X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Points League Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 10

tyler o'neill fantasy baseball rankings draft sleeper MLB injury news

Nicklaus Gaut's H2H points league waiver wire pickups for Week 10 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 fits. We know points league players get neglected and we're here to help.

These waiver-wire adds are for the week of May 31st - June 6th, looking at players below 50% ownership for ESPN and Yahoo!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

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 only 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" calls. IE. If everything is the same except for HBP (or something similar), you're probably fine.

 

Waiver Wire Leaderboards

In addition to our overall waiver wire leaderboards, we're deep enough into the season that we'll also start doing a 14-day leaderboard, as well, giving us a window into recent production. The charts are updated prior to Saturday's games, on stats and ownerships. All leaderboards, overall and 14-day, are sorted according to the player's APR*, and clicking on a chart will open a new page with a magnified version.

Also, I'm out of town on vacation this weekend so the writeups will be light. And the stats on the charts are a day earlier than usual, covering up until May 27th.

*APR = Average Platform Ranking - the average platform ranking between ESPN, CBS, Yahoo, and Fantrax (standard point settings)



 

First Base

Must Adds

  • Josh Fuentes, COL - Fuentes has a .188 wOBA and .422 OPS on the road, and a .398 wOBA and a .918 OPS at home. Guess where the Rockies play this week?
  • Pavin Smith, ARI - First basemen continue to drop like flies and Smith plays every day, putting up a 98 APR over the last two weeks.
  • Andrew Vaughn, CHW - Vaughn might not quite be a must-add going by current performance, with a 170 APR and 114 APR over the last two weeks. But Vaughn has the type of name cache that will make his Roster% rocket up just as soon as he has another hot streak. If you want him, don't wait.

Can Adds

  • Garrett Cooper, MIA - Cooper now has a 137 APR on the year and a 21 APR over the last two weeks.
  • Danny Santana, 1B - Sshhh...It's Danny Santana season...Maybe. Don't tell anybody. Unless your league penalizes strikeouts. Then, tell everyone. Because Santana has a +40% K% that is radioactive in those leagues.
  • Ji-Man Choi, TB
  • Bobby Dalbec, BOS


Desperate Adds

  • The same part-timers as always (Seth Brown, Mitch Moreland, etc) but with the caveat that your desperation levels might really be pushed right now after yet another wave of IL destruction.

Notable IL

 

Second Base

There are actually a lot of usable second basemen right now, with some returning from injury and others getting playing time because of someone else's injury. Given the IL cluster we're currently dealing with, finding more than just a warm body on the wire calls for a celebration, I guess?

Must Adds

  • Cesar Hernandez, CLE - I don't really understand his low ownership. He's a PA compiler (his 61 PA over the last two weeks are more than any other player under our ownership threshold) and has a 91 APR (78 APR over the last two weeks).
  • Jurickson Profar, SD - With Trent Grisham going back to the IL, Profar has a steady job for now, with a  76 APR over the last two weeks. If you need a steady (boring) replacement for whomever just hit the IL on your team (pretty much talking to everyone), Profar's your guy.
  • Ty France, SEA - France is back from the IL and even though he missed time, still has a 130 APR. Expect his ownership to jump right back up.
  • Josh Harrison, WSH - Hi! I'm Josh Harrison and I'm still slashing .301/.376/.444, with a .362 wOBA and 128 wRC+. Also, I'm a point dream in K-penalty formats, as I have just a 12.8% K%. Over the last two weeks, I have an 86 APR (119 APR on the year). Why won't you love me?
  • Kolten Wong, MIL - Milwaukee's offense still mostly stinks but Wong has started to hit since returning from the IL. He has 47 APR over the last two weeks (131 APR on the year).

Can Adds

Desperate Adds

  • David Bote, CHC - All Cub adds are desperate adds - he says as a St. Louis resident currently writing in a Chicago hotel ; )

Notable IL

 

Third Base

Must Adds

  • Jeimer Candelario, DET - You know the drill by now. Candelario has a 101 APR on the year but gets no respect playing in the Detroit wasteland.
  • Evan Longoria, SF The "old" man just keeps hitting. 85 APR on the year, 72 APR over the last two weeks.

Can Adds

Desperate Adds

  • Travis Shaw, MIL - I think the actual definition of desperation is, "I might need to add Travis Shaw".

Notable IL

 

Shortstop

Must Adds

  • Taylor Walls, TB - An on-base machine, Walls is slashing .278/.409/.389 since getting called up following his rocking out in Triple-A. But really, I'm just going to go ahead and add any player the Rays call up instead of Wander Franco.
  • Willy Adames, MIL - Traded to Milwaukee, Adames is playing every day and has a 35 APR over the last two weeks.

