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We have completed another week of MLB action, making it time to make more waiver wire moves as we head into Week 18. With more and more injuries and players slumping, it is time to start changing our rosters. I want to emphasize that it is still not time to panic about your core players. Do not go dropping early picks that are just slumping out the gate. If they are still struggling in a few weeks, we can look at the underlying metrics to see if a drop is in play.
Early in the season, we are interested in players off to hot starts and, more importantly, showing sustainable improvements from last season. With the early injuries, we are also looking into players that may be receiving more playing time. Some of the lower rostered players, or some not mentioned here, are on the solid side of platoons, so make sure you are not adding them if they have a negative schedule. Lastly, the names in the article are in order of percentage rostered, not so much in my preference of adding to your roster. This article will discuss fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for the outfield in Week 19, August 15 thru August 21.
In the first few weeks, rostered percentages can change quickly. So be quick to check your leagues for their availability. When you want to chat about outfielders, prospects, or dynasty leagues, message me directly on Twitter at @bdentrek. Key points - this list will focus on rostered players in less than 50% of Yahoo! leagues.
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Seth Brown, Oakland AthleticsÂ
40% Rostered
I have covered Brown in many articles of late, and he continues to rake and stay low rostered in Yahoo leagues. Since the all-star break, Brown is hitting .316 with seven home runs and a stolen base.
He walks over 10% of the time with a strikeout rate below 18%. It is not a large sample, but Brown has played in 17 games since the break and has a .404 ISO, 1.110 OPS, and 216 wRC+. He is straight beating out.
The A's do face three LHP next week and Logan Gilbert and Luis Castillo, which is less desirable. Regardless, Brown should be starting over many other outfielders rostered in over 50% of leagues. Make that change for the stretch run, not just an iffy next week.
Nick Gordon, Minnesota TwinsÂ
24% Rostered
Gordon may finally be getting regular playing time, which means he is a solid fantasy asset. Before we dig into the stats, I will mention he sat Friday and Saturday versus LHP but is back in the lineup on Sunday versus an LHP. So keep an eye on that situation, and let's hope he does not get platooned soon as the regular playing time was working for him.
On July 27, Gordon started playing nearly every day and has been hitting .395 since that day. He has six doubles, a home run, and three stolen bases. He walks 11.1% of the time with a 15.6% walk rate.
Gordon's plate discipline has been great, and when he makes contact with the ball, his contact quality is excellent, with a 12.1% barrel rate and 42.4% hard-hit rate. Gordon will bring a nice mix of power and speed if he gets to play every day, and I am willing to take the gamble on that this week.
Luis Rengifo, Los Angeles Angels
22% Rostered
I wasn't the only one who wrote off Rengifo as a dead batting average asset for fantasy. I was wrong, and it is time to start and take him a bit more seriously. Since the all-star break, Rengifo is hitting .297 with 11 extra-base hits, including two home runs. Rengifo has also stolen two bases with nine runs and 12 RBI.
He is hitting third every day for the Angels and will rack up stats for the rest of the season. Rengifo also brings great positional flexibility, which will come in handy with all the late-season injuries.
Tyler Naquin, New York Mets
18% Rostered
Naquin was the cover boy last week and is still less than 20% rostered in Yahoo leagues. That needs to change. I was worried about playing time when the Mets traded for Naquin on July 30, but I have been proven wrong.
Since the 30th, Naquin has been hitting .306 with seven extra-base hits, including three home runs. He has even stolen a base while striking out less than 14% of the time. Naquin's .417 ISO, 1.047 OPS, and 190 wRC+ are excellent, not to mention a 16.1% barrel rate and 41.9% hard-hit rate.
With Naquin playing daily, he becomes a vital fantasy asset for the rest of the season.
Oscar Gonzalez, Cleveland Guardians
4% Rostered
Gonzalez returned from the IL on August 2 and has been a hitting machine. Gonzalez has hit safely in eight of ten games, suitable for a .333 batting average. He has not been a significant power asset in the past, but he has a home run, .154 ISO, and .821 OPS since his return, proving there is some power from Gonzalez.
He is playing every day for the Guardians, hitting sixth most days, and will rack up runs and RBI, not to mention a solid batting average. So please do not sleep on Gonzalez regarding FAAB moves this week.
Deeper League Waiver Wire
You can check out my NFBC deeper league waiver wire article, which comes out every Saturday, and looks at deeper-league waiver wire options at various positions.
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