Waiver Wire Week 2

With less than two weeks of the season underway, your best bet at identifying waiver wire targets at this point of the season is to find players who are getting significant playing time and are performing well with that opportunity.

The data that we have for these players is such a small sample size, but some of it can be telling, especially discipline metrics and hard contact.

We also have some excellent resources here at Pitcherlist that you can use to help you make these tough early decisions including our PLV apps for pitchers and hitters and our detailed player pages.

Here are players rostered in 60% or fewer of ESPN leagues that you should consider adding from the waiver wire for matchup number two.

 

Catcher

 

Travis d’Arnaud (C – ATL) 38.6% Rostered

Travis d’Arnaud surprisingly has more than twice as many at-bats as his counterpart Sean Murphy. Despite not recording a walk in his 31 ABs, d’Arnaud has performed well with his opportunity. His strikeout rate is just 16.1% and he is making contact on 81% of pitches. Yes, this is early and things could change, but his early plate discipline numbers back up his solid start. D’Arnaud is making contact with 74.5% of pitches outside of the zone and has a 29.3% chase rate. This is still so early in the season, but these signs show a disciplined hitter, with home runs hopefully coming soon.

Honorable Mention: Logan O’Hoppe (16.5%)

 

Corner Infield

 

Brian Anderson (3B/OF – MIL) 44.8% Rostered

Brian Anderson has a .500/.593/1.000 slash line with three homers, eight runs, and 10 RBI in 20 at-bats. This is clearly unsustainable, but Anderson has done a few things that suggest elements of his hot start are sustainable. He has taken six walks while striking out six times, and his chase rate is 25%. This could potentially be attributed to a new approach at the plate where he is swinging less – 38.5% vs a 48% swing rate for his career. Anderson is also lofting the ball much more, with a 53.3% FB rate, and hitting the ball harder than ever. He has six barrels in 27 plate appearances and a 53.3% HardHit rate. Anderson also has multiple position eligibility, which in addition to his hard contact and improved discipline, makes him a prime target on the waiver wire even if it is just for a short streak.

Honorable Mention: Josh Jung (20.9%), Yoán Moncada (28.4%), Jason Vosler (4.3%), Patrick Wisdom (4.1%), Garrett Cooper (4.4%)

 

Middle Infield

 

Jorge Mateo (SS – BAL) 30.9%

Jorge Mateo should be rostered in more than 30.9% of leagues. The Orioles’ shortstop swiped 35 bags last year with 13 homers and has already stolen five bases in the first 10 days of the season, along with smacking two home runs. Beyond that, Mateo is taking walks at a 12.5% rate, while striking out only 16.7% of the time. A .357 BABIP and .350 batting average are unsustainable, but he is driving the ball well, with a 25% LD rate that suggests a higher-than-usual BABIP is possible.

Like Brian Anderson, Mateo has shown an improved plate approach early in the season. He has a 40.4% swing rate vs a 51.8% career rate, while his chase rate sits at an impressive 21.4%. This has resulted in a 76.3% contact rate so far this season. Mateo is widely available on waivers and now is the time to scoop him up.

Honorable Mention: Isaac Paredes (14.1%), Nolan Gorman (26.6%), Brice Turang (13.4%), Thairo Estrada (44.8%), Adam Frazier (24%)

 

Outfield

 

James Outman (OF – LAD) 19.8%

James Outman is a bit of a high-risk, high-reward player. He has the potential for double-digit homers and steals but is also a risk to strike out 30% of the time. He already has a 33.3% K rate to start the season, but has also walked six times in 27 PAs and has two homers, six runs, seven RBI, and a steal.

Outman is absolutely crushing the baseball, with three barrels and a 54.5% HardHit rate. Not only that, but he is driving the ball well, and pulling the ball 54.5% of the time, taking full advantage of batting without the shift. The Dodgers’ outfielder has earned his starting spot in the lineup with his top-notch early season performance, and even if he falls into a hard platoon, he should get the majority of the playing time as a left-handed batter. Outman is a great deep league add off the waiver wire but could be targeted in shallower leagues as well if you need some outfield help.

Honorable Mention: Myles Straw (14.8%), Jose Siri (7.8%), Garrett Mitchell (16.7%), Luke Raley (1.6%) Ji Hwan Bae (2.5%)

 

Starting Pitcher

 

Alex Cobb (SP – SF) 46.9%

Alex Cobb had some of the worst luck of all pitchers last season. He had to deal with a .336 BABIP and a 68% LOB rate with a 9 K/9 rate. Despite the problematic defense (San Francisco was 27th in fielding percentage and had the fourth most errors in baseball), he still finished with a 3.73 ERA. His xFIP was 2.89 and his SIERA was 3.15.

After two starts this season, Cobb seems to have picked up where he left off. He is limiting walks (.84 BB/9), and striking out batters at a 10 K/9 rate with a 2.53 ERA. Like last season, Cobb is leaning on his Splitter and Sinker combo. So far this season, those two pitches have a .211 and .188 batting average against respectively. Alex Cobb likely will not be on your waiver wire much longer, so he is a must-add now.

Honorable Mention: Sonny Gray (28.5%), Justin Steele (35.4%), Tylor Megill (10.3%), Zach Eflin (26.5%), Graham Ashcraft (20.8%), Noah Syndergaard (41.7%)

 

Relief Pitcher

 

Evan Phillips (RP – LAD) 27.2%

The relief market is super thin, but Evan Phillips seems to have the closing job in Los Angeles – at least for now – which makes it surprising that he is available in 70% of leagues. He has a killer putaway pitch in his sinker that has yet to be hit, along with a 33.3% whiff rate. The Dodgers should be a good team again this year and present plenty of save chances.

Honorable Mention: Pierce Johnson (6%), Alexis Díaz (50.2%), José Leclerc (17%)

 

Not all of these players will be available in your league, but hopefully, you have found someone that can help you improve ahead of your Week 2 matchup.