Points League Waiver Wire Hitters for Fantasy Baseball: Week 13 (2024) (2024)

What Appears In This Article? hide

1.Waiver Wire Caveats and APR Explanation

2.First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

3.Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

4.Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

5.Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

6.Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

7.Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

9.More Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Advice

Welcome RotoBallers to the Week 13 edition of our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of June 17 - June 23, looking at players below ~50% rostered on ESPN or Yahoo.

We'll be doing this points league roundup every week here at RotoBaller because we know points players get neglected and we're here to help. Player values can vary wildly from platform to platform, so we'll make sure to highlight where players are the best and worst fits, with waiver wire targets being evaluated in terms of the different scoring systems on ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, Fantrax, and NFBC.

Position eligibility is taken from Fantrax and players are grouped by their most valuable fantasy position, using a hierarchy of C > 2B > OF > 3B > 1B > SS. Stats and rankings are calculated using games through Saturday, June 15.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and weekly lineup resources:

Fantasy baseball injury reports
Fantasy baseball trade analyzer
Daily MLB starting lineups for fantasy baseball
Fantasy baseball BvP matchups data (Batter vs. Pitcher)
Fantasy baseball PvB matchups data (Pitcher vs. Batter)
Who should I start? Fantasy baseball player comparisons
Fantasy baseball closer depth charts, bullpens, saves
Fantasy Baseball live scoreboard, daily leaderboards

Waiver Wire Caveats and APR Explanation

Roster% Thresholds

We use a combination of Roster% to assess who is in our target pool, relying mostly on Yahoo and ESPN. For some players, you'll notice a wide discrepancy between the two. This is because ESPN's Roster% is heavily weighted by points players, with guys who don't do well in their system (often because of an inflated K% but also sometimes, who really knows?) lagging behind the Yahoo Roster%. For this reason, you'll sometimes see players (especially early) who might make you question my sanity in including them in a waiver wire article but don't worry, it's just a necessary glitch for coverage purposes.

APR stands for "Average Platform Rank" and is the average hitter rank between the four major point platforms: ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, and Fantrax.

First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Jeimer Candelario, CIN, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 68%, ESPN: 22%) - Well, my pleading (and pleading!) the last month has finally paid off, with Candelario's Roster% finally moving into a respectable zone after back-to-back top-10 weeks. But 68% is still far from being universally rostered and 22% on ESPN still remains a crime against humanity. C'mon y'all - Candelario is a top-75 hitter on the platform and shouldn't be on anyone's waiver wire.

Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Joey Ortiz, MIL, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 46%, ESPN: 17%) - Is Ortiz really still sticking around our eligibility? Apparently so, even though he has a 99 APR since Week 5 and is showing the kind of elite plate discipline (15% K, 13% BB%) that tends to lead to points success. And that level of discipline makes his 17% rostered on ESPN seem even sillier given their full-point penalty per strikeout. And the rankings back that silliness up - Ortiz is the #68 hitter on ESPN, which 25 spots higher than on CBS (-0.5 per K) and nearly 50 spots higher than on Yahoo and Fantrax (no strikeout penalty). Continue slighting him at your own peril.

Nick Gonzales, PIT, 2B (Yahoo: 47%, ESPN: 17%) - Listen, bros* - what's a Nick gotta do to get one of his fellow Nick-iacs** universally rostered, hmm? Apparently, the answer isn't "keep posting top-100 periods every single week". Gonzales had just a 256 APR in his first week up but to be fair, it was only a three-day week since he got called up on a Friday. Since then, he has a 61 APR (min: #22, max: #93), reaching points success via a well-rounded profile and lots of playing time, having started every game but two since getting called up on May 10. Oh, and in case you were wondering, Gonzales has the highest ranking under ESPN scoring, even though his 17% Roster% is the lowest of any platform. Makes total sense. Actually, no it doesn't and I refuse to take this blatant NickSlander anymore! We ride at dawn.

*Never question how super young/hip I am. Fact.

**Trademark pending

Next Choices

Mauricio Dubon, HOU, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 2%) - Don't look now but Dubon and his points-friendly profile has been having minor SZN since Kyle Tucker went on the IL, starting nine of the 10 games since Tucker went down. But to be fair, Dubon had already been carving out more playing time even before that injury, having started the prior four games after previously having been relegated to a two-three games(ish) a week kind of role. In total, Dubon has now started 13 of Houston's last 15 games, slashing .260/.302/.380, with 1 HR, 6 R, and 3 RBI. Those numbers might seem empty from a roto perspective but combined with Dubon's absolute refusal to strikeout (7% K% in 2024) gives him a really nice scoring floor as long as he's playing a lot.

