RADIO
We'll be doing this roundup of points leagues every week here at RotoBaller, with waiver wire targets and streaming pitchers 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 with all of the best streams for the week.
These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of July 4 – July 10, looking at players below ~50% rostered for ESPN, Yahoo!, or Fantrax. Rankings are calculated using games through Saturday, July 2.
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Know Your Scoring System
You know what I'm going to say, right? You must account for, as precisely as possible, how a player performs under your particular scoring system. Don't be fooled into believing you can just make rough adjustments in your head, bumping up guys with high on-base percentages and low strikeout rates. Every point, in every category, counts.
For example, ESPN and Fantrax are virtually identical in their scoring for hitters and roster size. The only difference is that stolen bases are worth one more point on Fantrax and ESPN subtracts one point per strikeout. That's the difference between Trea Turner being a top-five hitter versus a top-25 hitter.
If your league uses standard settings, then great! Turn to page 94 and you can skip ahead to the leaderboards. If you play with custom settings, it'll still be fine. Go back to page 43 and look below at the scoring systems of the four major platforms. I bet there's a chance that you'll find that your league's scoring is very similar to one of the four (well, not Yahoo!'s), even if it's not the platform you actually play on.
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, i.e. If everything is the same except for HBP (or something similar), you're probably fine.
Week 13: Waiver Wire Leaderboards
All charts are up before or before Thursday's games, on stats and ownerships, and clicking on a chart will open a new page with a magnified version. Players on overall leaderboards are ordered according to their current Roster% on Yahoo.
*APR = Average Platform Ranking - the average platform ranking between ESPN, CBS, Yahoo, and Fantrax (standard point settings)
The 21-Day Leaderboard, Presented by Hansel
Overall Leaderboards
Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire - Best Choices
Ross Stripling, TOR (@ SEA, vs TB) - Stripling is one of the best streamers available this week, first going to Seattle to face a Mariners team that has only been middle-of-the-pack (at best) vs RHP in 2022. Good right-handers can make a lot of hay against a Tampa Bay team that has consistently put up bottom-three numbers vs RHP, both in terms of total offense and strikeouts. Since rejoining the rotation, Stripling has a 1.75 ERA over five starts and 25.2 IP.
Dean Kremer, BAL (vs TEX, vs LAA) - I don't know when the Dean Kremer experience will end but after his third-straight scoreless start, we should probably hop on the train until it starts slowing down. Kremer is set up for two more great starts in Week 13, as the Rangers are 26th in wOBA vs RHP and have posted a bottom-four K% against them since the start of May. The Angels have Trout and Ohtani but have a bottom-five offense vs RHP since the start of June and have posted the league's worst K% against them for every month.
Tyler Wells, BAL (vs LAA) - After locking up Seattle for five innings and 1 ER, that makes three starts of allowing 1 ER, or fewer, for Wells. He has a 1.13 ERA over the past three weeks and faces an Angels team that is bottom-five in wOBA vs RHP and 30th in K%.
Alex Cobb, SF (@ ARI) - He's still not getting very deep but we're finally starting to see the good version of Cobb, who has posted a 1.86 ERA over four starts since allowing a total of 13 ER in back-to-back disasters against the Mets and in Colorado. Cobb hasn't allowed an earned run in his past two starts and faces a Diamondbacks offense that has been bottom-five vs RHP since the start of June.
David Peterson, NYM (vs MIA) - One more great start and Peterson won't qualify for this article anymore, as the Mets lefty allowed 3 ER in six innings in a win over the Rangers but struck out 10. Over his last three starts, Peterson has picked up two wins while running a 2.45 ERA and 12.3 K/9. He's currently facing a juicy matchup with a Marlins team that has one of baseball's worst offenses vs LHP, with a matching K% that is worst in baseball. The only bugaboo is that Peterson just hit the paternity list on Friday, so keep an eye on his availability. He's not scheduled until Thursday, so I'd bet on optimism.
Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire - Next Choices
Yusei Kikuchi, TOR (@ OAK, @ SEA) - Prior to his last start on June 30 vs Tampa Bay (6 IP - 1 ER - 8 K), Kikuchi was in the middle of a disastrous June (5 GS - 15.1 IP - 9.39 ERA). He'll get a chance to build off his recent success, taking on a Seattle team that struggles against LHP (21st in wOBA, 24th since the start of June) and an Oakland team that struggles against, well, pretty much anyone. The A's have the 28th-worst wOBA and 27th-worst xwOBA vs LHP.
Dane Dunning, TEX (@ BAL, vs MIN) - Dunning kept the train rolling in his last start and I'm happy to run him out against a Baltimore offense that has run a bottom-10 offense all season vs RHP and has the 3rd-highest K% against them since the start of June. Facing Minnesota at home is a big avoid for me, as the Twins have posted top-five numbers vs RHP all season long.
Hunter Greene, CIN (vs NYM, vs TB) - Greene has struggled lately but also hasn't been helped by a really tough schedule. On paper, it might look like that trend continues in Week 13 but the Mets have been a far different offense vs RHP since June than they were before. New York is seventh in wOBA vs RHP for the season but is only 24th since the start of June, with an xwOBA that has dropped from 13th to 22nd. The Rays have struggled all season vs RHP – they're 27th in wOBA, 28th in xwOBA, and 28th in K% for the season, and 28th, 30th, and 29th since the start of June. Greene might not go more than five innings but double-digit strikeouts are realistically on the table.
Kyle Freeland, COL (@ LAD, @ ARI) - If there's ever a time to stream Kyle Freeland, it's when he has two starts on the road but I'd be real careful. The Dodgers are worse vs. LHP than they are vs. RHP but are still 11th in wOBA and 8th in xwOBA. Although, the strikeouts vs. lefties have risen dramatically in the summer, with the Dodgers owning the 29th-highest K% since the start of June. While Arizona has put up bottom-five numbers vs LHP for the season, they've treated them much harsher in June, with the Diamondbacks running the 19th-highest wOBA (up from 26th for the season) and 15th in K% (down from 24th).
Dylan Bundy, MIN (@ CHW, @ TEX) - Feel like dancing with the devil? In eight of his 13 starts, Dr. Bundy has a 1.26 ERA over 43 IP, with a 0.88 WHIP, and .02 HR/9. In his other five starts, Mr. Bundy has an 11.45 ERA over 22 IP, with a 2.09 WHIP, and 3.7 HR/9.
Chris Archer, MIN (@ CHW) - He only goes 4-5 IP, so unlikely win bonuses will continue to keep Archer's ceiling low. That's actually a good thing because we should all know what usually happens when teams allow Archer to see an order too many times. He's being deployed effectively by the Twins and has rewarded their faith – Archer has a 3.08 ERA for the season and a 1.59 ERA over the past three weeks.
Chad Kuhl, COL (@ ARI) - Kuhl on the road against a subpar Arizona offense is certainly playable, especially considering the Diamondbacks' dip in performance vs RHP since the start of June (27th in wOBA, 26th in xwOBA).
Daniel Castano, MIA (@ NYM) - Castano has a 2.86 ERA over four starts since moving to the rotation but that's only marred by a start against Colorado when he allowed 4 ER in 3.1 IP. In his other three starts, Castano has only allowed a total of 3 ER over 18.2 IP, striking out ten. Counting on win bonus is always dicey for Marlins pitchers but the Mets are 18th in wOBA and 21st in xwOBA vs LHP, Castano could again be a solid stream in Week 13.
Mitch White, LAD (vs COL, vs CHC) - White has been solid since moving the LA's rotation, posting a 3.60 ERA over six starts and 25 IP. Five innings is about his current max but two decent matchups could help make up the difference. The Cubs have been much better vs RHP since the start of June, with the fifth-highest wOBA but the Rockies continue to flounder on the road, posting the 4th-lowest wOBA and xwOBA since the start of May.
Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire - Desperate Choices
George Kirby, SEA (vs TOR) - From last week's cover boy to this week's desperation. After getting worked by Baltimore in his first start of the week (7 ER on 4 HR, 2 K), Kirby bounced back for a dominant seven innings no-decision against the Athletics (7 IP - 1 ER - 9 K). A start against the Blue Jays is not a recipe for keeping up the success – Toronto is second in wOBA and 4th in xwOBA vs RHP for the season but is 1st and 3rd, respectively, since the start of June.
Aaron Civale, CLE (@ KC) - Starts against the Royals are usually a good idea (vs RHP: 24th in wOBA, 25th in xwOBA, 11th in K%) but I haven't trusted Civale (and what I consider degraded stuff) all season and will continue to do so. In three starts since returning from the IL, Civale has a 5.40 ERA over 15 IP.
Aaron Ashby, MIL (vs PIT) - Normally, a stream like this against the Pirates would be a lock-and-load situation, but Ashby has been atrocious in his last four starts (18.2 IP - 8.68 ERA - 2.4 HR/9) and just finished getting lit up by this same Pittsburg offense (3.2 IP - 4 ER - 2 HR). I'm sure his recent troubles have nothing to do with the forearm discomfort that he was dealing with a few weeks back. Nope, nothing to see here. Nothing to see at all.
Patrick Corbin, WSH (vs MIA, @ ATL) - Corbin turned back the clock in his last start, absolutely crushing the Pirates over 8 IP, allowing just one run and striking out a dozen. He'll have a shot to keep the nostalgia trip going against the Marlins (vs LHP: 29th in wOBA, 28th in xwOBA, 30th in K%) but running him out against Atlanta (4th in wOBA, 5th in xwOBA) is to beg for trouble.
Braxton Garrett, MIA (@ WSH, @ NYM) - This is certainly a high-risk maneuver but Garrett's garish 5.24 ERA has a 3.57 FIP behind it and the lefty could get craftier as his velocity ticks up. Washington has been bottom-10 offense vs LHP and the Mets have swooned to the same range since the start of June.
Johnny Cueto, CHW (vs MIN, vs DET) - If you're looking for about a 4.50 ERA over 10 IP this week, old reliable has your back. If you can avoid Minnesota (vs RHP: 4th in wOBA, 5th in xwOBA), I would but a start against the Tigers is almost always a go.
Devin Smeltzer, MIN (vs TEX) - Smeltzer was anything but a desperate choice in his last time out, dominating a bad Cleveland team on the road, allowing 1 ER over 6 IP, and striking out nine batters. He'll face off this week against a Texas offense that has been a top-10 offense vs LHP for most of the season but does have the third-highest K% against them since the start of June.
Madison Bumgarner, ARI (vs SF, vs COL) - The sometimes crafty lefty has a better matchup against his former team, as the Giants are a bottom-half offense vs LHP for the season but have been bottom-five since the start of June. Be careful with a Rockies team that is much better vs. LHP than against RHP – Colorado is 1st in wOBA vs LHP with the 6th-lowest K%.
Brady Singer, KC (vs CLE) - Nothing flashy but Singer has at least been serviceable since last getting blown up by Houston at the start of June (5 IP - 7 ER - 4 K). In his four starts since, Singer has posted a 4.56 ERA (flashy, right?) and is set to take on a Cleveland offense this week that is 23rd in wOBA vs RHP. Don't forget just how stingy they are with strikeouts, posting baseball's lowest K% during every month this season.
Jose Quintana, PIT (@ MIL) - Quintana keeps tricking fools, recording his second quality start in a row, though he again failed to pick up a win because, you know, the Pirates? Milwaukee is an above-average offense vs LHP but got smoked by Quintana on April 28, scoring just one run over 9 IP and striking out nine times.
Keegan Thompson, CHC (vs MIL) - I've loved recommending Thompson all year but he's coming off of allowing 4 ER in 6.1 IP vs Cincinnati and is set for a horrible matchup against the Dodgers in Week 13. Los Angeles is 1st in wOBA and 4th in xwOBA vs RHP this season, with the 2nd-highest walk rate.
Jake Odorizzi, HOU (vs KC) - Odorizzi gets a soft matchup with Royals (vs RHP: 24th in wOBA, 16th in xwOBA) in his return from the IL (leg discomfort) but I'm not going to chance a low-ceiling pitcher in his first start back.
