With about three weeks remaining in the 2017 MLB regular season, lots of drama may potentially unfold over the next few weeks. In particular, the Boston Red Sox are trying to hold off the New York Yankees in the American League East, with a 4.5 game lead. Meanwhile, in the National League Central, the Chicago Cubs are desperately clinging on to a 3.0 game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals, having been unable to stretch their lead further. The AL wild card race should look more and more interesting as the next few weeks progress, with eight teams still in contention for the final two spots. Meanwhile, in the NL wild card race, only three teams are seriously in contention for the final wild card spot, with the Arizona Diamondbacks holding on to a relatively comfortable lead atop the NL wild card race. With a recap of the standings, here’s a look at the best waiver wire pickups for week 24.
Joe Panik, 2B, San Francisco Giants
The Giants are having a rather forgettable season but Joe Panik looks to be a decent pickup late in the season. On the year, Panik is slashing .284/.345/.424 in 121 games played. However, what has stood out is his performance over the last week, two weeks, and month – he’s been unstoppable. Here are his slash lines respectively over the three timeframes previously mentioned: .619/.652/.905; .400/.471/.689; .377/.450/.623. These are godly numbers! Since Jerry Remy did it in 1981, Panik is the first player with 12 hits or more in a three-game series. He’s on an absolute roll – pick him up while you still can.
Jose Martinez, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals always seem to find a gem or two over the course of a regular season and this year is no different. Jose Martinez is no longer a prospect and as a bench bat for the Cardinals, he has made the most of his opportunities. In only 90 games played and 49 games started this year, Martinez is slashing .309/.374/.548 with 13 HR, 36 RBI, and 42 R. With Matt Carpenter going down with a shoulder injury, Martinez could find himself inserted into the starting lineup, with the Cardinals still having a slim chance of making the postseason. Martinez has slashed .400/.500/.750 over the past week; .429/.487/.771 over the past two weeks; and .388/.444/.714 over the past month. He’s a sneaky power hitter, as evidenced by his 46.9% hard hit rate, which could be useful for fantasy owners in the final few weeks as the regular season winds down.
Matt Olson, 1B/OF, Oakland Athletics
Desperate for home runs? Pick up Matt Olson. Since returning to the majors in August, Olson has hit 11 HR in 24 games and 6 HR in his last 10 games. In only 46 games played and 35 games started this year, Olson has a slash line of .267/.344/.610 with 16 HR and 32 RBI – he can clearly mash. Similar to Panik and Martinez, he has been hitting home runs as if the outfield walls have been brought in. His slash line in the past week: .360/.407/.880; in the past two weeks: .295/.340/.795; in the past month: .320/.386/.693. He’s a bit of an all-or-nothing type of played, as evidenced by his 46 K in 46 games played. However, with a 41.5% hard hit rate, 43.5% flyball rate, and 69.8% contact rate, I’d be willing to take a risk on Olson.
Doug Fister, SP, Boston Red Sox
Over the last two weeks, Doug Fister has arguably been the best starting pitcher for the Red Sox, with Chris Sale still in a funk. While Fister’s record is not too impressive at 5-7, he has only allowed opponents to slash .232/.313/.357 on the year with a 3.91 ERA, 4.00 FIP, and 1.28 WHIP. However, what’s been impressive is his performance in the last two weeks and month. With a 2-0 record in the past two weeks, Fister has compiled a 1.29 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 9.0 K/9 while limiting opponents to a .157/.218/.216 slash line. Furthermore, in the past month, he has gone 3-2 with a 2.62 ERA and 0.96 WHIP while holding opponents to a .171/.250/.268. Fister is keeping the Red Sox in decent shape to lock up the AL East and should be a good add moving forward as the regular season winds down.
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