X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Top 5 Hitter Streamers & Waiver Wire Targets For Week 23

By SD Dirk from San Diego, USA (SD Padres Jedd Gyorko Uploaded by Muboshgu) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Kyle Braver analyzes the top 5 MLB hitter streamers and waiver wire targets for week 23 of fantasy baseball. These waiver wire pickups can be sleepers for your fantasy teams.

If you play in head-to-head leagues and are still reading these columns, chances are you made it into the fantasy baseball playoffs. Congratulations! This is the point that you've been working toward all season, but there's still plenty to be done. There are lineups to set, match-ups to win, and most relevantly for this column, holes to patch.

Given the high leverage importance of these final weeks of baseball, I'll be paying much stricter attention to giving some love to a variety of positions in my columns as we go forward. The rest of the rules however remain the same. All of these players are owned in less than 50% of leagues and each one is someone who I'm confident can make a difference for fantasy owners. Let's take a look:

 

1) Jedd Gyorko, San Diego Padres, 2B

2014 Stats: .198 BA, 24 Runs, 9 HR, 45 RBI, 2 SB

Ownership: 31.0% (ESPN)

Schedule: Diamondbacks, (at) Rockies

Games Scheduled: 7

By SD Dirk from San Diego, USA (SD Padres Jedd Gyorko Uploaded by Muboshgu) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsIf you've already taken a glance through the rest of this list, you'll notice that I have a lot of Padres on it. There's a good reason for that: their schedule. Both Arizona and Colorado are among the 5 worst teams in baseball by team-ERA allowed (4.38 and 4.95 respectively). That same stat is true for home-runs allowed, with Arizona having allowed the 5th most in baseball to this point in the season and Colorado having allowed the most. What's more, unlike with some poor pitching staffs, I don't see this changing significantly for either team even after the September call-ups

That's a nice situation for a power hitting 2nd baseman like Gyorko to walk into next week. Granted, Gyorko's overall stat line this year might make you wonder if he's capable of capitalizing on this opportunity, but given the fact that he's hit a much stronger .273/.345/.444 with 4 home runs in 99 at-bats since the All Star game, I'm perfectly comfortable including him on this list. Frankly, I'm expecting a big week from the Padres next week and I fully expect Gyorko to be a large part of this.

 

2) Yangervis Solarte, San Diego Padres, OF / 2B / 3B

2014 Stats: .260 BA, 45 Runs, 9 HR, 46 RBI, 0 SB

Ownership: 34.4% (ESPN)

Schedule: Diamondbacks, (at) Rockies

Games Scheduled: 7

Everything I said about Gyorko above applies equally to Solarte, even if he does have less power potential than the 2nd baseman. Solarte has hit .270/.362/.365 in the second half and has been batting consistently at the top of the Padres lineup since the team acquired him from the Yankees. Together that means maximum at-bats and run scored opportunities for Solarte next week against two incredibly poor pitching staffs. Furthermore, he lacks the large platoon splits that would allow an opposing manager to exploit him late in games (.725 OPS against RHP vs. .717 OPS against LHP this season). With his position flexibility, a huge benefit this late in the season, I think he's a great upside play for next week.

 

3) Jon Jay, St. Louis Cardinals, OF

2014 Stats: .312 BA, 43 Runs, 3 HR, 39 RBI, 6 SB

Ownership: 45.2% (ESPN)

Schedule: Pirates, (at) Brewers

Games Scheduled: 7

In a rather quiet sort of way, Jon Jay has been a fantastic fantasy option this August. The knock on him has always been that his value is very batting average dependent because he lacks any sort of impact power or stolen base potential. However, given his performance this August, in which he slashed an excellent .397/.494/.515 with two home runs in 71 at-bats, I'm very comfortable recommending Jay for next week.

He'll enjoy a full 7 game week against two very middle-of-the-road pitching staffs (the Pirates rank 17th in team ERA allowed this season with the Brewers just ahead of them at 16th). That's a nice situation for a useful outfielder in the middle of a hot streak.

 

4) Everth Cabrera, San Diego Padres, SS

2014 Stats: .232 BA, 36 Runs, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 18 SB

Ownership: 28.0% (ESPN)

Schedule: Diamondbacks, (at) Rockies

Games Scheduled: 7

And the Padres party bus continues with Everth Cabrera. Bud Black has stated that he expects his shortstop to rejoin the team this Monday, meaning a full week's worth of opportunities for Cabrera. For a player who relies mostly on on-base skills and speed to give his owners value, I see plenty of on base opportunities for Cabrera given the pitchers he'll be facing next week. There's risk with him of course, and I'd definitely monitor his health status on Monday if you pick him up, but in a free agent pool without a lot of SS talent, he's the first guy I'd turn to for help next week. Never underestimate what Coors Field can do.

