Before the calendar turns to July, we have one more MLB waiver wire run to sneak in here. While entering another month is largely symbolic, this is what could be considered the beginning of the end for some teams in keeper or dynasty leagues. You should be consistently evaluating your team and its position in the standings, but now is really when you should start playing for next year if you are realistically out of contention in 2022. The MLB waiver wire is ultimately a vessel to improve your team from all angles, so some options are going to have a youthful slant. 

 

Waiver Wire Hitters

 

Bligh Madris, OF (PIT); FAAB Bid: 2-3%

While it certainly is justified that Madris did not receive nearly as much buzz as his more famous and prolific teammate in Oneil Cruz upon his promotion, we shouldn’t overlook the former. Madris has been playing most days for the Pirates and in the majority of cases, he has found himself in prime RBI spots in the middle of the order as well. In 35 plate appearances in the big leagues, Madris has a .314 average with one home run, six RBI, five runs scored, and a stolen base. Never really regarded as a top prospect, the 26-year-old was hitting .304 with 20 RBI in 46 games this season in Triple-A after hitting .272 there last season in 104 games with nine home runs and 55 RBI. Don’t expect anything too crazy here, but there is nothing wrong with riding the hot hand and seeing if he can keep it up.

 

 

Alfonso Rivas, 1B/OF (CHC); FAAB Bid: 1-2%

Rivas emerged on the scene in 18 games with the Cubs last season as he hit .318 in his major league debut but there was also the issue of his .481 BABIP. Again, we aren’t really dealing with a true prospect here but youth is on the side of Rivas who has shown the ability to hit for average in the minor leagues. Rivas has been up and down, to mixed results, this season, but with him currently back with Chicago and hitting well to take advantage of the opportunity, he is worth a look. In 48 games, Rivas has driven in 22 runs but in his last 19 at bats he has seven hits with nine of those RBI. We do like Rivas’ 27.2%-line drive rate although there isn’t much power in the profile but the batting average could be there. 

 

 

Nick Senzel, 2B/OF (CIN); FAAB Bid: 1%

We have been waiting for what seems like forever for Senzel to be healthy and able to handle consistent playing time, and that time appears to be here; at least on a temporary basis. In 22 games so far in June entering action on Wednesday, Senzel was hitting .284 with 14 runs scored and seven RBI with perhaps the most surprising thing of all – five stolen bases. If we look at Senzel’s overall profile through the Statcast lens it doesn’t paint the best picture, but based on what we have seen this month, it is worth a shot to see if the former top prospect can continue putting it together.

 

 

Gio Urshela, 3B/SS (MIN); FAAB Bid: 1%

Now, let’s get boring and go hunting for some playing time and positional flexibility on the infield. There is nothing here that is going to truly jump off the page but Urshela is hitting a solid .258 with seven home runs, 33 RBI, and 30 runs scored while receiving regular playing time this season. In most leagues, Urshela can find a role on a team while you manage injuries while not hurting you. The fact that Urshela only strikes out 16.8% of the time does help as well. 

 

 

Elias Díaz, C (COL); FAAB Bid: 1%

Let’s keep the boring trend going here as, in most situations, you can always use either a catcher or an upgrade at the position. Diaz gets the benefit of Coors Field and entering action on Wednesday, he has been doing well (or what was expected of him coming into the season). Diaz is hitting .260 with three home runs and 11 RBI through his first 15 games of June and that is enough for me. 

 

Waiver Wire Pitchers

 

Dean Kremer (BAL); FAAB Bid: 1%

There is nothing like two straight scoreless starts in which Kremer threw 12.2 innings while striking out nine to get our attention. In five starts with the Orioles so far this season the fringe prospect has a 1.29 ERA (4.34 xERA and 3.10 FIP) and while he’s only struck out a little more than six batters per nine innings and has just a 35.7% ground ball rate, Kremer has gotten results in the small sample size. Based on those two factors I’m not looking at a large investment here, but Kremer has done some good things as of late and he has a solid matchup against Texas in his next start. 

 

 

Dylan Bundy (MIN); FAAB Bid: 2%

Bundy has allowed just one run in each of his last two starts, over a combined 14 innings, to bring his ERA down to 4.80 on the season (3.85 xERA). The fact that Bundy only strikes out about seven batters per nine innings does limit his upside, but it is also part of the reason why he is available in 85% of Yahoo leagues. At this point, what you see is what you get from Bundy but for those hunting for innings, the right-hander does provide some value without too much risk.

 

 

Rony García (DET); FAAB Bid: 2%

Anytime a pitcher picks up victories in three straight starts it certainly is going to get our attention. That is the case for Garcia who has posted a 2.76 ERA and 0.98 WHIP over that stretch while striking out 12 batters in 16.1 innings. In 48.1 innings so far this season Garcia has posted a solid 4.28 (4.43 FIP) but his 6.93 xERA does make me want to pump the breaks somewhat. Garcia’s 30% ground ball rate isn’t ideal and we do have to be on the lookout for some regression based on his .240 BABIP and 1.68 home runs allowed per nine innings but he does strike out about a batter an inning while walking less than three. A 17.7% barrel rate against is another warning sign but as a streamer, Garcia has some value based on the actual results we are getting. 

 

 

Hunter Strickland (CIN); FAAB Bid: 2-3%

With Strickland getting the last two save opportunities for Cincinnati that puts him right on our radar. The right-hander has four saves on the season but you are going to have to deal with a fair amount of stress in the chase as Strickland has posted a 4.91 ERA so far this season while walking 6.31 batters per nine innings. If you are desperate for saves though, you might not have much of a choice. 

 

 

Brooks Raley (TB); FAAB Bid: 1%

Trying to determine who is going to truly be in line for saves in Tampa Bay is ultimately a fruitless effort, but if you hang around long enough, you will get a save or two from just about all of their relievers. Raley is our latest option, and over the last 14 days, the left-hander has pitched eight scoreless innings while striking out 12 batters and picking up a save. In 24.1 innings so far this season, Raley has a 2.22 ERA (2.37 xERA) while striking out 11.84 batters per nine innings and allowing just one barrel against in 56 batted ball events. 

 

 

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