Just a little housekeeping at the top here, as Waiver Wired will look a little different beginning next week. We’ll still have the usual streaming options, but I’ll use more of a list form for position player targets based on categories. I’ll still limit the names to those who are rostered below 50 percent of Yahoo leagues, but I’m just not going to waste time on lengthy explanations so you can just grab and go as needed. Sound good?
I wish I could include Jesus Luzardo in this week’s column, as he looked electric in his major league debut against the Astros on Wednesday, but I really don’t know what to do with him in fantasy leagues. Can he really carve out value in a middle relief role? I’m guessing not. He’ll be worth a matchup play if he makes a start, but who knows how far the A’s would even push him. If anything, it’s a reminder why Luzardo was such a hot name in early fantasy drafts this spring. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that 2020 is more kind to him.
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Note: Make sure to click through to page two to see streaming recommendations for mixed leagues.
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MIXED LEAGUES
(Players rostered in under 50 percent of Yahoo leagues)
Note: Percentages are from the morning of Thursday, September 12th
Trent Grisham OF, Brewers (Yahoo: 7 percent rostered)
Look, if you lost Christian Yelich this week, I’m sorry. I can sympathize with your pain. There’s really no replacing him, so it would be silly to act like that’s somehow possible, but anything can happen in the space of two and a half weeks. Hot streaks happen, even from unlikely sources. Here’s hoping you land on the perfect waiver wire pickup. Grisham might not be that guy, but the path should be clear to at-bats in the Brewers’ outfield the rest of the way. The 22-year-old went yard on Wednesday against the Marlins and is now batting .260/.319/.471 with five homers and 14 RBI through his first 34 games in the majors. So far he’s backing up this year’s power spike from the minors. While his strikeouts are up, he’s still showing plenty of patience, which explains why the Brewers are trusting him out of the leadoff spot. It’s still a great situation there in Milwaukee, even with a weakened cast.
Asdrubal Cabrera 2B/3B/SS, Nationals (Yahoo: 33 percent rostered)
Cabrera posted some middling numbers with the Rangers prior to being released in August, but he’s been reinvigorated with the Wild Card-leading Nationals, batting .342/.418/.595 with 12 extra-base hits (including four homers), 27 RBI, and 14 runs scored through just 23 games. He nearly has as many walks (11) as he does strikeouts (12) through 91 plate appearances in his return to Washington. In addition to pushing Brian Dozier aside at second base, he’s seen a lot of time out of the No. 5 spot in the lineup. Cabrera has been an underrated hitter for a couple of years now and is well worth a look due to his handy mulct-position eligibility.
Todd Frazier 3B, Mets (Yahoo: 3 percent rostered)
Look who is suddenly catching fire. Seeing Frazier’s name in the lineup has been a source of frustration for Mets fans recently, but the veteran slugger silenced his critics by knocking in three runs with a pair of doubles on Tuesday before going deep twice and driving in three runs again on Wednesday. Frazier has now reached 20 homers for the fifth time in his career, though he’s been a below-average hitter on the whole with a .239/.313/.438 batting line over 119 games. Still, he’s a proven power bat and he should be in the lineup more often than not due to his quality defense at third base. Perhaps he’ll pop a few more homers the rest of the way. The Mets are headed to Colorado and Cincinnati next week. Just saying.
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Jairo Diaz RP, Rockies (Yahoo: 12 percent rostered)
It looked like Carlos Estevez would be the favorite for saves for Colorado with Wade Davis ousted and Scott Oberg injured, but instead Diaz has been the guy in the ninth inning. He’s notched three saves in the past week and now holds a 4.10 ERA with 57 strikeouts and 14 walks over 48 1/3 innings. This includes a 1.29 ERA over his last 19 appearances. Taking into account Coors Field and the suped-up baseball, those are pretty solid numbers. If you really need some late saves, he could legitimately surprise over the final couple of weeks.
Austin Riley 3B/OF, Braves (Yahoo: 15 percent rostered)
Riley is suddenly relevant again with Ender Inciarte not expected back from his hamstring injury until late September. The 22-year-old was waiver wire gold after his call-up in May, but thing went south with a .480 OPS in July and he found himself on the injured list at the start of August due to a partially torn LCL in his right knee. After missing a month, Riley made his return last week and went 0-for-8 with six strikeouts before delivering a pinch-hit double against the Phillies on Wednesday. The Braves are expected to get Nick Markakis back later this week, but there should still be opportunities for Riley in this outfield as long as he produces at the plate.
Nick Wittgren RP, Indians (Yahoo: 4 percent rostered)
With Brad Hand unavailable due while getting an MRI on his left arm, Wittgren, Oliver Perez, and Adam Cimber go the final three outs in Wednesday’s win, completing a sweep of the Angels. Cimber notched his first career save to finish things off, but Wittgren has been the better pitcher all year and could see more chances with the Indians fighting for a playoff spot. It’s worth noting that the MRI turned up clean on Hand, but it’s unclear when he’ll be ready to return. Feel free to speculate depending on need, but Wittgren could at least be a solid handcuff if you also have Hand on your roster.
Eric Thames 1B/OF, Brewers (Yahoo: 7 percent rostered)
It’s curious that Thames is still available in so many leagues. He’s locked into the lineup against right-handed starters and has mashed them to the tune of an .888 OPS this season. Sure, he’s scuffled a bit in recent days, but beginning Friday the Brewers project to face right-handed starters in nine out of their next 10 games. The Brewers then have matchups against the Reds and the Rockies -- both on the road -- to close out the regular season. He’s a useful power bat and another option if you are looking to fill Yelich’s spot in a deeper league.
Justin Wilson RP, Mets (Yahoo: 1 percent rostered)
Seth Lugo is the semi-official closer in New York these days, but the club has been careful about his workload, which leaves an opening for some save opportunities. Wilson is the only other trustworthy arm in the Mets’ bullpen, as he’s put up a sterling 2.38 ERA and 37/14 K/BB ratio over 34 innings this season, including a four-out save Tuesday against the Diamondbacks. The southpaw has reeled off a 1.54 ERA over 27 appearances since the All-Star break. It’s all about need in fantasy leagues, but Wilson can help in ratios even when he isn’t getting saves.
