Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Ortiz, Butler Strong Options

It’s crunch time, folks. With just over a month remaining in the fantasy baseball season, we need to keep streaming players who can help us gain — and maintain — leads in the standings. Working the fantasy baseball waiver wire is crucial in that effort.

The players listed below can provide category boosts down the stretch. All are rostered in 70% or fewer of Fantrax leagues and should be considered, depending on your roster needs. With that, let’s get to the Week 23 fantasy baseball waiver wire targets.

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets

Abimelec Ortiz, 1B/OF, Nationals (52%)

Abimelec Ortiz has done nothing but hit since his recall in early August. He piled up 12 hits in 15 games, while slashing .267/.298/.622 with five home runs and a .390 xwOBA. And Ortiz isn’t just making contact; he’s crushing the ball to the tune of a 17.6% barrel rate and .356 ISO, while pulling balls in the air at a hefty 30.6% clip.

As the two-hole hitter on a potent Nationals offense, Ortiz is in a prime position to produce down the stretch. While he sits against lefties, that’s not a problem next week with six right-handed starters on the docket in seven games. Ortiz is a nice power pickup this week.

Lawrence Butler, OF, Athletics (69%)

Lawrence Butler is on a heater. He reached base safely in eight of his last nine games and racked up four dingers in that stretch. While he’s had an underwhelming season, Butler has been a productive bat since the All-Star break. In his last 31 games, he logged six home runs and three steals to go with 16 runs and 14 RBI. Butler also tacked on four doubles and a triple in those 114 plate appearances while barreling the ball at an 11.5% clip.

Butler has significant home/road splits. 10 of his 11 homers have come at Sutter Health Field, where he maintains a .782 OPS and .226 ISO. On the flip side, he owns an ugly .529 OPS and .049 ISO on the road. But if you need a power boost, have no fear — all six of the Athletics’ games are at home next week.

Josh Bell, 1B, Twins (68%)

Josh Bell always seems to be bouncing on and off the wire, and now’s the time to add him if available. Bell has been on fire in August, hitting .361 with a 1.167 OPS across 70 plate appearances. He popped four homers in that 16-game stretch to go with 12 runs and 14 RBI with a 193 wRC+. Additionally, Bell is flexing strong plate skills this month by logging more walks than strikeouts and making contact in the zone at a 93% clip. Bell isn’t flashy and tends to get overlooked by fantasy managers. Take advantage while he’s hitting and piling up counting stats.

Henry Bolte, OF, Athletics (46%)

Henry Bolte has been on a tear, slashing .338/.375/.515 across 72 plate appearances this month while contributing across the board. In that 17-game span, Bolte logged three homers, 13 runs, eight RBI and a couple of steals with a 149 wRC+. A .417 BABIP helped his cause, but under the hood, a 9.8% barrel rate, 51% hard-hit rate and 92.3 mph AVG EV are nothing to sneeze at.

Bolte’s hot hitting recently moved him into the top two spots in the order. Combine that with 100th percentile sprint speed on the year, and Bolte has an opportunity to provide sneaky run production and steals, without hurting your batting average.

Alejandro Kirk, C, Blue Jays (67%)

Alejandro Kirk has been one of the hottest hitters in the league of late. He’s in the middle of an eight-game hitting streak, where he racked up 14 hits over 33 at-bats, including five multi-hit efforts and three long balls.

Kirk’s hot hitting has been a continuation of a strong second half. In his last 103 plate appearances, Kirk has a .364/.437/.557 slash line with five homers and 18 RBI. The backstop continued to show off his trademark plate patience in that stretch with a 12.6% walk rate and 9.7% strikeout rate. Kirk has racked up the third-most fantasy points at the position over the last 30 days and recently moved into the three-spot in the lineup. It’s criminal he’s not rostered more widely; go remedy that.

Ben Joyce, RP, Angels (51%)

Ben Joyce gets a fantasy boost with Samy Natera landing on the IL. Joyce has been sidelined for nearly all of the season with a shoulder injury, but has been impressive since returning earlier this month. In six appearances, he’s yet to allow an earned run with an 8:1 K:BB. In that six-inning stretch, Joyce’s 42.1% K% comes with a 15.9% SwStr% and pairs well with a 5.3% BB%. Workload concerns come with Joyce, and save opportunities could be scarce. But at the very least, consider Joyce a ratio stabilizer who could bag a handful of steals rest of season.

Kodai Senga, RP, Mets (61%)

Kodai Senga has settled in nicely as the Mets’ interim closer. He picked up four consecutive saves since Devin Williams landed on the IL and owns a 1.50 ERA (2.61 xERA), 1.00 WHIP and 16.7% K-BB% in six relief appearances in August. There’s risk with Senga, as walks (15% BB%) and home runs (2.13 HR/9) have plagued him this season. However, if you’re chasing saves, Senga is worth adding while he’s locked in and the Mets are turning to him.