It’s time to check in with the MLB Week 14 fantasy baseball waiver wire and figure out who the best pickups will be for MLB Week 15 lineups.

We are rapidly approaching the MLB All-Star break which means we only have three months remaining until a fantasy baseball champion is crowned. Less than three months actually which means time is of the essence. MLB injuries continue to pile up and before you know it, your fantasy baseball trade deadline is here. Finding the right players on your waiver wire is key, especially if you are in contention and need to fill some holes. Your trades should land you the primary components you need to advance your team, but before those players are acquired, the waiver wire is your best friend.

 

 

As always, let me urge you to go back and look at past waiver wire articles as well as the Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch. Every league is different and you never know which recommended players may have fallen through the cracks. It’s a little more difficult to find hitters, but pitching remains deep, especially when so many fantasy owners are streaming starting pitchers. Players are added and dropped regularly, so if you’re looking in the right places, you may be able to find an overlooked arm that can help stabilize your rotation.

**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

Hunter Goodman, Colorado Rockies

The overall numbers are nothing to get excited about, but a guy who qualifies at catcher, plays first base and the outfield and plays half his games at Coors Field certainly deserves an extra look if you need help behind the dish. The overall batting average isn’t going to be of much help, but prior to getting a day off at the end of the week, Goodman went a 10-game stretch where he hit .270 (10-for-37) with one double, five home runs and 10 RBI. FAAB: 6-8%

Ben Rortvedt, Tampa Bay Rays

While he sits against lefties, Rortvedt has some decent fantasy value behind the plate if you’re looking for someone to fill in for injuries or even just a streamer to gain more at-bats at the position. He’s hit safely in his last five starts, batting .500 (9-for-18) with three multi-hit performances, three doubles, two home runs and nine RBI. Can’t say the production is going to be as robust moving forward, but if you need catcher help, here you go. FAAB: 3-5%

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: First Basemen

Michael Busch, Chicago Cubs

There were some people trying to throw the ol’ “league-winner” label on Busch after he belted six home runs with 17 RBI during the first month of the season, but quickly abandoned him after he hit just .208 with two homers and just six RBI for the month of May. But then June came along and suddenly, we’re back in business. The power hasn’t been there, but Busch hit .299 for the month of June and has been honing his plate discipline. He’s rostered in less than 20-percent of leagues on ESPN and Yahoo, so if you’re looking for corner infield help with some power potential, he’s your guy. FAAB: 6-8%

Justin Turner, Toronto Blue Jays

Desperate times call for desperate measures and while Turner is not considered an every-day player, he sees enough at-bats to contribute on a fantasy level. He is currently on a five-game hit streak and has hit safely in eight of his last nine, batting .429 (12-for-28) with two doubles, one home run, four RBI and seven runs scored. FAAB: 3-5%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Second Basemen

Michael Massey, Kansas City Royals

After an extended stay on the injured list, Massey has returned to the Royals lineup and is back to regularly playing second base.  He was incredibly productive throughout the month of May before getting hurt, batting .333 with five home runs and 18 RBI and should be able to provide steady production at the keystone. FAAB: 6-8% 

Jeff McNeil, New York Mets

Again, desperate times call for desperate measures and the middle infield is not exactly brimming with available talent. If you’re looking for a part-time fill-in who won’t cost much off the waiver wire, then McNeil is worth a shot. He’s a lefthanded bat with a career .291 batting average and .343 wOBA against righties, so he could offer some help in deeper formats or leagues with daily roster moves. FAAB: 2-4% 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Third Basemen

Noelvi Marte, Cincinnati Reds

Whether it was last week’s waiver wire column or the June 6th Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch, I’ve been telling you for some time now that Marte would be back from his suspension at the end of June and you should stash him away. Well, here he is and he enjoyed a three-hit night in his return. Marte is currently owned in fewer than 15-percent of leagues on ESPN and Yahoo and considering his power potential and Great American Smallpark being home-base, he’s someone you need to go after. It’ll cost you, but this kind of production is rarely available at this time of the season. FAAB: 30-35%

Josh Rojas, Seattle Mariners

While he sits against the occasional lefty, Rojas has been grabbing pretty close to regular at-bats in Seattle. The numbers aren’t showing it right now, but there is a blend of some power and speed and should he start to heat up like he did during a seven-game stretch just two weeks ago, he should be able to provide you with a little bit of help. Nothing crazy – just about accruing some at-bats if you need them. FAAB: 2-4%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Shortstops

