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RotoBaller writer Chris Lacey highlights a handful of players on most of your waiver wires to keep track of. You can find many of these players and recommendations, along with many more, in our Daily Updated Waiver Wire Pickups List.
STANDARD MIXED-LEAGUE VIABLE PICKUPS
Will Venable. Venable is having a good season with a .254 average, but is flashing a very nice power/speed combination with 15 HR and 14 SB, in addition to 15 doubles and six triples on the season. Over his last 20 games, he has a .358/.402/1.044 triple-slash in 81 at-bats with four homers and 29 hits overall. He hits southpaws very well with a .291 average in 55 at-bats.
Danny Salazar. Salazar is pitching very well for Cleveland with 22 strikeouts against just five walks. He does have a high ERA at 4.08, but the low WHIP of 0.96 indicates that could be an outlier. Over his 11.2 innings pitched, he has struck out 15 batters, but has allowed seven runs and opposing teams might be starting to figure him out. He is holding left-handers to a .135 average in 37 at-bats, so if you pick your matchups, he can be a valuable contributor in any format.
Rajai Davis. Davis is being very productive for the Blue Jays with a .272 average and 59, including 36 runs scored. He is very adept at stealing bases, with 35 on the year, against just three times caught stealing. Over his last 19 games, he has stolen 10 bases and has 12 hits in that span. Note that Davis hits better on the road, with a .293 average away from Rogers Centre.
Jhoulys Chacin. Chacin is having a good season for the Rockies with 11 wins and a 3.18 ERA in 150 innings pitched. He has only allowed five HR, while striking out 90 batters. Over his last the 23 innings pitched, he has a 1.57 ERA and has allowed 18 hits in that time frame. He is holding teams to a .249 average, while limiting right-handers to a .233 batting average. Again, here's a guy who can definitely contribute to your playoff run, as long as you play the matchups right. Avoid him (and just about all Colorado pitchers) at home.
DEEP-LEAGUE PICKUPS
Will Middlebrooks. Middlebrooks is struggling this season with an average of just .206, but has still hit nine HR and 15 doubles in 218 at-bats. Over his last four games, he has a .400 batting average with eight total bases. He fares much better against left-handers with a .242 average, and has issues with left-handers, as indicated by his .191 average.
Wily Peralta. Peralta has been pitching better as the season is progressing, with a 4.30 ERA on the season in 144.1 innings pitched. He has struck out 94 batters and has a WHIP of 1.39-- not great, but over his last 14.1 innings, he has a 1.88 ERA with 10 strikeouts and only three runs allowed with one HR surrendered. The last 49 at-bats opposing teams have a .184 batting average against him.
Chia-Jen Lo. Jen-Lo is pitching well for the Astros by allowing just four hits in 6.1 innings, and he has yet to allow a run this season. The last 5.1 innings have been great for him with juts two hits given up and striking out four batters. He pitches well against left-handed batters by holding them to a .091 batting average, and is holding batters to a .182 average overall. With the recent news that he seems to have an inside track on the closer role, Lo could provide a handful of saves to owners in need over the last six weeks of the season.
Darin Ruf. Ruf is hitting .273 with a .902 OPS in 110 at-bats with seven HR and 12 RBI, including seven doubles. Over the last 23 games, Ruf has a middle-of-the-road plate approach good for a .254 BA and .823 OPS with five HR and nine RBI. He does very well against right-handers with a .302 batting average in 86 at-bats, but definitely bench him against left-handed pitching.
CONTINUE SCOUTING
Yan Gomes. Gomes is having a great time of it since getting more regular at bats, with a .313 average, 28 RBI and 21 extra-base hits. He has 55 hits overall with a .892 OPS. The last 13 games have seen him post a .457/.528/1.224 triple-slash in 46 at-bats with eight RBI and 21 hits. He is solid with runners in scoring position, as indicated by a .308 average in this situation. If you are in a two-catcher league, Gomes is an intriguing candidate.
Jenrry Mejia. Mejia is pitching well for the Mets with a 2.22 ERA in 24.1 innings pitched. He has struck out 22 batters, while only walking three and has allowed just two HR. Over his last 11.1 innings pitched, he has struck out 11 batters and allowed only three earned runs. He is holding teams to a .111 average with runners in scoring position, though, so he's definitely playing with fire, but in very deep or NL-only leagues, Mejia could be available on the wire and he can provide you with some nice stats in the right matchups.
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