Can Adds

  • Freddy Galvis, BAL - Listen, I don't know what's going on with Freddy Galvis and I don't know how long it will last. But he has a 117 wRC+ on the and clocks in at a 100 APR (84 APR over the last two weeks).
  • Jorge Polanco, MIN - Polanco has slowed down (192 APR over the last two weeks) but still has a 100 APR on the year,

Desperate Adds

  • Niko Goodrum, DET - I generally love me some Niko but you have to hit a lot to overcome a 37.5% K% in points.
  • Amed Rosario, CLE

Notable IL

 

Outfielder

Must Adds

  • Tyler O'Neill, STL - In his three games since returning from the IL, O'Neill has gone 6-for-14, with three home runs. O'Neill is breaking out. Fact. Grab him now.
  • Avisail Garcia, MIL
  • Manuel Margot, SD - Nothing jumps out about Margot's performance so far but at some point, we have to pay more attention given he has a 91 APR in 2021 and a 51 APR over the last two weeks.
  • Justin Upton, LAA - He's still dubious in K-penalty leagues but as long as Upton is batting leadoff, he should be added in most formats.
  • Joc Pederson, LAD
  • Adam Duvall, MIA - He's more valuable in leagues without a K-penalty but Duvall has been around a top-100 hitter virtually all season.

Can Adds

Desperate Adds

Notable IL

 

Catcher

Must Adds

  • Mike Zunino, TB - He just keeps hitting/being under-owned. Zunino has a 143 APR on the year and a 97 APR over the last two weeks. Just be aware his value is significantly less if your league penalizes strikeouts (37.9% K%).
  • William Contreras, ATL - As long as Travis d'Arnaud is out, Contreras should be added, with a 66 APR over the last two weeks. Once again, just be careful in K-penalty leagues (31.4% K%)

Can Adds

Desperate Adds

  • All catcher adds are desperate adds.

Notable IL

 

Starting Pitchers

Must Add

  • Yusei Kikuchi, SEA
  • Mike Minor, KC - Minor has a 74 APR among all pitchers, with a 61 APR over the last three weeks. He a two-start week on tap, facing Pittsburgh and Minnesota at home.
  • Casey Mize, DET - He's a must-add given how strong he's been in May, posting a 1.80 ERA and 0.87 WHIP over his five starts. Just be careful in Week 10, as he'll face the Chicago White Sox, who have a .323 wOBA vs RHP (7th-highest).
  • Tyler Anderson, PIT - Anderson has a great matchup in Week 10, facing the Royals on the road. Kansas City has a .290 wOBA vs LHP, the fourth-lowest in baseball. Just don't count on a win because, you know, it's the Pirates.
  • Merrill Kelly, ARI - Kelly's been better than you think since a brutal start to his season when he allowed a total of 18 runs in his first four starts. Since then, Kelly has allowed 13 runs over his last six starts, posting a 3.19 ERA and 26% K%. He gets two starts in Week 10, facing the Mets and their .296 wOBA vs RHP (22nd), followed by the Brewers, who have the third-lowest wOBA vs RHP.
  • Shane McClanahan, TB - A matchup on the road against the Yankees isn't ideal but New York has been pretty mediocre vs LHP, with a .309 wOBA (15th). But the rookie leftie has a 3.29 ERA over his first six starts in the majors, with a 29.6% K%. The time to roster him is quickly running out.
  • James Kaprielian, OAK - The first start of the week (@ SEA) is just as juicy as the next one in Colorado, isn't. So obviously, don't get cute and try for a twofer. But for those thinking Kaprielian has come out of nowhere, he hasn't; he was the Yankees top pitching prospect before having TJ surgery and being traded to Oakland in the Sonny Gray deal. And he'ss starting to show why he was such a great prospect, posting a 1.53 ERA and 27.1% K% over his first three starts.

Can Add

  • Austin Gomber, COL
  • Garrett Richards, BOS - Richards has already beat all of his expectations but has a difficult two-start week coming up, facing the Astros and Yankees on the road.
  • Adam Wainwright, CIN - Be careful, the Reds are very good against right-handers. Their .331 wOBA vs RHP is the fourth-highest in baseball.
  • Luis Garcia, HOU - Garcia has been good but it's a dicey two-week start coming up, playing Boston at home before going to Toronto.
  • Spencer Turnbull, DET - Turnbull's next start against the White Sox isn't appealing but after that, he gets Seattle at home, who has the 4th-lowest wOBA vs RHP.
  • Adbert Alzolay, CHC - His next two starts line up against the Padres, who have a .315 wOBA vs RHP that's the 10-highest.
  • Brady Singer, KC
  • Drew Smyly, ATL

Desperate Adds

  • David Peterson, NYM
  • Tarik Skubal, DET - His next two starts line up against the White Sox, who have the 7th-best wOBA and 6th-best wRC+ vs RHP.
  • Martin Perez, BOS - He lines up to face the Houston Astros in his next two starts, who has a .337 wOBA (t-3rd-highest) and 121 wRC+ (2nd highest).
  • Vince Velasquez, PHI - For those thinking that Martin Perez just doesn't offer enough risk. Dancing a two-step with a human gas can is the most dangerous of games.

