Points League Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 3

Nicklaus Gaut's H2H points league waiver wire pickups for Week 3 of the 2021 fantasy baseball season, identifying free agents to add and pitchers to stream.

We'll be doing this roundup of point league happenings every week here at RotoBaller, with waiver-wire targets and streaming pitchers being evaluated in terms of the different scoring systems of ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, and Fantrax. Player values can vary wildly from platform to platform, so we'll make sure to highlight where players are the best and worst fit at. We know point players get neglected and we're here to help.

These waiver-wire adds are for the week of April 12th-April 18th, looking at players below 50% ownership for ESPN and Yahoo. We'll also include ownership for Fantrax but keep in mind that those rates often run much as they reflect a larger share of dynasty leagues.

Since we're now almost two weeks into the season, let's freak out and make grandiose statements about a player's first 10 games. Right meow!

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• Fantasy baseball injury reports

Know Your System

If you've read me even a little, you likely know what I'm going to say...You must account for, as precisely as possible, how a player performs under your particular scoring system. Don't be fooled into believing you can just make rough adjustments in your head, bumping up guys with high on-base percentages and low strikeout rates. Every point, in every category, counts.

For example, ESPN and Fantrax are virtually identical in their scoring for hitters and roster size. The only difference is that stolen bases are worth one more point on Fantrax and ESPN subtracts one point per strikeout. That's the difference between Ronald Acuna Jr. being a top-five hitter versus top-25.

If your league uses standard settings, then great! Turn to page 94 and you can skip ahead to the leaderboards. If you play with custom settings, it'll still be fine. Go back to page 43 and look below at the scoring systems of the four major platforms. I bet there's a chance that you'll find that your league's scoring is very similar to one of the four (well, not Yahoo's), even if it's not the platform you actually play on.

For example, my home league started on a now-defunct platform before moving first to ESPN and is now at Fantrax. But our scoring is basically ESPN standard but with two points for stolen bases and a handful of other minor adjustments.

If you look above, you'll likely find a suitable mirror to your own system. While every point counts, as long as they aren't seismic changes you can get away with some "close enough". IE. If everything is the same except for HBP (or something similar), you're probably fine.

The following charts are updated prior to Saturday's games, on stats and ownerships. Clicking on a chart will open a new page with a magnified version. Players are ordered by their average points scored across the four platforms.

Waiver Wire Leaderboards

First Base

Must Adds

• Joey Votto, CIN - Votto only has a .166 AVG over his first 31 PA but it's just silly that his ownership is so low (19% Yahoo, 29% ESPN). Y'all know Joey is a points monster, right? As in, that's kind of what he's built for? Boring but predictable.

Can Adds

• Colin Moran, PIT - Even with platoon issues and injury, Moran was more than solid for the basement-dwelling Pirates, hitting 10 HR in 200 PA, slashing a respectable .247/.325/.472 with a .340 wOBA and 113 wRC+. Through these first games, Moran is the eighth-highest scoring first baseman, with two home runs and a .418 wOBA. He's a better option in leagues with daily moves, as he'll sit some against lefties, and has a K-rate that will limit his ceiling in leagues with strikeout penalties.
• Jesus Aguilar, MIA - Aguilar has started seven out of the Marlins first eight games, putting up a .361 wOBA and 136 wRC+ and is a top-15 scorer. But he hasn't hit for power yet and the stat line is pretty empty.

Desperate Adds

• Garrett Cooper, MIA
• Josh Fuentes, COL
• Evan White, SEA

Second Base

Must Adds

• Luis Arraez, MIN - There were some playing time concerns heading into the season but injuries (like usual) have cleared things out for one of the best hit tools in baseball. Arraez is slashing .320/.400/.480 through his first 30 games, with a .381 wOBA and 145 wRC+. He's batted leadoff in five-of-seven starts and doesn't get dinged for his light power in point leagues; go get him.
• Jazz Chisholm, MIA - the tooled-up 23-year-old with the electric hair is playing every day and starting to heat up, hitting his first home run to add to his pair of stolen bases on the season. Grab him while you can, ownership can only go up.
• Cesar Hernandez, CLE - He's not a must-add given his start to the season (.185/.290/.370, 1 HR, 4 R, 1 RBI) but he's batting second every day for the Indian, right in front of Jose Ramirez and Franmil Reyes.

Can Adds

• Kyle Isbel, KC - A popular add after going 5-for-9 in his first two games, Isbel is now 0-for-12 following his hot start and isn't guaranteed everyday playing time. But the best version of Isbel has 20/20 potential with a decent average.
• Jurickson Profar, SD
• Kike Hernandez, BOS
• Adam Frazier, PIT

Desperate Adds

• Donovan Solano, SF
• Marwin Gonzalez, BOS

Third Base

Must Adds

• Evan Longoria, TB - Longoria walks a lot, doesn't strike out, and puts the ball in play with a little power. Until the old(er) man slows down, plug him in for a cheap hole-filler if you're in need.
• Jed Lowrie, OAK - First Longoria, now this? What year is it? Regardless, Lowrie is playing every day for Oakland and is an OBP machine. If injuries have you down, look to Lowrie for a short-term fix

Can Adds

• Brian Anderson, MIA - Anderson hasn't done much this season, slashing .160/.222/.200, with a 28 wRC+ but he'll level back out to his boring old self and put up steady numbers like the low-budget Kyle Seager that he is.
• Maikel Franco, BAL

Desperate Adds

• Edwin Rios, LAD - The only question with Rios is the lack of playing time, as he crushes lasers with the best of him. He's fine in daily leagues for the occasional stream but just keep him on your radar in case more injuries open up playing time.

