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We have completed another week of MLB action, and we have experienced more injuries, and most teams need more and more replacements. We have a couple of weeks left in the season, and things continue to stay interesting. With injuries continuing to pile up and some players heating up, moves are constantly being made to fill the gap. Riding the hot hand is not the worst philosophy to have to finish the season. There were still many players from previous articles available and still worth an ad depending on the team's needs down the stretch. Keep grinding as we are almost to the finish line.
Some outfielders would be better suited to stream for a hot bat. Others need to be replaced just because they are no longer on the field (IL). Unfortunately, that is a situation that affects many managers. You can do nothing except finding a suitable replacement as quickly as possible or risk losing valuable counting stats. This week's article will focus on deeper league adds or even players to take fliers on as we head into the second half of the season. If you have questions about other players, always feel free to ask me on Twitter. This article will discuss waiver wire targets for the outfield in Week 25, September 6 through September 12.
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 it up regarding outfielders, prospects, or dynasty leagues, message me directly on Twitter @bdentrek. Key points - this list will focus on rostered players in less than 50% of Yahoo! leagues.
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Andrew Benintendi, Kansas City Royals
44% Rostered
Benintendi has been an up and down player all season, but in the end, he will have a "usable" stat line of 15+ home runs and a .260 or so average. He currently has a wRC+ of 100, essentially league average. What we care about, though, is how he is playing now, and right now, he is hitting. He heads into Sunday, hitting safely in five of his last six games with multiple hits in four of those games. Benintendi also has six extra-base hits, including three home runs over this six-game stretch. Benintendi also has 13 RBI and a 1.538 OPS to go along with this hot streak.
Benintendi is a frustrating play from time to time, but when he streaks, you ride it out. What's also impressive about this streak is that he is only striking out 7.7% of the time, meaning a lot of balls in play. Those balls in play have resulted in a 13.6% barrel rate and 59.1% hard-hit rate. Over the next two weeks, the Royals play 13 games, and there are some really juicy matchups versus some extremely hittable right-handed hitters. He is hitting cleanup for the Royals and is worth adding all 12-team and deeper leagues right now.
Austin Hays, Baltimore Orioles
24% Rostered
Hays has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball, and it does not seem that many are talking about him. Judging by the fact he's rostered in roughly a quarter of Yahoo leagues, it would appear no one is talking about him. In Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader, Hays snapped a 17-game hitting streak. A streak that saw Hays hit .348 with 12 extra-base hits, including five home runs. He had a .348 ISO and a 1.070 OPS over the streak.
He has 13-games on the schedule over the next two weeks with some juicy matchups surrounded by a few tough ones. He wraps up the two weeks with four nice games with the Rangers, which is always a matchup to target. Matchups aside, Hays should be much more widely rostered for the rest of the season. Hays is batting in the middle of the Orioles lineup and should continue to put up solid fantasy numbers. He is one of the better outfield additions this week and should be added in all leagues.
Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels
22% Rostered
Many ran to roster Adell the second he got the callup to the bigs, and many were disappointed and have dropped him sense. However, those who held the course have been rewarded, and many more can make up for the stretch run. Adell is riding an eight-game hitting streak into Sunday's action and has hit safely in 14 of his last 17 games. Adell is hitting .302 with six extra-base hits over the 17-game run with a .222 ISO.
The highly heralded Angels' outfielder seems to be figuring things out at the plate, which could lead to a strong couple of weeks to finish the season. During the streak, he has regularly hit in the middle of the Angels' order, leading to more fantasy goodness. Adell has some great matchups over the next couple of weeks, including three extremely hittable lefties next week. Adell should be added in all formats for the rest of the season, and get ready for a very high draft price in 2022.
David Peralta, Arizona Diamondbacks
21% Rostered
Peralta has quietly been one of the best hitters in baseball over the last few weeks. He has hit safely in 15 of his last 18 games, good for a .377 average. Unfortunately, he doesn't bring a ton of power, hitting only six extra-base hits, including two home runs. So he does not fill all the stat lines, but the average and opportunity are definitely there for Peralta to finish the season. The positive of power is that he has those two home runs over his last five games; maybe he has found the fountain of youth at the end of the season.
Peralta is not the sexiest of ads and has a tough schedule with the Dodgers twice, the Astros, and the Braves over the next two weeks, but he will play nearly every day. I would rather have the players above and maybe a few others before Peralta, but he is a solid add in deeper leagues. If you are looking for a batting average boost over the next few weeks, he may be one of the better ads as we advance. But, for now, deep leagues only for Peralta.
Lane Thomas, Washington Nationals
12% Rostered
I usually do not write up the same player in back-to-back weeks, but I could not resist with Thomas. He was nearly 1% rostered this time last week and is now 12% which is great, but he should be even higher rostered. Thomas continues to produce a top the Nationals' lineup. Hitting safely in 12 of his last 15 games. He's even hit three home runs, has eight total extra bases with a .242 ISO. Thomas is even walking 12.5% of the time to go with a .907 OPS.
Thomas is in line for some great matchups over the next few weeks facing the Marlins in two series, the Rockies, and then four juicy matchups in Great American Small Park. Thomas will continue to lead off the Nats and bring some strong fantasy value to your fantasy teams. Add him in all formats to help with all five ROTO categories as we advance. I would add Leody Taveras over Thomas if you need steals over all other categories.
Deeper League Adds
Here are a few players to the roster in deeper leagues- LaMonte Wade Jr. (SF, 12%), Leody Taveras (TEX, 12%), Brad Miller (PHI, 11%), Kevin Pillar (NYM, 7%), DJ Peters, (TEX, 4%), Brett Gardner (NYY, 2%), many more.
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