Notable IL

 

Relief Pitchers

Keep in mind that with relievers, points scored can be deceiving. 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. AKA, when you see totally rando names hit the leaderboard (particularly the 14-Day one), it's probably because they happened to get a few wins and/or a lot of usage. If a reliever doesn't have an established role, tread carefully.

One note about ownership; because ESPN uses nine open pitching slots, as opposed to dedicated slots for RP/SP, relievers tend to be lighter owned than on other sites.

Notable IL



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Points Leagues Analysis


Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

NBA

Tosan Evbuomwan Joins Knicks
NBA

Kai Jones Links Up With EuroLeague Team
NBA

Bismack Biyombo Returns to Spurs
NBA

Bones Hyland Rejoins Timberwolves
Kobe Bufkin

Moves to Brooklyn
Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
J.J. McCarthy

Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
Jean Silva

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
Aaron Jones Sr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 3 Due to Hamstring Injury
Diego Lopes

Returns To The Win Column
Jayden Daniels

' Week 3 Status in Doubt
Rob Font

Outclassed In The Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
David Martinez

Wins His Second UFC Fight
Jared Gordon

Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
Rafa Garcia

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dealing with Wrist Injury
Dustin Stoltzfus

Drops A Decision At Noche UFC 3
Kelvin Gastelum

Gets Back In The Win Column
Diego Ferreira

Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
Christopher Bell

Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
Alex Bowman

Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
Corey Heim

Earns his First Career Cup Series Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Leads Greece to Bronze Medal
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Drops 28 Points in EuroBasket Finals
CFB

Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Aaron Jones Sr.

Injures Hamstring During Sunday Night Football
Darren Waller

Not Expected to Play in Week 3
Garrett Crochet

Punches Out 12 in Win
Cole Ragans

to Return on Wednesday
Jameson Williams

Records Long Touchdown in Week 2, Still Limited to Downfield Role?
George Kirby

Strikes Out 14 in Win
Jayden Daniels

Considered "Day-to-Day" with Knee Injury
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Exits with Back Tightness
Jonathan Taylor

Tops 200 Yards From Scrimmage in Week 2 Win
Joe Burrow

Could Miss Three Months if he Requires Toe Surgery
Davante Adams

Headlines Rams Receiving Corps Sunday
Wan'Dale Robinson

Explodes for 142 Yards, Touchdown in Overtime Thriller
Joe Flacco

Browns Not Considering Benching Joe Flacco After Week 2
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
Luis Arraez

Takes a Seat on Sunday With Head Injury
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Activated, Starting on Sunday
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
CFB

CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
Bryan Woo

Records Career-High 13 Strikeouts
Max Muncy

Exits Early on Saturday
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Salvador Perez

Reaches 300 Home Runs, 1,000 RBI
Jose Altuve

Exits Early With Foot Discomfort
Trey Yesavage

Heading to Big Leagues
Will Smith

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
Tarik Skubal

Avoids Serious Injury, Expected to Make Next Start
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
Tanner Bibee

Fans 10 in Two-Hit Shutout
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Won't Play Against Georgia
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks
CFB

Dylan Edwards Slated to Return on Friday
Adam Lowry

Aims for Early-Season Return
CFB

Ryan Williams Expected to Play Against Wisconsin
CFB

Billy Edwards Jr. Unlikely to Play on Saturday
P.J. Washington

Officially Signs Contract Extension
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Questionable to Make Debut Against Georgia
Lauri Markkanen

Big at Both Ends as Finland Books Place in EuroBasket Semis
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Notches 39 Points in Losing Effort
NBA

Cam Reddish Expected to Move to Europe
NBA

Trey Lyles Joins Real Madrid
Charles Bassey

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Hawks
Sacramento Kings

Terence Davis Waived by Kings
Matthew Knies

Ready for Bigger Role With Maple Leafs
Jack Eichel

Unbothered by Lack of Extension
Sidney Crosby

Not Thinking About Leaving Pittsburgh
SJ

Michael Misa Signs Entry-Level Contract With Sharks
Rutger McGroarty

Nursing an Injury
Cameron Champ

the Ultimate Wild Card at Procore
Cameron Young

Looks to Extend Momentum in Napa
Davis Thompson

Searching for a Spark at Procore
Sahith Theegala

Looking to Reignite Form at Procore
Mackenzie Hughes

Aims for Another Strong Showing at Procore
Luke Clanton

Brings Ball-Striking Upside to Napa
Seamus Power

Looking to Overcome Poor Course History at Procore
Joe Highsmith

Hoping to Find Form in Napa

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP