Fantasy Baseball Week 15 Waiver Wire Adds: Kyle Higashioka, Jackson Chourio, Heston Kjerstad and More

Discussing the most-added fantasy baseball players in the 15th week of the fantasy baseball season.

The 15th week of the fantasy baseball season is here, so it’s time to go over the top waiver wire options at the start of the week.

We’ll focus on hitters only off the Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups page. FantasySP’s Daniel Hepner covers most of the pitchers on the list in his daily streaming articles.

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Isiah Kiner-Falefa Fantasy Outlook

Kiner-Falefa has made this waiver wire article several times this season and is hot again at the plate.

In 82 total games this season, Kiner-Falefa has a .292 average and .338 on-base percentage. He’s doubled eight times, homered on seven occasions and tripled twice among his 75 total hits. Kiner-Falefa also has 33 RBIs, 32 runs scored, three stolen bases, 13 walks and 37 strikeouts this season.

Kiner-Falefa went hitless on Sunday, but had hits in the previous 13 games. Over that span, Kiner-Falefa had 21 total hits, including three home runs and one double. He also had seven RBIs, 13 runs scored and eight strikeouts over that timeframe. Kiner-Falefa failed to draw a walk in the past 14 games, but has been hit by five pitches to reach base a few more times.

What I like most about Kiner-Falefa is that he can play all over the field. He’s appeared in 40 games at second base, 38 contests at third base, 15 games at shortstop and one in center field. That should get him some fantasy position versatility, but more importantly means he’s in the lineup often.

He’s up to 54% owned in fantasy leagues, and I think it’s still far too low. Kiner-Falefa is outperforming a lot of the fantasy starters for standard league teams and at least deserves to be a bench option in those leagues.

Kyle Higashioka Fantasy Outlook

Higashioka has been the Padres’ primary catcher since Luis Campusano hit the injured list. Higashioka has been hot at the plate, which explains fantasy owners adding him now.

For the season, Higashioka has a .204 average and .243 OBP. He’s got three doubles, one triple and nine home runs among his 20 total hits. The catcher also has 22 RBIs, 14 runs scored, five walks and 33 strikeouts.

Since June 21, Higashioka has seven hits, including four homers and a double, 12 RBIs, seven runs scored and three walks and strikeouts.

Serving as the backup to Campusano, Higashioka wasn’t getting a ton of playing time prior to Campusano’s injury. With the amount of talent San Diego has in its lineup, I don’t expect Higashioka to play a bunch when Campusano returns, but this at least shows Higashioka could be streamed when in the starting lineup.

For now, Higashioka is a short-term fantasy option in deeper leagues, but should really be avoided in standard leagues. Focus your attention on a player who can help you out for a longer period.

James Wood Fantasy Outlook

It was reported that Wood was being called up today (Monday) before the weekend. Since that point, Wood has seen his own percentage jump to 65.

I wrote a full story on Wood and his fantasy value when the news of his callup broke. 

My advice was to add Wood in all league types, and it appears that Wood is now owned in all dynasties and deep leagues. His own percentage should rise even more when he’s officially added to the Nationals’ roster. The only way I’d not immediately add Wood in a standard league is if my roster was already solidified and there were no roster spots to play with.

He’s a top prospect for a reason, and is worth taking a gamble on.

Jackson Chourio Fantasy Outlook

Speaking of top prospects, Chourio was just that at the start of the season. He’s starting to come into his own, and it’s resulted in his own percentage skyrocketing over the past few weeks.

In 74 total games this season, Chourio has a .243 average and .289 OBP. He’s got eight doubles and nine home runs among his 57 total knocks on the season, along with 32 RBIs, 34 runs scored, eight stolen bases, 16 walks and 61 strikeouts.

June was easily his best month in the big leagues. He had 23 hits across 24 games, which resulted in a .315 average. Chourio had a .363 OBP, four doubles and homers, 16 RBIs, 14 runs scored, six walks and 14 strikeouts during the month as well.

He’s currently owned in 61% of fantasy leagues, and after the hot month, I’m honestly surprised it isn’t higher. Chourio should hold a near everyday starting role for the rest of the season, and is now producing at the plate. Look at what he’s done recently instead of what he’s done over the course of the season.

At the very least, I like Chourio as a bench option in standard leagues. He’s got the chance to be really special over his career, and if you can afford to stash him, Chourio might be a fantasy player who could help you win a title later in the season.

Heston Kjerstad Fantasy Outlook

We’ll stick with another young player in Baltimore’s Kjerstad. He had a couple strong showings in a row, which has bumped his own percentage up a bit.

In 13 games and 37 plate appearances so far this season, Kjerstad has nine total hits, including two doubles and homers. He’s drove in eight runs, scored three times, walked on five occasions and struck out nine times. Despite the limited MLB plate appearances, his .432 OBP really sticks out.

In his past three games, Kjerstad has five hits and three walks over 12 plate appearances. He doubled once and homered twice among his hits, along with driving in eight runs, scoring three runs and striking out just once. Kjerstad was also hit by a pitch during that stretch.

Kjerstad had been struggling to adjust to the MLB during his brief time in the big leagues, but appears to be trending upward now. I’ll say it again, but he’s a top prospect for a reason - once those guys figure it out, they can instantly be some of the better fantasy players in the league.

Kjerstad is owned in 37% of leagues, and should be owned in all dynasties and deep leagues now. I’d also be OK with giving Kjerstad a shot in a standard league, but under special circumstances  - if your fantasy team is stacked and has an open roster spot to play with.

If he continues to produce at the plate, his own percentage will skyrocket, so keep a very close eye on Kjerstad.

Brendan Rodgers Fantasy Outlook

Rodgers is the last hitter we will cover today. He’s had a pretty solid season overall, but a little injury stint kind of holds back his overall numbers, which is making him fly under the radar a bit.

In 66 total games, Rodgers has a .279 average and .318 OBP. He has 67 total hits, including 14 doubles, five home runs and one triple. Rodgers also has 27 RBIs, 28 runs scored, one stolen base, 14 walks and 56 strikeouts.

He’s only owned in 12% of leagues, which is far too low seeing his average and OBP. Had Rodgers played in more games, he’d be even farther up the total fantasy points list at second base than he already is. At least add him in deeper leagues until he cools off a bit at the plate.

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