Points League Hitters: Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 19

9 months ago by Nicklaus Gaut

What Appears In This Article? hide

2. Week 19 Leaderboards

3. First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

4. Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

5. Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

6. Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

7. Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

8. Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

9. Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

10. More Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Advice

Welcome to Week 19 and our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of July 31- August 6, looking at players below ~50% rostered on ESPN, Yahoo!, or Fantrax.

We'll be doing this points league roundup every week here at RotoBaller because we know points players get neglected and we're here to help. Player values can vary wildly from platform to platform, so we'll make sure to highlight where players are the best and worst fits, with waiver wire targets being evaluated in terms of the different scoring systems on ESPN, Yahoo!, CBS, Fantrax, and NFBC.

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, July 29.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and weekly lineup resources:

Know Your Scoring System

Platform	AB	Hits	TB	1B	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	HBP
ESPN	0	0	1	1	2	3	4	1	1	1	-1	1	0	0
Yahoo!	0	0	2.6	2.6	5.2	7.8	10.4	1.9	1.9	2.6	0	4.2	0	2.6
CBS	0	0	1	1	2	3	4	1	1	1	-0.5	2	-1	1
Fantrax	0	0	1	1	2	3	4	1	1	1	0	2	0	0
NFBC	-1	4	0	0	0	0	6	2	2	0	0	5	0	0

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).

Week 19 Leaderboards

Here are our waiver wire leaderboards headed into Week 19, with players ordered by their Yahoo Roster%:

And here are the stats driving the above ranks:

First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Spencer Torkelson, DET, 1B (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 17%) - Torkelson has run a mundane (but still useable) 121 APR in Week 18 but the former number-one overall pick has clearly turned a corner, now up to a 78 APR for the year and a 64 APR over the past two weeks. And better things might still be coming with an on-contact x-Slash that carries a lot more zip than his current reality.

Regular Slash (on contact): .316/.311/.561, .365 wOBA
Expected Slash (on contact): .351/.348/.629, .412 xwOBA

Alex Kirilloff, MIN, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 38%, ESPN: 10%) - Kirilloff's power remains frustratingly inconsistent, posting just a 336 APR in Week 18 after a six-game stretch where he went deep four times. But he's proven the talent is there (when healthy) and the more he plays, the more the consistency should come. With a series coming up against a Cardinals rotation that might be filled with all-new faces post-deadline, I'd be happy to roll with Kirilloff and bet on a Week 19 come-up. Oh no, we jinxed it. Kirilloff just hit the IL.

Carlos Santana, 1B, MIL (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 14%) - For those new to our little points party, I'll make the introductions: Meet Carlos Santana - his roto usefulness has been limited for a while but he's still a points deity who continues to crush standard settings, now up to a 77 APR for the season, with a 17 APR so far in Week 18...He also remains available in a majority of leagues. With seven games on board for Week 19, including a classic revenge series against the Pittsburgh team that just jettisoned him to Milwaukee, Santana remains a widely available plug for any holes on your roster.

Next Choices

LaMonte Wade Jr., SF, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 14%) - Wade Jr. may have hit himself out of a straight platoon but that doesn't mean the left-hander doesn't still struggle vs LHP, slashing just .240/.328/.340 with a .299 wOBA (.292 xwOBA) against them versus .284/.420/.450, with a 386 wOBA (.399 xwOBA) vs RHP. Considering the Giants have faced left-handed starters in five of their last six games and 11 of their last 19, Wade's recent slump shouldn't come as a big surprise. He'll get more favorable matchups in Week 19, however, with five of San Francisco's six games coming vs RHP.

Jake Burger, CHW, 1B/2B/3B (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 6%) - Looks like it's Burger SZN (again) - Jake has an 8 APR so far in Week 18 after going 4-for-15...With 4 HR. Hell, he even picked up 2B-eligibility for funsies. Unfortunately, hitting four dongs for a fire-sale quality team like the White Sox can sometimes result in just the 5 R and 5 RBI that Burgers' round-trippers netted him, continuing to limit his value. Well, that and a 31% K%.

Wilmer Flores, SF, 1B/2B/3B (Yahoo: 41%, ESPN: 24%) - Flores rewarded our toutin' from last week by running a 69 APR so far in Week 18, with a 20 APR over the last two weeks. But keep in mind he also faced a bevy of left-handed pitching last week but is only scheduled against one out of San Francisco's six games in Week 19. Facing LHP, Flores is slashing .327/.368/.551, with a .390 wOBA, compared to just .261/.339/.505, with a .358 wOBA vs RHP.

