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Mike's fantasy baseball category boosters waiver wire hitters to add. He goes category by category and picks out hitters for HR, RBI, SB, AVG, and runs for Week 23 (2024).
Welcome back to our fantasy baseball waiver wire hitter category boosters for Week 23 of the 2024 MLB season -- free-agent hitters to consider adding to help boost your team in HR, SB, RBI, AVG, and runs. Today, we'll look at names like Spencer Torkelson, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and MJ Melendez.
We are now getting to the first week of September this weekend. Football is creeping up on us, but many of us still have fantasy baseball championships to win. I am here to try and help you do that with category helpers for your offense. We are in it to win it.
We give you hitters by each offensive category. I aim to give you the top options every week for each of the five offensive categories. All hitters will be under 50% rostered on Yahoo! and listed in order of rostership and my preference. Take heed: even terrible teams have useful fantasy players on them, so dig deep and find those bargains. Let's take a look.
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Runs Scored (R) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
Lawrence Butler, Oakland Athletics (39% rostered)
Remember Butler, a darling in July? Well, he cooled off drastically, and many fantasy players dropped him to the waiver wire. I am here to report that Butler has scored a run in nine of his last 10 games, and appears to be a player you may want to roster again.
Butler has 16 home runs and 12 stolen bases on the season, coming out of nowhere to be a productive player in Oakland. Butler has had a strong season, as seen by his Statcast page below.
Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals (39% rostered)
The rookie has quietly had a very nice year for the Cardinals, hitting .284 with 11 home runs, 46 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 64 runs scored while playing a solid defensive shortstop.
While Winn has largely stopped running, he is scoring runs, with six over the last week while compiling 17 hits. Winn looks primed for a great finish to his first season, and he could help you down the stretch.
Whit Merrifield, Atlanta Braves (16% rostered)
I keep suggesting Merrifield simply because I know the veteran will be playing second base for an excellent Atlanta Braves team. He's not the player he once was, but he is still useful when he's scoring runs and stealing bases.
Home Runs (HR) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers (41% rostered)
There was much hand-wringing when Torkelson was sent back down to Triple-A to work on his swing, but savvy players knew to keep an eye on him or stash him on their bench. This is a pure power play. Torkelson has three home runs since returning in 45 plate appearances, and there is no reason why he will not play. Grab him now. 
Matt Wallner, Minnesota Twins (12% rostered)
Wallner's power has never been in question, only the playing time has been. Sent down earlier this season due to his struggles, he has 10 home runs in 50 games now. Five of those home runs have been hit in August, and the vast majority of fantasy players are ignoring Wallner. Do not be one of them if you need easy and cheap power.
Ramon Laureano, Atlanta Braves (9% rostered)
We have come to the point of the article where you will roll your eyes. Laureano? Really? Yes, really. Raise your hand if you knew that in 18 games since August 8, he has five home runs. He's also scored 11 runs and stolen two bases as well, and 91% of fantasy players in Yahoo are ignoring him. Laureano is worth a roll of the dice.
Runs Batted In (RBI) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
Colt Keith, Detroit Tigers (45% rostered)
Keith was a draft-day darling who struggled to produce initially. Well, he's producing now. Keith has 17 RBI in August and has become one of the corner pieces of this rebuilding Detroit Tigers lineup.
Miguel Amaya, Chicago Cubs (20% rostered)
The Cubs sent veteran Yan Gomes packing earlier this summer, and Amaya was the direct beneficiary of a bump in playing time. The catcher has 19 RBI in August and the Cubs quietly appear to have not only a solid catcher behind the plate again, but a player who can help fantasy rosters as well.
The youngster is 14-for-21 over his last five games. Add him now if you need help behind the plate.
Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays (9% rostered)
Big things were expected from Kirk this season, and he has not delivered despite having an excellent hit tool. The Blue Jays traded away longtime catcher Danny Jansen at the trade deadline, opening at-bats and playing time for Kirk. And he has responded this month with 15 RBI.
Kirk is vying to be the top backstop in Toronto next year, and if he hits down the stretch, he could be their No. 1 choice in 2025.
Stolen Bases (SB) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
Dylan Crews, Washington Nationals (36% rostered)
Crews was recalled to the major leagues this week and already looks the part. He is going to be rostered quickly in most formats and has already homered and stolen a base in three big league games. It looks like Crews will hit near the top of the lineup, which means he should score some runs and steal some bases. Roster him now.
Zack Gelof, Oakland Athletics (33% rostered)
Gelof is known for the power-speed combo and his propensity for strikeouts. Gelof has seven stolen bases in August, with four of those coming over the last week. While the batting average may be miserable at Mendoza Line levels, you can count on some home runs and stolen bases down the stretch, if you can tolerate the low batting average.
Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs (21% rostered)
The hype surrounding Crow-Armstrong's 14-second sprint around the bases underlines a key point here: this guy can fly. And when he's getting on base, he's running and stealing bases.
The rookie has six stolen bases in August, and 26 on the season despite a paltry .233 batting average. Crow-Armstrong also has nine RBI over the last week, making him a hot pickup right now. He is crushing fastballs right now. See below for yourself.
Batting Average (AVG) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
Geraldo Perdomo, Arizona Diamondbacks (36% rostered)
Perdomo is slowly gaining rostership each week, and each week I am putting him in this article. He's hitting .325 with 10 extra-base hits, 10 RBI, four stolen bases, and seven runs scored. Keep in mind the young veteran also has positional eligibility at second base, third base, and shortstop. He can help your stats if you need help in the infield.
Connor Norby, Miami Marlins (32% rostered)
Norby has a real opportunity in Miami and he's looking to make the most of it. Norby is on an eight-game hitting streak where he is hitting .333 with two home runs to boot. The power and speed are average, but the batting average can help you down the stretch and he is assured playing time.
MJ Melendez, Kansas City Royals (27% rostered)
Melendez is a player I have been watching for years and waiting for the growth. Well, he's hitting .339 in 64 plate appearances in August. Check out his batting average by month below. He's been getting better each month. This is outfield help that is flying under the radar in 73% of leagues. This guy is a league-winner.
I hope this helps you out! Good luck and happy hunting, RotoBallers! You can always message me @mdrc0508 on X to complain about picks or make other suggestions!
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