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

Fantasy Baseball Advice: Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

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

Wil Venable 01Will 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 on May 21, 2012Will 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.

 

==========

If you want this article and other high-end fantasy baseball analysis delivered to you on a daily basis, sign up for our daily newsletter. And to stay on top of all the waiver wire info, including prospect call-ups and DL news, be sure to check out the Waiver Wire Pickups List for in-depth analysis on gems that you may be able to find sitting on your waiver wire.  It’s one of the best fantasy baseball features currently on web!

 




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

Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Close to Triple-Double Versus Serbia
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Fills Box Score Against Turkey
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Shakes Off Minor Injury
NBA

E.J. Liddell Inks Two-Way Deal With Nets
NBA

Ben Simmons Reportedly Considering Retirement
P.J. Washington

Agrees to Four-Year, $90 Million Extension
Mike Trout

Plans to Return on Thursday
Will Smith

X-Rays Negative on Will Smith's Hand
Jauan Jennings

Gets Incentives Added to Contract
Jakobi Meyers

Unsure About Potential Extension
Matthew Stafford

Off Injury Report Ahead of Week 1
Will Smith

Exits With Hand Contusion
Jackson Chourio

in Lineup Wednesday Despite Hamstring Cramps
Sepp Straka

Gets Captain's Pick to Join Team Europe
Christian Yelich

Dealing With Soreness in Lower Back
PGA

Victor Hovland to Make Third Ryder Cup Appearance for Team Europe
J.J. Spaun

Set to Represent Team USA for First Time at Bethpage
Russell Henley

Makes First Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Harris English

Named to Ryder Cup Team for Second Time
Kyle Finnegan

Dealing With Groin Issue
Shohei Ohtani

Will Pitch "Sometime This Weekend"
Jackson Chourio

Absent on Wednesday With Hamstring Cramp
Roman Anthony

Officially Goes on Injured List
Jauan Jennings

Limited on Wednesday, Expected to Play in Week 1
Malik Nabers

Not on Initial Injury Report
Roman Anthony

"High Probability" Roman Anthony Lands on Injured List
Justin Thomas

Making Fourth Ryder Cup Team Appearance at Bethpage
Ben Griffin

Making First Career Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Bryson DeChambeau

Set to be Part of Team USA at Bethpage
Jason Adam

to Undergo Season-Ending Surgery
Roman Anthony

Will Undergo MRI on Wednesday
Santi Aldama

Bags Double-Double in Losing Effort
Guerschon Yabusele

Erupts for 36 Points Against Poland
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Leads Slovenia Into Next Round at EuroBasket
San Antonio Spurs

Stanley Umude Signs Training Camp Deal With Spurs
Reece Beekman

Joins Magic for Training Camp
Justin Minaya

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Magic
Travis Hunter

Jaguars List Travis Hunter as Starting Wide Receiver, Backup Cornerback
Kyle Tucker

Leaves With Calf Tightness on Tuesday
Alexandre Sarr

to Miss Rest of EuroBasket
Max Scherzer

Blue Jays Confident Max Scherzer Will Make Saturday Start Despite Back Tightness
Roman Anthony

Leaves Early With Back Injury
Jared McCain

"On Pace" for Training Camp
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Done for the Year With Torn ACL
Luke Hughes

Devils Optimistic About Signing Luke Hughes
Martin Fehérváry

Martin Fehervary on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Dylan Holloway

Good to Go for Start of Season
Nick Kurtz

Back in Action on Tuesday
Josh Morrissey

Fully Healthy for Start of Season
Dennis Hildeby

Signs Three-Year Extension With Maple Leafs
Nick Lodolo

Scratched With Illness
Dalton Kincaid

Role Not Expected to Grow?
Quinshon Judkins

Zero Chance Quinshon Judkins Plays Against Bengals?
Najee Harris

Says He's Expecting to Play Against Chiefs
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Departs Monday with Quad Injury
Franz Wagner

Collects Double-Double in Blowout Win
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Achieves Rare Numbers at EuroBasket
Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vucevic Dominates Against Sweden
Stefon Diggs

Expected to Suit Up in Week 1
Kristaps Porzingis

Finding Form at EuroBasket
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Suffers Minor Injury at EuroBasket
DJ Moore

Bears Experimenting with DJ Moore in Backfield
Rome Odunze

Could Move All Around the Offense
Carolina Panthers

Dave Canales Comfortable With Panthers' Young Receivers
Quinshon Judkins

Not Considering NCAA Return
Dallas Goedert

Healthy for Week 1
Marvin Mims Jr.

Returns to Practice Monday
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Carted Off Monday With Knee Injury
Jason Adam

Diagnosed With Ruptured Left Quadriceps Tendon
Victor Wembanyama

Looking "Quite Stellar"
Matthew Stafford

Expected to Start in Week 1
Najee Harris

Cleared for Contact, Could Play in Week 1
Denny Hamlin

Ends Eventful Day at Darlington in Seventh Place
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Almost Earns a Top-Five Finish at Darlington
John Hunter Nemechek

has His Best 2025 Performance at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

Has An Underwhelming Performance At Darlington
Josh Berry

Crashes Early and Suffers A Playoff Setback at Darlington
Giannis Antetokounmpo

"Staying in Milwaukee"
Jaylen Warren

Agrees to Two-Year Extension With Steelers
De'Von Achane

Practicing Monday, on Track to Play in Week 1
Quinshon Judkins

Could Report to Browns This Week
Chase Elliott

Under Playoff Pressure After 17th-Place Darlington Finish
Kyle Larson

Despite Hendrick Mediocrity, Kyle Larson Remains Pretty Safe in Playoffs
Alex Bowman

Opening-Lap Crash and Botched Pit Stop May Have Sunk Alex Bowman's Playoff Hopes
Erik Jones

Darlington Master Erik Jones Comes Up Short but Still Finishes Third
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Impresses at Southern 500
Daniel Suarez

is A DFS Risk for Darlington Lineups?
Noah Gragson

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Noah Gragson for Darlington?
Ty Dillon

is an Excellent Punt Option for Darlington DFS Lineups
Denny Hamlin

Picking Up Where He Left Off At Darlington
Kyle Larson

The Sky Is The Limit for Kyle Larson at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

a Strong DFS Play at Darlington This Weekend
Tyler Reddick

Shouldn't Be Overlooked at Darlington This Weekend
Alex Bowman

An Easy Place-Differential Play in DFS This Weekend
Ty Gibbs

Could Be Strong at Darlington This Weekend
Erik Jones

Has Best Darlington Qualifying Effort Since Last Win
Zane Smith

Hopeful For Another Solid Run At Darlington

RANKINGS

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