 

5) Chase Headley, New York Yankees, 3B

2014 Stats: .235 BA, 40 Runs, 10 HR, 43 RBI, 6 SB

Ownership: 46.1% (ESPN)

Schedule: Red Sox, Royals

Games Scheduled: 6

Headley is another player blessed by schedule for next week. The Boston Red Sox have allowed an atrocious 4.20 team ERA this August, 8th worst in all of baseball. That ERA is a clear consequence of trading away 4/5 of their starting rotation before the trade deadline, and while the Red Sox have a lot of interesting young pitchers, I don't see anyone salvaging that staff this year. The Royals have a much better rotation granted (along with one of the best defenses of the last several decades by advanced metrics), but I'm confident that Headley gets enough done in that first series to make him a productive add at 3rd base next week if someone else in your league has already snatched up Solarte.

 




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

CBJ

Mikael Pyyhtia Re-Signs With Blue Jackets for One Year
UTA

Caleb Desnoyers Expected to Miss 12 Weeks After Wrist Procedure
Tyson Foerster

on Track to Be Healthy for Season Opener
NHL

Olivier Rodrigue Signs KHL Deal
NHL

Emil Bemstrom to Join Swiss Team
Payton Pritchard

Reportedly Moving Into Starting Lineup
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Expected to Return Friday
Michael King

Heading to 15-Day Injured List
Aaron Nola

to Return on Sunday
Quinshon Judkins

Won't Face Formal Charges
Sam LaPorta

To "Miss a Little Bit of Time"
Rashee Rice

Disciplinary Hearing Scheduled For Late September
Chris Godwin

Likely to Start the Season on PUP List?
Kevin Durant

Rockets Not Interested in Keeping Kevin Durant with Max Extension
Paul Goldschmidt

Could Land on the Injured List
NBA

Isaiah Mobley Joins Turkish Team
NBA

Cole Swider Links Up with EuroLeague Powerhouse
Ethan Thompson

Joins Heat for Training Camp
Los Angeles Clippers

Clippers Add Jason Preston for Training Camp
Stefon Diggs

Unsure About Availability for Week 1
Jakob Marsee

Homers Twice in Seven-RBI Night
Owen Caissie

Cubs Promoting Owen Caissie to Majors
Miguel Amaya

Going on 10-Day Injured List With Sprained Ankle
Max Muncy

Scratched With Side Soreness on Wednesday
Josh Hader

Will be Out Longer Than Two Weeks
Matt Chapman

Out in Series Finale With Hand Soreness
Justin Jefferson

Won't Practice This Week, Will be Re-Evaluated Next Week
Oneil Cruz

Placed on Seven-Day Concussion Injured List
Wyatt Langford

Out Wednesday With Forearm Tightness
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Sprained Ankle
Nolan McLean

to Make MLB Debut on Saturday
Akshay Bhatia

a High-Upside Play at BMW Championship
Robert MacIntyre

a Safe Play at BMW Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im a Risky Play at BMW Championship
Xander Schauffele

Chases Big Week at BMW Championship
Shane Lowry

Aims to Rebound at BMW Championship
Si Woo Kim

Looks to Build Momentum at BMW Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick

Looking to Rebound at BMW Championship
Patrick Cantlay

Eyeing Another BMW Championship Victory
Jac Caglianone

Tallies Four Hits in Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday
Jacob Misiorowski

Scheduled to Throw a Bullpen on Tuesday
Neemias Queta

Wants to Raise His Free-Throw Attempts
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Stuggling to Trade Anfernee Simons
James Cook

Bills Agree on Four-Year Extension
Cole Anthony

Focuses on Winning with Bucks
NBA

Jesse Edwards Moves to Australia
Kessler Edwards

Joins Nuggets
Brice Turang

Dealing With Pinky Injury
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Tuesday With Right-Foot Bruise
Oneil Cruz

Leaves Tuesday's Game with Apparent Head Injury
Bradley Beal

Feeling Rejuvenated in Los Angeles
Frankie Montas

Moves to Bullpen, Hopes for Reset in Relief Role
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Looking "Incredible"
PIT

Chad Ruhwedel Retires From NHL
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. to be Activated Soon
MIN

