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Fantasy Baseball: Sleeper And Waiver Adds For The Second Half

With the All-Star game behind us, fantasy owners should look for sleeper and waiver add for the second half. Whether you are winning your league or trying to push for a playoff spot, this is a crucial part of the season. The moves you make now can make or break your season.  Let’s see who is available on waivers and who your league sleeps on.

Fantasy Baseball: Sleeper And Waiver Adds For The Second Half

Pitching Sleepers And Fantasy Baseball:

Robbie Ray, LHP, San Francisco Giants- Ray is recovering from his 2023 Tommy John surgery. So far, in the minors, Ray has been dominant. He has been pitching at different levels, including complex leagues, but is sporting 14.3 strikeouts per nine innings.  Ray built up to 74 pitches in his last outing in Single-A San Jose, striking out nine in five scoreless innings. The former Cy Young winner is owned in 35% of Yahoo! leagues.  He is still showing on the IL and can be stashed.  He is projected to pitch for San Francisco soon after the break, if not immediately.

Spencer Schwellenbach, RHP, Atlanta Braves- Schwellenbach has been a solid streamer this season.  If you are looking for depth at pitching with decent upside, the righty in Atlanta is a solid addition.  In eight games this season, Schwellenbach has had negative fantasy points only once, and that was his second start.  Spencer has above-average hard-hit and barrel rates and a 35% chase rate. The right-hander continues to improve with each start, giving up only two earned runs in his last two starts with no home runs, nine strikeouts, and one walk. He put up 34 fantasy points against the Detroit Tigers on June 18th but averages 17 points per game.  Schwellenbach is owned in just 24% of Yahoo! leagues.

Jeff Hoffman, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies-  If you are having a tough time finding saves, Hoffman might help you out.  Hoffman is rostered in 61% of leagues on Yahoo! but he’s worth checking on.  The right-handed relief pitcher picked up four saves in his final six appearances headed into the All-Star break.  Jose Alvarado has been used in the setup roll more often than not recently.  Both pitchers will get chances at saves for now, but Hoffman looks to be the front-runner to secure the job.  Hoffman will get you saves and help lower your team’s ERA and WHIP.

Ben Joyce, RHP, Los Angeles Angels- This is a long shot.  If you are starved for saves, take a look at Joyce. Carlos Estevez hasn’t been himself lately and is rumored to be traded before the deadline.  Joyce has had control issues during his time in LA, but his ability to hit 104 mph on the radar gun is enough for him to continue playing. Since joining the Angles on June 5th, Joyce has lowered his ERA every game, not giving up an earned run since June 11th.  The strike-out stuff is there; if he can add saves and limit walks, he will be a top-tier pitcher.  Joyce is owned in 5% of Yahoo! leagues.

 

Other’s Pitchers To Consider From The Wire

River Ryan, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers- Owned in 5% of leagues.

Yilber Diaz, Sp Arizona Diamondbacks- Owned in 13% of leagues.

Jeffrey Springs, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays- Owned in 33% of leagues.

Batting Sleepers And Waiver Claims

Lars Nootbaar, RF, St. Louis Cardinals- Nootbaar has spent much of the season injured.  The Cardinals outfielder played the last seven games for the Cards before the break with only one extra-base hit. Nootbaar has been batting behind Nolan Arenado, which should provide Nootbaar with plenty of RBI opportunities.  The outfielder will also swipe the occasional base as a bonus (14 in 2023).  Nootbaar is available in 72% of Yahoo! leagues.  The Cardinals were surging before the break.  If that trend continues, Nootbaar will be a big part of their success.

Lawrence Butler, OF, Oakland Athletics- Butler and the rest of Oakland went off against the Phillies in the last game before the break.  Butler hit three two-run home runs in the contest, scoring 48 fantasy points. That one-game outing was enough to shoot Butler up from 0% rostered to 20% rostered.  Butler is now swinging a hot bat, slashing .317/.349/.854 in July.  Butler is a free swinger, striking out seven times more than he has walked in the last 30 days.  You can ride the hot bat despite the negatives until a better option arises.

 

Xavier Edwards, 2B/SS, Miami Marlins- I make rules every season to avoid certain teams.  This season, I’ve done my best to avoid the Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins. That said, Xavier Edwards showed that he had fantasy potential early on.  After getting called up on June 7th, Edwards has gone hitless in two games. It’s a small sample size, but Edwards is slashing .352/.426/.852 this season.  Where Edwards lacks power (no home runs this season), he makes up for it in terms of speed and stolen base upside. Edwards is rostered in 7% of leagues and is my favorite sleeper on this list to have a big second half.

Tyler Stephenson, C, Cincinnati Reds, is quietly putting together a solid season. Owned in only 25% of leagues, he is a completely viable fantasy option at the backstop. Not only is he on a team that scores many runs, but he is heating up. During his last week heading into the break, the 6’4 catcher was slashing .345/.367/.862.  Stephenson scored 85 fantasy points in a three-game stretch against Colorado that week. Mostly batting between Spencer Steer and a red-hot Johnathan India, Stephenson has plenty of RBI and run-scoring opportunities.

 

Michael Toglia, 1B/OF, Colorado Rockies- Michael Toglia owners have to take the good with the bad.  Toglia has hit 16 home runs in 51 games this season.  He is 6’5 and plays half of his games at Coors Field. His 103 ops+ is ok.  This is all the stuff that will get you points.  The problem is he is all or nothing on the plate.  Toglia has struck out 60 times in his 15 walks this season.  This goes along with his .197 batting average and his playing for the Rockies.  Toglia is very similar to Adam Dunn but with a little less pop. If you want a big bat off the bench, though, Toglia is your guy. When he gets hot, put him in, and when he gets cold, leave him on the bench.  Toglia is owned in 16% of leagues.

Other Batters To Consider From The Wire

Eugenio Suarez, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks- Owned in 30% of leagues.

Max Schuemann, 2B/SS/OF, Oakland Athletics- Owned in 16% of leagues.

Zach Neto, SS, Los Angeles Angels- Owned in 34% of leagues

 

Main Photo Credits: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Winston Meadows

Winston Meadows

Winston is happily married with three kids and way too many dogs. He has been an NC State fan his entire life and has never known true happiness. He retired at 39 and now he spends all of his time talking about baseball.

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