Points League Hitters: Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 12

June 12, 2023

Nicklaus Gaut's fantasy baseball H2H points league waiver wire hitters to pick up for Week 12 of the 2023 MLB season, identifying free agents hitters to add.

Welcome to Week 12 and our fantasy baseball waiver wire hitters. We'll be doing this roundup of points leagues every week here at RotoBaller, with waiver wire targets being evaluated in terms of the different scoring systems of ESPN, Yahoo!, CBS, and Fantrax.

Player values can vary wildly from platform to platform, so we'll make sure to highlight where players are the best and worst fits. We know points league players get neglected and we're here to help.

These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of June 5 - June 11, looking at players below ~50% rostered for ESPN, Yahoo!, or Fantrax. Position eligibility is taken from Fantrax and players are grouped by their most valuable fantasy position, using a hierarchy of: C > 2B > OF > 3B > 1B > SS. Stats and rankings for charts are calculated using games through Saturday, June 3.

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Know Your Scoring System

You'll likely find a suitable mirror to your own system if you look above. While every point counts, as long as they aren't seismic changes, you can get away with some "close enough" calls. IE. You're probably fine if everything is the same except for HBP (or something similar).

**Sorry for the lack of charts this week but it's my son's birthday - Happy 5th, Henry!..., he said to a small child that will never see it.

First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Harold Ramirez, TB, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 27%) - Ramirez has a 116 APR for the year and a 77 APR over the past two weeks but could be in for a great Week 12, with the Rays scheduled to face three LHP. Against left-handers, Ramirez is slashing .372/.386/.721, with a .468 wOBA.

LaMonte Wade Jr., SF, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 27%) - Ok, that's it - I'm officially calling it. Every year someone stays on too many waiver wires for way too long while I'm imploring the masses to correct the mistake and trying not to feel like a crazy person for droning on about them every week...Brandon Nimmo, Joey Votto, Christian Walker; it's time to welcome the newest member to the club. Wade Jr. has a 72 APR for the year and a 39 APR over the past two weeks, continuing to rake while batting leadoff. Please, if only for the sake of my sanity, just pick him up. Pretty please?

Nick Pratto, KC, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 3%) - Sunday will make Pratto's 13th start in a row, and over that stretch, he has slashed .289/.365/.489 over 52 PA, with 2 HR and three multi-hit games.

Next Choices

Miguel Vargas, LAD, 1B/2B/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 22%) - Vargas has a classic-compiler profile, playing almost every day with a 20% K%, 13% BB%, and the piles of R+RBI that comes with playing for a high-powered offense.

Brendan Donovan, STL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 25%) - The most important part of Donovan's increasing value might be that he's back to batting leadoff for the Cardinals when facing a right-handed starter (7th/8th vs LHP). St. Louis is scheduled to face all RHPs in their six games this week, so Donovan should at least compile a bunch of PAs.

Ryan Noda, OAK, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 13%, ESPN: 3%) - Ryan Noda SZN continues. Noda has a 38 APR over the past two weeks and is now up to a 105 APR for the year. But be careful in leagues with a strikeout penalty, as a 19% BB% still isn't enough to make up for a 32% K%.

Seth Brown, OAK, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 5%) - Brown is starting to heat up, slashing .318/.444/.591 in Week 11, with 1 HR, 4 R, and 6 RBI. Unfortunately, he's still stuck in Oakland's lineup but he'll get seven games in Week 12, with only one scheduled against an LHP.

Desperate Choices

Emmanuel Rivera, ARI, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - Rivera has started seven of the past eight games, going 10-for-27, with a .402 wOBA and 32 APR. Now slashing .353/.389/.471 for the year, with just a 12% K%, Rivera is fine addition as long as his everyday role continues.

Nolan Jones, COL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 46%, ESPN: 6%) - Jones is lava hot, with 3 HR and a .400 AVG over the past week but always beware the hitter that goes on the road after a hot week at Coors.

On the IL

• Joey Gallo, MIN, 1B/OF (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
• Wil Myers, CIN, 1B/OF (kidney stones - rehab assignment)
• Darick Hall, PHI, 1B (torn thumb ligament - rehab assignment)
• Yu Chang, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS (hamate surgery - rehab assignment)
• Ji-Man Choi, TB, 1B (strained Achilles - expected to miss two months)
• Darin Ruf, MIL, 1B/OF (knee laceration - no timetable)

Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Orlando Arcia, ATL, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 25%) -

Mauricio Dubon, HOU, 2B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 12%) -

Next Choices

Zach McKinstry, DET, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 9%) - McKinstry has been pretty brutal for the past couple of weeks (248 APR, .156/.191/.222) but a .241 xBA and .200 BABIP leave some hope that it's not all his fault. And even with his struggles, he's still playing and batting leadoff every game.

Miguel Vargas, LAD, 1B/2B/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 22%) - Vargas has a classic-compiler profile, playing almost every day with a 20% K%, 13% BB%, and the piles of R+RBI that comes with playing for a high-powered offense.

Brendan Donovan, STL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 25%) - The most important part of Donovan's increasing value might be that he's back to batting leadoff for the Cardinals when facing a right-handed starter (7th/8th vs LHP). St. Louis is scheduled to face all RHPs in their six games this week, so Donovan should at least compile a bunch of PAs.

Jace Peterson, OAK, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 1%) - Apply all of the normal caveats to Oakland hitters but Peterson is capable of getting very hot for periods of time, which is exactly what's going on currently, as he's posted a 3 APR so far in Week 11 and has a 25 APR over the past two weeks.

Adam Frazier, BAL, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 23%) -

Desperate Choices

Luis Rengifo, LAA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 2%) - Rengifo has seen an uptick in playing time, starting six of the past seven games, with Jared Walsh starting to lose the Angels game of infielder musical chairs. He's doing his best to keep his current chair,  going 8-for-21 over those six games, with two multi-hit games. But a tenuous starting slot while batting in the bottom third of the order will keep his value limited.

Luis Garcia, WSH, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 12%) -

Ji-Hwan Bae, PIT, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 35%, ESPN: 7%) -

On the IL

• Nick Senzel, CIN, 2B/3B/OF (knee discomfort - no timetable)
• Nick Gordon, MIN, 2B/SS/OF (fractured shin - no timetable)
• Yu Chang, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS (hamate surgery - no timetable)
• Ehire Adrianza, ATL, 2B/3B/OF (elbow inflammation - no timetable)

Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Royce Lewis, MIN, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 11%) - Lewis hasn't taken a walk yet in 2023 and has a 30% K% but the tools are as explosive as the health is bad. With three games vs LHP coming up, a strong week could boot him from our eligibility threshold for good.

Jake Burger, CHW, 3B (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 7%) - Burger can go ice cold but the power is legit and the White Sox have finally gone back to playing him every day, as he's now started six of the last seven after getting just one start in the previous five games.

Anthony Rendon, LAA, 3B (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 39%) - Rendon has done next to nothing since returning from the IL but I'm still not worried about his long-term production, as even the average versions of Rendon have a very points-friendly profile. But with the Angels taking a "load management" approach to his playing time to keep him healthy, the PAs from week to week might get a little lighter.

Next Choices

Zach McKinstry, DET, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 9%) - McKinstry has been pretty brutal for the past couple of weeks (248 APR, .156/.191/.222) but a .241 xBA and .200 BABIP leave some hope that it's not all his fault. And even with his struggles, he's still playing and batting leadoff every game.

Brendan Donovan, STL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 25%) - The most important part of Donovan's increasing value might be that he's back to batting leadoff for the Cardinals when facing a right-handed starter (7th/8th vs LHP). St. Louis is scheduled to face all RHPs in their six games this week, so Donovan should at least compile a bunch of PAs.

Jace Peterson, OAK, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 1%) - Apply all of the normal caveats to Oakland hitters but Peterson is capable of getting very hot for periods of time, which is exactly what's going on currently, as he's posted a 3 APR so far in Week 11 and has a 25 APR over the past two weeks.

Jeimer Candelario, WSH, 3B (Yahoo: 13%, ESPN: 8%) - Candelario has a 91 APR for the season but Washinton is scheduled to face three LHP in Week 12, against whom he's slashing .229/.316/.300, with a .283 wOBA and .296 xwOBA.

Desperate Choices

Emmanuel Rivera, ARI, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 1%) - Rivera has started seven of the past eight games, going 10-for-27, with a .402 wOBA and 32 APR. Now slashing .353/.389/.471 for the year, with just a 12% K%, Rivera is fine addition as long as his everyday role continues.

Luis Rengifo, LAA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 2%) - Rengifo has seen an uptick in playing time, starting six of the past seven games, with Jared Walsh starting to lose the Angels game of infielder musical chairs. He's doing his best to keep his current chair,  going 8-for-21 over those six games, with two multi-hit games. But a tenuous starting slot while batting in the bottom third of the order will keep his value limited.

On the IL

• Nick Senzel, CIN, 2B/3B/OF (knee discomfort - no timetable)
• Yu Chang, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS (hamate surgery - rehab assignment)
• Ehire Adrianza, ATL, 2B/3B/OF (elbow inflammation - no timetable)
• Brad Miller, TEX, 3B/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)

Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Royce Lewis, MIN, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 11%) - Lewis hasn't taken a walk yet in 2023 and has a 30% K% but the tools are as explosive as the health is bad. With three games vs LHP coming up, a strong week could boot him from our eligibility threshold for good.

Orlando Arcia, ATL, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 25%) -

Mauricio Dubon, HOU, 2B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 12%) -

Ezequiel Tovar, COL, SS (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 8%) -

Next Choices

Zach McKinstry, DET, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 9%) - McKinstry has been pretty brutal for the past couple of weeks (248 APR, .156/.191/.222) but a .241 xBA and .200 BABIP leave some hope that it's not all his fault. And even with his struggles, he's still playing and batting leadoff every game.

Brendan Donovan, STL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 25%) - The most important part of Donovan's increasing value might be that he's back to batting leadoff for the Cardinals when facing a right-handed starter (7th/8th vs LHP). St. Louis is scheduled to face all RHPs in their six games this week, so Donovan should at least compile a bunch of PAs.

J.P. Crawford, SEA, SS (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 6%) -

Desperate Choices

Zach Neto, LAA, SS (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 27%) -

Luis Rengifo, LAA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 2%) - Rengifo has seen an uptick in playing time, starting six of the past seven games, with Jared Walsh starting to lose the Angels game of infielder musical chairs. He's doing his best to keep his current chair,  going 8-for-21 over those six games, with two multi-hit games. But a tenuous starting slot while batting in the bottom third of the order will keep his value limited.

On the IL

• Nick Gordon, MIN, 2B/SS/OF (fractured shin - no timetable)
• Yu Chang, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS (hamate surgery - rehab assignment)

Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Harold Ramirez, TB, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 27%) - Ramirez has a 116 APR for the year and a 77 APR over the past two weeks but could be in for a great Week 12, with the Rays scheduled to face three LHP. Against left-handers, Ramirez is slashing .372/.386/.721, with a .468 wOBA.

LaMonte Wade Jr., SF, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 27%) - Ok, that's it - I'm officially calling it. Every year someone stays on too many waiver wires for way too long while I'm imploring the masses to correct the mistake and trying not to feel like a crazy person for droning on about them every week...Brandon Nimmo, Joey Votto, Christian Walker; it's time to welcome the newest member to the club. Wade Jr. has a 72 APR for the year and a 39 APR over the past two weeks, continuing to rake while batting leadoff. Please, if only for the sake of my sanity, just pick him up. Pretty please?

Marcell Ozuna, ATL, OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 12%) -

Mauricio Dubon, HOU, 2B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 12%) -

Nick Pratto, KC, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 3%) - Sunday will make Pratto's 13th start in a row, and over that stretch, he has slashed .289/.365/.489 over 52 PA, with 2 HR and three multi-hit games.

Leody Taveras, TEX, OF (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 5%) -

Andrew McCutchen, PIT, OF (Yahoo: 41%, ESPN: 26%) -

Joey Wiemer, MIL, OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 8%) -

Next Choices

Andrew Benintendi, CHW, OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 16%) -

Ryan Noda, OAK, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 13%, ESPN: 3%) - Ryan Noda SZN continues. Noda has a 38 APR over the past two weeks and is now up to a 105 APR for the year. But be careful in leagues with a strikeout penalty, as a 19% BB% still isn't enough to make up for a 32% K%.

Seth Brown, OAK, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 5%) - Brown is starting to heat up, slashing .318/.444/.591 in Week 11, with 1 HR, 4 R, and 6 RBI. Unfortunately, he's still stuck in Oakland's lineup but he'll get seven games in Week 12, with only one scheduled against an LHP.

Joc Pederson, SF, OF (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 6%) -

Zach McKinstry, DET, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 9%) - McKinstry has been pretty brutal for the past couple of weeks (248 APR, .156/.191/.222) but a .241 xBA and .200 BABIP leave some hope that it's not all his fault. And even with his struggles, he's still playing and batting leadoff every game.

Ramon Lauerano, OAK, OF (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 3%) -

Jack Suwinski, PIT, OF (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 6%) -

Jose Siri, TB, OF (Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 6%) -

Miguel Vargas, LAD, 1B/2B/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 22%) - Vargas has a classic-compiler profile, playing almost every day with a 20% K%, 13% BB%, and the piles of R+RBI that comes with playing for a high-powered offense.

