TAP FOR 6 MONTHS OF PREMIUM FREE 💰
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 15 Waiver Wire - First Base (1B) and Third Base (3B)

As we head to the All-Star break, fantasy managers have a couple of days to stop managing lineups and start scouring the waiver wire for ways to fix any holes in the roster. It could be a good time to take a chance on some young, unproven players that have a chance to contribute down the stretch.

The corner infield positions traditionally offer power with the potential for high averages, so you may want to target players that can offer an advantage in those categories to bolster your team. In this piece, I'll identify waiver wire targets for first base and third base in week 15 who should be able to contribute in multiple categories, either as replacements or bench depth. These players are owned in 50% or less of Yahoo! leagues.

We'll also look at the names mentioned in last week’s post, noting which players have graduated off of the waiver wire (ownership higher than 50%), which are still recommended pickups, and which we are dropping off the list entirely.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball draft tools and resources:

 

Week 15 Corner Infield (CI) Waiver Wire Targets

Yuli Gurriel (1B/3B, HOU) 50% owned

Gurriel barely makes the cutoff this week, as his ownership is about to crack the halfway mark. He's on another hot streak, although for him that doesn't always include much power. That hasn't been the case since July began, though. Gurriel is hitting .466 with three home runs and 11 RBI in the last 10 days. You may have noticed that the Astros are absolutely on fire offensively, so it would be advisable to add anybody on their roster that isn't already owned in your league. Gurriel finishes the first half hitting .295 with 10 HR and 43 RBI.

Josh Bell (1B, PIT) 29% owned

The averages are surprisingly low, with a .239/.322/.472 slash line, but he finished the first half strong. Bell picked up nine hits in his last 23 at-bats, plus six runs and six RBI in the last five games. While he had a rough May, the rookie has been making progress through the first half and could continue to bring his average up if he focuses more on making contact than trying to showcase his power. Bell has been one of the best minor league prospects at first base the last couple of years, so he presents more upside that nearly all the other waiver wire options out there.

Luke Voit (1B, STL) 2% owned

Voit isn't a top prospect and he didn't figure to be more than a stopgap in St. Louis, but if he keeps mashing then he could force his way into regular playing time down the stretch. That's especially true if the Cards fall out of contention, which is hard to believe but certainly possible. They are currently two games below .500. Voit has slugged three homers with eight RBI in the last seven games and holds a .324 average this season. This is a deep league streamer only for now, but his production shouldn't be completely dismissed.

Ji-Man Choi (1B, NYY) 1% owned

Admittedly, it would have to be a pretty deep league to take a shot on Choi, but there is potential here. Choi went deep in his first two games with two RBI in each as the Yankees starting first baseman before getting the day off. He will play against righties only, limiting his value in weekly leagues. The Yankees seem desperate to solve the dilemma at first, as Greg Bird isn't coming back soon, Tyler Austin joined him on the DL, and Chris Carter has been DFA'd. Until the team makes a trade for a veteran, Choi could give some short-term production. It might not be in the power category, however, as Choi only logged double-digits once in seven minor league seasons. Then again, playing in Yankee Stadium could throw that theory right out the window.

 

Hold For Now

Tommy Joseph (1B, PHI) 26% owned - Only a solo homer to show for the power categories, but Joseph did hit .320 in the past week. He will continue to register solid production at first base for a team that looks to continue the rebuilding process for the fifth straight season.

Mike Napoli (1B, TEX) 29% owned - His line this past week: .217, three HR, five RBI. Looks about right. Napoli had a four-game stretch with a homer in each, making him a great pickup last week as predicted. His season average still sits at a lowly .194, so make sure you can compensate in that category elsewhere.

Yunel Escobar (3B, LAA) 7% owned - It was a "meh" kind of week for Escobar in the triple-crown categories (.286/1/2), which neither helps or hurts his value. Assuming Mike Trout is ready to rejoin the team after the break, it could provide a slight boost to Escobar's fantasy stock.

Nicholas Castellanos (3B, DET) 33% owned - Castellanos drove in five runs this week and has been quietly consistent over the last few weeks. He is on pace to set career highs in HR and RBI, for what it's worth. The Tigers could (should) be better in the second half, but don't necessarily expect a breakthrough to happen in his fifth Major League season.

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Adds

 

Premium Tools & DFS Research

Get a free trial of our powerful MLB Premium Tools. Our famous DFS Optimizer & Lineup Generator, daily Matchup Ratings, expert DFS Lineups/Cheat Sheets, and more.

Sign Up Now!




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

Michael Penix Jr.

Thinks he'll be Ready by April
Evan Carter

Establishes a Goal to Steal 30 Bases
Edouard Julien

Traded to the Rockies
Cleveland Browns

Browns Hiring Todd Monken as Next Head Coach
Jack St. Ivany

to Miss Up to Eight Weeks After Surgery
Cody Glass

Exits Early Tuesday Night
Anton Lundell

Expected to Be Available Thursday
Jordan Kyrou

Jake Neighbours Knocked Out of the Lineup Tuesday
Elias Lindholm

Hurt in Tuesday's Win
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Exits With Injury Tuesday
Ondrej Palat

Devils Send Ondrej Palat to the Islanders
Collin Murray-Boyles

Listed as Questionable for Wednesday's Game
Jock Landale

Available for Wednesday's Tilt
Kel'el Ware

in Danger of Missing Another Game
Sahith Theegala

Off to Much Better 2026 Start
Davion Mitchell

Iffy for Wednesday
Gary Woodland

an Intriguing Option at Torrey Pines This Week
Norman Powell

Questionable Wednesday
Tyler Herro

Remains Out Wednesday
CJ Abrams

Giants Offer "Aggressive Pitch" for CJ Abrams
Andrew Putnam

Hopes to Keep Momentum Rolling This Week
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic to Be Re-Evaluated in One Week
Matthieu Pavon