Brendan Donovan, STL, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 17%) - His weekly ceiling remains mostly unimpressive but Donovan is at least slightly more than just a warm body, with five top-100 periods in 2024, including the current one (#84). The Cardinals have six games in Week 13 with three coming against Donovan's fellow lefthanders but do realize that he's been more of a reverse-splits guy this season, slashing .267/.321/.373, with just an 8% K%.

Jonathan India, CIN, 2B (Yahoo: 57%, ESPN: 13%) - Not a great week to stream India, as the Reds are only scheduled to face one of the left-handers that he tends to feast more on, and have a date with Paul Skenes and his mustache on Monday. But 13% rostered on ESPN remains ridiculous, as it's the platform that India's 21% K% and 14% BB% are the most valuable on.

Desperate Choices

Luis Garcia, WSH, 2B (Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 9%) - Garcia has been hit or miss this season but it might be a good week to bet on the latter, the leftie is only scheduled to face one LHP and gets three games in Colorado.

Brandon Lowe, TB, 2B (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 4%) - I'm concerned that if we speak too loudly, Lowe's vertebrae will fall apart like a Jenga tower, so let's keep things to a whisper for now. Lowe has been quietly producing since returning from the IL, running an 89 APR in Week 12, after a 54 APR in the period prior. His .200 AVG is ugly but a .235 xBA is more respectable, while a .301 wOBA is also backed by a better .341 xwOBA. But specific to points, a 24% K% for the year is a welcome positive after jumping a few points to the bad in 2023, with a 12.7% SwStr% that is down three points from 15.1% SwStr% in 2023 which was a career-best. Unfortunately, I can't recommend starting him this week given the absolute meatgrinder the Rays have scheduled - they'll only face one of the LHP that Lowe tends to sit after that but the righties are brutal, with matchups against Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, Jared Jones, and Paul Skenes on the menu. Bru. Tal.

Emmanuel Valdez, BOS, 2B (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) - Valdez has kept hitting since returning from the minors, posting a very nice 69 APR over the past three weeks, including a 46 APR in our current period. But the problem is that his value will hinge on how many LHP on the schedule, as Valdez has yet to start against one of them since being recalled, sitting in favor of Jamie Westbrook. With Boston facing LHP in two of their six games, betting on Valdez is a risky move.

Lenyn Sosa, CHW, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 0%) - Sosa has posted a top-60 APR the last two weeks but let's not get too excited for a mid-level player on baseball's worst team. Especially since Sosa has been his best in his small sample (24 PA) vs LHP, slashing .348/.375/.696, with a .457 wOBA, compared to a much more Lenyn-like .213/.250/.262, with a .231 wOBA vs RHP. Considering the White Sox have only one leftie on the schedule, only the desperate need bet on Lenyn in Week 13.

On the IL

Brendan Rodgers, COL, 2B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
Jorge Polanco, SEA, 2B (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
Michael Massey, KC, 2B (strained back - no timetable)
Brandon Drury, LAA, 1B/2B (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
Vaughn Grissom, BOS, 2B/SS (strained hamstring - no timetable)
Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - no timetable)
Ji Hwan Bae, PIT, 2B/OF (strained wrist - no timetable)
Justin Foscue, TEX, 2B/OF (strained oblique - rehab assignment)

Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Next Choices

Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Zach Neto, LAA, SS (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 5%) - What, you thought the victory lappin' was done? Foolish mortals, this is a fantasy baseball column - the Victory Lapping is NEVER finished! Ba-ha-ha. Last week's cover man held up his end of the bargain, currently rolling a 28 APR headed into Sunday's action. Neto showered us with the bad in April but has been fantasy flowering ever since, slashing .261/.313/.485, with 7 HR, 18 R, 17 RBI, and 5 SB (4 CS) in 145 PA since the start of May,.m /. Does anyone want to do the pacing math? Fine, I will: that's about 30 HR and 20 SB in 600 PA. No big deal.

J.P. Crawford, SEA, SS (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 48%) - Crawford has been pretty junky so far in Week 12 (242 APR) but had near top-50 APR the past two weeks and continues bat leadoff every day with a super points-friendly profile, compiling his way to relevance with a 20% K% and 11% BB%. And while you might think that facing four LHP in Week 13 would be a downgrade for the left-handed Crawford, you'd be mistaken - Crawford is slashing .293/.369/.466 vs LHP this season, with a 14% K%, compared to .165/.267/.307, with a 23% K% vs RHP.

