1B and 3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 7

August 31, 2020

Mike Kurland's fantasy baseball first base and third base waiver wire pickups for Week 7 of the 2020 MLB season. Consider adding and streaming these free agent corner infield options at 1B or 3B.

We enter the second half. It is crazy how fast the season is going, but when you are used to grinding for 6 months, this change of pace requires some adjusting. regardless, let's get you ready for the second half the right way with week 7 corner infield (1B and 3B) waiver wire options.

Before we dive in, we need to keep a few things in mind:

• We focus on players rostered in 5x5 Roto formats in Yahoo! leagues.
• Player eligibility will also be determined by the Yahoo! player pool.
• We aim at players rostered in 40% of leagues or less. This allows us to provide names to help leagues of all sizes.
• They will be in order of rostered percentage from highest to lowest.

There has been and will continue to be a ton of turnover. Be quick on the trigger and get your adds in before the next person. Staying a step ahead is key and the goal here is to keep you a step ahead. Now, let's get to those players to add for Week 7.

First Base Waiver Wire Options

Brandon Belt (1B/OF, SF) - 26% Rostered

Making the cut for the second straight week, Belt moves from dart throw territory to a higher priority add. He is among many possible movers with the trade deadline approaching, but it is hard to envision him going somewhere else as anything but a starting first basemen. He would also likely end up with a better lineup around him. The only issue would be he would likely fall from the middle of the order to the bottom if the team has a contending lineup already. The power has been great and the peripherals are backing it up. Hard hit rate of 51.8% and xSLG of .656 are 97th and 96th percentile respectively. This comes with an increase of barrel rate (19.6%) and also a decrease in launch angle to 18.8 degrees. This is the lowest it has been since 2015. It has helped in the increase of line drives and that could help explain why the barrels have gone up and it will play well to sustaining the batting average.

Jeimer Candelario (1B/3B, DET) - 6% Rostered

Candelairo has been a dart throw two or three times already this season, but with his continued success and lack of rostering, it is time to bring him up out of the dart throws and into the spotlight a bit. He is back to playing well after a down 2019. He has showed flashes in the past but now he is back to performing and everything under the hood suggests it could be who he is. He is batting .299/.342/.523 with a xBA OF .292 and xSLG of.482. Sure, some regression could happen but very little. He has career-high marks in barrel rate (9.3%) and average exit velocity (90.4 MPH). He is not going to be a league winner down the stretch but I buy into there being more of a floor than most might have noticed. He is free and worth giving a look. Especially in your deeper leagues.

Third Base Waiver Wire Options

Jon Berti (2B/3B/SS/OF, MIA) - 39% Rostered

Here is a guy who will likely be dealt at some point Monday and if he is, be mindful where he lands and if he lands in a situation where he starts or becomes an utility type without regular playing time. The speed alone warrants a look regardless. He has three steals over the last week (all in one game) and eight on the season. The speed is very real. His sprint speed is in the 97th percentile. Berti has been leading off lately for the Marlins but, again, the value could take a hit in the next day or two so be mindful.

Alec Bohm (3B, PHI) - 22% Rostered

Another player making a return to this list is Alec Bohm. Power first, solid bat in the minors and he should continue to show that skill at the MLB level. He is not flashy but is playing every day and he does have some upside. Great eye for the ball with a walk rate of 12.5% and strike out rate of 14.2%. Add the hit tool and we should see good things entering the second half.

Austin Riley (3B/OF, ATL) - 15% Rostered

Another repeat name but at only 15% rostered, Riley requires more attention. He is batting over .400 and has three home runs in the last seven games. Now batting over .350 over the last two weeks and four home runs, he seems to be in the middle of the hot streak and he is someone we know can get hot and carry you in power at any given moment. Although the batting average could drop, the power cannot be ignored and can he can be in for a solid second half. If you need power, look no further.

Deeper-League Dart Throws

These are a few players to go after in your deeper leagues or if you're in a pinch in general. These players will be rostered in less than 10% of leagues.

Joey Wendle (2B/3B/SS, TB) - 5% Rostered

It is hard to trust the Rays, but Wendle has played mostly regularly. Consistently bats within the top six in the lineup. Not flashy but more of a high-floor play who offers chip-in steals and good batting average.

Bobby Dalbec (3B, BOS) - 3% Rostered

Dalbec is a power-first prospect. A player I was on in the deepest of leagues coming into the season, he is now up to stay with Mitch Moreland out of the picture. He should play every day and the power should play immediately. It is all about how he adapts to MLB pitching.

Garrett Cooper (1B/OF, MIA) - 2% Rostered

Since returning from COVID-IL, Cooper has started each of the last three games and hit a home run, and hit 3rd or 4th each game. He could be traded so he's more of a player to watch but there is another solid floor here with some power potential.

Ty France (2B/3B, SEA) - 1% Rostered

This is 100% on speculation. He could now be an every day bat for the Seattle Mariners and with legit power, having every day playing time can unleash it and he should be considered for any AL-Only league or 15-teamer.

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