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Whether it's your first or 10th year partaking in fantasy baseball, you know that waiver wire pickups are the lifeblood of any successful team. In the ever-evolving world of Major League Baseball, players' fortunes can change in an instant, making astute pickups a crucial element of managing a competitive fantasy roster.
Whether it's nabbing a hot prospect on the cusp of a breakout season or finding a hidden gem on the waiver wire, fantasy baseball pickups are the key to staying ahead of the competition. Although we've reached the stretch run for the season, it might not be too late to turn your team into a championship contender.
This makes every pickup a potential game-changer in the quest for fantasy baseball glory. Consider adding these first and third-base fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 22 -- August 21 through August 27.
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Waiver Wire Pickups For Shallow Leagues (30-50% rostered)
Royce Lewis, 3B/SS, Minnesota Twins (38% rostered)
Royce Lewis was recently activated from the injured list for the Twins and picked up right where he left off for Minnesota's offense. He's tallied five hits in four games -- two of them going for extra bases -- and collected two RBI and two walks. Lewis's biggest challenge since his debut last season has been staying healthy. The Twins are hoping that the 24-year-old can be a regular contributor for the stretch run.
Minnesota holds a five-game lead over the Guardians for first place in the AL Central. But beyond winning a division crown, the Twins' ultimate goal is winning their first postseason game in nearly two decades. Lewis, a former first-overall selection, would love to be a key part of that.
Jake Burger, 3B, Miami Marlins (37% rostered)
If you've read these articles all season long, then you know that Jake Burger is no stranger to it. You also might remember when I said that it didn't look like the White Sox were looking to trade Burger. Well, that was not the case. The 27-year-old joined the Marlins at the deadline, along with another power hitter with the initials J.B. in Josh Bell. The acquisition of both hitters has made a difference for Miami's offense in the midst of a playoff push.
In 17 games with the Fish, the Missouri State product has managed a .954 OPS alongside a pair of home runs, 11 RBI, five doubles, and four walks. Burger's last seven games have seen him hit to the tune of a .464 average, .500 OBP, and slug .607. His three-run homer broke the game wide open for the Marlins on Friday night, helping his team halt the streaking Dodgers.
Waiver Wire For Deeper Leagues (10-30% rostered)
Nicky Lopez, 2B/3B/SS, Atlanta Braves (12% rostered)
The Braves have once again worked their voodoo magic on another subpar player. This time it's that of infielder Nicky Lopez, who was acquired from the Royals on July 30. The 28-year-old, who was batting just .213 and had a .604 OPS through 68 games with Kansas City, has a .915 OPS with the Braves in eight games along with a home run and eight RBI.
With Ozzie Albies dealing with a hamstring injury, Lopez should figure to get a bulk of starts at second base. Vaughn Grissom could receive some starts in the All-Star's absence as well. But the former fifth-rounder in Lopez may be the preferred option as Grissom has struggled at the major-league level this season.
Chris Taylor, 2B/3B/SS/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers (20% rostered)
Chris Taylor seems to always come up big when he's needed most for the Dodgers. That's once again been the case for the veteran utilityman, who played a large role in their 11-game winning streak that was snapped on Friday night by the Marlins. Across his last seven games, Taylor has slashed .318/.400/.500 with seven hits, including a home run, RBI, and two stolen bases.
Although the 32-year-old hasn't had the strongest year offensively for Los Angeles, he's still managed a .853 OPS with runners on first and second, a 1.118 OPS with the bases loaded, and a pair of grand slams.
Deeper Waiver Wire Options to Consider (Under 10%)
Cavan Biggio, 1B/2B/OF, Toronto Blue Jays (2% rostered)
It's hard to live up to expectations when you're the son of a Hall of Fame player, and nobody knows that pressure better than Cavan Biggio. Following a 16-homer, 48-RBI campaign across 100 games in 2019 with the Blue Jays, the former fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame hasn't met that mark since. The 28-year-old has dealt with a handful of injuries, but he has struggled to get regular playing time with Toronto.
However, Biggio was hot to begin August and has since carried that streak into the middle of the month -- batting .318 and reaching base at a .483 clip in his last seven games with seven hits, five runs, five walks, and three RBI -- thus gaining more starts at second base. It's been a long time coming for the Houston native.
More Players to Consider
- Nolan Schanuel, 1B, Los Angeles Angels (0% rostered)
- Luis Urias, 2B/3B/SS, Boston Red Sox (8% rostered)
- Carlos Santana, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers (12% rostered)
- Mike Moustakas, 1B/3B, Los Angeles Angels (14% rostered)
- Jordan Westburg, 2B/3B/SS, Baltimore Orioles (22% rostered)
- Harold Ramirez, 1B/OF, Tampa Bay Rays (23% rostered)
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