If you’re looking for the top fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for MLB Week 9, Fantasy Alarm has you covered!

As the calendar flips to June, we’re seeing more clarity in the standings. Those who are sitting near the top are likely being very active on the waiver wire, but those falling out of contention are going to start dropping out even more as the fantasy football coverage starts to heat up. The competition for players is not going to be as severe as it was back in late April, so don’t feel the need to overpay.

 

 

You should also be monitoring the latest MLB injuries and which players are expected to be activated soon. For example, Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis is beginning his rehab assignment and is due back at the end of the month. That means, if you’ve been using Willi Castro as a replacement, his at-bats are going to dwindle and you may need to move on. It also means that the Lewis owner could potentially drop someone he is using which could open up more pick-ups at a position you need. Studying all the latest MLB news will only help you when it’s time to put those weekly waiver wire bids in.

**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.

As always, go back and check out last week’s fantasy baseball waiver wire column and see which recommendations were made and whether or not those players are still available. If available, most of them are probably in-play again this week. Now let’s check out which other available players are worthy of your attention.

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Catchers

David Fry, Cleveland Guardians

Anytime you find a player who is seeing steady at-bats and has catcher-eligibility, you need to take a look. Fry gets work behind the plate, but also qualifies at first base and has nine games-played in the outfield so that extra eligibility is coming soon. He’s on a four-game hit streak and is slashing a stellar .360/.500/.628 with six homers, 19 RBI, 22 runs scored and three stolen bases over 114 plate appearances. If you need help behind the dish, grab him. FAAB: 6-8%

Connor Wong, Boston Red Sox

I feel like he’s in and out of this column with some semblance of regularity, so considering he’s rostered in only 10-percent of leagues on ESPN and Yahoo, he’s worth mentioning as the primary backstop in Boston. He can be streaky at times and the overall production isn’t the be-all, end-all, but he’s still batting .344 on the season with a healthy .378 OBP. FAAB: 2-3%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: First Basemen

Alec Burleson, St. Louis Cardinals

He made last week’s Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch and considering he is owned in fewer than 10-percent of leagues on ESPN and Yahoo, he should probably be considered. He’s got the first base eligibility in some leagues and outfield-only in others, but the overall production means he is worthy of being rostered at any spot as he seems to be the one guy in St. Louis who has some sort of job security getting all those at-bats at DH right now. Burleson is currently riding an eight-game hit streak with five multi-hit performances and a mix of some power and speed, so strike while the iron is hot. FAAB: 10-12%

Jake Bauers, Milwaukee Brewers

He’s the lefthanded side of a first base platoon right now as the Brewers wait for Rhys Hoskins to return from the IL. But even when Hoskins gets back, Bauers is still going to see time in left field and as a DH, so while he may sit against tough lefties, he should still garner enough at-bats each week to make him a viable replacement. There’s power but a low average so keep that in mind when making your waiver decisions. FAAB: 4-6%

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Second Basemen

Dylan Moore, Seattle Mariners

His multi-position eligibility makes him even more enticing so if you need help in the middle infield or outfield, Moore is worth the add. His defensive versatility helps keep him in the lineup and he is coming off a nice stretch against the Oriole sand Yankees that keeps him in the fantasy conversation. The power and speed may not be game-changing, but for fill-in work, his production will certainly help you maintain in your leagues. FAAB: 6-8%

Kevin Newman, Arizona Diamondbacks

This one is for those of you playing in deeper leagues. If you play in a 10-teamer or a 12-teamer with small rosters and a short bench, keep walking. But if your league is deep and competitive, Newman is seeing enough work to be a viable stopgap. Geraldo Perdomo is still a couple of weeks away from returning and Blaze Alexander’s production has fallen off dramatically. He’s got six hits over his last seven games and throws in the occasional run scored and stolen base. FAAB: 2-3%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Third Basemen

Gio Urshela, Detroit Tigers

In some leagues, he even qualifies at first base, so that’s helpful. Yes, he’s in the lineup more for his glove than his bat, but since coming off the IL, Urshela has been locked in at the hot corner for eight of the last 10 games and should be the primary. There will be times when he takes a seat in favor of getting Andy Ibanez or Matt Vierling some at-bats, but more often than not, he’ll be in the lineup. With some pop in his bat, he should be someone who can add something to your counting stats and not totally kill you in the batting average or OBP department. FAAB: 4-6%

Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays

We gave you a heads-up last week that Caminero’s promotion was imminent, so let this just serve as a reminder to keep him on your radar. Jim Bowden spoke with Rays manager Kevin Cash who acknowledged the need to move Caminero off third base in an effort to get his bat into the lineup, but also cited the return of Brandon Lowe which made Caminero’s promotion more of a luxury than out of necessity. Again, if you have the space to stash him, you should, but don’t kill your lineup or roster construction to get it done as we could be looking at something closer to the All-Star break. FAAB: 3-5%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Shortstops

Otto Lopez, Miami Marlins

You may not love investing in the Marlins, but it would appear that Lopez has grabbed ahold of the second base job in Miami and he isn’t letting go. Tim Anderson came off the IL and instead of moving Vidal Brujan back to second, he went to the bench. Lopez has now hit safely in five of his last six games with three multi-hit performances, eight RBI and a stolen base. He hits in the second half of the lineup but continues to see opportunities to plate runs. He’s helping out with the batting average, doing a decent job with OBP and plays every day. This position has been a tough spot to find help in, so grab him while you can. FAAB: 8-10%