Next Choices

Paul DeJong, CHW, SS (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 6%) - DeJong remains inexplicably usable...Well, at least as long as you don't have a strikeout penalty, given his 32% K% (and 4% BB%). Oh, and also as long as you don't have to start him against any lefthanders (.170/.224/.377, .261 wOBA/.601 OPS). But hey, the White Sox only have one LHP on the schedule! Unfortunately, the RHP they'll face are no picnic, with Houston trotting out Ronel Blanco and a recently resurgent Hunter Brown (not to mention the lone leftie, Framber Valdez), while Detroit will have Jack Flaherty, Kenta Maeda, and Reese Olson take the bump.

Desperate Choices

Ceddanne Rafaela, BOS, SS/OF (Yahoo: 41%, ESPN: 9%) - Rafaela dropped back into our Roster% zone after a tough three-week stretch in May but has been pretty solid for about a month now, with a 95 APR over his past four periods. But his overall numbers are still being carried by much better splits vs LHP and those aren't backed by any statcast-based strength - Rafaela's .320 wOBA vs LHP has a .264 xwOBA behind it, while a .262 AVG is supported by just a .221 xBA, with a .366 BABIP. The Red Sox have six games in Week 13, with two coming vs LHP (Y. Kikuchi, A. Abbott).

On the IL

Vaughn Grissom, BOS, 2B/SS (strained hamstring - no timetable)
Javier Baez, DET, SS (back sprain - no timetable)
Jon Berti, NYY, 3B/SS (strained calf - no timetable)
Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - no timetable)

Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Charlie Blackmon, COL, OF (Yahoo: 14%, ESPN: 10%) - Listen, y'all, I get it - Blackmon is super old*. But also, he's always kind of been a points god when healthy, even as he rolls into his sunset years, and has now peeled off three straight top 50 weeks, with a 13% K% for the year that makes him even more valuable in leagues with a strikeout penalty. In Week 13, Blackmon gets seven games at home, with four coming vs LHP, against whom the left-handed Rockie is slashing .333/.417/.452, with a .385 wOBA and .400 xwOBA. If not now, then when - continue punishing Blackmon with ageism to your detriment.

*Unlike me, as we've previously covered.

Andy Pages, LAD, OF (Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 10%) - Oh baby, get him while you can. Pages has not only been heating right back up after a tricky May, posting top-100 APRs in Weeks 10/11 and currently sitting at #54 heading into Sunday but will also get three juicy games in Colorado to start the week off right before heading home to face some shaky Angels pitching. And of those six games, four are scheduled vs LHP - Pages has slashed .354/.373/.458, with a .362wOBA vs LHP, compared to .243/.302/.417, with a .315wOBA vs RHP.

Jesse Winker, WSH, OF (Yahoo: 46%, ESPN: 15%) - Winker has slowed down in Week 12 after back-t0-back 36 APRs the previous two periods (and was #86 the week before that). But being #126 this week still isn't too shabby, and Winkers combination of playing time and on-base ability (.376 OBP, .362 xOBP, 13% BB% ) will continue to serve him well under most scoring systems. If available, Week 13 is a great week to jump on the Winker train, as Washington gets three games in Colorado and only has one LHP on the schedule. Plus, that one leftie is Austin Gomber, who, after tricking some people for a few months into thinking he wasn't a human gas can, has now allowed 15 ER over his last three starts (all on the road).

Next Choices

Byron Buxton, MIN, OF (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 13%) - Recently named "Twin most in need of an adamantium skeleton" in a super official poll I conducted over at MLBtraderumors.com during last week's chat, Buxton is currently on a heater. This means you should probably hurry to pick him up before he sneezes out his orbital bone or something.

Max Kepler, MIN, OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 14%) - Just when you thought the kraut was completely cooked, Kepler turned things around nicely in Week 12 with a 69 APR and will get some subpar pitching in Week 13 in series against Oakland and Tampa Bay, with only one LHP on the schedule.*

*Kepler is out of Sunday's lineup with a sore elbow; consider him day-to-day.

Desperate Choices

Randal Grichuk, ARI, OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Not for those with a weak stomach (or a league with weekly moves) but Grichuk still loves to smash (and mostly start against) LHP and the Diamondbacks will face three in Week 13, with one being the Earl of Gas Can, himself, Patrick Corbin. If you're able to throw a daily dart, Grichuk vs Corbin is highly recommended.

On the IL:

- - Kerry Carpenter, DET, OF (back inflammation - no timetable)
  - Wilyer Abreu, BOS, OF (sprained ankle - no timetable)
  - Lars Nootbaar, STL, OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
  - Esteury Ruiz, OAK, OF (strained wrist - no timetable)
  - Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - no timetable)
  - LaMonte Wade Jr., SF, 1B/OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
  - Kris Bryant, COL, 1B/OF (rib contusion - no timetable)
  - Tommy Pham, CHW, OF (sprained ankle - no timetable)
  - Henry Davis, PIT, C/OF (concussion - no timetable)
  - Hunter Renfroe, KC, OF (fractured toe - no timetable)
  - Alek Thomas, ARI, OF (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
  - Ji Hwan Bae, PIT, 2B/OF (sprained wrist - no timetable)
  - Justin Foscue, TEX, 2B/OF (strained oblique - rehab assignment)
  - Joe Gallo, WSH, 1B/OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)

Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Mitch Garver, (Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 12%) - We told you last week that this Mitch was so hot right now and Garver didn't disappoint, posting a top-100 APR headed into Sunday's action. And in a week that's super thin on the catching waiver wire, he's again easily the best choice. Garver will face LHP in four of Seattle's six games, against whom he's carrying a .355 wOBA (.385 xwOBA), with 23% K% (32% vs RHP) and 16% Brl% (6% vs RHP).

Jacob Stallings, COL, C (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Wait, Jacob Stallings?!? How'd you get in here? Oh, that's right - Elias Diaz is hurt and Colorado is at home for seven games. That'll do it! It also doesn't hurt that the Rockies have three LHP on the schedule and Stallings has a career wOBA vs lefties that is forty points higher than against right-handers.

Next Choices

Shea Langeliers, OAK, C (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 16%) -It's been another top-100 week for Langeliers in Week 12, his fourth in the last seven periods, and he'll look to keep it going with matchups against the Royals and Twins in Week 13. Unfortunately, only one of the six will come vs the lefthanders that he's been crushing far more in 2024.

Ivan Herrera, STL, C (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 3%) - We talked last week about how Herrera has shown enough hitting prowess to continue getting at-bats even after Willson Contreras returned from the IL but we also mentioned that we can't always trust the Cardinals to make the right personnel moves. Case in point - Herrera on received three starts in Week 12 (two at DH, one at catcher), while Pedro Pages has started at catcher in five of the last six games. Who's Pedro Pages, you might ask? Perhaps a young upstart who has been crushing lasers and simply cannot be denied a spot in the everyday lineup? Umm...No. Pages is a backup-level talent who is slashing .114/.214/.229 for the season, with a .205 wOBA and 31 wRC+. But sure, St. Louis, make sure and keep getting him reps.

Desperate Choices

Keibert Ruiz, WSH, C (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 10%) - Ruiz has had few bright spots in his 2024 campaign but beggars can't be choosers on the wire this week and the Washington backstop gets a series in Colorado to try and earn your waiver claim.

Korey Lee, CHW, C (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 1%) - Lee has a 61 APR in Week 12 but more importantly, to his long-term value, is that he's clearly cemented himself an everyday role, starting six straight and 15 of the last 17. Relying on a White Sox is a dicey proposition but Lee is at least getting the reps to give you a high (relatively speaking) floor.

On the IL

- - Elias Diaz, COL, C (strained calf - no timetable)
  - Henry Davis, PIT, C/OF (concussion - no timetable)
  - Francisco Alvarez, NYM, C (thumb surgery - July return)
  - Joey Bart, PIT, C (thumb sprain - no timetable)
  - Tom Murphy, SF, C (sprained knee - no timetable)

Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!

More Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Advice

Five Injured Players to Stash in Fantasy Baseball - Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 14

Fantasy Baseball Closers and Saves Waiver Wire Report for Week 14

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters for HR, SB, RBI, AVG, Runs (Week 13)

Fantasy Baseball League Winners: Unlikely Aces Worth A Roster Spot? (Week 13)

Mid-Week Waiver Wire Rankings - Fantasy Baseball Pickups: Ceddanne Rafaela, Chad Green, Ben Rice, Harrison Bader, Tyler Locklear, DJ Herz

H2H Points League Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 13) - Hitters and Pitchers

Sneaky Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups and Buys (Week 13): Hot Pitchers to Sustain Success?

Florio's Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report: Getting Ahead of a Confusing Trade Market

Week 13 Waiver Wire Rankings - Fantasy Baseball Pickups Include: Ben Rice, Ceddanne Rafaela, Zach Neto, Noelvi Marte, DJ Herz, Chad Green

Points League Hitters: Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball for Week 13 (2024)