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

Week 3 Waiver Wire Watch List

Bill Dubiel's list of fantasy baseball free agents to watch in Week 3 of the 2019 season. These are players to monitor and could be potential pickups off the waiver wire in deeper leagues.

As important as it is to be active on the waiver wire, snagging that next hot bat or pitcher on a roll before anyone else can, let's be honest--there are only so many roster spots. That's why your watch list is just as important as your waiver wire activity, and perhaps even more so.

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.

This is not necessarily a list of players you should add right away - it is a list of people to keep a very close eye on in most leagues, 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 Leagues

Lance Lynn (SP, TEX) 

Lynn has had two excellent road outings in a row, throwing seven innings of two-run ball against the Angels last week before following it up with six innings of one-run, nine-strikeout ball against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday. I am cautiously optimistic with Lynn's start, considering that very few of his peripherals indicate massive regression is on the way. His K% is a shade above his career average, but that's buoyed by the nine-strikeout outing. His LOB% (64.4) and BABIP (.315) are actually lower than his career marks as well.

The reason he is a "watch" and not an "add" for me is the regression I foresee coming in the control area. So far Lynn has walked just three batters across 18.2 innings, good for a 3.8 BB%. His career mark is 9.1%--almost triple his current rate. I find it extremely hard to believe (although not impossible) that at age 31 he has magically fixed his control issues so that ERA should shoot up a bit as more runners get on base against him.

Lynn does have a rotation spot locked down in Texas though, and he's been a pretty durable player for almost his entire career, so as a back-of-the-rotation guy for your fantasy staff he is likely in "add now" territory for deeper leagues.

Jorge Lopez (SP, KC)

Lopez has been solid for the Royals in 2019, posting a 3.71 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 17 innings of work. However, there are plenty of red flags that keep Lopez on the Watch List. Firstly, that 3.71 ERA is backed by a ghastly 4.84 SIERA, as Lopez simply doesn't have swing-and-miss stuff to offset a lot of the damage hitters will do against him.

He has also been fortunate in his opponents, as the Tigers and White Sox are bottom-10 offenses. On top of all that, his BABIP is a ridiculous .229, meaning there has been plenty of luck factored into his production so far--a benefit of having one of baseball's best defenses behind you.

The Mariners actually are the highest-scoring offense in baseball through 15 games, so his five shutout innings and final line of six innings, three hits and two earned runs is actually fairly impressive. I fear some regression for the above reasons though, and I would not be surprised if Lopez is off this list within the next couple of weeks. For now, keep an eye on him and see if any of the peripherals balance out.

Jeff Samardzija (SP, SF)

Shark lost most of his 2018 season to injury, but before that, he was a workhorse. Five straight seasons of 200+ innings of work, and at least 160 Ks in each of them--and he cracked 200 Ks three times. It's pretty easy to peg Samardzija's long-term production at this point in his career; he'll have an ERA floating between 3.75-4.50, a K% between 17.0 and 24.0, and he'll go on a few dominant stretches along with some dreadful patches.

That doesn't mean there isn't value in that. Even the savviest waiver wire hound can't load their staff with aces, and Samardzija's predictability can be an asset if deployed correctly. He has always been better at home than on the road during his time in San Francisco, and there is no reason that should change now.

He's coming off an absolute gem against the Rockies (at home) in which he posted seven innings of shutout ball along with seven strikeouts and just three hits allowed. If he tosses another quality start next time out, I'd pull the trigger on him and ride the hot streak, but be careful about which matchups you deploy him in.

 

Batters to Watch in 12+ Team Leagues

Josh Phegley (C, OAK)

My kingdom for a backstop! In these catcher-starved times, any slight uptick in production is worth noticing, and Phegley's is no exception. He's never played more than 73 MLB games in a season, so he is NOT a permanent solution for anyone with catching woes. However, he has always shown pretty consistent fly ball prowess, and he's continuing to do so in 2019. He has three home runs in his last four games, and while he's hot it's likely that he'll hold on to the lion's share of at-bats in his platoon with Nick Hundley.

Both are probably losing their playing time once Chris Herrman is healthy, but for now, it's Phegley who should garner the most at-bats. As long as he's got the power stroke going, he's worth keeping an eye on.

Hunter Dozier (3B/1B, KC)

This disappointing former first-round draft pick finally got a chance to play in the big leagues last year, and he disappointed pretty severely. His plate discipline was the big thing, as his 28.1 K% and 6.2 BB% led to a miserable batting average and OBP with almost no slugging to back it up (.395). Through 10 games he's shown some slight improvement, with a K% under 18.0, and he's already smacked three homers in just 41 plate appearances. There is room for some cautious optimism due to his age, as it's very possible a 27-year-old can make some significant improvements as he gets accustomed to major league pitching.

If he plays at least 130-140 games this year, Dozier is a candidate for a 15/10 season. However, he likely won't see enough opportunities to reach those numbers if he continues to strike out at such an alarming rate. At this point, just watch Dozier's production with a very close eye on his plate discipline peripherals--if he can sustain some improvement there over the course of the first few weeks, be ready to pounce.

Freddy Galvis (SS, TOR)

Freddy Galvis is one of those guys who seems to always have a job somewhere, and always produces in some small way--enough to keep the job, basically. He's proven remarkably durable, playing in 150+ games in each of the last four seasons, and he's averaged 13 homers and 13 steals in that time frame. He is solid, yet unspectacular.

