Points League Hitters: Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 22

August 20, 2023

Nicklaus Gaut's fantasy baseball H2H points league waiver wire hitters to pick up for Week 22 of the 2023 MLB season, identifying free agents hitters to add.

Welcome to Week 22 and our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of August 21 - August 27, 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, August 19.

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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).

Week 22 Leaderboards

Here are our waiver wire leaderboards headed into Week 22, with players ordered by their Yahoo Roster%:

And here are the stats driving the above ranks:

First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Jake Burger, MIA, 1B/2B/3B (Yahoo: 38%, ESPN: 12%) - Cubano, schma-bano; it's still Burger SZN in Miami. Free from the flames of the South Side dumpster fire, Jake Burger continues to crush, slashing .359/.423/.531 over 71 PA for the Marlins, with 2 HR, 8 R, and 11 RBI, as well as a .413 wOBA and 165 wRC+. Eligible at three positions, there is seriously no good reason for not fitting Burger on your roster if he's available.

Harold Ramirez, TB, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 15%) - Ramirez has a points-friendly profile (especially in leagues with a strikeout penalty) but the lack of power generally makes his .309 AVG highly reliant on R+RBI. But when you slash .444/.447/.556 over two weeks, you're going to pile up points regardless, as Ramirez has done, posting a 49 APR over that stretch, with a 15 APR so far in Week 21. With three LHP on the board for Week 22 (vs LHP: .368/.392/.566, .410 wOBA), Ramirez should again be a full go on your roster.

Nolan Jones, COL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 8%) - He was a Best Choice last week and he'll stay one again, even if banking on Colorado hitters following a homestand can be dicey. But after posting a 10 APR so far in Week 21 and a 50 APR over the past two weeks, Jones is just running too hot to ignore, now slashing .283/.363/.504 in his first 67 games, with 12 HR and 8 SB.

Carlos Santana, MIL, 1B (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 20%) - Chat GPT, can you play me a Carlos Santana hype song in the style of Tom Jones "Sex Bomb"? Points god, points god. You're my points god. You can give me top-50 production when I need to come along. A-thank you. Santana has a 30 APR so far in Week 21 and an 82 APR for the entire season but is still hovering around a 15% Roster% because clearly everyone likes screwing with me.

Next Choices

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, CIN, 1B/3B  (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 10%) - CES is putting up pretty mediocre scoring, with a 30% K% that kills him in K-penalty leagues but he should get a boost in Week 22 as the Reds get seven games with only one scheduled against the left-handers that he's been struggling against (.222/.263/.278, .242 wOBA) in his rookie campaign.

Desperate Choices

Nolan Schanuel, LAA, SS (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - After blowing through three levels (Complex, Single-A, Double-A), the Angels called up Schaunel to cover C.J. Cron going on the IL. He's only 21 years old and had just 96 PA in the minors but it's hard to ignore the numbers - .370/.510/.493, .469 wOBA, 175 wRC+, with a 22% BB% and 10% K%. Worth a shot as long as he's playing every day.

Seth Brown, OAK, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 3%) - Brown doesn't start against LHP but at least he'll generally collect one or two at-bats in those games as a post-starter replacement. With some suspect pitching on tap for Week 22 (vs KC, @CHW), he's worth a crap shoot if you're in need.

On the IL

• Alex Kirilloff, MIN, 1B/OF (sprained shoulder - no timetable)
• Jose Miranda, MIN, 1B/3B (shoulder impingement - no timetable)
• Ryan Noda, OAK, 1B/OF (fractured jaw - rehab assignment)
• Nick Pratto, KC, 1B/OF (strained groin - no timetable)
• Darin Ruf, MIL, 1B/OF (knee laceration - no timetable)

Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Jake Burger, MIA, 1B/2B/3B (Yahoo: 38%, ESPN: 12%) - Cubano, schma-bano; it's still Burger SZN in Miami. Free from the flames of the South Side dumpster fire, Jake Burger continues to crush, slashing .359/.423/.531 over 71 PA for the Marlins, with 2 HR, 8 R, and 11 RBI, as well as a .413 wOBA and 165 wRC+. Eligible at three positions, there is seriously no good reason for not fitting Burger on your roster if he's available.

