroit Tigers (5% rostered)
- Matt Vierling, 3B/OF, Detroit Tigers (6% rostered)
- Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Detroit Tigers (16% rostered)
- Jeimer Candelario, 3B, Washington Nationals (25% rostered)
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