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Lauren's fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for 1B and 3B for Week 26 of the 2024 season. Consider adding these free agent first basemen and third basemen.
Happy Sunday, Rotoballers, and welcome back to another edition of first base and third base fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 26 — September 16 through September 22.
While most of you are likely focused on your fantasy football teams this month, fantasy baseball is still ongoing and deserves a sliver of your attention. The season is quickly coming to an end, but there's still time left as the playoffs approach.
Waiver Wire Pickups for Shallow Leagues (30-50% rostered)
Spencer Horwitz, 1B/2B, Toronto Blue Jays (42% rostered)
Blue Jays infielder Spencer Horwitz has found his name on this list several times this season. The 26-year-old has continued to shine for Toronto, this time posting an eye-popping .526/.524/1.158 slash line with 10 hits, three homers, and seven RBI across the last week.
Spencer in September ‼️
He's hitting .407 to start the month 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hnpyP0A8bZ
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 11, 2024
Horwitz's September batting average has since dropped, but it's still .387 this month. Overall, he has turned in a respectable rookie campaign, putting up a .831 OPS and 30 extra-base hits across 85 games in 2024.
Michael Busch, 1B/3B, Chicago Cubs (37% rostered)
Michael Busch is another name that has appeared on these lists many times. He's had a mostly successful first year in Chicago, although his strong offensive stretches have come in spurts. Luckily, Busch is in the middle of a hot streak right now, slashing .321/.367/.607 with a pair of homers and seven RBI.
Michael Busch ties it for the @Cubs with a 3-run jack. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/66RjG9m3DH
— MLB (@MLB) September 14, 2024
The Cubs seemed to be making a playoff push in August, going 18-8 and creeping their way up the National League wild-card standings. However, they've gone 5-6 in September so far and have dropped six games back of the final NL wild-card spot. At least Busch figures to be a part of Chicago's long-term plans after a promising rookie campaign.
Waiver Wire for Deeper Leagues (10-30% rostered)
Luke Raley, 1B/OF, Seattle Mariners (16% rostered)
Like the Cubs, the Mariners also fell off dramatically and are unlikely to make the postseason. It's been a disappointing season for Seattle, with most of their lineup underperforming. Although, one player who has surprised this season is Luke Raley, who came over from the Rays in the offseason.
The Seattle Mariners have found something with Luke Raley.
Since August 1st, he is 3rd in MLB with a 191 wRC+. The only two players better in that span are Yordan Alvarez and Aaron Judge.
Luke also has a .635 SLG in that span which is 5th in MLB.
Nuke Raley does it again👀 pic.twitter.com/jZ8Yj6TVxZ
— EastCoastM’s🔱 (@EastCoastMs_) September 12, 2024
The 29-year-old has batted .316/.409/.684 with five doubles, three home runs, nine RBI, and four walks in September. Raley has helped keep the M's alive with over two weeks left of the season. As of Saturday afternoon, Seattle is 3.5 games back of the final AL wild-card spot and 4.5 games back of the Astros in the AL West.
Ernie Clement, 2B/3B/SS, Toronto Blue Jays (20% rostered)
In addition to Horwitz, Blue Jays teammate Ernie Clement is having a productive September. He's collected 10 hits in his last seven games, good for a .357 batting average. This month, he has a .809 OPS with a home run, a double, a triple, and two RBI.
Ernie Clement has been one of the better surprises for the Blue Jays this season.
He's 4th in the team in At Bats (374) and has racked up a bWAR of 3.4 (3rd on the Blue Jays)
He just made the roster in spring training, and is now an everyday big leaguer 💪 pic.twitter.com/bBR1rsWyNU
— Blue Jays Today (@TodayJays) September 11, 2024
As Blue Jays Today points out, Clement has played his way into an everyday role in Toronto. He's added 34 extra-base hits in 400 plate appearances this season and has 102 overall across 125 games. The 28-year-old has also kept his strikeouts to a minimum, with just 36.
Deeper Waiver Wire Options to Consider (Under 10%)
Hunter Goodman, C/1B/OF, Colorado Rockies (2% rostered)
Great news for fantasy owners everywhere: the Rockies are on a homestand! Hunter Goodman has taken advantage of that, popping two homers, including a go-ahead grand slam, on Friday against the Cubs. He was credited with seven RBI on the night.
#Rockies Hunter Goodman has his 10th home run in only his 180th at-bat of the season.
Would he have had the same breakout as Michael Toglia if he were given more playing time too? pic.twitter.com/T3v8EMfEe8
— Patrick Lyons (@PatrickDLyons) September 14, 2024
A 2021 fourth-round draft pick of Colorado, Goodman may be playing his way into the Rockies starting catcher's role for the 2025 season. Granted, he's only taken a little over 250 PAs in his major league career, and nine of his homers 11 home runs have come at Coors Field, but he's an option to consider moving forward.
More Waiver Wire Pickups to Consider
- Brandon Lowe, 1B/2B, Tampa Bay Rays (37% rostered)
- Jose Caballero, 2B/3B/SS, Tampa Bay Rays (39% rostered)
- Jose Tena, 3B/SS, Washington Nationals (7% rostered)
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