Next Choices

Jorge Polanco, MIN, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 44%) - Polanco has been a top-50 hitter for the past two weeks but do be aware that his .300/.412/.500 slash line has also come with a .385 BABIP and .238 xBA, with a .389 wOBA backed by a .348 xwOBA. AKA there's a cooldown coming.

Michael Massey, KC, 2B (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 1%) - Massey has cooled down some but still has a 103 APR over the past two weeks but more importantly, has stayed locked in to an everyday spot in the middle of Kansas City's order. The Royals may stink but that spot is still immediately surrounded by a couple of strong bats in Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez, which should allow him to compile above-average points with a bunch of PAs.

Desperate Choices

Pablo Reyes, BOS, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 1%) - Reyes keeps playing and producing, having now started 14 games in a row, with an 18 APR over the past two weeks and a 32 APR so far in Week 22. Widely available, Reyes is a solid MI play and a good upgradde to your bench but it might be tough sledding in Week 22 with matchups against the Astros and Dodgers.

Elvis Andrus, CHW, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 14%, ESPN: 2%) - Ahh, who doesn't love a good, "Elvis Andrus can still occasionally be a points monster for stretches of time" SZN. I mean, I know I do. Andrus has a 30 APR for both the past two weeks and so far in Week 21 but a .432 BABIP over those past 46 PA will catch up to him (and his points production soon). Smoke him while ya still got him.

Brendan Rodgers, COL, 2B (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 10%) - Rodgers has accounted for himself well since returning from the shoulder injury that cost him around four months but a 15 APR so far in Week 21 was probably just a big, ol' Coors burger. Heading out of Colorado, Rodgers will be taking a .251/.299/.370 career slash on the road that's a far cry from a .299/.358/.506 at home.

On the IL

• Willi Castro, MIN, 2B/3B/SS/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Nick Gordon, MIN, 2B/SS/OF (fractured shin - no timetable)

Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Jake Burger, MIA, 1B/2B/3B (Yahoo: 38%, ESPN: 12%) - Cubano, schmu-bano; it's still Burger SZN in Miami. Free from the flames of the South Side dumpster fire, Jake Burger continues to crush, slashing .359/.423/.531 over 71 PA for the Marlins, with 2 HR, 8 R, and 11 RBI, as well as a .413 wOBA and 165 wRC+. Eligible at three positions, there is seriously no good reason for not fitting Burger on your roster if he's available.

Royce Lewis, MIN, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 38%, ESPN: 9%) - Lewis has five hits in his first four games back from the IL but this is really about remaining a bet on the future come-up. When healthy - which is a monster disclaimer, given his injury history - Lewis has carried a per-PA scoring rate that is well above-average on every platform. As long as he's off the IL, he's worth trying to find a spot for on your roster to try and catch some of that lightning before his next trip to rehab.

Next Choices

Maikel Garcia, KC, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 9%) - Garcia keeps posting above-average per-PA rates, with his spot at the top of Kansas City's lineup allowing for some low-key compiling. But he's also missed the past two games due to a rib injury, though, the Royals don't consider it to be a serious issue.

Jorge Polanco, MIN, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 44%) - Polanco has been a top-50 hitter for the past two weeks but do be aware that his .300/.412/.500 slash line has also come with a .385 BABIP and .238 xBA, with a .389 wOBA backed by a .348 xwOBA. AKA there's a cooldown coming.

Desperate Choices

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, CIN, 1B/3B  (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 10%) - CES is putting up pretty mediocre scoring, with a 30% K% that kills him in K-penalty leagues but he should get a boost in Week 22 as the Reds get seven games with only one scheduled against the left-handers that he's been struggling against (.222/.263/.278, .242 wOBA) in his rookie campaign.

On the IL

• Anthony Rendon, LAA, 3B (shin contusion - no timetable)
• Jose Miranda, MIN, 1B/3B (shoulder impingement - no timetable)
• Willi Castro, MIN, 2B/3B/SS/OF (strained oblique - 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)

Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Ezequiel Tovar, COL, SS (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 12%) - 43%??? We're almost there, fam! Every week I think it's the last one I'll be able to use Tovar as one of our coverboys but every week he's right back below our Roster% threshold. And even though he's run a 22 APR over the past two weeks and a 13 APR so far in Week 21, Tovar might still not get over the hump due to the general hesitancy of using Colorado hitters coming off of a homestand.

