Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire 2024: Frankie Montas, Spencer Torkelson - Week 26

We are in the home stretch of the baseball season. If you are in head-to-head leagues, you are likely in the playoffs, or if you are in roto, you are trying to make that final push to the end. Even in these last few weeks of the season, waiver wire pickups can be extremely important. The correct additions now can be the difference between a championship and a 2nd place finish. Let’s get into some good fantasy baseball waiver wire targets to help you get to the finish line.
We are now at the point where you can make some drastic moves to jump in the standings. Always look at your standings to see what you need. Are you not going to move anywhere in saves? Maybe you can cut your closers so you can chase strikeouts and wins. Is one of your star players slumping? With this short of time left, you could move on to ride a hot bat.
I’m a big advocate for streaming pitchers in the playoffs if it’s required to help you keep pace with regard to strikeouts, ERA and WHIP, wins, etc. You can find some of the absolute best streaming options in the latest Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers and Streamers article from Ivar Anderson. That article is a must-read; getting the right pitching options is more important now than ever.
**Please keep in mind, these FAAB bids are a guideline, not the gospel. You should be keeping track of how everyone in your league is bidding, so you understand that if you really need the player, you should raise your bid accordingly.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Catchers
Francisco Alvarez, New York Mets
Francisco Alvarez has homered in each of his last two games. He is someone who could go on a power streak quickly here to end the season. He will likely be playing almost every day for a good Mets team, and if he gets hot, he could be a great addition at catcher to end the season. FAAB: 3-5%
Hunter Goodman, Colorado Rockies
Hunter Goodman should be available just about everywhere; he has extremely low ownership. Goodman is not someone I’m sure I believe in the long term, and he might not be playing every single day, so you may need a situation where you have a second catcher with him. However, the Rockies have a lot of home games to end the season, and we just saw a double homer game by Goodman. If you are trying to catch lightning in a bottle, it doesn’t hurt to try and stream a catcher playing a lot of games in Coors to end the season FAAB: 1-2%
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: First Basemen
Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers
Spencer Torkelson has looked excellent since being called back up by the Tigers. He has slashed .256/.323/.456 since his return, along with 4 homers. He is batting 6th every day in an improved Tigers offense and should continue to provide some good production through the end of the season. FAAB: 1-3%
Pavin Smith, Arizona Diamondbacks
Pavin Smith is in a platoon situation, so this is likely only if you are in a daily moves league, but if so, being able to stream Pavin Smith could provide a solid boost. He has 4 homers in the last week, including a 3-homer game. He is only playing against right-handers, but if you can manage him that way, he could quickly provide some homers, runs, and RBIs in a scorching Diamondbacks offense. FAAB: 0-1%
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Second Basemen
Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a pretty horrible offense right now, but they can still provide some solid streaming options, with Brandon Lowe being one of the better ones. He can go through cold streaks and isn’t going to give you a ton of batting average, but he provides both power and speed, which can be hard to come by on the waiver wire right now. FAAB: 2-3%
Miguel Rojas, Los Angeles Dodgers
This one does not give you much excitement right now either, but with the tough waiver wire for 2nd base right now, if you just need to fill a void, Rojas can at least provide you with some counting categories since he is on a good team. FAAB: 0-1%
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Third Basemen
Andres Chaparro, Washington Nationals
This young National team has some fun pieces, and I like Chaparro's addition. He has some decent power upside, and with solid plate skills, I think he should at least provide steady production if you need a day-to-day bat. FAAB: 1-2%
Brayan Rocchio, Cleveland Guardians
Brayan Rocchio is a guy with solid prospect pedigree. He has been in a cold slump the last few days, but I still think he could provide some value down the stretch. He can easily sprinkle in some homers and steals, and with multi-position eligibility at third and short, he could put in some decent numbers to end the season. FAAB: 1-2%
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Shortstops
Trevor Story, Boston Red Sox
Trevor Story has been a disappointment for quite a few seasons now really struggling to get healthy and underpeforming when he has been on the field, but we know the kind of production that he can provide. He still has a ton of power-speed upside. He had his first homer against the Yankees on Friday, and if he can get hot, he could still provide plenty of value to end the season. FAAB: 2-3%
