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We’re coming up on Week 17 of the fantasy baseball season. The All-Star break may give the baseball world a breather for a few days, but the grind starts back up again. Fantasy baseball necessitates hyper-vigilance, especially in deeper leagues where the waiver wires are quickly stripped of talent. This weekly article will outline the upcoming schedule, two-start pitchers, and a few waiver targets rostered in less than 5% of leagues.
It’s good practice to maximize at-bats and starts. A quick look at upcoming schedules for the 17th week of the MLB season could give you the edge in this week’s play. There are plenty of two-start pitchers this week who should end up providing great value.
This article will discuss some deeper-league fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 17, July 17 through July 23. While the season may have settled in, the waiver wires are still hot. Rostered percentages can change quickly. So be quick to check your leagues for their availability. Key point -- this list will focus on rostered players in less than 5% of Yahoo leagues.
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Fantasy Baseball Schedule Outlook
This week has some great schedules to target for fantasy. There is only one team with five games on their schedule. 11 teams have a full slate of games this week, so there are plenty of players who will provide extra at-bats this week.
In this week's weather report: rain moving along the eastern seaboard in the latter half of the week, but clear skies around the country otherwise.
- Seven Games - BAL, DET, KC, MIN, OAK, SEA, TB, CHC, CIN, SF, STL
- Six Games - CLE, HOU, NYY, TEX, MIA, MIL, PIT, WAS, PHI, TOR, ARZ, ATL, BOS, LAD, CWS, NYM, LAA, SD, PHI
- Five Games - COL
Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers
There are pitchers of varying quality on this week's two-start streamers list. For more insight, check out my article on this week’s two-start pitcher streamers.
- Tyler Wells (vs. LAD, @ TB)
- Cole Irvin (vs. LAD, @ TB)
- Nick Pivetta (@ OAK, vs. NYM)
- Domingo German (@ LAA, vs. KC)
- Shane McClanahan (@ TEX, vs. BAL)
- Taj Bradley (@ TEX, vs. BAL)
- Chris Bassitt (vs. SD, @ SEA)
- Lucas Giolito (@ NYM, @ MIN)
- Matt Manning (@ KC, vs. SD)
- Tarik Skubal (@ KC, vs. SD)
- Jordan Lyles (vs. DET, @ NYY)
- Daniel Lynch (vs. DET, @ NYY)
- Sonny Gray (@ SEA, vs. CHW)
- Bailey Ober (@ SEA, vs. CHW)
- Hunter Brown (@ COL, @ OAK)
- Paul Blackburn (vs. BOS, vs. HOU)
- Luis Medina (vs. BOS, vs. HOU)
- Logan Gilbert (vs. MIN, vs. TOR)
- Bryan Woo (vs. MIN, vs. TOR)
- Dane Dunning (vs. TB, vs. LAD)
- Bryce Elder (vs. ARZ, @ MIL)
- Bryan Hoeing (@ STL, vs. COL)
- Carlos Carrasco (vs. CHW, @ BOS)
- Aaron Nola (vs. MIL, @ CLE)
- MacKenzie Gore (@ CHC, vs. SF)
- Jameson Taillon (vs. WAS, vs. STL)
- Drew Smyly (vs. WAS, vs. STL)
- Brandon Williamson (vs. SF, vs. ARZ)
- Luke Weaver (vs. SF, vs. ARZ)
- Mitch Keller (vs. CLE, @ LAA)
- Miles Mikolas (vs. MIA, @ CHC)
- Jordan Montgomery (vs. MIA, @ CHC)
- Zach Davies (@ ATL, @ CIN)
- Emmet Sheehan (@ BAL, @ TEX)
- Joe Musgrove (@ TOR, @ DET)
- Logan Webb (@ CIN, @ WAS)
Deeper Infield Waiver Wire Pickups
Edouard Julien (2B), Minnesota Twins - 4% Rostered
Since June 1, Edouard Julien leads the Minnesota Twins in OPS with a .932 OPS. The Quebec native is in his third go-around at the major-league level this season, serving as a fill-in for the oft-injured Jorge Polanco. He has been especially impressive this month, going 6-for-17 with three home runs and two doubles.
