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Fantasy Baseball 1B/3B Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 26 (2024)

Michael Busch - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MLB Injury News, Betting Picks

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.

This week, we look at a pair of Blue Jays teammates, two players willing their teams with a slim chance into the postseason, and an under-the-radar Rockies backstop eligible for first base duties. How can this group of players help your team down the stretch?

 

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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



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