RADIO
This article will discuss fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for the outfield in Week 8 – May 15 through May 21. Whether your team is derailed by injuries or you’re simply ready to give up on your draft day darlings, navigating the waiver wire will be crucial to finding long-term success in fantasy baseball.
As we move through the season, trends fluctuate, and we must learn to react in real time. When it comes to hot streaks, you have the act fast, or you may miss out. This set of outfield-eligible players may not all have the longest track records, or their success could be considered unsustainable. However, you have to take risks early in the season in order to uncover your breakout stars. It will already be too late if you wait until these names are established.
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!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and weekly lineup resources:- Nick Mariano's fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups (Premium)
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- Cut List- Players To Consider Dropping
Outfield Waiver Wire Adds For Standard Leagues
Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies
41% Rostered
36-year-old Blackmon isn't the perennial 30-home run threat he once was, but he remains a reliable fantasy asset. He's slashing .276/.375/.409, including three home runs and eight doubles. Further, Blackmon carries a .275 xBA, .364 xwOBA, and .441 xSLG, suggesting there could be more pop in the bat than his underwhelming home run total tells us.
Blackmon's marquee at this point is his plate discipline. He sports a 23% chase rate and a 12.5% strikeout rate. Blackmon walks at an above-average pace, but he's generally good at getting the bat on the ball. Put the ball in play, and good things will happen. That applies double when you play at Coors Field.
Jack Suwinski, Pittsburgh Pirates
35% Rostered
Suwinski has been slumping since May started, but he still owns some very encouraging overall metrics. Suwinski carries a .528 xSLG, 19.7% barrel rate, .380 xwOBA, 47.5% hard-hit rate, and 91.4 MPH average exit velocity. He strikes out a lot but also walks at an impressive 15.3% rate. The writing was always on the wall for a batting average dip, but elite plate discipline and gaudy power potential make Suwinski a sustainable fantasy producer. All told he's slashing .237/.356/.505 with seven home runs and five stolen bases.
Jorge Soler, Miami Marlins
25% Rostered
Since Soler was highlighted here last week, he's hit safely in seven consecutive games. That includes three multi-hit performances and three home runs. He also accrued a nine percent ownership bump in that span. Overall, Soler is up to a .245/.323/.504 slash line with nine home runs.
The production boost was overdue for Soler, whose advanced numbers have implied success all season. He sports a .566 xSLG, 18.9% barrel rate, 93.1 MPH average exit velocity, .380 xwOBA, 50.5% hard-hit rate, and 121 wRC+. Soler's underlying numbers rival the optics of his 48-home run campaign in 2019. It's not sensible to expect that tier of production, but a healthy Soler can comfortably eclipse 30 home runs this season.
Lane Thomas, Washington Nationals
19% Rostered
Something about a hot streak. Thomas has recorded at least one hit in 11 of his last 13 appearances, including four home runs in that span. All said, he carries a respectable .273/.329/.403 slash line. Thomas' underlying numbers are not too exciting, but at some point, it's worth prioritizing results over expected results.
Rather than a long-term roster spot, Thomas may be more suitable as a streaming option, especially against left-handed pitching. Nonetheless, he's settled into an everyday playing role, and Thomas will continue to get consistent opportunities to bat near the top of the order.
Outfield Waiver Wire Adds In Deep Leagues
Luke Raley, Tampa Bay Rays
9% Rostered
It's been hot and cold stretches for Raley in 2023. He cooled off following a tremendous start to the season, but Raley has found his rhythm again over the past couple of weeks. He's hit safely in seven of his past eight contests, including five multi-hit performances and three home runs during that span. Overall, that translates into a strong .270/.327/.596 slash line with eight home runs.
Raley's underlying numbers support sustained success. He ranks among the top five percent of all hitters this season with his .568 xSLG, 56.9% hard-hit rate, 93.6 MPH average exit velocity, and 22.4% barrel rate. Raley walks at just a 5.4% rate, but the power-hitting upside more than compensates for it. The true caveat is the strict platoon the Rays operate under. Raley rarely gets the opportunity to hit against left-handed pitching (only eight plate appearances); however, he's doing enough with his strong side of the platoon to warrant attention.
JJ Bleday, Oakland Athletics
7% Rostered
Bleday was highlighted here last week, and his ownership is beginning to climb. He's slashing .353/.389/.706 in 10 games since being called up. That includes three home runs, 206 wRC+, and a .353 ISO. Bleday's sample size is small, but he's torn up Triple-A pitching over the last two years, and the former fourth-overall draft pick may finally be realizing his potential.
The downside for Bleday, like Raley, is the strict platoon Oakland employs. Bleday has just six plate appearances against left-handed pitchers this season, though he did record two hits. Unlike Raley's situation, the Athletics lack depth. Bleday has been one of the few bright spots for an offense scoring just 3.9 runs per game. Should Bleday continue to excel, it would not be a surprise to see him draw more action against southpaws.
Dominic Fletcher, Arizona Diamondbacks
1% Rostered
Fletcher's career is just 11 games deep, but it's hard to imagine a much better start. He's slashing .457/.486/.629 with a home run and three doubles. The 25-year-old's torrid pace is definitely unsustainable, but he may settle in as a consistent offensive contributor when the regression dust settles. For now, Fletcher's bat is hot, and he's playing nearly every day for the Diamondbacks.
Looking back at Fletcher's minor-league numbers, he posted a .323/.417/.559 slash line in 22 games at Triple-A this season. That includes three home runs, four triples, and five doubles. Fletcher won't emerge as one of the league's premier sluggers, but he does possess the pop and plate discipline to be a consistent presence with double-digit home run totals.
More Players To Consider
- Nick Senzel, Reds - 24% rostered
- Connor Joe, Pirates - 22% rostered
- Nick Pratto, Royals - 18% rostered
- Randal Grichuk, Rockies - 10% rostered
More Deep-League Players To Consider
- Robbie Grossman, Rangers - 4% rostered
- Kevin Kiermaier, Blue Jays - 4% rostered
- Pavin Smith, Diamondbacks - 2% rostered
- Corey Julks, Astros - 1% rostered
- Jake Bauers, Yankees - 1% rostered
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