Everything you need to find this week’s fantasy baseball waiver wire top pickups is right here on Fantasy Alarm.
As we get ready to embark upon MLB Week 13, we need to do a little Week 12 housekeeping and that means deal with yet another rash of MLB injuries. The Atlanta Braves just put Michael Harris on the 10-day IL, Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez is battling knee discomfort, Kyle Bradish of the Baltimore Orioles is dealing with elbow issues again and apparently Oneil Cruz is day-to-day with an ankle injury. Keeping up with the latest MLB News can be a full-time job sometimes. But the real question is -- is there replacement value available on the fantasy baseball waiver wire? We’ll see about that.
As always, before we dive into this week’s picks, allow me to remind you to go back to last week’s column and see if any of those suggested players are still available. We see players slip through the cracks each week, so always look to see who is left to help you maximize your at-bats and innings pitched.
**Please keep in mind, these FAAB bids are a guideline, not the gospel. You should be keeping track of how everyone in your league is bidding, so you understand that if you really need the player, you should raise your bid accordingly.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Catchers
Freddie Fermin, Kansas City Royals
With incumbent Royals catcher Salvador Perez dealing with knee discomfort, you can expect to see Fermin behind the plate a little more often. Nothing is indicating Perez will hit the 10-day IL just yet, but knowing there’s an injury history here, the team will likely err on the side of caution and use him as a DH a little more often. Fermin saw 17 at-bats this past week (not counting Saturday or Sunday) and posted a .294 average with one home run and a couple of RBI. Overall production is mid-level at best, but what else do you have behind the plate right now? FAAB: 6-8%
Garrett Stubbs, Philadelphia Phillies
He’s actually in more of a lefty/righty split with Rafael Marchan, but Stubbs has the veteran experience and hits from the left side. With J.Y. Realmuto out for an extended absence, this is definitely a situation to watch. The lean is to get Stubbs right now. He won’t cost much. But if you start to see Marchan grabbing extra at-bats here and there, you may need to make the switch. FAAB: 2-3%
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: First Basem*n
Andrew Vaughn, Chicago White Sox
After a horrendous start t the season, it would appear as if Vaughn’s bat has finally awakened. He went on a recent eight-game hit streak and has hit safely now in nine of his last 11 games with six multi-hit performances, two doubles, four home runs, six RBI and 10 runs scored. Decent first basem*n/corner infielders have been tough to come by on the waiver wire, so if you’ve been looking for help, he just might be able to provide you with some. FAAB: 6-8%
Spencer Horwitz, Toronto Blue Jays
Horwitz still needs a couple of games at second base to grab that eligibility, so for now, he’s only available as a first baseman. He’s been playing regularly since being called up on June 7 and is batting .368 with one double, two RBI and two runs scored over the six games he’s played. He will likely sit against some of the tougher lefties, but for now, it appears as if he’s pushed Davis Schneider into more of a bench role again. FAAB: 5-7%
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Second Basem*n
Enmanuel Valdez, Boston Red Sox
With Vaughn Grissom not due back from the 10-day IL until next week, Valdez should continue to see the work at the keystone. He will continue to share time with Jamie Westbrook, but Valdez has a slick glove and is starting to see the ball well again. He had a five-game hit streak rolling, got quiet for a day or to and has now hit safely in his last three with four doubles and four RBI. It’s not mind-numbing production, but it helps when the waiver wire is picked clean the way it is. FAAB: 3-5%
Adael Amador, Colorado Rockies
The Rockies bypassed a promotion to Triple-A, called up the 21-year-old shortstop prospect to handle the work at second base while Brendan Rodgers is sidelined with a hamstring issue and should use him as the primary until later next week when Rodgers is expected back. There’s not a lot of power, but, obviously, Coors Field will help. He does have nice speed and already had 22 stolen bases at Double-A. If you need a quick boost for some potential speed, he’s worthy of a look for middle infield help. FAAB: 3-5%
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Third Basem*n
Gio Urshela, Detroit Tigers
He’s still available, still playing regularly and still hitting the ball real well. In fact, this past week, he’s seen 22 at-bats and is batting .409 with one double, five RBI and two runs scored. If you’re dealing with injuries and could use a little batting average/OBP help, Urshela is owned in fewer than 10-percent of leagues across all major fantasy platforms. FAAB: 3-5%
Noelvi Marte, Cincinnati Reds
This is just your weekly reminder that Marte is now two weeks away from being reinstated from his 80-game suspension. He’s hitting the ball well in Triple-A while awaiting his promotion and you’re going to want to grab him now before the rest of your league wakes up. Seriously. Get him now. FAAB: 15-20%
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Shortstops
Paul DeJong, Chicago White Sox
It ain’t pretty, but it’s cheap power. DeJong is rostered in less than five-percent of leagues on ESPN and Yahoo because no one wants to touch any White Sox. That’s fine, but just over this past week, you’ve missed out on a .296 average with three home runs, five RBI and four runs scored over 27 at-bats. FAAB: 6-8%
Geraldo Perdomo, Arizona Diamondbacks
He’s more well-known for his glove than his bat, but now that he’s healthy, Perdomo is getting the majority of work at shortstop for the Diamondbacks. My boy, Blaze Alexander, is a dream that once was. Perdomo doesn’t have much power or speed, but he can be streaky and offer you a little batting average help during the good times. He’s batting /364 over his last 11 at-bats and should start seeing some extra playing time. FAAB: 2-4%
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Outfielders
OK, this is where it gets a little ugly, so scour your waiver wire for some forgotten players. The following guys are for those in deeper leagues or are so incredibly desperate, any warm body will do:
Mickey Moniak, Los Angeles Angels
He’s seeing pretty close to regular at-bats but sits in favor of Kevin Pillar when the Angels are facing a lefty. Still, Moniak saw 19 at-bats this past week (again, not counting Saturday or Sunday) and batted .421 with two doubles, five RBI three runs scored and two stolen bases. If you’re in need of help and need someone to accrie at-bats and give you something, here you go. FAAB: 3-5%
Ramon Laureano, Atlanta Braves
With Michael Harris landing on the IL, the Braves brought Laureano up from Triple-A Gwinnett where he was batting .362 with three home runs, 12 RBI and 13 runs scored. Now, yes, those numbers are fantastic, but Laureano has been one of those Quad-A players who is too good for the minors byt not good enough to succeed at the big-league level. There was a time when maybe he could have been something, but these past few years have been terrible for him. The Braves don’t have a world of options right now so he’s going to get some at-bats. If he can be even just a little productive, then maybe he helps. I wouldn’t spend up for him despite the name recognition, but desperate times call for desperate measures. FAAB: 3-5%
Jacob Hurtubise, Cincinnati Reds
This is a super-deep dive, but with Nick Martini, once again, landing back in Triple-A, the Reds are going to give Hurtubise a look. He doesn’t have much in the way of power, but was stealing bases well in the lower levels of the minors and then posted 45 steals last year between Double and Triple-A. Keep the expectations low, but maybe we get a little speed help here. FAAB: 1-3%
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Starting Pitchers
Matt Waldron, San Diego Padres
I am shocked to see Waldron owned in less than 50-percent of leagues across Yahoo and ESPN, so if he’s available in your league, go and get him. The knuckleballer hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any of his last seven starts, he’s thrown at least six innings in each of his last four and he’s posted a 41:10 K:BB over his last 42.1 innings. He’s got the Phillies and the Nationals coming up, two starts he should find some success in, so grab him while you can. FAAB: 8-10%
Drew Thorpe, Chicago White Sox
The 23-year-old righthander was called up last week and limited the Mariners to two runs (one earned) over five innings with four strikeouts. He’s actually getting the start n Sunday against the Diamondbacks so you will be able to see how he performs and base your bid on that. He’s posted some nice strikeout numbers in the lower levels of the minors, but still has some work to do in maintaining that. He posted just under a strikeout per inning at Double-A this season and faces a team that struggles against righties and strikes out just over 21-percent of the time against them. Should he pitch well and get another start, he’ll take on the Tigers, so it’s worth it. FAAB: 6-8%
Jose Soriano, Los Angeles Angels
I actually had him in last week’s waiver column and yet he is still wildly under-owned in most leagues. Soriano throws some serious heat, can strike out some guys and still owns a 60-percent ground ball rate. Even if you’re just streaming, he’s going to be worth the add, especially with starts against Oakland and Detroit coming up. FAAB: 6-8%
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Closers/Relief Pitchers
After giving you Colorado closer Tyler Kinley last week, we’re kind of tapped out on available closers. Even the relievers are just meh. My suggestion, as always, is to check out the Fantasy Baseball Closer Report and the Closer Grid to find potential names to add.