Seeks to Return to 2024 Form at Torrey Pines
Luke List

Still Looking For Birdies at Torrey Pines
Jake Knapp

Faces Stiff Challenge at Farmers Insurance Open
Rasmus Hojgaard

Needs to Play Better at Torrey Pines
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Could Struggle at Farmers Insurance Open
J.J. Spaun

A Steady Option At Farmers Insurance Open
Andrew Novak

Looking For More Success At Torrey Pines
Denny McCarthy

A Wild Card At Farmers Insurance Open
Max Homa

Looks To Keep Resurgence Going At Torrey Pines
Joe Highsmith

Struggling Heading Into Torrey Pines
Wyndham Clark

Looks To Carry Momentum Into Farmers Insurance Open
Tony Finau

Aims To Turn Things Around At Torrey Pines
Darius Garland

Won't Be Available Wednesday
Akshay Bhatia

Looks to Bounce Back at Torrey Pines
Franz Wagner

Won't Play Wednesday
Draymond Green

Expected to Return Wednesday
Kawhi Leonard

Available Against Jazz
Jordan Goodwin

Starts Against Nets
Peyton Watson

Back for Nuggets Tuesday
Paul Goldschmidt

Yankees Expressing Interest in Re-Signing Paul Goldschmidt
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Ready to Rock Tuesday Night
Jamal Murray

Active Versus Pistons
Bo Bichette

Won't Play in World Baseball Classic
Aaron Wiggins

Moves to Starting Lineup Tuesday
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Bobby Portis Replaces Giannis Antetokounmpo in Starting Unit
Joel Embiid

Ready to Take on Bucks
Paul George

Returns to Action Tuesday
Stephen Curry

Listed as Probable for Wednesday
Collin Gillespie

Misses Tuesday's Matchup
NFL

Bill Belichick Won't be First-Ballot Hall of Famer
Leo Carlsson

to Miss Olympics
Alex Turcotte

Unavailable Tuesday
Carlos Correa

Won't Play for Puerto Rico in World Baseball Classic
Dylan Holloway

Remains Out Tuesday
Marco Rossi

to Return After Olympics
Thatcher Demko

Won't Return This Season
Sam Malinski

Inks Four-Year Extension With Avalanche
Bryan Rust

Slapped With Three-Game Suspension
Si Woo Kim

Looks to Continue Incredible Run at Torrey Pines
Jason Day

has a Good Chance to Keep Momentum This Weekend
Keegan Bradley

has Good Course History at Torrey Pines
Billy Horschel

Isn't a Great DFS Option at Torrey Pines
Aaron Rodgers

Mike McCarthy Says he Wants Aaron Rodgers to Return
Will Zalatoris

Has a Shot to Challenge at the Farmers Insurance Open
Drake Maye

Expected to be Fine for Super Bowl
Tennessee Titans

Titans Set to Hire Brian Daboll as New Offensive Coordinator
Buffalo Bills

Bills Promote Joe Brady to Head Coach
CFB

Quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi Signs with Michigan
Teuvo Teravainen

Set to Return Tuesday
CFB

Darian Mensah Reaches Settlement with Duke, Expected to Land at Miami
Simon Edvinsson

Out Until Olympics
Josh Norris

Won't Play This Week
Zeev Buium

Lands on Injured Reserve
Brock Boeser

Canucks Place Brock Boeser on Injured Reserve
Sean Durzi

Hurt on Monday Night
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Not Drawing Interest on Open Market?
Jonas Brodin

to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Shedeur Sanders

Named as Pro Bowl Replacement
Framber Valdez

Among Many High-End Pitchers on Free-Agent Market
Jose Altuve

Won't Participate in World Baseball Classic
Harrison Bader

Agrees With Giants on Two-Year Deal
Paddy Pimblett

Drops Decision
Justin Gaethje

Becomes the New Interim-Lightweight Champion
Song Yadong

Suffers Unanimous Decision Loss
MMA

Sean O'Malley Gets Back In The Win Column
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Extends His Win Streak
Derrick Lewis

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers Officially Hire Mike McDaniel as Offensive Coordinator
Nathan Eovaldi

Doesn't Expect Any Limitations in Spring Training
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Dominates in NFC Championship Game Win
Matthew Stafford

Plans to Return in 2026
CFB

Arthur Smith to Become Ohio State's Offensive Coordinator
Bo Nix

Sidelined for 12 Weeks With Broken Ankle
Jose Altuve

to Mainly Play Second Base
Yu Darvish

Considering Retirement
Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers Finalizing Deal to Make Mike McCarthy Their Head Coach
José Ramírez

Jose Ramirez Signs Seven-Year Extension With Guardians
Gunnar Henderson

is Fully Healthy Heading into Spring Training
Tyreek Hill

Dolphins Expected to Release Tyreek Hill
Paddy Pimblett

Set For Interim Lightweight Title Fight
Justin Gaethje

An Underdog At UFC 324
Song Yadong

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
MMA

Sean O'Malley Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Derrick Lewis

Returns At UFC 324
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Philip Rivers

Interviewing for Bills Head-Coaching Job
NFL

Fernando Mendoza Officially Declares for NFL Draft
CFB

Arch Manning Undergoes Foot Surgery
Dalton Kincaid

Played Through Torn PCL
CFB

College Football Playoff Expected to Remain a 12-Team Field in 2026
Baltimore Ravens

Ravens Hire Jesse Minter as Their Head Coach
Indianapolis Colts

FBI Investigating the Death of Colts Owner Jim Irsay
MacKenzie Gore

Rangers Acquire MacKenzie Gore From the Nationals

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP