Fantasy Baseball Week 20 Waiver Wire Adds: Wilyer Abreu, Jake Burger, Ben Joyce and More

Discussing the most-added fantasy baseball players in the 20th week of the fantasy baseball season.

Now entering the 20th week of the fantasy baseball season, it’s time to go over some of the top waiver wire targets.

These players are all taken from the FantasySP Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups page. I avoided the starting pitchers on the list because FantasySP’s Daniel Hepner covers a lot of them in streaming stories.

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Wilyer Abreu Fantasy Outlook

We’ll kick things off with Boston’s Abreu. He’s rostered in 26% of leagues and had a big weekend at the plate.

Abreu has hits in eight of his last 10 games, even though he’s only started seven contests. He’s got 12 hits over that span, including four homers and three doubles. Abreu also has 13 RBIs, 11 runs scored, three walks and eight strikeouts over that span.

Abreu’s season numbers (.275 average, .337 on-base percentage) are pretty solid overall too, so I’m a bit shocked to see Abreu’s own percentage being fairly low. He is being treated like a deep league option only, even though he could be a bench option in standard leagues and rostered in some dynasty leagues as well while being only 25 years old.

The reason he probably isn’t rostered in more leagues is because he’s an outfielder, and there’s plenty of fantasy outfielders to go around. Still, right now, he’s hitting well enough to be considered in standard leagues, even if he’s just a depth option, or starter for a short period. He should be rostered in most deeper leagues and a good amount of dynasty leagues as well - at least add him for a short-term stint.

Luis Garcia Jr. Fantasy Outlook

Garcia led the MLB with eight hits over the weekend, and is seeing his own percentage rise as a result. He’s up to 52% owned.

He’s got a .290 average and .322 OBP for the season, but he’s been especially good of late. Over roughly the past month (22 games, 21 starts), Garcia has 33 total hits, including six homers, five doubles and a triple. He’s also got 17 RBIs, 15 runs scored, five walks and 13 strikeouts over that span.

Garcia is a pretty well-rounded fantasy player and really should be rostered in more leagues. He’s a must-own player in deep leagues and dynasties.

I also like adding Garcia in standard leagues. You can start him until he cools off a bit at the plate, and then he can serve as a good depth option. He’s playing just about every day, and is producing plenty despite being on an offense devoid of talent. Add him now and I bet he sticks on your roster the remainder of the fantasy season.

Jackson Holliday Fantasy Outlook

Holliday was part of my last waiver wire story and then proceeded to have a nice weekend at the plate, so his own percentage continues to rise. He’s up to 80% owned now.

I mentioned in the last waiver wire article that if Holliday could start racking up some hits, his own percentage would rise quickly. Well, he had six hits over the weekend, and got another 6% boost in his own percentage. I’d expect his percentage to continue to rise before he takes the field again.

I think Holliday should be rostered in all league types now. He looks to have things figured out at the MLB level, and being a top prospect with a ton of hype, I want that kind of potential on my fantasy team for the stretch run.

Holliday is playable now, but could be stashed if you just don’t have a starting spot available for him. There’s just too much not to like to not give the youngster a shot. Make the move before it’s too late.

Jake Burger Fantasy Outlook

Miami’s Burger has heated up over the past several weeks. After looking like a draft bust for most of the season, he’s seen his own percentage jump about 25% over the past couple weeks - he’s at 57% owned now.

Dating back to July 11 (19 games, 18 starts), Burger has 24 hits, which is good for a .338 average. He has eight homers and four doubles during the span, along with 16 RBIs, 13 runs scored, five walks and 22 strikeouts.

Burger still strikes out a lot, but he’s racking up enough hits (and homers) to consider in standard leagues now. Burger should already be rostered and utilized in deeper leagues, but could also be owned and started in some standard leagues too. 

He should be playable at first or third base, which is also a plus for Burger's fantasy value. I’m all for adding Burger for the stretch run, or at least until he cools off considerably at the plate.

Josh Bell Fantasy Outlook

Bell, the newly-acquired Arizona first baseman, has seen his own percentage jump from 30 to 55 over the past week or so.

Bell is not only on a better team, but has a pair of homers since joining the D-Backs. The bombs are the only two hits for Bell in his first three games with the team, but that’s what Bell does best. He also has two RBIs, runs scored, walks and strikeouts in his first three games.

Regular Arizona 1B Christian Walker is out for a couple weeks with an injury, meaning Bell should play just about every day until he’s back. Bell is hitting cleanup with Arizona, which is enough reason to at least roster him until Walker comes back. If Bell is excelling at the plate, he might be a hitter you can start the remainder of the season.

I’m definitely adding Bell in standard leagues if I can. He should be rostered and started in deep leagues for the time being.

Willi Castro Fantasy Outlook

Castro had seen his own percentage drop since the All-Star break, but he’s on the rise again after a solid weekend at the plate. He’s rostered in 66% of fantasy leagues.

Castro has solid numbers (.265 average, .351 OBP) for the season, but he’s being added because of his six hits over the past three games. He had a double and homer among the hits, along with seven RBIs, three runs scored, a walk and four strikeouts.

The run production won’t be that strong the rest of the season, but Castro plays often and is doing enough to be considered in all league types. Castro should be rostered in deeper leagues, and started until he cools off. In standard leagues, I view him as a short-term option only, but still a player you could add and play for the near future.

Ben Joyce Fantasy Outlook

It’s rare I include relief pitchers in these waiver wire stories, but I just have to mention Joyce. He was owned in about 14% of leagues on June 30, but is now sitting at 32%.

Over his last four outings, Joyce has three holds and a save, so the increase in own percentage makes sense. He’s covered 5 1/3 innings and allowed just one hit and walk over that span. Joyce has five strikeouts in those four games.

Joyce is just 23 years old, making him a decent dynasty league option. Now that he’s getting some high-leverage opportunities, his long-term outlook really looks strong.

For this season, Joyce is now a decent deep league option, and could become a standard league option with another save or two. Depending on how deep your fantasy league is, Joyce could be added immediately. For the standard league owners reading this story, I’d put Joyce on my watch list, as another save or two might really make his own percentage skyrocket.

#waivers #dynasty #2024-fantasy-baseball