Jack Johnson Signs Tryout Deal with Wild
Ryker Evans

Kraken Extend Ryker Evans with Two-Year Deal
Rondale Moore

Out for the Season With Knee Injury
Christian Watson

Likely to Begin Season on PUP List
Jordan Love

Undergoes Procedure on Left Thumb
Bud Cauley

Needs a Big Result in Maryland
Harris English

Confident for BMW Championship
Jason Day

Faces Uphill Battle at BMW Championship
Cameron Young

Hot at the Right Time
J.J. Spaun

Rolls in After Near Miss in Memphis
Brian Harman

is a Longer Shot Heading to Maryland
Corey Conners

Appears Safe This Week in Maryland
Daniel Berger

Must Play Better at BMW Championship
Miami Heat

Kai Jones Works Out for Heat
Sacramento Kings

Russell Westbrook Likely to Join Kings
Golden State Warriors

Al Horford Expected to Sign with Warriors if He Doesn't Retire
Jonathan Kuminga

Reportedly Leaning Toward Accepting Golden State's Qualifying Offer
Cam Thomas

"Increasingly Interested" in Signing Qualifying Offer
Sepp Straka

Withdraws From BMW Championship
Maverick McNealy

Finishes Tied for 28th at FedEx St. Jude Championship
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Third at FedEx St. Jude Championship
Collin Morikawa

Finishes Tied For 22nd at FedEx St. Jude Championship
Rory McIlroy

Finishes Tied For Seventh at Open Championship
Brandon Aiyuk

Could Return in Week 6
Boston Celtics

Miles Norris Waived by Celtics
Javonte Green

Inks Deal With Pistons
Anthony Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak To Eight
Roman Dolidze

Submitted At UFC Vegas 109
Ode' Osbourne

Drops Decision At UFC Vegas 109
Steve Erceg

Gets Back In The Win Column
Angela Hill

Outclassed At UFC Vegas 109
Angela Hill

Iasmin Lucindo Dominates Angela Hill
Christian Rodriguez

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Andre Fili

Gets Back in the Win Column
Miles Johns

Drops Split Decision At UFC Vegas 109
Miles Johns

Jean Matsumoto Edges Out Miles Johns To Win Split Decision
Eryk Anders

Suffers First-Round TKO
Christian Leroy Duncan

Scores First-Round TKO Win
Alexander Mattison

Will Miss Entire Season With Neck Injury
Zayne Parekh

Has Sights Set on Making Flames Roster
Hampus Lindholm

Fully Healthy for New Season
NHL

Nathan Bastian Joins Stars on One-Year Contract
Christopher Bell

Good Pit Strategy Helps Elevate Christopher Bell to Second
William Byron

Extends Championship Lead with Fourth-Place Finish
Ryan Blaney

Despite Finishing Sixth, Watkins Glen Might've Been Ryan Blaney's Best Road Race
Alex Bowman

Loses Ground Above Playoff Cutline, but Still Pretty Safe
Kyle Larson

Finishes Last After Brake Failure and Spin
Chris Buescher

Scores Another Top-5 Run At Watkins Glen
Ryan Preece

Earns Stage Points, but Loses Ground to the Playoffs At Watkins Glen
William Byron

Keeps the Regular Season Points Lead After Watkins Glen
Chase Briscoe

Continues His Hot Streak With A Top-5 Finish At Watkins Glen
Chase Elliott

Top-20 Streak Ends at Watkins Glen After Pit Struggles
Josh Giddey

Bulls Still Apart In Contract Negotiations
Matthew Stafford

Will Return to Practice on Monday
Tyjae Spears

to Miss a Couple of Weeks
Rondale Moore

Expected to Miss Season
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen the Heavy Favorite to Win at Watkins Glen
Kyle Larson

Is Kyle Larson a Must-Play in DFS at Watkins Glen?
Chase Elliott

an Easy Pick to Make in DFS at Watkins Glen
Chris Buescher

Trying to Repeat at Watkins Glen
Tyler Reddick

Struggling to Find Speed at Watkins Glen
Michael McDowell

a Legitimate Threat at Watkins Glen
Joey Logano

Has Been Solid at Watkins Glen in Next Gen Car
Todd Gilliland

Has Upside at Watkins Glen
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

. has Favorable Watkins Glen Record
Justin Haley

Fastest in Practice at Watkins Glen
Riley Herbst

Could Be A Sneaky DFS Play
Tyjae Spears

Picks Up High-Ankle Sprain in Loss
Jayden Reed

Wearing Walking Boot
Tyjae Spears

Carted Off on Saturday
Rachaad White

Won't Return on Saturday
James Cook

Not Willing to Play During Contract Dispute
Anthony Richardson Sr.

Plans to Practice Saturday

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP