Fantasy baseball waiver wire: Free agent options at every position for the final week of the season

The final week of the season is like no other, so it calls for a different kind of waiver wire column. The usual focus on hot hitters, two-start pitchers and favorable matchups doesn’t help if the players we’re targeting are getting rested or pulled early on seemingly random days. Players on teams that don’t have much to play for, whether it’s those that have clinched a division or those that have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, are especially at risk of playing less than they would in a normal week.

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As of this writing, there are nine teams that have a reasonable chance to make the postseason but could also conceivably miss the playoffs altogether. In the American League, that list consists of the Astros, Blue Jays, Mariners and Rangers, while in the National League, the teams in question are the Diamondbacks, Cubs, Marlins, Reds and Giants. These teams are heavily represented in this week’s column, as they have a greater incentive to play their regulars in as many games as possible, barring any major movement in the standings over the next several days.

There is also no point in including bid recommendations this week — spend it all! Some of us have multiple needs going into the final week, so I’ve grouped the players by position category (catcher, infield, outfield, starting pitcher, relief pitcher) and ordered them by priority. Roster rates in CBS leagues are included for each player in parentheses to provide a rough idea of the player’s availability.

Good luck to everyone in your quest to win a title or to maximize your final position in the standings!

Catchers

Logan O’Hoppe, Angels (32%):  Since returning from a torn labrum in his left shoulder, O’Hoppe has homered seven times in 104 plate appearances. He has also started 12 straight games — and only one at designated hitter. Unless you need to move up in batting average, O’Hoppe is probably your best catching option on waivers, even in shallower leagues.

Bo Naylor, Guardians (24%): After a rough start to the season, Naylor has improved dramatically in the second half. He has been particularly productive in September, posting a .325/.472/.575 slash line with a 13.2 percent strikeout rate.

Luis Campusano, Padres (16%): If batting average is what you need, then Campusano is probably your best bet at catcher. His playing time has been steady, he’s not reliant on BABIP for a high average (12.7 percent strikeout rate), and with a 7.5 percent barrel rate, he’s not devoid of power.

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Alejandro Kirk, Blue Jays (41%): There is not much separating Kirk from Campusano, other than the Blue Jays’ backstop having a little less power. Both could be valuable as No. 2 catchers this coming week.

Infielders

Davis Schneider, 2B/3B, TOR (57%): Schneider has proven to be streaky during his brief time in the majors, and as of this writing, he has gone hitless in six straight games. However, if you need to add power and run production at second or third base in a 12-team league, you may not have a better option on waivers unless Christopher Morel (75%) or Zack Gelof (68%, second base only) happen to be available.

Willi Castro,  2B/3B/SS/OF, MIN (31%): The versatile Castro doesn’t have a set position, but he continues to start frequently, and qualifies as the most surprising entrant in this season’s 30-steals club. He’s just been flat-out productive in September, batting .305 with four home runs and three stolen bases. The only caution here is that the possible return of Byron Buxton (knee) next week could cut into Castro’s playing time, though probably not by much.

Noelvi Marte, 3B/SS, CIN (30%): Marte is a good addition if you need steals (six in 28 games), though he has displayed little power. He has also relied on a .381 BABIP to hit .301 overall, and he figures to sit once or twice next week, given that the Reds still have a crowded infield situation.

Cavan Biggio, 1B/2B/3B/OF, TOR (4%): By going 14 for his past 44 (.318) with nine walks, 10 runs and nine RBIs, Biggio has earned a spot in the heart of the Blue Jays order, making him a useful add for teams that need help with batting average and run production. Biggio has been sitting against left-handed starters, so with Carlos Rodón being a projected starter during the Jays’ series with the Yankees next week, he could be limited to a five-game week.

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Oswald Peraza, 2B/3B/SS, NYY (15%): Peraza has been close to an every-day player since late August, and while he has cooled off this week, he recently went 13-for-38 (.342) with just six strikeouts during a nine-game hitting streak. He is not a player to target if you need power, but he could help with batting average and possibly runs scored over the final week, especially in a season-ending series against the Royals that should offer favorable matchups.

Luken Baker, 1B, STL (2%): With Alec Burleson out for the season with a thumb fracture, Baker figures to get more playing time. He bashed 33 home runs with Triple-A Memphis this season and has a 54.1 percent hard-hit rate on 37 batted balls with the Cardinals. Baker was out of the lineup for Thursday’s game against the Brewers, so if he doesn’t start two or three of this weekend’s games in San Diego, it’s probably best to pass on him.

Outfielders

Tommy Pham, ARI (47%): Pham was also included in last week’s column due to his availability in 10- and 12-team leagues and his recent productivity. He is still a Top 20 outfielder on ESPN’s Player Rater for the past 30 days, and he is still likely to be available in shallower formats.

Evan Carter, TEX (31%): While recent prospect callups like Jordan Lawlar and Pete Crow-Armstrong have failed to make an impact, Carter has become a key part of the Rangers’ push towards the postseason. He has been hitting line drives (30.4 percent rate) and walking (18,2 percent rate), just as he has done in the minors, and he has chipped in with two home runs and two stolen bases in 44 plate appearances. Carter has sat against two of the three left-handed starters the Rangers have faced since his promotion, and the Rangers currently project to face two of the Angels’ lefties (Patrick Sandoval and Reid Detmers) next week, so he is not an ideal choice in shallower leagues.

Michael Brantley, HOU (17%): Brantley has also been sitting against lefties, but the Astros finish against the Mariners and Diamondbacks — a pair of teams that currently have all-righty rotations. The biggest concern for Brantley going into the final week is the shoulder soreness that has kept him out of the Astros’ past two games with right-handed opposing starters. In his 12 games this season, Brantley has been even better than usual at making contact (4.5 percent strikeout rate, 3.1 percent SwStr%).

Heston Kjerstad, BAL (26%): Kjerstad had started four of seven games upon his callup last Thursday, but with Ryan Mountcastle going on the IL on Wednesday (retroactive to September 17), it appears that more playing time could be in store. However, Kjerstad was not in the Orioles lineup for Thursday night’s game in Cleveland, with Aaron Hicks starting in right field and bumping Anthony Santander to designated hitter. Mountcastle could return as soon as Wednesday, so counting on Kjerstad is a risky move, but given the power he has shown so far (94.5 EV, 70.0 percent hard-hit rate), it’s worth monitoring this situation over the weekend.

Starting Pitchers

Bailey Ober, MIN (51%): There are not many starting pitchers who are widely available in 12-team leagues who appear to be potential upgrades, but Ober is the most likely to fit that description. Since his surprising demotion and subsequent return to the Twins rotation, Ober has turned in decent five-inning starts against the White Sox and Reds, and in both outings, he registered a SwStr% above 12 percent and a Z-Contact% below 85 percent. His final start of the season will likely be at home against the Athletics, a matchup that makes Ober a viable one-start option in 12-team leagues.

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Reese Olson, DET (33%): It’s ill-advised to expect any pitcher to make two starts in the final week, but Olson has as good of a chance as any to actually follow through on both ends of a two-step. He currently lines up for a Monday start at home against the Royals and could also start in the season finale against the Guardians. Olson has thrown 134.1 innings between Triple-A Toledo and the majors, and two more starts would almost certainly put him fewer than 30 innings above last year’s total of 119.2 innings. Over his past five starts, Olson has been highly effective, recording a 1.50 ERA with 28 strikeouts and 11 walks over 30 innings, and he could wind up the season with two favorable matchups.

Sawyer Gipson-Long, DET (19%): Olson’s teammate, Gipson-Long, has had some good matchups to start his major league career, and he has taken full advantage. In his debut, he held the White Sox to two runs over five innings with a 15.1 percent SwStr%, and then he dominated the Angels with 11 strikeouts over five innings and a 26.8 percent SwStr%. After facing the Athletics this weekend, Gipson-Long will likely finish up against the Royals, and he is worth considering as a one-start streamer, even in 12-team leagues.

Martín Pérez, TEX (29%): Since moving to the bullpen in early August, Pérez has regained the ground ball mojo (and then some) that propelled his breakthrough 2022 season. Over 28 relief innings, the lefty has induced grounders at a 65.9 percent rate while holding opponents to a 6.0 percent barrel rate and 33.7 percent hard-hit rate. His last time out, Pérez tossed 4.2 scoreless innings against the Red Sox on Wednesday, and afterwards, manager Bruce Bochy acknowledged that Pérez could be moved back to the rotation, If he draws a start next week  — it would likely be against the sputtering Angels — he could conceivably last five or six innings.

Relief Pitchers

Tanner Scott, MIA (61%): Since taking over as the Marlins closer in late August, Scott has been a boon to fantasy managers, going 3-1 with seven saves, a 1.84 ERA and an 0.89 WHIP. He could easily pick up at least a couple more saves against the Mets and Pirates in the final week.

Ryan Helsley, STL (65%): Since getting activated on September 1 from an IL stint for a forearm strain, Helsley has yet to surrender a run, notching 12 strikeouts and three walks over 8.1 innings. There’s no question that Helsley should convert the save chances he gets. We just have to wonder if the Cardinals starters will keep games close enough to provide those opportunities.

Trevor May, OAK (31%): Even though May has not allowed a run over his past 10.1 innings, he hasn’t been overpowering, getting whiffs on just 10.5 percent of his pitches. He is getting a lot of high fly balls, though, and that’s helped him to collect seven saves over that nearly five-week period. Wins continue to be scarce for the A’s, but especially with a final series against the Angels, May is probably not done getting saves just yet.

Note: Season-to-date statistics are for games played through Wednesday, September 20

Statistical credits: FanGraphs, Baseball Savant. Baseball-Reference

(Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports)

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