Desperate Choices

Nolan Jones, COL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 6%) - The rookie has been earning more playing time (starting six of the last seven) and will get three games at home in Week 18, as well as a series against a St. Louis team whose pitching staff may have been even further gutted by the time the trade deadline passes. The counting stats haven't come in bunches yet but a .357 wOBA and .352 xwOBA shows he's not being overwhelmed, even if a 34% K% will limit his value in leagues with a strikeout penalty.

Dominic Smith, WSH, 1B (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 2%) - Smith has little to no power but has a points-friendly profile that can be useful in the right matchup sets. Unfortunately, the left-hander is more of a reverse-splits kind of guy and the Nationals are only scheduled to face one LHP out of their six games in Week 19.

On the IL

Jose Miranda, MIN, 1B/3B (shoulder impingement - no timetable)
Ryan Noda, OAK, 1B/OF (fractured jaw - no timetable)
Nick Pratto, KC, 1B/OF (strained groin - no timetable)
Yu Chang, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS (hamate surgery - rehab assignment)
Darin Ruf, MIL, 1B/OF (knee laceration - no timetable)

Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Geraldo Perdomo, ARI, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 15%) - Perdomo continues to make a mockery of expected stats, with a .283 AVG (.210 xBA), and .359 wOBA (.286 xwOBA), and is now up to an 82 APR for the season after posting a 52 APR over the past two weeks. He doesn't start vs LHP but the Diamondbacks are only scheduled to face one in Week 19, likely giving Perdomo 5-6 starts at the top of the order.

Andruw Monasterio, MIL, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 2%) - Monasterio has started every game for Milwaukee in the second half, slashing .314/.375/.412 over 56 PA, with seven multi-hit games, while posting a 49 APR over the past two weeks and a 60 APR so far in Week 18. And that's not just small-sample shenanigans, as that line isn't far off a .295/.378/.400 over 119 PA for the year. There's no power but Monsterio gets on base a lot, strikes out at a below-average rate (21% K%), and is racking up a lot of PAs by playing every day while eligible at three positions. As we've seen many times before, this is a tried-and-true recipe for a points-friendly profile under most scoring systems, even without any flash or bomb(s)bast. This Roster% is far too low, especially getting to face some suspect pitching from Washington and Pittsburgh in Week 19.

Next Choices

Luis Rengifo, LAA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 5%) - Luis Rengifo and his points-friendly profile is back, baby! With the continued slew of Angels injuries, Rengifo can be nice little compiler if you're in need, and heads into Sunday with multiple hits in four of his last seven games.

Tony Kemp, OAK, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 4%) - Kemp has been having a points-tastic July but really he's been hot since the middle of June - since June 15 (when he broke an 11-game hitless streak), Kemp is slashing .308/.374/.453, with a .360 wOBA and 136 wRC+. All the normal "Oakland is terrible" caveats need to apply but Kemp and his no-K ways are putting up seriously useful numbers and can be ridden until he starts slowing down.

Jake Burger, CHW, 1B/2B/3B (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 6%) - Looks like it's Burger SZN (again) - Jake has an 8 APR so far in Week 18 after going 4-for-15...With 4 HR. Hell, he even picked up 2B-eligibility for funnsies. Unfortunately, hitting four dongs for a fire-sale quality team like the White Sox can sometimes result in just the 5 R and 5 RBI that Burgers' round-trippers netted him, continuing to limit his value. Well, that and a 31% K%.

Willi Castro, MIN, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 2%) - He's much less useful in leagues (like ESPN) where stolen bases are only worth 1-point but Castro has run himself to a 59 APR over the past two weeks by really turning up the gas on the paths in July - after only stealing 5 bases in 81 PA in June, Castro has 11 SB in 74 PA so far this month, with 26 SB on the season.

Desperate Choices

Luis Garcia, WSH, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 17%, ESPN: 12%) - We say a different version of the same things about Garcia almost every week but that's only because they remain nearly true from week to week: Garcia's piles of PAs and low-K ways will keep an around a top-100 hitter in any given week, albeit without much more ceiling. You know what you're getting; if it's useful will depend on your individual team needs.

Jon Berti, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 3%) - With a low K% and "hot, nasty, badass speed"*, Jon Berti is always worth rostering during periods when you know he'll be playing every day. IE. Someone got hurt. Berti has a 45 APR over the past two weeks but will likely see at least a small dip in playing time with the return of Avisail Garcia from the IL.

*- Eleanor Roosevelt

On the IL

Ji-Hwan Bae, PIT, 2B/OF (sprained ankle - no timetable)
Nick Gordon, MIN, 2B/SS/OF (fractured shin - no timetable)
Yu Chang, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS (hamate surgery - rehab assignment)

Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Maikel Garcia, KC, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 5%) - Garcia is now locked in at leadoff and third base for the Royals and continues to thrive with above-average per-PA scoring rates that are now amplified by how many PAs he's collecting from the top of the order. With Kansas City scheduled to face four LHP in Week 19, Garcia could be in for another big week, with a .345 wOBA and .353 xwOBA vs LHP, compared to a .295 wOBA and .319 xwOBA vs RHP.

Next Choices

Luis Rengifo, LAA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 5%) - Luis Rengifo and his points-friendly profile is back, baby! With the continued slew of Angel's injuries, Rengifo can be a nice little compiler if you're in need, and he heads into Sunday with multiple hits in four of his last seven games.

Desperate Choices

Jon Berti, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 3%) - With a low K% and "hot, nasty, badass speed"*, Jon Berti is always worth rostering during periods when you know he'll be playing everyday. IE. Someone got hurt. Berti has a 45 APR over the past two weeks but will likely see at least a small dip in playing time with the return of Avisail Garcia from the IL.

*- Eleanor Roosevelt

Brett Baty, NYM, 3B (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 5%) - Baty continues to struggle but facing LHP in five-of-eight games certainly hasn't helped. In between selling off their parts like a black market organs dealer, the Mets are scheduled to face RHP in all six of their Week 19 games.

On the IL

Ke'Bryan Hayes, PIT, 3B (lower back - rehab assignment)
Royce Lewis, MIN, 3B/SS (strained oblique - expected to miss 6 weeks)
Anthony Rendon, LAA, 3B (shin contusion - no timetable)
Jose Miranda, MIN, 1B/3B (shoulder impingement - no timetable)
Brian Anderson, MIL, 3B/OF (strained lower back - no timetable)
Josh Donaldson, NYY, 3B (strained calf - questionable for season)
Yu Chang, BOS, 1B/2B/3B/SS (hamate surgery - rehab assignment)
Evan Longoria, ARI, 3B (strained lower back - no timetable)
Kevin Smith, OAK, 3B/SS (strained back - no timetable)

Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

J.P. Crawford, SEA, SS (Yahoo: 13%, ESPN: 11%) - Sigh; I suppose I should just be happy that his Roster% has at least climbed to double-digits. Crawford has a 78 APR for the season and is top 50 on ESPN due to his minuscule 14% K%. Continuing to pile up PAs and runs from batting leadoff nearly every single game, Crawford will likely remain a top-75ish scorer for the rest of the season. And maybe, just may-yyybe reach a 20% Roster%. One can only dream.

Next Choices

Ezequiel Tovar, COL, SS (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 10%) - Like the rest of the Colorado crew, Tovar gets a series at Coors and one on the road against a Cardinals team that will likely be even further depleted following the trade deadline. Smoke 'em if ya need him.

Desperate Choices

Jon Berti, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 3%) - With a low K% and "hot, nasty, badass speed"*, Jon Berti is always worth rostering during periods when you know he'll be playing everyday. IE. Someone got hurt. Berti has a 45 APR over the past two weeks but will likely see at least a small dip in playing time with the return of Avisail Garcia from the IL.

*- Eleanor Roosevelt

On the IL

Royce Lewis, MIN, 3B/SS (strained oblique - expected to miss 6 weeks)
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

Max Kepler, MIN, OF (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 4%) - Herr Kepler has been sehr, sehr hot in July, slashing .294/.344/.506 over 93 PA, with 4 HR, 15 R, and 14 RBI. It's a good time to keep riding him with the Twins only scheduled to face one left-hander in Week 19.

Marcell Ozuna, ATL, OF (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 14%) - Ozuna has gone quite quiet as of late but has always been capable of hitting homers in bunches. See; 3 HR in his past three games. With two games against lefties in Week 19, he's certainly worth a stream to find out if we're entering another extended hot zone.

Andrew Benintendi, CHW, OF (Yahoo: 41%, ESPN: 18%) - Rinse-repeat on what we say about every week that Benintendi is below our Roster% threshold: the profile is a lot sexier in points than in roto and should be rostered in all leagues using five outfielders and most of the ones using three.

Will Benson, CIN, OF (Yahoo: 25%, ESPN: 6%) - The rookie has seen some whiffing struggles in the second half, with his previous plate-discipline woes coming back in a roar; in 44 PA since the ASB, Benson has a 46% K%. But 3 HR, 6 R, 9 RBI, and 3 SB, along with an 18% BB% have kept his scoring up but that's a fine line to keep trying to ride in most point leagues.