Trey Sweeney, Detroit Tigers
Trey Sweeney has been a good mid-August call-up for the Tigers. He has 3 homers, 2 steals, and a .982 OPS over his last 10 games. The Tigers will be hoping he can continue to produce at these levels as they push for the postseason, and he could do the same for your team if you are looking for a boost at shortstop. FAAB: 1-2%
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Outfielders
Mickey Moniak, Los Angeles Angels
Mickey Moniak has already shown us for stretches that he can be one of the better hitters in the game when he gets hot. He is on a bit of a power surge right now, and he is a guy I am always willing to ride the hot bat with. The Angels aren’t good but they have some really good hitter still and can provide some production at the top of their lineup and if Moniak stays hot could give you a lot of value over the last few weeks of the season. FAAB: 3-5%
Randal Grichuk, Arizona Diamondbacks
This is a similar pickup to Pavin Smith as a platoon bat for the Diamondbacks, who is currently providing a ton of power. He is mostly hitting against lefties, but the amount of power and counting categories he can give you as a part of this Diamondbacks team could be a huge boost. FAAB: 1-2%
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Starting Pitchers
Frankie Montas, Milwaukee Brewers
Since joining the Milwaukee Brewers, Frankie Montas has had 50 strikeouts in 45 innings, with a 3.40 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. He is getting a ton of strikeouts and can have great win chances now that he is pitching for a good team. FAAB: 15-20%
Texas Rangers Starters
The main one likely available to you is Kumar Rocker, who just made his debut with 7 strikeouts in 4 innings against the Mariners. He might have some volatility, but he has such a good strikeout upside that he can be worth adding for the season. If Jacob deGrom or Max Scherzer are available, though, you should be adding them as they could both be some of the better pitchers in baseball still over the last couple weeks of the season FAAB: 15-20%
Player News
Jordan Westburg (finger) is not in the lineup for Sunday’s series finale against the Yankees.
Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino told reporters Westburg has been diagnosed with a left index finger sprain and could return to the lineup in two or three days. The positive news here is that X-rays came back negative for any fractures after Westburg jammed his finger on the second-base bag during Saturday’s contest at Yankee Stadium. He’s still sore and can’t fully grip a bat, so fantasy managers shouldn’t expect him back until some point during the club’s next series against the Rangers, which gets underway on Monday night.
Anthony Volpe is on the bench for Sunday’s series finale against the Orioles.
It’s a scheduled off day for Volpe, who finally snapped a prolonged hitless streak during Saturday’s one-sided blowout, finishing 3-for-4 with his ninth home run of the season. The 24-year-old shortstop should be back in there for Monday’s series opener against the Reds. It’ll be Oswald Peraza taking over at shortstop during Sunday morning’s matinee at Yankee Stadium.
Tyler O’Neill (shoulder) will re-start a minor league rehab assignment on Sunday with High-A Aberdeen.
O’Neill was pulled off his rehab assignment last weekend to receive an anti-inflammatory injection in the AC joint of his left shoulder. The 30-year-old slugger has been on the shelf since mid-May. He should return to Baltimore’s outfield mix by the end of June or early July.
Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said Sunday that Adley Rutschman (oblique) will likely be out through the All-Star break.
Fantasy managers shouldn’t expect Rutschman back until after next month’s Midsummer Classic, which takes place on July 15 in Atlanta. The 27-year-old backstop hit the shelf earlier this weekend for the first time in his career with a left oblique strain. The frustrating development here is that the Orioles seemingly aren’t considering promoting top prospect Samuel Basallo and will instead roll with veteran Gary Sánchez and rookie Maverick Handley as his caddy.
Jordan Westburg (finger) is not in the lineup for Sunday’s series finale against the Yankees.
Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino told reporters Westburg has been diagnosed with a left index finger sprain and could return to the lineup in two or three days. The positive news here is that X-rays came back negative for any fractures after Westburg jammed his finger on the second-base bag during Saturday’s contest at Yankee Stadium. He’s still sore and can’t fully grip a bat, so fantasy managers shouldn’t expect him back until some point during the club’s next series against the Rangers, which gets underway on Monday night.
Yankees recalled LHP Jayvien Sandridge from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Sandridge is like to only be up for Sunday’s series finale against the Orioles with the club needing to call up starter Allan Winans for Monday’s game against the Reds. The 26-year-old lefty was up earlier this month with New York, but didn’t end up making his big-league debut.