Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups For Fantasy Baseball - Week 26

September 17, 2023

Kevin Hickey's fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for outfielders and Week 26 of the 2023 MLB season. Consider adding and streaming these free agent hitters.

This article will discuss fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for the outfield in Week 26 -- September 18 through September 24. Whether your team is derailed by injuries or slumping bats, navigating the waiver wire will be crucial to finding long-term success in fantasy baseball. 

As we approach the home stretch of the season, it's time to take some hard stances on your fantasy rosters. If you're still hitting the waiver wire, you're either geared up for a championship run or reconfiguring your team for the next year. This set of outfield-eligible players may not all have the longest track records, or their success could be considered unsustainable. But with the fantasy playoffs arriving, it matters most what these guys can do for you right now. 

Names listed are in order of roster percentage, not confidence ranking. Position eligibility and roster percentage are based on Yahoo!, so check your leagues for availability! 

Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Standard Leagues

Adam Duvall, Boston Red Sox - 45% Rostered

Adam Duvall is exactly the type of player who can win you a fantasy championship with a well-timed hot streak. Overall, he's slashing .254/.316/.543 with 19 home runs and a 123 wRC+ through 80 games played this season. Duvall has cooled off in recent days, but he homered eight times in 13 appearances from August 21 to September 3. 

Predictably, Duvall's batting average shows no signs of ticking up, but the underlying numbers support his ability to leave the yard on a consistent basis. He sports a fantastic 13.4% barrel rate, complemented by a .451 xSLG. Duvall is live for an extra-base hit every time he steps up to the plate.

Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins - 23% Rostered

Max Kepler has been a frequent highlight on this list all summer long. He's enjoying one of his most productive seasons at the plate and shows no signs of slowing down. Kepler sports a .253/.322/.481 slash line with 22 home runs and a 119 wRC+. The primary concern is that Kepler has been unable to draw consistent enough playing time against left-handed pitchers, but he's still in the lineup most days.

Kepler's surface numbers are encouraging, but his underlying metrics would shock many. He carries an outstanding .514 xSLG, 92.3 mph average exit velocity, 49.2% hard-hit rate, 12.5% barrel rate, .366 xwOBA, and 19.7% whiff rate. Kepler has been long overdue for positive regression.

DJ Stewart, New York Mets - 16% Rostered

One of the second half's most unlikely breakouts, DJ Stewart is worth adding right now. Through 46 games this season, he sports a .278/.352/.603 slash line with 11 home runs and a 158 wRC+. Stewart has never shown much promise across various MLB stints dating back to 2018, but he's crushing the ball right now. That's all you need to know.

Stewart's advanced metrics are just as exciting as his surface numbers. He boasts a phenomenal .538 xSLG, alongside a 13.8% barrel rate, 48.3% hard-hit rate, .372 xwOBA, and 91.1 mph average exit velocity. Stewart strikes out plenty, but the results are there when he puts the bat on the ball.

Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs - 11% Rostered

Pete Crow-Armstrong is among the latest in the wave of prestige prospect call-ups this month. His MLB career is just eight plate appearances deep so far, but there is plenty of reason to believe that he can contribute to your fantasy team now. 

Across 107 games between Double-A and Triple-A this season, Crow-Armstrong posted a .283/.365/.511 slash line. That includes 20 home runs and 37 stolen bases. He's the top-ranked prospect in Chicago's farm system and the No. 12 prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline.

Outfield Waiver Wire Adds - Deeper Leagues

Evan Carter, Texas Rangers - 10% Rostered

Keeping with the trend of September call-ups, Evan Carter has performed well during his first taste of the majors. Through eight games played, he sports a .923 OPS with a home run and a pair of stolen bases. With Adolis Garcia targeting a return from the injured list next weekend, Carter's 2023 fantasy appeal may be short-lived. Still, he's a worthwhile streaming option in the meantime.

Carter is the top prospect in the Rangers' farm system and the eighth-ranked prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. Across 108 games in the minors this season, he posted a .288/.413/.450 slash line. That includes 13 home runs and 26 stolen bases. Carter doesn't possess the same power-hitting upside as Crow-Armstrong, though his advanced approach at the plate should enable him to succeed in the big show.

Michael Brantley, Houston Astros - 8% Rostered

After missing the vast majority of the 2023 regular season, you'd expect Michael Brantley to show some rust. That has not been the case. Through his first 11 games, he's posted a .297/.308/.486 slash line with a pair of home runs. Brantley expects to receive frequent playing time down the stretch as the Astros seek to stave off the Rangers and Mariners in the AL West.

At 36 years old, Brantley is at that age where we expect to see a decline. However, other than injuries, nothing about his recent campaigns has represented a dip in production. Brantley has posted at least a 122 wRC+ in five consecutive seasons entering 2023.

Heston Kjerstad, Baltimore Orioles - 6% Rostered

Heston Kjerstad is yet another notable call-up from this past week. How consistent his playing time will be remains a legitimate concern. If Kjerstad sees the field frequently enough, he has a fantastic upside. Kjerstad's MLB career is only two games deep, though he already notched his first career home run.

Kjerstad is the third-ranked prospect in Baltimore's remarkable farm system and he's the No. 24 prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. Across 122 games between Double-A and Triple-A, Kjerstad slashed .303/.376/.528 with 21 home runs this season.

More Players To Consider

• Eddie Rosario, Braves - 48% rostered
• Tommy Pham, Diamondbacks - 46% rostered
• Jake Fraley, Reds - 40% rostered
• Luke Raley, Rays - 23% rostered
• Brandon Marsh, Phillies - 17% rostered
• Brent Rooker, Athletics - 15% rostered

More Deep-League Players To Consider

• Randal Grichuk, Angels - 10% rostered
• Ceddanne Rafaela, Red Sox - 7% rostered
• Hunter Goodman, Rockies - 7% rostered
• Ryan Noda, Athletics - 6% rostered
• Wilyer Abreu, Red Sox - 4% rostered

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers