With another full week of baseball coming up, it’s always smart to check the waiver wire or scout for the occasional ‘diamond in the rough’ fantasy star found at a very cheap cost. Winning the waiver wire could be the difference between grabbing a few extra points to land in the money or falling just short. Here’s a few hitters that might be available on your league waiver wire or could be found at a relatively low cost against favorable pitching matchups.
(Note: Stats and numbers are as of July 22nd)
Monday, July 24: Jose Iglesias (DET SS) vs. KC Jason Hammel (4-8 4.81 ERA)
Iglesias has not been much of a power threat at the bottom of the Detroit lineup, but he’s been hitting well recently, batting .304 with four RBI over the past week. Hammel has faced the Tigers in two starts this season, allowing five runs in 10.2 innings. In his four July starts, he’s 0-2 with a 5.01 ERA. Right-handers are hitting .300 against Hammel this season. Iglesias is only owned in 17% of Fantrax leagues, so he will likely be available off the waiver wire as a fill-in shortstop.
Tuesday, July 25: Colin Moran (HOU 3B) vs. PHI Nick Pivetta (3-5 5.58 ERA)
With Carlos Correa going on the disabled list, a spot opened up for Moran. In his first start of the season, Moran homered and tripled with two RBI. Pivetta has been hit hard in two starts since the All-Star break, surrendering 12 runs and 12 hits in 10.1 innings. Right-handers are batting .308 against Pivetta this season. Moran is only owned in 11% of Fantrax leagues and will continue to be a solid option while Correa is sidelined. Note than Moran left Saturday’s game after fouling a ball off his eye, so check his status before using him.
Wednesday, July 26: Francisco Cervelli (PIT C) vs. SF Jeff Samardzija (4-11 5.05 ERA)
In Cervelli’s last 10 games, he’s batted .447 with two home runs and nine RBI. His current batting average is at .278, his highest since Opening Day. Samardzija is 1-2 in four starts with a 6.94 ERA in the month of July. He was tagged for five runs in 4.1 innings in his last start against the Padres. Cervelli is owned in 44% of Fantrax leagues, but he’s definitely a solid option to use in daily fantasy.
Thursday, July 27: T.J. Rivera (NYM 1B/2B/3B) vs. SD Luis Perdomo (4-5 4.94 ERA)
Rivera has come out of the All-Star break with a .259/.310/.407 slash line and will continue to get at-bats while the Mets try to figure out what direction the team is heading in regards to making roster moves. Over the past month, Rivera has batted .343 with three home runs and 13 RBI. Perdomo was tagged for seven runs in 2.1 innings during his start against Colorado this week. Rivera is only owned in 23% of Fantrax leagues and can play almost every position in the infield, so he might make as a cheap pickup in daily fantasy.
Friday, July 28: Adam Lind (WAS 1B) vs. COL German Marquez (7-4 4.34 ERA)
Lind has not been an everyday starter for the Nationals, but when he’s in the lineup, he’s hitting very well. Since the All-Star break, Lind is 7-for-10 and hit a home run in each of his two starts. Marquez faced the Nationals in his April 25th start and was tagged for eight runs in four innings. He has given up at least three earned runs in each of his past four starts. Lind is owned in 16% of Fantrax leagues, and if he’s in the starting lineup, he’s definitely worth playing that day.
Saturday, July 29: Nick Williams (PHI OF) vs. ATL Sean Newcomb (1-5 4.86 ERA)
Williams was called up to the majors at the end of last month and has made an immediate impact on the team. In 17 games, Williams is batting .311 with nine extra-base hits and 12 RBI. Newcomb has been rocked in the month of July, posting a 0-3 record with a 11.37 ERA in three starts. His ERA ballooned from 1.48 to 4.86 over those three starts. Williams is owned in 38% of Fantrax leagues, and that percentage will continue to rise.
Sunday, July 30: Wilmer Difo (WAS 2B/SS) vs. COL Tyler Chatwood (6-11 4.74 ERA)
Difo has been splitting shortstop playing time with Stephen Drew because Trea Turner is on the disabled list. Difo has the opportunity to break away and earn the starting spot if he continues to hit. Difo has hit .390 over the past month and .308 over the past week. Chatwood is listed to make this start. but there’s a possibility he’ll be pushed back if his recovery from the disabled list is slow. Difo is only owned in 14% of Fantrax leagues and will rack up stats as long as Turner is still out.