Time to check in with Fantasy Alarm for the top MLB Week 8 fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups!

 

 

The fantasy baseball grind continues. By now you’ve gone through your rosters, studied your place in the standings and checked through the latest MLB injuries. Be sure to break down your standings as best you can to see what positions and you need to fill and in which categories you are deficient. Now it’s time to see who is available to help you in your quest for a championship. 

With regard to hitters, the waiver wire seems to be a little light. Obviously, each league is different and, depending on your rosters and scoring, some better players are available. The key is to target improvement. If no one on your waiver wire is better than your worst player, then stand pat. But if you can legitimately upgrade a roster spot, you make that move. Especially with regard to starting pitching. You’d be surprised how many strong pitchers are available. 

**Always keep in mind, these FAAB bids are merely suggestions. Only you know how the bidding has gone in your league, so if you REALLY need the player, always give the bid a little boost. 

Now, let’s see who is available and who is worthy of your attention.

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Catchers

Korey Lee, Chicago White Sox

Step aside, Martin Maldonado. It looks like the White Sox have opted to go with Lee as their primary backstop. He may not be as established defensively as Maldonado, but Lee definitely has a better bat. That works both for fantasy and reality. He’s worth a look. FAAB: 2-4%

Miguel Amaya, Chicago Cubs

It looks like we could also be seeing a changing of the guard on the North Side as Amaya seems to be taking even more at-bats away from Yan Gomes lately. If he can handle the pitching staff and his defense is solid, it makes sense to transition away from the 36-year-old incumbent. There’s not much in the way of power or speed and the batting average won’t be anything exciting. It’s just a matter of whether you are in a two-catcher league and are desperate for at-bats. FAAB: 1-2%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: First Basemen

Carlos Santana, Minnesota Twins

I had Santana in the waiver wire article a couple of weeks ago and everything has remained the status quo. He continues to see regular at-bats and has a little bit of pop still left. Again, you know exactly what you’re getting here. It’s just a matter of hoping he heats up at the right time for you. FAAB: 3-5%

Garrett Cooper, Boston Red Sox

Funny enough, I wrote up Cooper in the exact same article I wrote up Santana. However, he’s actually a bit more appealing with both Masataka Yoshida and Triston Casas on the 60-day IL. Cooper is seeing regular playing time at first base and DH and while he may get spelled by Rob Refsnyder every once in a while, he’s probably the next best corner-infielder on this team behind Rafael Devers. FAAB: 5-7%

Dominic Smith, Boston Red Sox

Smith becomes an interesting option if you’re looking for a sink-or-swim power bat that works as the lefty side of a platoon. Right now he’s seeing a strong number of at-bats while the Red Sox strive to get healthy and could be usable in leagues with daily roster moves o you can move him in and out of the lineup. It ain’t pretty, but if you’re desperate…you know. FAAB: 2-4%

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Second Basemen

Joey Ortiz, Milwaukee Brewers

Don’t look now but guess who has hits in four-straight games? Multi-hit performances in three of those! And how about back-to-back home run games too? He’s playing extremely well right now and though he hits at the bottom end of the lineup, this Brewers team is getting better and better. His multi-position eligibility makes him even a bit more attractive. FAAB:  8-10%

Gavin Lux, Los Angeles Dodgers

Look who’s seeing a bit of a revival! After being in and out of the lineup and trying to build himself back up, Lux has played in five-straight and seems to be regaining the confidence he needs to ascend. The numbers aren’t eye-popping, but hits in four of five with two extra-base hits and four RBI are certainly helpful. FAAB: 4-6%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Third Basemen

Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays

Hopefully the rest of your league isn’t paying attention as I believe the time is right to grab and stash Caminero if you can. We know the talent is there. I don’t even need to quote you numbers and if I do, how about I just steer you towards our MLB Prospect Rankings and you can check out where he ranks. The biggest problem is that Isaac Paredes is blocking him at third base. But thankfully, they just moved him over to second base at Triple-A Durham. Brandon Lowe can’t get healthy and I guess the Rays have soured on Amed Rosario and Richie Palacios, so expect to see Caminero get a few more games at the keystone under his belt and wait for the call-up. FAAB: 10-15% if your league is sleeping; 20-25% if they’re awake.

Abraham Toro, Oakland Athletics

Regular playing time in Oakland has given new life to the well-traveled infielder. He’s in the middle of a fantastic stretch – hitting safely in nine of 12 games with four doubles, a home run, four RBI and eight runs scored. Nothing earth-shattering, but he’s hitting .346 in that span so he’s definitely playable in all formats right now. FAAB: 5-7%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Shortstops

I had Zach Neto and Ceddanne Rafaela in the shortstop section of last week’s waiver wire article and, in all honesty, it hasn’t gotten any better. I’ll just leave it at that.

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Outfielders

Luis Matos, San Francisco Giants

With Michael Conforto on the IL and news that Jung Hoo Lee is done for the season, it looks like Matos is going to get a full-time opportunity here. He’s actually got some decent power/speed upside so if you’re dealing with injuries or just looking to upgrade your last outfield spot, Matos should be in your plans. He’s still working some things out so there might be some inconsistency early, but once he heats up, he should be a strong asset. FAAB: 12-15% 

Mike Yastrzemski, San Francisco Giants

He sits against tough lefties but with the aforementioned injuries the Giants are contending with, Yaz is going to see some regular playing time. If you can move him in and out of your every-day lineup, he’s a solid play against righthanded pitching. Make him your contingency pick should you not land Matos. FAAB: 5-7%

Brenton Doyle, Colorado Rockies

Doyle made my stolen base waiver article in this weekend’s New York Post so I figured I would mention him here as well. You’ve heard me say that even ugly hitters get a second look if they play half their games at Coors Field, so imagine if they also steal some bases! Doyle had eight stolen bases on the year but four have come in his last six games. The strikeouts may catch up with him, but right now he’s still batting .281 with a .337 OBP. FAAB: 8-10%

Luke Raley, Seattle Mariners

Another good guy to use for your bench and fill-in work, Raley’s production comes in streaks and right now he’s on a hot one. He’s hit safely in four-straight with two home runs and two stolen bases. He finds himself on the bench maybe every five games so he’s pretty close to seeing full-time at-bats. FAAB: 5-7%

Nick Gordon, Miami Marlins

Even when Avisail Garcia returns from the IL, Gordon is likely to maintain a stronghold on some regular at-bats in the outfield. He’s nothing special and he’s not someone the Marlins are building around, but he’s been productive and neither Garcia nor Dane Myers is anything to write home about. There’s a little bit of power and a tiny splash of speed. FAAB: 3-5%

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Starting Pitchers

Clarke Schmidt, New York Yankees

I still see him owned in fewer than 50-percent of leagues on ESPN and Yahoo, so if he’s available, pick him up. There’s tremendous win-equity in a Yankees pitcher and Schmidt, who hasn’t allowed an earned run in 14.2 innings, is sporting a fantastic 2.49 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP. You’re also looking at more than a strikeout per inning as well. FAAB: 12-15%

Taj Bradley, Tampa Bay Rays

I would have thought that after his start against the Yankees, he would have been scooped up, but he’s actually got lower rostership percentages than Schmidt. He’s made two starts and posted a 2.45 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 11 innings and looks very confident on the bump right now. Command and control have been the issue for him, but with just three walks, he’s already showing his ability to pound the strike zone. FAAB: 12-15%

Robert Gasser, Milwaukee Brewers

People are loving on Gasser right now and with a 0.82 ERA and 0.82 WHIP over his first two starts, I can see why. The strikeout rate is a little low for me and the two starts came against the Pirates and Cardinals, so not exactly a thorough test. But I love the fact that he doesn’t walk guys and is generating a lot of ground balls, so grab him if you can. FAAB: 8-10%

Cooper Criswell, Boston Red Sox

He’s been giving up too many home runs and hasn’t gone past the fifth inning yet, but the strikeout rate is tasty and the Red Sox continue to lose starting pitchers to the injured list. With news that Garrett Whitlock was just shut down, Criswell should stay in the rotation and build up some decent stats. FAAB: 5-7%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Closers/Relief Pitchers

Michael Kopech, Chicago White Sox

I mean, if he’s the guy getting the saves on the South Side, you have to go for it. How much you spend depends on how desperate you are for saves, how much of your budget you have left and how everyone else has been bidding for closers this season. Hopefully the price isn’t too high.

Jalen Beeks, Colorado Rockies

Like I just said – if he’s getting saves, you have to go for it. Beeks nabbed three saves during this past week’s Rockies run. I don’t expect them to do too much of that, but if Beeks is in the mix, it’s worth a shot. Market price for FAAB spending.