There are three very different reasons why you might want to hit the waiver wire to sign a player to your fantasy baseball team this week. First, you might need to fill a hole created by injury. Second, you might have a specific area of need based on a player performing at a below average level. Finally, there might be a player that has perform at such a high level that you simply can’t afford to overlook them on the waiver wire any longer. We have identified a handful of players that could fit your roster regardless of the reason why you need to make a move. Here is a look at the best MLB waiver wire picks for this week.
OF: Aaron Altherr, Philadelphia Phillies
The former top prospect has looked absolutely dominant for the Phillies over the past couple of weeks. He definitely won’t be available much longer if he is still on the waiver wire in your fantasy baseball league. Altherr has hit .375 with six home runs, 16 RBI and 11 runs scored over the last two weeks. He is the top-ranked outfielder in standard fantasy baseball leagues over that span. Altherr’s production will eventually slow a little bit. However, his production and overall potential definitely make him worthy of a roster spot in MLB fantasy leagues right now.
OF: Brett Gardner, New York Yankees
If you aren’t able to grab Altherr in time then Gardner might be the next best option for help at the outfield position. The Yankees veteran has hit .417 with five home runs and 14 runs scored over the past 14 days. Gardner ranks third among all outfielders over that span. With the New York offense performing at such a high level this season there is a good chance that Gardner will continue to produce. He is an underrated fantasy option that should be owned.
SP: Alex Wood, Los Angeles Dodgers
It wasn’t long ago that Wood looked like he was on track to be one of the next great pitchers in the majors. However, injuries and inconsistent play have been a major problem over the past couple of years and Wood has failed to reach his potential as a result. The good news is that Wood is finally healthy again and he is performing at a high level right now. Wood is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, a 0.82 WHIP and a ridiculous 17.18 K/9 over his last two starts. It’s unrealistic to expect him to continue to produce at that level. However, with a home start against the Miami Marlins this week Wood is definitely worth grabbing off the waiver wire.
2B: Neil Walker, New York Mets
Walker has always been a threat to hit over .280 with 20 home runs. The problem is that he is a very streaky player so you need to pick your spots in terms of ownership in fantasy baseball leagues. Considering his production over the past seven days it might be a smart time to pick him up right now. Walker has hit .462 with two home runs and 10 RBI in just 26 plate appearances over the last seven days. The Mets second basemen has really started to heat up and might be worth a roster spot in the short term.
OF: Scott Schebler, Cincinnati Reds
Schebler has produced at a high level for more than a month now. He is definitely worth a roster spot in fantasy baseball leagues. Schebler has hit .280 with eight home runs, 15 RBI and three stolen bases over the last 30 days. His numbers might be even better if he played for a better team but it’s hard to argue against that consistent level of production with the Reds. Schebler might not be a long-term answer. However, he is definitely worth owning in the short term in fantasy baseball leagues.
The Reds have cooled off significantly since their hot start. They have lost three straight games and are just 6-4 in their last 10 games. They had been at the top of the National League Central but now they are just one game above .500 and are 2.5 games back.
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