Brendan Donovan, STL, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 25%) - The most important part of Donovan's increasing value might be that he's back to batting leadoff for the Cardinals when facing a right-handed starter (7th/8th vs LHP). St. Louis is scheduled to face all RHPs in their six games this week, so Donovan should at least compile a bunch of PAs.

Jurickson Profar, COL, OF (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 11%) -

Jace Peterson, OAK, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 1%) - Apply all of the normal caveats to Oakland hitters but Peterson is capable of getting very hot for periods of time, which is exactly what's going on currently, as he's posted a 3 APR so far in Week 11 and has a 25 APR over the past two weeks.

Adam Frazier, BAL, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 23%) -

Desperate Choices

Brent Rooker, OAK (Yahoo: 42%, ESPN: 33%) -

Will Brennan, CLE, OF (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 2%) -

Kerry Carpenter, DET, OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 1%) -

Jesus Sanchez, MIA, OF (Yahoo: 13%, ESPN: 4%) -

Luis Rengifo, LAA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 2%) - Rengifo has seen an uptick in playing time, starting six of the past seven games, with Jared Walsh starting to lose the Angels game of infielder musical chairs. He's doing his best to keep his current chair,  going 8-for-21 over those six games, with two multi-hit games. But a tenuous starting slot while batting in the bottom third of the order will keep his value limited.

Nolan Jones, COL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 46%, ESPN: 6%) - Jones is lava hot, with 3 HR and a .400 AVG over the past week but always beware the hitter that goes on the road after a hot week at Coors.

Corey Julks, HOU, OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 1%) -

Stuart Fairchild, CIN, OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) -

On the IL

• Tyler O'Neill, STL, OF (strained lower back - no timetable)
• Harrison Bader, NYY, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Jake Fraley, CIN, OF (wrist contusion - no timetable)
• Joey Gallo, MIN, 1B/OF (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
• Wil Myers, SF, 1B/OF (kidney stones - no timetable)
• Jesse Winker, MIL, OF (strained neck - no timetable)
• Nick Senzel, CIN, 2B/3B/OF (knee discomfort - no timetable)
• Austin Meadows, DET (anxiety - no timetable)
• Victor Robles, WSH, OF (back spasms - no timetable)
• Nick Gordon, MIN, 2B/SS/OF (fractured shin - no timetable)
• Akil Baddoo, DET, OF (strained quad - no timetable)
• Trayce Thompson, LAD, OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Avisail Garcia, MIA, OF (back tightness - no timetable)
• Matt Vierling, DET, OF (lower back - rehab assignment)
• Kyle Isbel, KC, OF (strained hamstring - expected to miss six weeks)
• Ehire Adrianza, ATL, 2B/3B/OF (elbow inflammation - no timetable)
• Brad Miller, TEX, 3B/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Heliot Ramos, SF, OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Cristian Pache, PHI, OF (knee surgery - rehab assignment)
• Henry Ramos, CIN, OF (strained hip - rehab assignment)
• Billy Hamilton, CHW, OF (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)

Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Francisco Alvarez, NYM, C (Yahoo: 49%, ESPN: 20%) - Alvarez is as hot as anyone in baseball, with 4 HR in his last four games. But a 20% Roster% on ESPN says not everyone has gotten on board yet. If he happens to still be available in your league, please correct the mistake.

Gary Sanchez, SD, C (Yahoo: 29%, ESPN: 10%) -Sanchez has now started 10-of-11 games since signing with San Diego, hitting 5 HR in 49 PA, with three in his past five games. More impressively, he somehow has a .267 AVG - though, a 31% K% is the same as it ever was. But a 9 APR in Week 11 and a 50 APR over the past two weeks means it's worth trying to keep riding that hot hand if you're in need at the position.

Next Choices

Gabriel Moreno, ARI, C (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 8%) - Moreno has been a decent option, particularly in leagues with a strikeout penalty, but with seven games in Week 11 and three against LHP, this could be a good week to grab a little stream. Facing lefthanders in 2023, Moreno is slashing .390/.406/.610 - but do be aware that the plate discipline has been much worse, with a 30% K%, compared to a 14% K% vs RHP. Added:

Desperate Choices

Shea Langeliers, OAK, C (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 6%) - Langeliers is on baseball's worst team, with a .215 AVG and 29% K% but is one of the few catchers that play most games, allowing him to compile enough points to use as a stop-gap. Plus, he'll get seven games in the upcoming week, with only one coming against the left-handers that he's slashing just .180/.250/.220 against, with a .218 wOBA and .267 xwOBA.

On the IL

• Danny Jansen, TOR, C (strained groin - no timetable)
• Logan O'Hoppe, LAA, C (shoulder surgery - out 4-6 months)

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