Marco Luciano, San Francisco Giants

Luciano was called up last week after Nick Ahmed landed on the IL with a wrist injury and while he’s slated to come back soon, it’s difficult to imagine the Giants just demoting the prospect. He’s slashing .409/.480/.591 over these last seven games and while he’s only supplied you with some runs scored, he is going to add to his resume soon enough. His arrival has been fairly quiet so you can probably still grab him. Just keep in mind that playing time could be altered once the Giants infield gets healthier. FAAB: 8-10%

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Outfielders

Jake Meyers, Houston Astros

If you’ve watched or listened to the MLB DFS Show with me, Jon Impemba and Henry Wilson, then Meyers has already been on your radar. The return of Chas McCormich pushed Joey Loperfido down the depth chart and Meyers continues to patrol centerfield for the Astros. He’s slashing .300/.369/.545 on the season and over his last eight games, he’s hit safely in seven with four multi-hit performances, three home runs and nine RBI. He’s still flying under the radar, as evidenced by his sub-10-percent ownership on ESPN and Yahoo, so don’t overpay. FAAB: 8-10%

James Wood, Washington Nationals

If we’re going to remind you to stash Caminero, we are certainly ready to grab-and-stash Wood. His call-up actually should come before that of Caminero because, in reality, there is no one blocking Wood in the Nationals outfield and he is way too good to stay down at Triple-A. He is currently dealing with a hamstring injury so we aren’t expecting him this week, but the injury has been deemed minor and he’s on his way soon enough. Do it now if you can. The power is immense. FAAB: 5-7%

Heliot Ramos, San Francisco Giants

He was probably a better add last week than this week with Michael Conforto and Austin Slater on the IL, but there’s still a chance he stays in the lineup this week as everyone works themselves back from their injuries and rehab assignments. Ramos has hit safely in 10 of his last 13 games with two home runs, eight RBI and one stolen base. He’ll move off left field when Conforto returns, but is likely to work in a lefty/righty platoon in right field with Mike Yastrzemski whose ceiling we are all too familiar with. FAAB: 4-6% 

Tommy Pham, Chicago White Sox

We all know who Pham is and yes, no one wants to play fantasy football with him. But if he’s going to continue patrolling center field for the White Sox, we may have to look to him if we are in need of accruing outfield at-bats. He’s hit safely in nine of his last 11 games and has show the ability to hit for power. Yes, he only has one home run in that span, but with four doubles, we see him starting to heat up. A light bid probably gets him as he really isn’t sitting on anyone’s radar right now. FAAB: 3-5%

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Starting Pitchers

Reese Olson, Detroit Tigers

Maybe it’s because he’s 0-5 on the season and pitches for Detroit that he’s owned in fewer than 20-percent of leagues on ESPN and Yahoo. If that’s the case, it means people are sleeping and not diving in the way they should. Sure, he’s got no ins, but Olson is sporting a very impressive 2.16 ERA with a 1.06 WHIP and 43 strikeouts over 50 innings of work this season. He’s allowed one run or fewer in each of his last five starts and he’s allowed more than two runs in just one of his nine outings this season. He left his last start early with a minor hip issue but there is no sign of him landing on the IL. Watch how he pitches on Saturday before finalizing your bid on him, but a claim is definitely worthwhile.  FAAB: 8-10%

Robert Gasser, Milwaukee Brewers

We presented Gasser to you in last week’s waiver article and though he allowed four runs over six innings against the Marlins in his last start, we are more than happy to keep him on our list of potential pick-ups. The guy still owns a 2.65 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP and he’ll face Boston this weekend, a team that has struggled against left-handed pitching. From there, he’ll likely see the White Sox which we know is a soft matchup so while you won’t see big strikeout numbers from him, grab and stream him in while you can. FAAB: 8-10%

Cade Povich, Baltimore Orioles

We typically strive to be proactive when making our waiver claims, so let’s take a long look at Povich, an absolutely dynamic southpaw in the Orioles farm system. He’s got a 2.08 ERA with a 1.06 WHIP through 47.2 innings at Triple-A Norfolk, but, more importantly, the guy continues to be a strikeout machine, punching out batter at a 12.27 K/9 clip. With John Means back on the IL with a forearm issue and Dean Kremer out with a triceps injury, the Orioles are going to need some help in the rotation. Help that neither Cole Irvin nor Albert Suarez are going to be able to provide. Stash away, my friends. Do it now before he gets the call this week. FAAB: 8-10%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Closers/Relief Pitchers

Adam Ottavino, New York Mets

With news that Edwin Diaz is in need of a metal health break from the closer’s job in Flushing, Queens, Ottavino should pop into the mix for saves this week. Reed Garrett should also be watched, but Ottavino becomes the immediate add due to his level of experience in the ninth inning. For those chasing saves on the waiver wire, this is what you’ve got available. It ain’t pretty, but you’re just looking for saves here. FAAB: 10-12%

Daniel Hudson, Los Angeles Dodgers

We are hearing that Evan Phillips should be returning from the IL shortly, but until he does, Hudson is the guy to own, according to our bullpen expert Joe Gallina’s Closer Grid. He’s not long for the gig so keep your bidding sensible, but don’t overlook as we’ve seen closers return from injury and struggle to regain their form. Hudson could be mixed in longer than people anticipate. FAAB: 8-10%