Surprisingly enough, he's started off the 2019 season with a stunning display of power, as he's already hit four homers and is slugging .744 through 13 games. That pace is, of course, unsustainable, but you're looking at a shortstop playing in a good hitter's park who is a candidate for a 15/15 season. If you add him and that's where the floor is, why not take a chance on him during a hot streak like this? I personally would be looking to add him anywhere that you have a need at MI, especially in roto leagues where those homers and steals out of the shortstop spot are helpful. For now, we'll watch him to see if he cools off, but don't be afraid to pull the trigger now.

 

Recapping The Waiver Wire Watch List

In the section, I will review the progress and current outlook of players that I wrote about in previous articles in this series.

 

Pitchers

Pablo Lopez (SP, MIA) - Still Watching: Two sub-par outings in a row have Lopez towards the bottom of the list. Too early to knock him off yet, but he's approaching the edge.

Eric Lauer (SP, SD) - Still Watching: Nine ER over his last two outings with 10 Ks in that time has my eyebrows raised, but I still think there is potential here.

Matt Harvey (SP, LAA) - Dropped: Shelled twice in a row, looking the old Matt Harvey. Bye bye, Dark Knight.

Lucas Giolito (SP, CWS) - Still Watching: Giolito's second start was very reminiscent of most of his 2018 outings--five ER, four BB, four K. Not what you want, but not dead to me yet.

Sandy Alcantara (SP, MIA) - Still Watching: Not unlike Giolito, Alcantara's control problems from last year showed up in his last outing, in which he walked five in four innings of work.

Spencer Turnbull (SP, DET) - Still Watching: Turnbull's lack of "stuff" showed up in his last outing when he got tagged for eight hits in four innings of work. Optimism and pessimism are balanced with Turnbull.

 

Batters

Trey Mancini (1B/OF, BAL) - Add Now: Mancini is carrying the Orioles by himself with a .375 OBP and an absurd .725 SLG so far. With his 1B/OF eligibility combo and a power streak, add Mancini now if he's available.

Kolten Wong (2B, STL) - Still Watching: Wong was red-hot for the first week of the season, but we cautioned against adding him for a reason. He's ice-cold now and actively hurting lineups with strikeouts.

Jorge Soler (OF, KC) - Still Watching: Soler is starting to heat up at the dish, and if you're dealing with injuries in the outfield you could do worse than him as a speculative add.

Joc Pederson (OF, LAD) - Dropped: Pederson's power surge is over for the time being, and consistently taking a seat when the Dodgers face lefties, it's hard to count on him for long-term value. Use him for deep roto leagues maybe, but certainly not for points.

Niko Goodrum (OF, DET) - Add Now: Goodrum's speed/power combo and his multi-positional eligibility make him a nice bench piece for any format, but understand the risks of him being in a terrible offense.

Dansby Swanson (SS, ATL) - Add Now: Swanson is still swinging a hot stick, so add him now and enjoy. However, we have seen this before only for him to fall off a cliff. If you add him, keep a close eye out for signs of a downturn, and be ready to cut bait.

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers




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

KaVontae Turpin

Arrested on Two Charges
Cole Ragans

to Begin Throwing on Monday
Theo Johnson

Prioritizing his Health this Offseason
Andrés Giménez

Andres Gimenez Hits 10-Day Injured List
Jermaine Burton

Continues to Show Growth
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
Austin Cindric

Remains an Overrated Road Racer
Brad Keselowski

Likely to Brush Past Chicago Street Course to Focus on Daytona
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek One of the Best Underdog Options After Strong Runs at Mexico City and Last Year
Cole Custer

Strong Mexico City Run and Xfinity Series Chicago Win Make Him a Solid DFS Option
Erik Jones

Likely Not Good Enough on Road Courses for DFS Consideration Despite Poor Qualifying Result
Noah Gragson

May Be Better Than Other Cheap DFS Options
Riley Herbst

Despite Decent Mexico City Run, Don't Expect Riley Herbst to Contend at Chicago
Cody Ware

Is a Road Course Veteran, but It's Rarely Helped Him in NASCAR
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Is The Heavy Favorite to Win at Chicago Street Course
Christopher Bell

Should Be Strong Despite Practice Struggles at Chicago Street Course
Cam Ward

"Not Expecting" to be handed Starting Job
Chase Claypool

Eager to Get Back on the Field
Wyatt Langford

Activated, Playing on Saturday
Jay Huff

on the Move to Indiana
Cam Whitmore

Wizards Acquire Cam Whitmore from the Rockets
LaJohntay Wester

Stands out on Special Teams
Clarke Schmidt

Likely to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nolan Arenado

Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Starting on Saturday
Corbin Carroll

Activated from 10-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Houston Rockets

Jock Landale Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner, Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
James Wood

Goes Yard in Five-Hit Night
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Los Angeles Lakers

Jaxson Hayes Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Max Muncy

Out at Least Six Weeks
Clarke Schmidt

Leaves Start with Forearm Tightness
Colson Montgomery

Promoted to the Major Leagues
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
Max Muncy

Goes on Injured List With Knee Bruise
Max Muncy

Out of Thursday's Lineup
James Wood

Joining Home Run Derby
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
Divine Deablo

Could be the Quarterback of the Defense
Isaiah Rodgers

a Likely Starter for the Vikings
Boston Celtics

Josh Minott Inks Deal With Celtics
Sandro Mamukelashvili

Heading to Toronto
Jared McCain

Not on 76ers Summer League Roster
Dylan Harper

Unavailable for California Classic
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Eric Gordon

Remaining with 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF