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

Week 18 Waiver Wire: First Base (1B) and Third Base (3B)

As we move into the final two months of the season, fantasy owners are scrambling for every edge they can find in their quest for a championship – or, for those of us whose seasons haven’t gone according to plan, respectability. Players with eligibility at multiple positions become even more valuable at this juncture.

All five of the guys we’ll look at today offer eligibility at both the middle and corner infield, and all are currently riding hot streaks.

Editor's Note: RotoBaller offers the best Premium MLB Subscription - only $1.99 per week. All the tools you need to help win your seasonal and daily leagues: Hitter & Pitcher Streamers, Matchup Ratings for every player, Under-the-Radar Surgers for AVG, HR, Ks, plus daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Lineup Picks, Expert Lineups, Stacks and Avoids. 

 

Week 18 Corner Infield Waiver Wire Targets

Javier Baez, 2B/3B/SS, Chicago Cubs (49 percent owned)

Baez hasn’t hit for as much power as we might have expected, but he’s managed to cut his strikeout rate to a manageable level. On the season, he’s hitting .283/.322/.457 with 11 homers and nine stolen bases. The 23 year old has found at-bats in a crowded Cubs lineup by making himself into a utility man; in addition to the positions where he’s eligible, Baez has logged time at first base and in the outfield this season.

Martin Prado, 2B/3B, Miami Marlins (46 percent)

Since June 25, Prado has hit a robust .350/.404/.504, with three homers and 37 R+RBI. He has more walks than strikeouts over that span. Prado’s high contact ways have helped him to a .323 batting average overall, good for fifth in the majors among qualified hitters. His 10.6 K% also ranks fifth. The veteran doesn’t provide a lot of category juice – he has just five home runs and a solitary stolen base for the season – but there are few players who can provide more of a boost to your team’s average.

Hernan Perez, 2B/3B/OF, Milwaukee Brewers (45 percent)

Perez is, in the parlance of our times, lit AF right now. He’s the top ranked player in the Yahoo game over the last two weeks, hitting .358 with three homers, eight steals, and 24 R+RBI during that time. While we can be skeptical of the pop – Perez’s career best HR total in the minors was eight, five seasons ago at Single-A – the speed is legitimate. The average might be too, given his encouraging contact quality metrics. The promotion of Orlando Arcia will shift Jonathan Villar to third base and might ultimately cut a bit into Perez’s playing time. With the way he’s hit lately, though, nobody’s putting him on the bench.

Jedd Gyorko, 1B/2B/3B/SS, St. Louis Cardinals (33 percent)

After a couple of disappointing seasons punched his ticket out of San Diego, Gyorko has found new life with the Cardinals. Acquired to be a backup, Gyorko has benefited from Kolten Wong’s train wreck of a season. Though Wong is back in the bigs and showing signs of life, Aledmys Diaz’s recent injury should open things up for Gyorko again. Not that Mike Matheny has no incentive to get Gyorko in the lineup, given his recent performance: .301/.354/.603 with seven homers over the past month.

Cesar Hernandez, 2B/3B/SS, Philadelphia Phillies (17 percent)

For the first three months of the season, Hernandez was useless to fantasy owners. His .272 batting average was passable, but he’d only stolen three bases in eight attempts. Since the calendar flipped to July, however, the Phillies’ second baseman has been a completely different player. He’s batting .333/.418/.396 and has swiped seven bags. Hernandez doesn’t move the needle in any other categories, of course, but he’s the prototypical fantasy rabbit when things are going well.

More Options: Yasmany Tomas (44%), Howie Kendrick (43%), Yangervis Solarte (30%), Wilmer Flores (8%), Adonis Garcia (5%)

 

Live Expert Q&A Chats - Every Weekday @ 1 PM and 6 PM EST (DFS)

Fantasy Baseball Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-55" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]


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

Dameon Pierce

Activated From PUP, Returning to Practice
Travis Hunter

Listed as Starting Receiver, Backup Defensive Back
Travis Etienne Jr.

