The MLB season has kicked off with a short week to begin. Opening Day was Thursday, but it's not too early to bolster the roster and see who is available on your fantasy baseball waiver wire. The percentages are a guideline and should be adjusted based on your roster and needs. News breaks and changes the landscape of the value of players and we need to stay on top of that. We will cover a range of players, so this should be useful regardless if you play in an ultra-competitive league or in a more casual one. The percentage shown in the parenthesis next to each player is a general roster percentage availability.

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters

Brendan Donovan, 1B/2B/SS/3B (STL), 15-20%

Donovan wasn't drafted by many early in the draft season due to an uncertain role and lack of power. He showed more power in the spring and elevated the ball more. On Opening Day, Donovan hit lead off for the Cardinals and played second base, going 3-for-6 with three runs and a home run. Hitting lead off against right-handed pitching is a valuable spot in the Cardinals' lineup.

Darik Hall, DH (PHI), 8-10%

Hall is assured playing time with Rhys Hoskins out for the season with a torn ACL. Hall is a legit power hitter, with 37 home runs in 143 games between the minors and majors last season. In most leagues, he's only eligible at utility for now, but Hall will play first base and get eligibility at the position quickly. Hall started at first base on Opening Day. Hall had five home runs with 13 RBIs with a .632 slugging percentage in the spring and a 9:9 K:BB ratio after a 44:5 K:BB ratio over 136 at-bats last season.

James Outman, OF (LAD), 4-6%

Outman is expected to get most of the playing time in center field against right-handed pitching. In 125 games last season between Double-A and Triple-A, he had 31 home runs and 13 stolen bases. Outman batted eighth on Opening Day, and went 2-for-3 with three runs, with a home run, two RBIs and a walk.

Michael Massey, 2B (KC), 4-6%

Massey only had four home runs in the majors last season, but performed well in the minors with a .312 average, 16 home runs, 13 stolen bases and a .903 OPS in 87 games. Massey had a good spring with four home runs, two stolen bases and a .914 OPS.

Nolan Gorman, 2B (STL), 4-6%

Gorman made the roster and was the designated hitter on Opening Day and could see most of the at-bats against right-handers. Gorman has power and hit 14 home runs in 89 games with the Cardinals last season, but had a 32.9% strikeout rate with a 48.9% fly ball rate. 

Elehuris Montero, 3B (COL), 4-6%

Montero had a great spring to earn playing time at third base. He hit .297 with five home runs and 12 RBIs. He had 15 home runs in 65 games at Triple-A last season and went 2-for-5 with a home run in his first game on the road in San Diego.

Will Benson, OF (CIN), 4-6%

Benson started on Opening Day, but struck out in all four of his at-bats. That could prevent Benson from getting playing time, but the power and speed combo is intriguing. He had 17 home runs and 16 stolen bases last season at Triple-A and stole six bases in the spring.

Blake Sabol, C (SF), 3-5%

The Giants kept Sabol on the roster since he's a Rule 5 pick. Sabol had a good spring and he's eligible at catcher. Sabol started in left field on Opening Day and will also get time at designated hitter. He has shown power in the spring and has some speed. Between Double-A and Triple-A last season, Sabol hit .284 with 19 home runs and 10 stolen bases.

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Reynaldo Lopez, CWS, 15-20%

Lopez is one of my most rostered players. While Kendall Graveman was assumed to be the closer for the White Sox with Liam Hendricks out, Lopez was cheaper and excelled as a reliever last season. Lopez got the chance to get the first save opportunity on Thursday with a two-run lead with Graveman pitching the eighth inning. Graveman entered in the seventh inning on Friday. While Lopez allowed a home run to Yordan Alvarez, Lopez threw 27 pitches; 19 for strikes and secured the save. He appears to be the preferred option to close and should be added.

Clarke Schmidt, NYY, 15-20%

Schmidt was batting for a starting rotation spot before injuries to Carlos Rodon and Luis Severino assured him of a slot. He made 29 appearances for the Yankees last season, including three starts and had a 3.12 ERA over 57.2 innings. Schmidt struck out 25 batters in 19.2 innings in the spring.

David Peterson, NYM, 15-20%

Peterson will have a spot in the starting rotation for a while if he pitches well with Jose Quintana out for a while. Peterson pitched 91 innings as a starter last season and had a 3.86 ERA, with a 27.8% strikeout rate, 1.34 WHIP and a 50.4 % ground ball rate. Peterson had a 10.4% walk rate and if he can cut down on the walks, he could become a really good pitcher. He pitched 12 scoreless innings in the spring with 13 strikeouts and allowed only one hit, but walked eight. Peterson has a nasty slider and the key is limiting the walks. He did that in his first start with one walk against the Marlins and allowed eight hits with one run and five strikeouts over five innings.

Hayden Wesneski, CHC, 8-10%

Wesneski made six appearances, including four starts last season with the Cubs. In 33 innings, he had a 2.18 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and a 33:7 K:BB ratio. He was named the fifth starter after a great spring, but he could be one of the top starters on the team. In 17 innings in the spring, Wesneski pitched 17 innings, allowed 13 hits, and four earned runs with a 22:6 K:BB ratio. 

Graham Ashcraft, CIN, 6-8%

He struck out 25 batters with only two walks over 17.1 innings this spring, with a WHIP of 0.87. He throws hard and induces ground balls at a 55-percent rate. He has a great first matchup against the Pirates on Sunday.

Scott McGough, ARI, 6-8%

The price could change depending on how Arizona handles the bullpen this weekend. While there's no clear cut closer yet, McGough is who I drafted in the final rounds of deeper leagues. He has closing experience in Japan and pitched 9.2 innings in the spring, allowing five hits, two runs with two walks and 11 strikeouts.

Tylor Megill, NYM, 3-4%

Justin Verlander will begin the season on the injured list and Megill will take his spot. There's no clear time table for Verlander's return and Megill is slated to pitch against the Marlins in his first two starts. Megill struggled with his command in the spring, walking 13 with 12 strikeouts in 17 innings. In deeper formats, Megill can be streamed with the favorable matchups.
 

 

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