Zack Greinke, KC (@ HOU, vs CLE) - You don't want any piece of Greinke's homecoming in Houston, as the Astros are top-five in wOBA, xwOBA, K%, and BB% vs RHP. That goes double for starters that pump 88 mph fastballs, but a start against the Guardians is certainly playable, as Cleveland is 15th in wOBA vs RHP since the start of June but is only 28th in xwOBA.
Mitch Keller, PIT (vs NYY, @ MIL) - Surely, you're not feeling this lucky, are you? Milwaukee is the "easier" matchup, with the 4th-highest wOBA vs RHP for the season but only the 10th best since the start of June. The Yankees are the Yankees– they have the highest xOBA and BB% vs RHP, with the 3rd-highest wOBA.
Mike Minor, CIN (vs PIT) - Having one decent start against Atlanta (6 IP - 2 ER - 3 K) does not a good stream make but getting to face Pittsburgh often will. The Pirates are 26th in wOBA and xwOBA vs LHP, with the 2nd-highest K%.
Michael Pineda, DET (vs CLE) - Super low ceiling but I guess the desperate can roll out Pineda against a Cleveland offense that is 28th in wOBA vs. RHP since the start of June. They've also been 1st in K% all season don't expect Pineda to get you more than his usual 1-2 strikeouts. Like I said, super low ceiling.
Jordan Lyles/Spenser Watkins, BAL (vs LAA) - Neither are very special but see also: Wells, Tyler. Just don't get lit up by Ohtani/Trout and you should be fine.
Relief Pitchers Waiver Wire
Unless you're in a very deep league and/or have a lot of dedicated RP-only slots, most of the relievers you're going to want are the ones who are closers, have a chance to close, or are elite setup guys. I do mean elite because most scoring structures are weighted in a way that relievers almost necessarily have to get saves to be valuable. Although, long relievers whose usage you can reliably predict, can be useful in leagues with daily moves. For a majority of leagues, sticking to closers is the way to go.
With that in mind, here are the best relievers on the wire for Week 13, ordered by Yahoo roster%:
Closers (and co-Closers) on the Wire
Will Smith, ATL - Smith should be a priority pickup if he's still available, as he's ascended to Atlanta's closer role with Kenley Jansen hitting the IL with the same irregular heartbeat issue that has cost him time in the past.
Tanner Scott, MIA - Scott shouldn't be on the waiver wire, but if he is, you should correct the mistake. If you don't trust me, why not ask his 28 APR for the year and 7 APR over the past two weeks.
Hunter Strickland, CIN - With Alexis Diaz and Tony Santillan both on the IL, Strickland seems to have earned the Cincinnati closer job via attrition. He converted his only opportunity this week.
Lou Trivino/A.J. Puk, OAK - Puk blew two save chances this week, while Trevino converted his one opportunity on Friday. The best bet is that Trivino holds the job in an attempt to build up his trade value.
Seranthony Dominguez/Brad Hand, PHI - Dominguez grabbed a hold on Friday and a loss on Saturday, while Hand converted his one save opportunity on Friday.
Jason Adam/Colin Poche, TB - I guess they're co-closers? Regardless, avoid Tampa Bay's bullpen.
Random Save Chances O' the Week
Dylan Lee, ATL - Blew a save on Tuesday
Eli Morgan, CLE - Blew a save on Tuesday.
Joel Payamps, KC - Blew a save on Saturday.
Emilio Pagan, MIN - Blew a save on Tuesday.
Yerry De Los Santos, PIT - With David Bednar briefly injured, De Los Santos picked up two saves on Wednesday and Thursday.
Chris Stratton, PIT - Stratton got the first crack in the wake of Bednar's injury, promptly blowing his save opportunity on Monday.
Junior Fernandez, STL - Blew a save on Saturday.
Matt Wisler, TB - Blew a save on Tuesday.
Adam Cimber, TOR - Picked up a save on Thursday
Kyle Finnegan, WSH - Picked up a save on Monday and blew one on Wednesday but Tanner Rainey is still the guy in Washington.
More Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Advice
