Points League Hitters: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 17 (July 21 - July 27)

July 21, 2025

Nicklaus Gaut's H2H points fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters in Week 17 (2025) - July 21 - July 27. Free-agent hitters to add in points leagues.

Welcome, RotoBallers, to our H2H points fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters for Week 17 of the 2025 season. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of July 21 - July 27, looking at players below ~50 percent rostered on ESPN or Yahoo points leagues.

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

Position eligibility is taken from Fantrax, and players are grouped by their most valuable fantasy position, using a hierarchy of C > 2B > OF > 3B > 1B > SS. Stats and rankings are calculated using games through Saturday, July 19.

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Waiver Wire Caveats and APR Explanation

Roster% Thresholds

We use a combination of roster percentages to assess who is in our target pool, relying primarily on Yahoo and ESPN. For some players, you'll notice a wide discrepancy between the two. This is because ESPN's roster percentage is heavily weighted by points players, with guys who don't do well in their system (often because of an inflated strikeout rate) lagging behind the Yahoo! roster percentage.

For this reason, you'll sometimes see players (especially early) who might make you question my sanity in including them in a waiver-wire article, but don't worry, it's just a necessary glitch for coverage purposes.

APR stands for "Average Platform Rank" and is the average hitter rank between the four major point platforms: ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, and Fantrax. All player data is from FanGraphs and Baseball Savant, with injury information pulled from the Roster Resource section on the former.

**All-Star break Caveats**

Accounting for the All-Star break, "Week" 16 is actually only two games of action (Friday and Saturday), so we won't be referencing them; instead, we will lean on Week 15 numbers, as well as our two-week rankings (which are actually a week and a half behind). Everything clear? Great!

Fantasy Baseball First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Romy Gonzalez, BOS, 1B/2B/SS (Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 12%) - We'll say the same thing we've been saying for a while; Gonzalez has been good vs. RHPs, but a god against lefties. In 80 PAs this season, Gonzalez is slashing .389/.438/.708, with a 69% HH%, .479 wOBA, and 21% Brl%. In Week 17, the Red Sox are scheduled to face three left-handers in their six games (@PHI, vs. LAD).

So far this month, Romy Gonzalez has been on fire at the plate.

His numbers through 29 at-bats:

12 H, 3 2B, 2 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, .414 AVG.

pic.twitter.com/csUXCS2WMz

— Jamie Gatlin (@JamieGatlin17) July 19, 2025

Nolan Schanuel, LAA, 1B (Yahoo: 17%, ESPN: 15%) - Schanuel is up to a 71 APR for the season, not only making him the #12 1B, but putting him ahead of several universally rostered players, including Paul Goldschmidt, Freddie Freeman, Luis Arraez, and Bryce Harper. And yet, he's sub-20% rostered? Make it make sense. He'll get seven games in Week 17 (@NYM, vs. SEA), with only one of his fellow lefties to deal with.

Ernie Clement, TOR, 1B/2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 22%) - Clement's Roster% is slowly climbing, but some might be hesitant with two tough opponents on the schedule (vs. NYY, @DET). Not me, though; the squads might be tough, but Clement is set to face three left-handed starters, against whom he continues to crush. Facing left-handers this season over 112 PA, Clement is slashing .379/.414/.612, with a .437 wOBA, and 7% K%.

Gavin Sheets, SD, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 16%) - Frequent readers know what we do with Sheets when he's set to compile a bunch of plate appearances against right-handed pitchers (@MIA, @STL, 1 LHP) -- we start him. In 253 PA vs. RHP this season, Sheets has a 53% Hard Hit% and a .376 xwOBA.

Next Choices

Lenyn Sosa, CHW, 1B/2B/3B (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 2%) - There's a Sosa in Chicago that won't stop raking -- and this one doesn't resemble Pepto Bismol. Sosa has averaged a 72 APR over the last four periods, compiling a ton of PAs after starting all but three games since returning from the IL on June 15. He'll have six games to keep it going (@TB, vs. CHC), with only one LHP on the schedule.