Jorge Polanco will soon start rehabbing with Triple-A St. Paul. While that has usually led to a Julien demotion, it should be different this time. He is one of only three players on this Twins roster above the water offensively since the start of June. His strong performance will likely keep him in the lineup against right-handed pitchers. There's reason to be wary, but the Twins can't afford to lose the 24-year-old with the AL Central still in reach.
Donovan Solano (1B/2B/3B), Minnesota Twins - 4% Rostered
Eduoard Julien leads the Twins in OPS since June 1; Donovan Solano is not too far behind him with a .910 OPS. The 35-year-old is currently in one of the best stretches of his career, with a .423 wOBA, four home runs, and a 0.72 BB/K ratio since June 9.
Solano, Julien, and Royce Lewis are the only Minnesota batters with an OPS above .730 since June 1. It's no exaggeration to say that Solano is one of the few consistent, functioning pieces in Minnesota's offense. With eight straight starts across the infield, it's time to go full throttle on rostering Donovan Solano.
Endy Rodriguez (C), Pittsburgh Pirates - 3% Rostered
Catching prospect Henry Davis seeing a promotion over Endy Rodriguez seemed like doomsday for those with shares in Rodriguez, but the top prospect has rebounded with a fantastic stretch. Being leapfrogged by the less experienced Davis may have lit a fire under Rodriguez, as he slashed .319/.402/.464 in the last 17 games going into the All-Star break.
With Henry Davis being used exclusively in the outfield, Rodriguez can still compete with catcher Austin Hedges for starts upon a promotion. While Hedges is a defensive savant and a positive clubhouse presence, it's hard to stomach his .427 OPS this season.
It's unlikely that Rodriguez pushed Hedges out of his starting role entirely. With defensive experience in the outfield and at second base though, Rodriguez still has the opportunity to start regularly. The Pirates are falling out of contention and looking to give more responsibility to younger players in the second half, so the time to stash Endy Rodriguez is now.
Darick Hall (1B), Philadelphia Phillies - 2% Rostered
After being sidelined by a thumb injury for three months, Darick Hall has returned to the Phillies with, well, maybe a slight tap. Since returning to the major-league squad on July 2, Hall has slashed .200/.238/.350 with a 28.6% strikeout rate in six games.
While it isn't the return many expected, there is plenty to look forward to. While it is a small sample size, Hall has a 50% hard-hit rate and .263 xBA. While he's been unlucky, the hard-hit rate indicates that Hall is at full strength. Hall at full strength is a solid fantasy pickup.
In 2022, Hall slashed .250/.282/.522 with nine home runs, 16 RBI, and 19 runs in 42 games with the Phils. With a relatively weak remaining schedule, Kody Clemens in Triple-A, and an incredibly productive lineup surrounding him, the power-hitting Hall should be rosterable in fantasy ROS.
Deeper Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups
Jesus Sanchez (OF), Miami Marlins - 3% Rostered
Since June 29, Jesus Sanchez is slashing .333/.355/.700 with three home runs, four runs, and 10 RBI in nine games. He's had similar stretches this season, slashing .375/.412/.729 from April 17 to May 13 in a span of 18 games. He hit the injured list for two weeks, then came back and slashed .345/.406/.655 in a nine-game stretch from May 30 to June 8.
Despite these superhuman stretches, Sanchez is slashing .257/.317/.481 through 63 games this season. While that is a viable slash line, fantasy baseball players should know that the 25-year-old produces like the tides.
Alex Call (OF), Washington Nationals - 1% Rostered
GIVE CALL A CALL!
With Victor Robles on the injured list, Alex Call makes his glorious return. In the six games since his call-up, the 28-year-old is 6-for-17 with two home runs, two stolen bases, five runs, five RBI, and three walks. Call has long been one of my favorite deep league pickups as a short-side platoon option (.792 OPS against lefties), and he's poised to put up five-category production as long as Robles is out.
With Robles yet to start baseball activities despite being sent to the IL on June 21, one can assume that Call will get a few weeks of run in the majors. Even when Robles returns, Call's elite defense (six OAA this season) may give the Nationals' front office second thoughts.
Akil Baddoo (OF), Detroit Tigers - 1% Rostered
After a month on the injured list, Akil Baddoo returns to major-league play. Baddoo has provided solid value in fantasy this season, with six stolen bases, 17 RBI, 18 runs, and four home runs through 53 games. With a 95 wRC+, Baddoo will nudge across enough offensive production while not weighing down your fantasy team in AVG/OBP.
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