Tank Bigsby Listed as Co-Starters
J.J. McCarthy

to Play in Preseason Opener
T.J. Hockenson

Remains Sidelined on Monday
Grayson Rodriguez

to Undergo Season-Ending Surgery
Jaydon Blue

Standing Out "More and More"
Isaac Paredes

Won't Have Surgery, Hoping to Return This Year
J.K. Dobbins

the RB1 for Denver?
Jauan Jennings

Says He's Dealing With Calf Issue
Chris Godwin

Could Miss a Couple Weeks to Start the Season
Daniss Jenkins

Agrees to Two-Way Deal Wth Detroit
Jaylen Martin

Waived by Wizards
De'Aaron Fox

Inks Extension With Spurs on Monday
Cam Skattebo

MRI Exam Brings Optimism
Isaac Guerendo

to Miss a Couple of Weeks
Najee Harris

Still No Timetable for Najee Harris at Training Camp
Kenny Pickett

Dillon Gabriel Limited With Injuries on Monday
Shedeur Sanders

Returns to Practice
Kenneth Walker III

Misses Third Straight Practice with Foot Injury
Jameson Williams

Expcted to See Uptick in Targets
Jakobi Meyers

to be Used in Different Ways in Chip Kelly's Offense
Tatsuro Taira

Gets Submission Win
Michael Penix Jr.

Kyle Pitts Sr., Michael Penix Jr. Connecting in the Offseason
Travis Etienne Jr.

Seen as Dangerous Part of Screen Game
HyunSung Park

Undefeated No More
Mateusz Rębecki

Mateusz Rebecki Drops Decision At UFC Vegas 108
Chase Brown

Expected to be Used More in Passing Game
Chris Duncan

Wins Three In A Row
Bucky Irving

Expected to Have High-Volume Role
Elves Brener

Loses Three In A Row
Esteban Ribovics

Returns To The Win Column
Nora Cornolle

Gets Dominated At UFC Vegas 108
Karol Rosa

Outclasses Nora Cornolle
J.J. Spaun

Finishes Tied for 23rd at Open Championship
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied for 34th at Open Championship
Xander Schauffele

Finishes Tied For Seventh at Open Championship
Hideki Matsuyama

Finishes Tied for 19th at Wyndham Championship
Si Woo Kim

Misses The Cut at Wyndham Championship
Tommy Fleetwood

Finishes Tied for 16th at Open Championship
Wyndham Clark

Finishes Tied for 12th at 3M Open
Sam Burns

Finishes Tied for 61st at 3M Open
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos

Suffers TKO Loss
Austin Riley

Braves Place Austin Riley Back on Injured List
Neil Magny

Gets Back In The Win Column
Danny Silva

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Kevin Vallejos

Remains Undefeated In The UFC
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Charges Back to Sixth at Iowa
Chase Briscoe

Finished Second Despite Being Trapped a Lap Down and Causing Two Wrecks
Brad Keselowski

Arguably Had the Best Drive at Iowa but Finished Third
Austin Dillon

Earns a Quiet Top Ten at Iowa
Kyle Larson

Poor Pit Strategy and Clash with Teammate Foil Kyle Larson at Iowa
William Byron

Stretches His Fuel to His Second Victory of 2025 At Iowa
Ryan Blaney

Continues A Strong Run of Success At Iowa
Ryan Preece

Eventful Race at Iowa Results In A Top-5 Finish
Denny Hamlin

Struggled Massively At Iowa
Tommy Edman

Likely Going on 10-Day Injured List
Austin Riley

Leaves With Abdominal Pain
Aaron Judge

on Track to Return Tuesday
Max Muncy

Could Return as Early as Monday
Chase Briscoe

Could Chase Briscoe be A Sneaky Play for Iowa Lineups?
Denny Hamlin

Is A Top Driver to Consider for DFS At Iowa
Ryan Blaney

Is A Favorite to Go Back-To-Back With Iowa Victories
Tyler Reddick

has Plenty of Upside for Sunday's Race at Iowa
Carson Hocevar

What Should Fantasy Players do with Carson Hocevar at Iowa?
Chris Buescher

Is Chris Buescher Worth Rostering For Iowa DFS Lineups?
Ty Gibbs

Could Be A Solid DFS Option for Iowa
Logan Henderson

Recalled, Starting Sunday
Jacob Misiorowski

Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Ryan Preece

Offers Plenty of Upside For DFS Lineups At Iowa On Sunday
NASCAR

A.J. Allmendinger Will Start in the Top 10 for the Second Week In A Row at Iowa
Austin Dillon

Could Austin Dillon Be A Decent DFS Option for Iowa?
Michael McDowell

Is Michael McDowell Worth Rostering for Iowa DFS Lineups?
Zane Smith

Should DFS Players Roster Zane Smith At Iowa?
NHL

Jakub Lauko Returns to Czechia
Nicholas Robertson

Signs One-Year Contract with Maple Leafs
Alex Laferriere

Kings Re-Sign Alex Laferriere to Three-Year Deal
Duop Reath

Has Salary Guaranteed by Portland
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Agrees to Contract Extension with the Lakers
William Contreras

Goes Deep in Five-Hit Night
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Exits Early Friday, Expects to Play Saturday
Randy Rodríguez

Randy Rodriguez Named New Giants Closer
Jaden Springer

Signs Exhibit-9 Deal with New Orleans
Julian Champagnie

has Salary Guaranteed by San Antonio
Jackson Chourio

Could be Out a Month
Aaron Judge

Yankees Eyeing Return for Aaron Judge Next Week
Juan Soto

Back in Lineup Against Giants
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Reinstated and Starting on Friday
George Springer

Goes on Concussion Injured List
JoJo Romero

the Top Candidate for Saves in St. Louis
Nolan Arenado

Going on Injured List With Shoulder Injury
Conor McGregor

Enters UFC Testing Pool
Grayson Rodriguez

Considering Having Surgery
Devin Williams

Yankees Plan to Keep Devin Williams in Closer's Role
HyunSung Park

Looks To Remain Undefeated
Tatsuro Taira

Set For UFC Vegas 108 Main Event
Mateusz Rębecki

Mateusz Rebecki Looks For His Second Consecutive Win
Chris Duncan

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Elves Brener

Looks For His Fourth UFC Win
Esteban Ribovics

Set For UFC Vegas 108 Main Card Bout
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos

Elizeu Zaleski Dos Santos Aims To Bounce Back
Karol Rosa

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Mikal Bridges

Signs Extension with Knicks
Connor McDavid

Oilers Hope to Finalize Connor McDavid's Contract Extension Soon
BUF

Devon Levi Re-Signs With Sabres for Two Years
Martin Pospisil

Signs Three-Year Extension
Dario Šarić

Dario Saric Hoping to Have Meaningful Role with Kings
Donte DiVincenzo

to Skip EuroBasket Due to Injury
Ayo Dosunmu

Set to Remain in Chicago
Malevy Leons

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Thunder
Daeqwon Plowden

Kings Pick Up Daeqwon Plowden on Two-Way Deal
Bryce McGowens

Signs Two-Way Deal with Pelicans
Jonathan Kuminga

Declines Latest Offers from Golden State
Gary Woodland

Eyeing Strong Finish to Reach Playoffs
Max McGreevy

Chasing a Miracle at Wyndham
Stephan Jaeger

a Solid Value Play at Wyndham Championship
Max Homa

Fighting to Salvage Disappointing Season
Nicolai Hojgaard

a Sleeper at Wyndham Championship
Rickie Fowler

Riding Quiet Momentum Into Wyndham
Brian Campbell

a Wild Card at Wyndham Championship
Akshay Bhatia

Looking to Flip the Script at Wyndham Championship
Aaron Rai

Finishes Tied For 34th at Open Championship
Andrew Novak

Finishes Tied For 63rd at Open Championship
Hideki Matsuyama

Finishes Tied For 16th at Open Championship
Kurt Kitayama

Wins 3M Open
Tom Kim

Finishes Tied For 28th at 3M Open
Charlie McAvoy

Ready to Go for Next Season
Dylan Samberg

Agrees to Three-Year Contract with Jets
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF