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The Waiver Wire Watch List: Week 22

Throughout the season, you want to get the jump on your competition and sniff out the breakout players before they break out. That's what this list is all about--using some in-depth research and advanced analytics to find the players who aren't quite there yet but are on their way. Some of these may suit your needs for an immediate pick-up depending on your team's situation.

This is not necessarily a list of players you should add right away at the start of Week 22 - it is a list of players to keep a very close eye on in most leagues as we get further into the home stretch, and to consider picking up in deeper formats. In some cases, we will even caution you not to pick up a widely-added player, and steer you away from the fool's gold.

Use it to build your own watch list.

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

 

Pitchers to Watch in 12+ Team League

Adrian Houser (SP/RP, MIL)

Adrian Houser is beginning to rise from the ranks of fantasy obscurity thanks to a successful August. Since July 30th, Houser has tossed 28.1 innings across five starts with a 2.54 ERA, a very nice 31:7 strikeout to walk ratio and just three homers allowed. That brings him to an above-average 24.7 strikeout percentage with his time split between the bullpen and the rotation. His 3.53 SIERA is nearly a full run higher, but that's not super drastic.

Houser could be a long-term part of the Brewers future plans, and while I don't necessarily believe he can maintain his current level of performance, he's shown enough for me to believe he's a legitimate back-end fantasy starter for the last month of the season.

Drew VerHagen (SP/RP, DET)

VerHagen has had a terrific August, not unlike Houser. Across four starts, he's pitched to a 2.57 ERA in 21 innings, with a remarkable 21:2 strikeout to walk ratio. Those numbers include his most recent start against the Twins, in which he set a career high in strikeouts (11) and notched his first career quality start.

It's not like the Tigers have a laundry list of top-end starters holding VerHagen out of the rotation. He's pitched well enough to earn some good will in the immediate, and with the Tigers long since out of the playoff picture I wouldn't be surprised if they let him loose for the rest of the season. He's likely due for a bit of regression, but he could be useful in spot starts as a back-end piece.

Batters to Watch in 12+ Team Leagues

Kevin Pillar (OF, SF)

Pillar has had a shockingly excellent August, notching 16 runs and 13 RBI along with six home runs. Pillar has already set a career-high in home runs (19) hitting in San Francisco, if you were looking for any more evidence that the balls are juiced this year. Regardless of how it's happening, Pillar has been quietly productive in the counting stats despite a career-worst walk rate that's dragging his OBP down.

The power surge is nice, and when you add in his run-scoring ability and middling speed, Pillar has some the potential to make an impact down the stretch. At the very least he could act as a crutch for your lineup should an injury strike.

Eric Thames (1B/OF, MIL)

With Jesus Aguilar departed for Tampa Bay, Eric Thames has seen a surge in playing time. He's used that time to his advantage, slashing .286/.344/.518 in August. Thames hits in the middle of the potent Brewers lineup, and he's all of a sudden producing runs for them in the home stretch.

He's up to 18 homers and 50 RBI, and if he continues to get regular playing time (which, again, he should) Thames could be an excellent plug-and-play piece for September, especially given his multi-positional eligibility.

Tom Murphy (C, SEA)

Murphy isn't playing regularly, but when he does play he's making a difference. He has a whopping six homers in his last four games, along with 10 RBI and six runs scored. Catcher is an absolute nightmare this time of year, so any sort of fantasy potential is something to take notice of.

Murphy will never be a top-end catcher given how poor his contact rate typically is, but power from a catcher is worthwhile. Murphy makes for a decent back-up or spot-start catcher if you don't have one of those top-end catchers.

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Aaron Jones Sr.

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Cole Ragans

to Return on Wednesday
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Records Long Touchdown in Week 2, Still Limited to Downfield Role?
George Kirby

Strikes Out 14 in Win
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Considered "Day-to-Day" with Knee Injury
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Tops 200 Yards From Scrimmage in Week 2 Win
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Headlines Rams Receiving Corps Sunday
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Quentin Grimes

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Throws for Four Touchdowns in Week 2 Win
James Cook

Scores Two Touchdowns in Rout of Jets
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
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Scores Twice in Loss
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Snags 14 Receptions, Finds End Zone in Week 2
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Throws for 450 Yards, Three Touchdowns in Loss
Jared Goff

Throws Five Touchdowns
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Scores Three Touchdowns
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Suffers Turf Toe and Torn Ligaments in Win
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Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
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Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
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Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
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John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
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Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
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Records Career-High 13 Strikeouts
Max Muncy

Exits Early on Saturday
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Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Salvador Perez

Reaches 300 Home Runs, 1,000 RBI
Jose Altuve

Exits Early With Foot Discomfort
Trey Yesavage

Heading to Big Leagues
Will Smith

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
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Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
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Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
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Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
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Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

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Corey Perry

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Fans 10 in Two-Hit Shutout
Zach Neto

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Masyn Winn

Shut Down for Rest of Season
Tarik Skubal

to Undergo Imaging on Saturday
Tyler Soderstrom

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Exits with Side Tightness
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Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
Ketel Marte

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Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
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Kyle Tucker

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Jack Eichel

Unbothered by Lack of Extension
Sidney Crosby

Not Thinking About Leaving Pittsburgh
SJ

Michael Misa Signs Entry-Level Contract With Sharks
Rutger McGroarty

Nursing an Injury
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on Knicks' Radar
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