Carlos Santana, CLE, 1B (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 10%) - The switch-hitting demi-god gets seven games this week (vs. BAL, @KC), and while seeing two left-handed starters is nice, the overall sub-par quality of the likely starters should be even better.

Desperate Choices

Jake Cronenworth, SD, 1B/2B (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 39%) - He's way more valuable if your league penalizes strikeouts (21% K%, 13% BB%), but Cronenworth compiles enough PAs to at least be a hole-filler in most leagues. He'll get seven games to keep it up in Week 17 (@STL, @MIA), but, more importantly, he'll only see one of the left-handers that he tends to struggle way more against.

Colt Keith, DET, 1B/2B/3B (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 19%) - You can't start Keith in a week with a bunch of lefties, but he can be usable this period, with Detroit scheduled to face five RHPs in their seven games (@PIT, vs. DET). It's a fairly tough slate of starters, including Paul Skenes, so I wouldn't get too froggy with him.

Andrew Vaughn, MIL, 1B (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 5%) - Vaughn's value is back from the dead (for now) with the recent Rhys Hoskins injury, starting seven of the nine games since Hoskins went down. He remains what he's always been: a decent points profile as long as he's playing enough to compile enough PAs. He'll have six games (@SEA, vs. MIA) and no lefties to try and do so again in Week 17.

On the IL

• Jake Burger, TEX, 1B/3B (strained quad - no timetable)
• Ryan Mountcastle, BAL, 1B (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
• Rhys Hoskins, MIL, 1B (sprained thumb - out until mid-August)
• Pavin Smith, ARI, 1B/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Romy Gonzalez, BOS, 1B/2B/SS (Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 12%) - We'll say the same thing we've been saying for a while; Gonzalez has been good vs. RHPs, but a god against lefties. In 80 PAs this season, Gonzalez is slashing .389/.438/.708, with a 69% HH%, .479 wOBA, and 21% Brl%. In Week 17, the Red Sox are scheduled to face three left-handers in their six games (@PHI, vs. LAD).

Otto Lopez, MIA, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 36%) - Why won't you love Otto? Lopez remains a top-100 hitter, finishing in the top-75 in three of the last four weeks. I'd bet on something similar happening again in Week 17, with six games (vs. SD, @MIL) and only one left-hander on the schedule. For the season, Lopez has a .346 wOBA and .393 xwOBA vs. RHPs, compared to a .237 wOBA and .307 xwOBA vs. LHPs.

Ernie Clement, TOR, 1B/2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 22%) - Clement's Roster% is slowly climbing, but some might be hesitant with two tough opponents on the schedule (vs. NYY, @DET). Not me, though; the squads might be tough, but Clement is set to face three left-handed starters, against whom he continues to crush. Facing left-handers this season over 112 PA, Clement is slashing .379/.414/.612, with a .437 wOBA, and 7% K%.

Next Choices

Lenyn Sosa, CHW, 1B/2B/3B (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 2%) - There's a Sosa in Chicago that won't stop raking -- and this one doesn't resemble Pepto Bismol. Sosa has averaged a 72 APR over the last four periods, compiling a ton of PAs after starting all but three games since returning from the IL on June 15. He'll have six games to keep it going (@TB, vs. CHC), with only one LHP on the schedule.

Jeff McNeil, NYM, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 10%) - McNeil has been far too inconsistent to rely on regularly, but if you're going to chance it, do it in a week when he's scheduled to face three left-handed starters (vs. LAA, @SF). For the season, McNeil is slashing .294/.385/.412 vs. LHPs, with a .353 wOBA and .408 xwOBA.

Desperate Choices

Jake Cronenworth, SD, 1B/2B (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 39%) - He's way more valuable if your league penalizes strikeouts (21% K%, 13% BB%), but Cronenworth compiles enough PAs to at least be a hole-filler in most leagues. He'll get seven games to keep it up in Week 17 (@STL, @MIA), but, more importantly, he'll only see one of the left-handers that he tends to struggle way more against.

Jonathan India, KC, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 44%) - India is rarely exciting, but will compile a ton of PAs in six games (@CHC, vs. CLE) and will get two left-handers to try and do damage again. To be fair, it's India, so "try" is doing a lot of work there. But when you need a band-aid, you should at least pick one who'll pick up a lot of at-bats.

Caleb Durbin, MIL, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 17%, ESPN: 7%) - Durbin has been quietly usable in points, posting three top-75 finishes in the last five weeks, but I'd be careful in a week where Milwaukee isn't scheduled to face any lefties in their six games (@SEA, vs. MIA). He's made a lot of his hay vs. LHP this season, slashing .345/.406/.500, with a .397 wOBA, so I probably wouldn't expect a high ceiling this week.

On the IL

• Andres Gimenez, TOR, 2B (sprained ankle - no timetable)
• Luke Keaschall, MIN, 2B (fractured forearm - rehab assignment)
• Thairo Estrada, COL, 2B (sprained thumb - no timetable)
• Christian Moore, LAA, 2B (sprained thumb - no timetable)
• Nolan Gorman, STL, 2B/3B (lower back - no timetable)
• Gabriel Arias, CLE, 2B/3B/SS (sprained ankle - rehab assignment)

Fantasy Baseball Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Ernie Clement, TOR, 1B/2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 22%) - Clement's Roster% is slowly climbing, but some might be hesitant with two tough opponents on the schedule (vs. NYY, @DET). Not me, though; the squads might be tough, but Clement is set to face three left-handed starters, against whom he continues to crush. Facing left-handers this season over 112 PA, Clement is slashing .379/.414/.612, with a .437 wOBA, and 7% K%.

Ryan McMahon, COL, 3B (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 4%) - As we've gone over before, the ideal (/only) time to start McMahon is at home and/or vs. RHPs. It's a little of both in Week 17, with McMahon getting one series at home and one on the road (vs. STL, @BAL), with two LHPs on the board (one at home, one on the road). The third base wire remains relatively thin, so it'd be a worthwhile gamble for me.

“Do or do not, there is no try” - Ryan McMahon pic.twitter.com/Rl0WUP05Vn

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 20, 2025

Next Choices

Miguel Andujar, ATH, 3B/OF (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) - Andujar is back for the Athletics, and while this normally wouldn't be a cause for much excitement, you talk me into taking a chance in a week where he's scheduled to face three left-handed starters in his seven games (@TEX, @HOU). In 139 PA over the last three seasons, Andujar has a .341 wOBA and 8.3% K%; in 40 PA this season, he's slashing .410/.425/.513, with a .410 wOBA.

Lenyn Sosa, CHW, 1B/2B/3B (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 2%) - There's a Sosa in Chicago that won't stop raking -- and this one doesn't resemble Pepto Bismol. Sosa has averaged a 72 APR over the last four periods, compiling a ton of PAs after starting all but three games since returning from the IL on June 15. He'll have six games to keep it going (@TB, vs. CHC), with only one LHP on the schedule.

Desperate Choices

Jonathan India, KC, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 44%) - India is rarely exciting, but will compile a ton of PAs in six games (@CHC, vs. CLE) and will get two left-handers to try and do damage again. To be fair, it's India, so "try" is doing a lot of work there. But when you need a band-aid, you should at least pick one who'll pick up a lot of at-bats.

Caleb Durbin, MIL, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 17%, ESPN: 7%) - Durbin has been quietly usable in points, posting three top-75 finishes in the last five weeks, but I'd be careful in a week where Milwaukee isn't scheduled to face any lefties in their six games (@SEA, vs. MIA). He's made a lot of his hay vs. LHP this season, slashing .345/.406/.500, with a .397 wOBA, so I probably wouldn't expect a high ceiling this week.

