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We are coming up on Week 23 of the fantasy baseball season. With September nearing, the fantasy baseball playoffs push to the forefront of our brains. But you can't let that stress you out. Fantasy baseball necessitates hyper-vigilance, especially in deeper leagues where the waiver wires are quickly stripped of talent. This weekly article will outline the upcoming schedule, two-start pitchers, and a few waiver targets rostered in less than 5% of leagues.
It’s good practice to maximize at-bats and starts. A quick look at upcoming schedules for the 23rd week of the MLB season could give you the edge in this week’s play. There are plenty of two-start pitchers this week who should end up providing great value.
This article will discuss some deeper-league fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 23, August 28 through September 3. While the season may have settled in, the waiver wires are still hot. Rostered percentages can change quickly. So be quick to check your leagues for their availability. Key point -- this list will focus on rostered players in less than 5% of Yahoo leagues.
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Fantasy Baseball Schedule Outlook
This week has some great schedules to target for fantasy. There is only one team with five games on their schedule. Eight teams will play a full slate of games this week.
In this week's weather report: mostly clear skies for most of the country, but various cities along the East Coast will see some rain on Monday/Tuesday.
- Seven Games - NYY, ATL, LAD, SD, SF, WAS, CIN, CHC
- Six Games - TEX, BAL, LAA, MIA, CLE, DET, COL, KC, SEA, ARZ, NYM, STL, MIN, TOR, PHI, BOS, CHW, HOU, OAK, PIT, MIL
- Five Games - TB
Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers
There are pitchers of varying quality on this week's two-start streamers list. For more insight, check out my article on this week’s two-start pitcher streamers.
- Chris Sale (vs. HOU, @ KC)
- Luis Severino (@ DET, @ HOU)
- Jhony Brito (@ DET, @ HOU)
- Kevin Gausman (vs. WAS, @ COL)
- Michael Kopech (@ BAL, vs. DET)
- Xzavion Curry (@ MIN, vs. TB)
- Reese Olson (vs. NYY, @ CHW)
- Tarik Skubal (vs. NYY, @ CHW)
- Zack Greinke (vs. PIT, vs. BOS)
- Kenta Maeda (vs. CLE, @ TEX)
- Adrian Martinez (@ SEA, vs. LAA)
- Bryan Woo (vs. OAK, @ NYM)
- Bryce Elder (@ COL, @ LAD)
- Charlie Morton (@ COL, @ LAD)
- Sandy Alcantara (vs. TB, @ WAS)
- Tylor Megill (vs. TEX, vs. SEA)
- Taijuan Walker (vs. LAA, @ MIL)
- Josiah Gray (@ TOR, vs. MIA)
- Jameson Taillon (vs. MIL, @ CIN)
- Justin Steele (vs. MIL, @ CIN)
- Andrew Abbott (@ SF, vs. CHC)
- Brandon Williamson (@ SF, vs. CHC)
- Wade Miley (@ CHC, vs. PHI)
- Johan Oviedo (@ KC, @ STL)
- Adam Wainwright (vs. SD, vs. PIT)
- Zac Gallen (@ LAD, vs. BAL)
- Austin Gomber (vs. ATL, vs. TOR)
- Bobby Miller (vs. ARI, vs. ATL)
- Blake Snell (@ STL, vs. SF)
- Seth Lugo (@ STL, vs. SF)
- Kyle Harrison (vs. CIN, @ SD)
- Alex Cobb (vs. CIN, @ SD)
Deeper Infield Waiver Wire Pickups
Carter Kieboom (3B), Pittsburgh Pirates - 3% Rostered
Carter Kieboom returns to the MLB after Stone Garrett's season-ending injury opened up a spot in the Nationals lineup. Fittingly, Kieboom has blasted baseballs since his recall, with two home runs, a 50% hard-hit rate, and a .786 SLG through four games. In lineups lacking boom, look no further than the 25-year-old third baseman.
Ryan Noda (1B/OF), Oakland Athletics - 4% Rostered
In the Week 19 edition of this series, I recommended stashing the then-injured Ryan Noda. Since his return on August 21, Noda is slashing .400/.550/.600 with a home run, five RBI, and a stolen base in 20 plate appearances.
While the clock hasn't run out yet on acquiring Noda in deeper leagues, you'll likely have a hard time finding him on waiver wires after this week.
Connor Joe (1B/OF), Pittsburgh Pirates - 2% Rostered
If there's one thing Connor Joe does with consistency, it's bookending poor seasons with incomprehensibly great stretches of hitting. Since July 28, the 31-year-old is slashing .333/449/.556 with two home runs, eight RBI, and a 0.92 BB/K ratio in 19 games.
Connor Joe is worth an add, but don't put too much stock into his performance if you're in a deep keeper league.
Deeper Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups
Wilyer Abreu (OF), Boston Red Sox - 5% Rostered
Wilyer Abreu has mashed baseballs regardless of the level, so it should come as little surprise that he's doing it at the highest level. Through the rookie's first four games, he's slashing .462/.533/.846 with a home run, five RBI, a 70% hard-hit rate, and a startling .629 xwOBAcon.
While it's difficult to trust Alex Cora and co. to give Abreu enough plate appearances to make an impact in the home stretch, he is an unmistakable offensive talent.
Alek Thomas (OF), Arizona Diamondbacks - 2% Rostered
While Alek Thomas' stock took a hit after Arizona acquired Tommy Pham, Thomas still maintains fantasy relevance. The 23-year-old holds a .891 OPS with four RBI, 11 runs, and a stolen base since August 8.
While the runs category is often overlooked in fantasy, it's crucial to stay in competition by swiping guys like Thomas off your waiver wires.
DJ Stewart (OF), New York Mets - 3% Rostered
Baseball in the Big Apple is all but over; DJ Stewart clearly hasn't gotten the message. Since joining the team in late June, Stewart sports a .873 OPS with five home runs in his last eight games. His xSLG is in line with his recent production, making Stewart a priority add for fantasy baseball managers who need to inject some power into their lineups.
Tyrone Taylor (OF), Milwaukee Brewers - 2% Rostered
Since returning from injury on July 14, Tyrone Taylor carries a line of .288/.338/.576 with four home runs, 14 RBI, and two stolen bases.
With a .290 xBA and 46.6% fly ball rate, Taylor's run should extend through the rest of September. His adjustments at the plate make him a solid outfield pickup.
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