Masyn Winn, STL, SS (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 7%) - Winn's right arm might be a literal rocket but the bat ain't exactly shabby. Over 498 PA at Triple-A this season, Winn slashed .288/.359/.474, with 18 HR and 17 SB. Given a glut of injuries, Winn doesn't really have any competition for starts at shortstop, and the tools are loud and fantasy proud. Given the ingredients of playing time and tools, Winn might be one of our last chances to grab some end-of-season lighting. Or, you'll drop him in two weeks because rookies love to mess with us. No harm, no foul.

Royce Lewis, MIN, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 38%, ESPN: 9%) - Lewis has five hits in his first four games back from the IL but this is really about remaining a bet on the future come-up. When healthy - which is a monster disclaimer, given his injury history - Lewis has carried a per-PA scoring rate that is well above average on every platform. As long as he's off the IL, he's worth trying to find a spot for on your roster to try and catch some of that lightning before his next trip to rehab.

Next Choices

Maikel Garcia, KC, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 9%) - Garcia keeps posting above-average per-PA rates, with his spot at the top of Kansas City's lineup allowing for some low-key compiling. But he's also missed the past two games due to a rib injury, though, the Royals don't consider it to be a serious issue.

Desperate Choices

Pablo Reyes, BOS, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 1%) - Reyes keeps playing and producing, having now started 14 games in a row, with an 18 APR over the past two weeks and a 32 APR so far in Week 22. Widely available, Reyes is a solid MI play and a good upgradde to your bench but it might be tough sledding in Week 22 with matchups against the Astros and Dodgers.

Elvis Andrus, CHW, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 14%, ESPN: 2%) - Ahh, who doesn't love a good, "Elvis Andrus can still occasionally be a points monster for stretches of time" SZN. I mean, I know I do. Andrus has a 30 APR for both the past two weeks and so far in Week 21 but a .432 BABIP over those past 46 PA will catch up to him (and his points production soon). Smoke him while ya still got him.

Osleivis Basabe, TB, SS (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 1%) - Basabe has hit the ground running since being called up to replace a Wander Franco, slashing .286/.355/.393 over 31 PA, with three doubles, six runs, and 4 RBI, posting a 70 APR so far in Week 21. Basabe has excellent plate discipline, can run, and gets on base at a good clip - as long as he continues to play every day, his production should too.

Noelvi Marte, CIN, SS (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 0%) - Across two levels in 2023, Marte has slashed .279/.358/.454 over 399 PA, with 11 HR, 69 R, 45 RBI, and 18 SB, with a .363 wOBA and .812 OPS. But it remains to be seen how consistent his playing time will be, as Elly De La Cruz is blocking him at shortstop, relegating him to opportunities at third base and DH. But perhaps he can carve out a bigger role with Spencer Steer continuing to struggle in the second half.

On the IL

• Willi Castro, MIN, 2B/3B/SS/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• J.P. Crawford, SEA, SS (concussion - rehab assignment)
• Zach Neto, LAA, SS (lower back inflammation - no timetable)
• Nick Gordon, MIN, 2B/SS/OF (fractured shin - no timetable)

Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Nolan Jones, COL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 8%) - He was a Best Choice last week and he'll stay one again, even if banking on Colorado hitters following a homestand can be dicey. But after posting a 10 APR so far in Week 21 and a 50 APR over the past two weeks, Jones is just running too hot to ignore, now slashing .283/.363/.504 in his first 67 games, with 12 HR and 8 SB.

Tommy Pham, ARI, OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 7%) - We told you last week Pham was fueled by pure hate, and whatever he's mad about now has him running a 15 APR over the past two weeks and an 11 APR so far in Week 21. He'll run out of rage-gas eventually but is always worth riding until he does.

Eddie Rosario, ATL, OF (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 8%) - Rosario might be getting long in the tooth but our guy steady can still get hot with the best of them - he has three home runs in his last five games and is slashing .405/.436/.757 over his last 10 games, with a .499 wOBA and 217 wRC+. Unfortunately, he doesn't much start vs LHP, likely limiting him to four starts in Week 22.

Sal Frelick, MIL, OF (Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 14%) - Frelick is out of the lineup on Sunday after tweaking his hamstring but will get another off day on Monday to try and get right in time for a series against the Twins. The rookie has posted a 65 APR over the past two weeks and is now slashing .250/.388/.421 over his first 98 PA, along with an impressive 18% BB% and 14% K% that should help the Brewers remain confident with continuing to bat him cleanup.