On the IL

• Jake Burger, TEX, 1B/3B (strained quad - no timetable)
• Connor Norby, MIA, 3B (hamate surgery - expected to miss 6-8 weeks)
• Nolan Gorman, STL, 2B/3B (lower back - no timetable)
• Gabriel Arias, CLE, 2B/3B/SS (sprained ankle - rehab assignment)

Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Romy Gonzalez, BOS, 1B/2B/SS (Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 12%) - We'll say the same thing we've been saying for a while; Gonzalez has been good vs. RHPs, but a god against lefties. In 80 PAs this season, Gonzalez is slashing .389/.438/.708, with a 69% HH%, .479 wOBA, and 21% Brl%. In Week 17, the Red Sox are scheduled to face three left-handers in their six games (@PHI, vs. LAD).

Otto Lopez, MIA, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 36%) - Why won't you love Otto? Lopez remains a top-100 hitter, finishing in the top-75 in three of the last four weeks. I'd bet on something similar happening again in Week 17, with six games (vs. SD, @MIL) and only one left-hander on the schedule. For the season, Lopez has a .346 wOBA and .393 xwOBA vs. RHPs, compared to a .237 wOBA and .307 xwOBA vs. LHPs.

Ernie Clement, TOR, 1B/2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 22%) - Clement's Roster% is slowly climbing, but some might be hesitant with two tough opponents on the schedule (vs. NYY, @DET). Not me, though; the squads might be tough, but Clement is set to face three left-handed starters, against whom he continues to crush. Facing left-handers this season over 112 PA, Clement is slashing .379/.414/.612, with a .437 wOBA, and 7% K%.

Next Choices

J.P. Crawford, SEA, SS (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 13%) - Listen, I have a hard time thinking of Crawford as a top-75 hitter, too -- but what are we supposed to do with someone who literally has a 74 APR? Crawford collects a boatload of at-bats (404 PA), rarely strikes out (17% K%), and gets on base at an elite clip (.384 OBP). That's the recipe, y'all. He'll probably do it again, in a week with seven games and two left-handers (vs. MIL, @LAA).

Desperate Choices

Carlos Correa, MIN, SS (Yahoo: 25%, ESPN: 36%) - Correa's points profile remains playable (while healthy), but it's some tough sledding on the pitching front in Week 17 (@LAD, vs. WSN), with Ohtani, Yamamoto, Glasnow, and Gore set to take the bumps.

Brayan Rocchio, CLE, SS (Yahoo: 0%, ESPN: 0%) - Rocchio has been solid since returning from Triple-A, starting all but one game. It's still a really low-ceiling profile, however, but he'll get the benefit of a lot of PAs against subpar starters in Week 17 (vs. BAL, @KC), with two LHPs scheduled.

On the IL

• Gabriel Arias, CLE, 2B/3B/SS (sprained ankle - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Chandler Simpson, TB, OF (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 18%) - I'm not sure why everyone didn't snatch Simpson up as soon as he was recalled, so I certainly don't know why he's still below our threshold after averaging an 80 APR in his four weeks back.

In Week 17, Simpson is set to face a bunch of terrible starters and young catchers in extreme hitting parks -- what do we think is going to happen here? I mean, it's baseball, so he could go 0-for-24, with three walks and three caught stealing...but call me an optimist and put me down for a week full of thievery, points, and a crossing of our Roster% threshold.

Chandler Simpson's 8th inning:
-Extends 18-game hit streak, ties game
-Steals 27th bag
-Scores go-ahead run on an infield fielder's choice pic.twitter.com/5acR1waDAv

— MLB (@MLB) July 20, 2025

Tyler Freeman, COL, OF(Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 5%) - Freeman's low Roster% remains perplexing. I understand not wanting to trust Colorado hitters completely, but it's not like he's been bad on the road, slashing .295/.404/.359, with a .349 wOBA and 124 wRC+. At home, he's been a relative monster, slashing .348/.398/.500, with a .386 woBA and 124 wRC+.

He is a reverse-splits guy (.259 wOBA vs. LHP, .410 wOBA vs. RHP), so two LHPs in his six games this week (vs. STL, @BAL) aren't necessarily a good thing, but I feel like three games at Coors Field should more than balance things out.

Jordan Beck, COL, OF (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 6%) - Like a slightly-worse version of Freeman, Beck hasn't just been good in the friendly, thin air of Coors Field. Granted, it's a big enough gap that you probably shouldn't be streaming him on the road (like you can do with Freeman), but Beck can almost always be an option when getting at least a series at home.

Gavin Sheets, SD, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 16%) - Frequent readers know what we do with Sheets when he's set to compile a bunch of plate appearances against right-handed pitchers (@MIA, @STL, 1 LHP) -- we start him. In 253 PA vs. RHP this season, Sheets has a 53% Hard Hit% and a .376 xwOBA.

Jesus Sanchez, MIA, OF (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 3%) - Sanchez remains thoroughly unimpressed with y'all's lack of Roster% faith. You generally want to avoid left-handed starters (and by "generally", I mean "at all costs"), but six games and only one RHP from the mostly subpar sections of  San Diego and Milwaukee's rotations is more than enough to stream our lord of flavor.

Boom 🔥🚀 así llegó el 8vo HR de la temporada para Jesús Sánchez 💪🇩🇴

➡️ Distancia: 431 ft
➡️ Velocidad de salida: 110.2 mph

Llegó a 6️⃣7️⃣ HR y 2️⃣2️⃣2️⃣ RBI en su carrera ✍️

Pertenece a los Toros 🐂 en LIDOMpic.twitter.com/Gfu8HAFScT

— ELFANATICORD (@ELFANATICORD1) July 19, 2025

Next Choices

Victor Scott II, OF, STL (Yahoo: 14%, ESPN: 7%) - Maybe it's not the big ceiling some were dreaming of earlier in the season, but Scott has been better than his Roster% indicates, with three top-90 finishes in the last five periods. This is a good week to bet on the upside, with Scott getting three games in Colorado and four in San Diego, all against starters that won't make you shiver.

Ramon Laureano, BAL, OF (Yahoo: 13%, ESPN: 4%) - Laureano won't stop starting (and compiling PAs), now having started all but two games since coming off the IL on June 6. For good reason, too; since returning, Laureano is slashing .288/.359/.480 over 142 PA, with 5 HRs, 22 R, 25 RBI, and 2 SBs. For those playing the proration game, that makes for pretty sexy numbers in a 600-PA context.

He does fare better against right-handers, and the Orioles are scheduled to face three lefties in Week 17 (@CLE, vs. COL), but the quality of said starters isn't exactly elite.

Austin Hays, CIN, OF (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 13%) - Hays is staying hot since his return from the IL, currently the #8 hitter in our super-short Week 16. Don't forget that, despite his absence and only 188 PA, he's still slashing .290/.335/.546 for the season and plays in one of baseball's best hitting parks.

While he will get three games at home (@WSH, vs. TB) in Week 17, unfortunately, there won't be any of the lefties on the menu, against whom he's feasted on in 2025, slashing .378/.451/.778, with a .509 wOBA and 1.229 OPS.

Just $5M for Austin Hays…that’s a bang for your buck! 10 HR, 40 RBI, .887 OPS over 181 ABs. pic.twitter.com/AAcxoH1nUs

— Sam Fosberg (@discussbaseball) July 19, 2025

Miguel Andujar, ATH, 3B/OF (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) - Andujar is back for the Athletics, and while this normally wouldn't be a cause for much excitement, you talk me into taking a chance in a week where he's scheduled to face three left-handed starters in his seven games (@TEX, @HOU). In 139 PA over the last three seasons, Andujar has a .341 wOBA and 8.3% K%; in 40 PA this season, he's slashing .410/.425/.513, with a .410 wOBA.

Jeff McNeil, NYM, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 10%) - McNeil has been far too inconsistent to rely on regularly, but if you're going to chance it, do it in a week when he's scheduled to face three left-handed starters (vs. LAA, @SF). For the season, McNeil is slashing .294/.385/.412 vs. LHPs, with a .353 wOBA and .408 xwOBA.

Desperate Choices

Andrew Benintendi, CHW, OF (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 3%) - First, Andrew Vaughn, now Benintendi? We're one Eloy Jimenez away from making dozens of White Sox scream with tears of nostalgia! Benintendi has always had a profile that plays well in most points formats, even if of the "low-ceiling/high-floor" variety. The lefty will get a lot of PAs against right-handed pitching with six games in Week 17 (@TB, vs. CHC).

Colton Cowser, BAL, OF (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 10%) - Cowser has been solid since returning from the IL in June (.244/.299/.465, .330 wOBA, 113 wRC+), but not good enough to get over our Roster% threshold, yet. Seven games in Week 17 (@CLE, vs. COL) should be good for compiling PAs against mostly mediocre pitching, but three left-handers might spell doom for his ceiling.

In 40 PA vs. LHPs this season, Cowser is slashing .167/.250/.250, with a 33% and .234 wOBA -- that looks a lot like the 34% K% and .276 wOBA he's posted against them for his career.

Jonathan India, KC, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 44%) - India is rarely exciting, but will compile a ton of PAs in six games (@CHC, vs. CLE) and will get two left-handers to try and do damage again. To be fair, it's India, so "try" is doing a lot of work there. But when you need a band-aid, you should at least pick one who'll pick up a lot of at-bats.

On the IL

• Sal Frelick, MIL, OF (sprained hamstring - no timetable)
• Lars Nootbaar, STL, OF (costochondral sprain - no timetable)
• Lane Thomas, CLE, OF (plantar fascitis - no timetable)
• Jake Meyers, HOU, OF (strained calf - no timetable)
• Victor Robles, SEA, OF (shoulder dislocation - expected to miss ~three months)
• Daulton Varsho, TOR, OF (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
• Pavin Smith, ARI, 1B/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Jesse Winker, NYM, OF (back inflammation - no timetable)
• Starling Marte, NYM, OF (knee contusion - no timetable)
• Jonny DeLuca, TB, OF (sprained shoulder - rehab assignment)

Fantasy Baseball Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Sean Murphy, ATL, C (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 13%) - Is Murphy back? Recent playing time seems to indicate that the Braves seem to think so, with Murphy having started six straight (4 RHP, 2 LHP) before a day off on Sunday. Averaging a 67 APR over the last four periods, Murphy is starting to look like his old, powerful self, currently running a .517 SLG and .493 wOBA on contact.

If the playing time is going to stay like this, Murphy should be a priority add for anyone struggling behind the plate. The Braves have six games in Week 17 (vs. SF, @TEX), with just one left-hander scheduled.

Victor Caratini, HOU, C (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 3%) - Caratini has been one of the best catchers in point leagues for about a month, posting top-75 finishes in four of the last five periods. His rising value is driven not just by results, but also the sheer amount of PAs he's been compiling, having started eight straight games for Houston, and 11 of the last 12.

Basically available everywhere, that might change with a big performance this week, with Houston set to face three left-handed starters. Caratini has just 30 PA vs. LHPs this season, but is slashing .321/.367/.750, with a .468 wOBA and 1.117 OPS; over the last three seasons, he has a .348 wOBA and 23% K%.

Next Choices

Ryan Jeffers, MIN, C (Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 8%) - Jeffers finished as the #70 hitter in Week 15 and is in the top-50 for the short ASB week. His increased discipline (18% K%, 10% BB%) has upped his value considerably in points and makes him a good hole-filler, but isn't much beyond that at the moment. He'll get six games and two LHPs in Week 17 (@LAD, vs. WSN).

Desperate Choices

Pedro Pages, STL, C (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 1%) - Ivan Herrera is back from the IL, but only at DH, with Pages continuing to start. That might be the case for a while, too, as Nootbaar and Gorman just hit the IL, leaving the Cardinals without a surplus of bats. Add in a series at Coors Field this week, and Pages might be a useful band-aid.

On the IL

• Gabriel Moreno, ARI, C (fractured finger - no timetable)
• Keibert Ruiz, WSH, C (concussion - no timetable)
• Gary Sanchez, BAL, C (knee - no timetable)
• Miguel Amaya, CHC, C (strained oblique - expected to miss 4-6 weeks)

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