Miguel Rojas, Los Angeles Dodgers

With Mookie Betts sidelined, Rojas has been seeing the majority of playing time at shortstop for the Dodgers and while his power and speed potential are barely average, he’s proven to be reasonably productive over these last couple of weeks. Over his last 10 games, Rojas has hit .282 (11-for-39) with four doubles and seven runs scored. If he can even stay on that level, hitting anywhere in the Dodgers lineup is going to be good for production. FAAB: 5-7%

Zach Neto, Los Angeles Angels

Like I said, the middle infield looks a little barren on waivers right now, so allow me to remind you that Neto is rostered in less than 10-percent of leagues on ESPN and Yahoo. He was in last week’s column, so there isn’t much more to say other than the fact that, if you play in a league with daily roster moves, Neto crushes left-handed pitching. We’re talking about a .413 average and .434 wOBA. FAAB: 3-5%

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Outfielders

James Wood, Washington Nationals

Time to empty those FAAB wallets people! Time to use that No. 1 waiver priority you’ve been hoarding all season! The report came in on Friday that the Nationals would be calling up their star outfield prospect on Monday, so if you failed to heed my warnings back in late-May, you’re going to land yourself in a bidding war. The 21-year-old lefty bat missed a little time with a hamstring injury, but he’s back and just as powerful as ever. So far at Triple-A Rochester, Wood is slashing .346/.458/.578 with 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases over 51 games and will remain a fixture in the Washington outfield for the duration of the season. He could even challenge for Rookie of the Yar honors. That’s how good he is. FAAB: 45-50%

Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox

Abreu has been one of the more pleasant surprises coming out of this Boston lineup as he hit .316 with two homers, 12 RBI and four stolen bases over the first month of the season and then powered up for four homers in May. Yes, the batting average dipped, but his overall line of .259-28-6-22-7 has been a tremendous boost for fantasy owners who spent next to nothing on him this season. Now that he’s back from injury, Abreu has played in five-straight games and is just starting to get his swing back. If you need outfield help, he’s going to offer you some decent consistency. FAAB: 10-12% 

Jake Meyers /Chas McCormick, Houston Astros

Neither player is being rostered heavily, so check your waiver wire to see if both are available. Kyle Tucker will be back soon from his oblique injury and that will likely push McCormick over to left field with Meyers staying in center. Whether McCormick platoons with Joey Loperfido in left or not, both he and Meyers are great low-budget additions who contribute with a little but of power and/or a little bit of speed. Meyers would be my first move with McCormick as a contingency pick, but if both are getting at-bats in this Houston lineup, they’re going to help. FAAB: 5-7% each

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Starting Pitchers

Bryse Wilson, Milwaukee Brewers

We’re not looking at a game-breaker here, but you could do a lot worse with what’s out there in some of the leagues in which I play. Wilson, like any other young hurler, has the occasional hiccup, but over the 11 games since he’s been converted to a starter’s role, Wilson has allowed three runs or fewer in nine of them. Modest strikeout numbers, but he’s kept the ERA under 4.00 throughout the year. Careful with his next two starts as he’s on the road in Colorado and Los Angeles (Dodgers), but he could help you in the second half. FAAB: 3-5%

Sean Manaea, New York Mets

I’ve never been a he fan of Manaea, but you can’t argue against his recent production, allowing just four earned runs over his last 15.2 innings (three starts). What’s most intriguing are the opponents with which he’s faced during that stretch. The Yankees, Rangers and Padres are three of the tougher lineups in the game with both the Yankees and Rangers being strong against southpaws. He’s going to close out the first half with starts against the Nationals and Pirates, so he should be a decent streaming option with some good strikeout upside. FAAB: 3-5%

Robbie Ray, San Francisco Giants

Here’s your weekly stash play. While he won’t be back until after the All-Star break, it might be wise to stash him now if you can. Ray has allowed just one run over his last three rehab outings (8.1 innings) and has a 10:1 K:BB over that span. We know he’s a high-strikeout guy and while he’s been prone to a shellacking here and there, the home park is going to be a nice boost for him. He’s not on a lot of people’s radar just yet, so a small bid should get him. FAAB: 3-5%

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Closers/Relief Pitchers

Reed Garrett, New York Mets

If he’s out there, you may as well scoop him up for this final week before Edwin Diaz returns from suspension. The Mets haven’t had much in the way of save opportunities recently and Adam Ottavino also lurks, but every save and hold counts and Garrett is also augmenting your strikeouts too. FAAB: 6-8%

Don’t forget, for all the info on bullpens and saves, check out our Fantasy Baseball Closer Grid as it provides you with who is getting saves and who is next in-line.