Randal Grichuk, COL, OF (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 4%) - What's that bubbling noise you've been hearing? Oh no big deal; just Randal Grichuk seeming like he's entered full-mag-ma mode, having now hit 6 HR in 14 games after going back-to-back on Friday and Saturday. Granted, only two of those came on the road but Grichuk still has three games at Coors in Week 19, as well as a likely date with the ghost of what used to be Adam Wainwright's dead right arm. I'm feeling so liquid-hot right now.

Mike Tauchman, CHC, OF (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 2%) - "He's Tauch-Man, he's Tauch-Man; not just Oprah's boyfriend. He's Tau-auuch-man!*. Tauchman doesn't start vs LHP but leads off against righties and has a 54 APR so far in Week 18, with a 16 APR over the past two weeks. The Cubs face two LHP in Week 19 but also have seven games, giving him a likely five games to keep the hotness going.

*If you laughed/got that reference, please tag me @Nt_BurtReynolds so we can congratulate each other on how funny we both are.

Next Choices

T.J. Friedl, CIN, OF (Yahoo: 41%, ESPN: 14%) - Friedl looks to be coming out of his recent funk, with multiple hits in three of seven games, along with one home run. The Reds get seven games in Week 19 but don't expect him to start both of their scheduled matchups vs LHP.

Sal Frelick, MIL, OF (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 15%) - Frelick keeps hitting in his first shot in the bigs, having started seven of his eight games since getting called up and slashing .368/.481/.579 over 27 PA, with 1 HR and 8 runs scored. A .353 BABIP will likely cool down but excellent discipline (11% K%, 22% BB%, 5% SwStr%) should make up for the difference.

Desperate Choices

Jack Suwinski, PIT, OF (Yahoo: 41%, ESPN: 11%) - Suwinski is always worth a dice roll when there aren't a lot of LHP on the menu and the Pirates are only scheduled to face one in Week 19.

Jon Berti, MIA, 2B/3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 3%) - With a low K% and "hot, nasty, badass speed"*, Jon Berti is always worth rostering during periods when you know he'll be playing everyday. IE. Someone got hurt. Berti has a 45 APR over the past two weeks but will likely see at least a small dip in playing time with the return of Avisail Garcia from the IL.

*- Eleanor Roosevelt

On the IL

Charlie Blackmon, COL (fractured hand - no timetable)
Mitch Haniger, SF, OF (forearm surgery - expected to miss 10 weeks)
Ji-Hwan Bae, PIT, 2B/OF (sprained ankle - no timetable)
BrianAnderson, MIL, 3B/OF (strained lower back - no timetable)
Jesse Winker, MIL, OF (back spasms - no timetable)
Austin Meadows, DET, OF (anxiety - no timetable)
Ryan Noda, OAK, 1B/OF (fractured jaw - no timetable)
Nick Pratto, KC, 1B/OF (strained groin - no timetable)
Jo Adell, LAA, OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
Nick Gordon, MIN, 2B/SS/OF (fractured shin - no timetable)
Trayce Thompson, LAD, OF (strained oblique - rehab assignment)
Victor Robles, WSH, OF (back spasms - no timetable)
Aaron Hicks, BAL, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
A.J. Pollock, SEA, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
Avisail Garcia, MIA, OF (back tightness - no timetable)

Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Mitch Garver, TEX, C (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 1%) - Remember that hot minute when Garver was an up-and-coming fantasy asset behind the plate? Well, Garver might not be that anymore but he's been serviceable in limited action this season and will get a chance to prove he's got more in the tank with Jonah Heim headed to the IL two days ago. Garver has a hit in six of his last seven games (with 1 HR) and is now slashing .263/.364/.474 in July, with 2 HR and a .364 wOBA.

Bo Naylor, CLE, C (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 1%) - Cleveland's catcher future has been hitting like it in Week 18, with 2 HR and a 60 APR. But he'll only be a legitimate fantasy option if his playing time uptick continues - Naylor has now started three of Cleveland's last four games after starting just three of their nine games prior.

Next Choices

Danny Jansen, TOR, C (Yahoo: 17%, ESPN: 14%) - Jansen has now started five of the last six games he's been available and has a 108 APR for the past two weeks. His playing time and 22% K% make him particularly valuable in leagues with a strikeout penalty.

Desperate Choices

Yanier Diaz, HOU, C (Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 5%) - Diaz has performed admirably during his recent increase in playing time and has run a 43 APR so far in Week 18. But with the return of Yordan Alvarez from the IL, that increase is running out quickly, with few DH at-bats likely in his future - Diaz has started just one (at catcher) of the three games since Alvarez returned.

On the IL

Gabriel Moreno, ARI, C (shoulder inflammation - no timetable)
Logan O'Hoppe, LAA, C (shoulder surgery - out 4-6 months)
Reese McGuire, BOS, C (strained oblique - rehab assignment)

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