Shortstop

Must Adds

• Andrelton Simmons, MIN - Simmons may just be batting eighth but he's playing every day on a big-time offense. And also, he's smashing. He's slashing .435/.567/.565 over 30 PA, with a .496 wOBA and 224 wRC+.

Can Adds

• Jose Iglesias, LAA
• Willi Castro, DET
• Willy Adames, TB

Desperate Adds

• Brandon Crawford, SF
• Amed Rosario, CLE

Outfielder

Must Adds

• Tyler Naquin, CIN - It'll end soon but at this point, you have to add him until it does. With a .333 AVG, five home runs, and 14 RBI, Naquin has a 63-point average across platforms. That's first among all hitters (not outfielders), coming in just ahead of Mike Trout, Nick Castellanos, and J.D. Martinez.
• Adam Eaton, CHW - Eaton is another boring older player who has the OBP skills that can make you a stud in points if you're getting the playing time.
• Cedric Mullins II, BAL - No matter how much you ignore him in Baltimore, Mullins keeps hitting. Mullins has hit leadoff in every game this season, slashing .455/.500/.667 with a .502 wOBA, and plays in a bandbox stadium. What are you waiting for?

Can Adds

• Sam Hilliard, COL - Hilliard has crazy-high exit velocities and plays in Colorado, so he should be a must-add, right? Unfortunately, he also plays in Colorado. So who knows how much he'll actually play.
• Brandon Nimmo, NYM - He's only in this section because you can probably only add him in Yahoo (26% ownership). If he's available, snatch him quickly.
• Justin Upton, LAA
• Manuel Margot, TB

Desperate Adds

• Robbie Grossman, OAK
• Corey Dickerson, MIA
• David Dahl, TEX

Catcher

Must Adds

• Omar Narvaez, MIL - Looking more like he did in Seattle in 2019, Narvaez is slashing .455/.520/.727 over 25 PA, with two home runs and a .532 wOBA.
• Wilson Ramos, DET

Can Adds

• Tucker Barnhart, CIN

Desperate Adds

• All catcher adds are desperate adds.

Starting Pitchers

Two-Start Options

• Aaron Sanchez, SF - vs CIN, @ MIA
• Adbert Alzolay, CHC - @ MIL, vs ATL
• Antonio Senzatela, COL - @ LAD, vs NYM
• Brady Singer, KC - vs LAA, vs TOR
• Carlos Rodon, CHW - vs CLE, @ BOS
• Casey Mize, DET - @ HOU, @ OAK
• Chad Kuhl, PIT - vs SD, @ MIL
• Chase Anderson, PHI - @ NYM, vs STL
• Dane Dunning, TEX - @ TB, vs BAL
• Danny Duffy, KC - vs LAA, vs TOR
• David Peterson, NYM - vs PHI, @ COL
• Dean Kremer, BAL - vs SEA, @ TEX
• Huascar Ynoa, ATL - vs MIA, @ CHC
• J.A. Happ, MIN - vs BOS, @ LAA
• John Gant, STL - vs WSH, @ PHI
• Justus Sheffield, SEA - @ BAL, vs HOU
• Kyle Gibson, TEX - @ TB, vs BAL
• Madison Bumgarner, ARI - vs OAK, @WSH
• Martin Perez, BOS - @ MIN, vs CHW
• Taijuan Walker, NYM - vs PHI, @ COL
• Trevor Cahill, PIT - vs SD, @ MIL
• Wade Miley, CIN - @ SF, vs CLE

Must Adds

• Yusei Kikuchi, SEA - If you haven't read my feelings on Yusei Kikuchi, may I suggest trying here? Or here or here. Tl;dr: I really like Yusei Kikuchi.
• Drew Smyly, ATL - Much like Kikuchi, there's no good reason that Smyly should still be available in your league. The velo is poppin' while the hook is carving fools. His start against the Phillies went poorly, allowing five earned runs in five innings, giving up two home runs in the fourth inning but call me not too worried.
• Aaron Sanchez, SF - I like the player it's the great two-start week that I really love, with Sanchez facing Cincinnati at home and Miami on the road. In his season debut, Sanchez allowed one earned run in five innings, striking out four. Solid pickup now but with a great week could stick around your roster for a bit.

Can Adds

• Matt Shoemaker, MIN
• Dane Dunning, TEX
• Chris Flexen, SEA
• Mike Minor, KC
• Adrian Houser, MIL
• Mitch Keller, PIT

Stream Only

• Brett Anderson, MIL  (vs PIT)

Relief Pitchers

Keep in mind that with relievers, points scored can be deceiving. If you look at the above list, I doubt you'll be scrambling to pick up the likes of Wandy Peralta, Junior Guerra, or Ryan Weathers. Most scoring systems make it pretty difficult for even the best non-closers to score elite points making them very reliant on unpredictable wins. You simply need the save points to really do damage.

Must Adds

• Emmanuel Clase, CLE
• Ian Kennedy, TEX
• Yimi Garcia, MIA
• Lou Trivino, OAK

Can Adds

• Corey Knebel, LAD
• Gregory Soto, DET
• Giovanny Gallegos, STL
• Jose Alvarado, PHI

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