Next Choices

Stone Garrett, WSH, OF (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 3%) - Garrett has now started eight games in a row for the Nationals, hitting enough to force Washington to keep him there. He slashed .483/.500/.862 over those 34 PA, posting a 25 APR over the past two weeks and a 9 APR so far in Week 21. The tools have always been loud but it's a matter of whether they stay that way while he continues to be exposed to an everyday role.

Michael Conforto, SF, OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 9%) - Conforto is having himself a nice, lil' second half (though with no power), slashing .287/.379/.386, with a 10% BB% and 17% K%. But there is some tough pitching on San Francisco's docket in Week 22, with matchups in Philadelphia and at home against Atlanta.

Charlie Blackmon, COL, OF (Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 15%) - Blackmon has come back from the IL in form, collecting at least one hit in each game back and posting a 23 APR so far in Week 21. But also <insert standard "trusting Colorado hitters coming off of a homestand" disclaimer>.

Austin Hays, BAL, OF (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 25%) - Hays has a 33 APR so far in Week 21 but Baltimore will face three LHP in Week 22, against whom he's slashing just .250/.284/.417 over 116 PA, with a .298 wOBA.

Desperate Choices

Max Kepler, MIN, OF (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 7%) - With three of six games scheduled to come against LHP in Week 22, Kepler probably isn't the wisest stream this time around, even if he has run a top-90 APR over the past two weeks.

Andrew McCutchen, PIT, OF (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 16%) - At the end of the day (or week), McCutchen tends to provide enough points production to be worth playing if you're in a pinch at outfield. But having an old-man body that's keeping him mostly on a three games on/one game off type of schedule makes him tough to count on for any extended period of time.

Bryan De La Cruz, MIA, OF (Yahoo: 41%, ESPN: 17%) - My guy BDLC has had a brutal second half, slashing just .195/.237/.415, with a .275 wOBA and 72 wRC+. Unless your league runs super deep, you should probably find a better option until he snaps out of his funk.

Seth Brown, OAK, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 3%) - Brown doesn't start against LHP but at least he'll generally collect one or two at-bats in those games as a post-starter replacement. With some suspect pitching on tap for Week 22 (vs KC, @CHW), he's worth a crap shoot if you're in need.

On the IL

• Jarred Kelenic, SEA, OF (fractured foot - no timetable)
• Mitch Haniger, SF, OF (forearm surgery - rehab assignment)
• Alex Kirilloff, MIN, 1B/OF (sprained shoulder - no timetable)
• Willi Castro, MIN, 2B/3B/SS/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Brandon Marsh, PHI, OF (knee contusion - rehab assignment)
• Jesse Winker, MIL, OF (back spasms - rehab assignment)
• Austin Meadows, DET, OF (anxiety - no timetable)
• Mike Yastrzemski, SF, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Ryan Noda, OAK, 1B/OF (fractured jaw - rehab assigment)
• Dylan Carlson, STL, OF (strained oblique - 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)
• Victor Robles, WSH, OF (back spasms - no timetable)
• A.J. Pollock, SF, OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Aaron Hicks, BAL, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)

Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Mitch Garver, TEX, C (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 7%) - Jonah Heim is back from the IL but Garver's bat has stayed in the lineup. In the six games Heim has been back, he's started four games behind the plate, while Garver has started twice at catcher (both vs LHP) and three times at DH. With a 63 APR so far in Week 21 and a 62 APR over the past two weeks, Garver with nearly full-time at-bats remains a must-add if you're in need at the position

Next Choices

Gabriel Moreno, ARI, C (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 5%) - Moreno has returned from the IL firing, going 7-for-21 with two home runs and 7 RBI. He's still splitting time with Jose Herrera but is worth a flier to see if his hot streak continues.

Yanier Diaz, HOU, C (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 9%) -The story on Diaz remains the same; great production but with playing time that's hard to count on. Usable in daily leagues but tough to trust in weekly ones.

Desperate Choices

Logan O'Hoppe, LAA, C (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 7%) - O'Hoppe is finally back and did put up impressive numbers prior to his long IL stint but it's really hard to trust the power of someone coming off of major shoulder surgery.

On the IL

• Tom Murphy, SEA, C (sprained thumb - no timetable)

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