More Fantasy Baseball Week 22 Waiver Wire Adds: Ernie Clement, JJ Bleday, Brendan Rodgers and More
Discussing the most-added fantasy baseball players in the last half of week 22 of the fantasy baseball season.
The weekend is here, which means it’s time for another fantasy baseball waiver wire story.
These players are all taken from the Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups page. I’m going to stick with just hitters in this story, as the starting pitchers are covered in streaming stories by Daniel Hepner and closers have been covered by Ted Chymz.
Explore the best in-season tool to manage lineup/start decisions including waiver pickups, projections, trade suggestions, trade value charts, rest of season rankings, power rankings, and tons more with Fantasy Assistant. Now, with revolutionary AI Expert help. Our AI Expert provides personalized waiver wire advice for free agents in your league.
Jhonkensy Noel Fantasy Outlook
Noel had a couple multi-hit games recently, so it makes sense to see his own percentage on the rise. He’s up to 19% owned in fantasy leagues.
Noel had two hits, including a home run, on Wednesday. He doubled among his two hits on Tuesday - he also walked and scored a second run in that contest.
Noel is playing regularly for the Guardians, but he’s not producing consistently enough to add him in standard leagues. He’s a fine addition in deeper leagues.
Ernie Clement Fantasy Outlook
Clement has hits in three straight contests, including a homer in each game, so his own percentage is definitely rising. His own percentage is 13%.
Clement has four hits over the past three contests, with a double being his other knock. He drove in six runs, walked twice and struck out just once in that span.
He’s definitely not going to keep homering every game, but he’s at least worth an add in deeper leagues to see if he can remain hot at the plate. Clement probably has position eligibility at several spots, so that makes him a little more appealing to fantasy owners.
He’d need a multi-week stretch of hot hitting to be heavily considered in standard leagues, but he’s at least worth watching because of his position flexibility.
David Hamilton Fantasy Outlook
Hamilton had a couple nice games over the past week, so he’s another waiver wire option. It’s just for deep league owners though, as he’s rostered in just 24% of leagues.
Hamilton has five hits, including two home runs, over the past four contests. He’s also got three RBIs, two walks, three runs scored, two stolen bases and four strikeouts over that span.
Since August hit, Hamilton has 14 hits in 15 games (14 starts). He has four doubles and three homers, along with nine RBIs, eight runs scored, five walks, six stolen bases and 12 strikeouts.
Hamilton is performing well at the plate, and filling the box score, but he’s also only starting against right-handed pitchers. That’s why he’s only getting attention in deeper leagues, and that’s how he should be approached.
With big enough rosters, Hamilton can be stashed and started when a righty is opposing the Red Sox, and then benched when a lefty is on the hill. He’s definitely doing enough to deserve a roster spot, but it requires the right league setup as a platoon hitter.
JJ Bleday Fantasy Outlook
Bleday only has two hits over his past five games, but both are home runs. That’s apparently enough for fantasy owners to add him, and now he’s up to 42% owned in fantasy leagues.
Bleday homered on Wednesday and Monday this week. He drove in three runs, walked once and struck out once in those games.
For the season, Bleday has 17 homers, but just a .243 average. He’s a bit better deep league fantasy option than the players we’ve covered so far, and should remain rostered in those leagues.
He’s not hitting consistently enough to warrant a spot in standard leagues, especially because he’s an outfielder and there’s a bunch of good fantasy options in the outfield.
Alex Call Fantasy Outlook
Call has been on a tear at the plate, so his own percentage continues to trend upward. He’s rostered in 27% of fantasy leagues.
In 19 August games (18 starts), Call has 25 total hits, including seven doubles and two home runs. He’s also got 10 RBIs, eight runs scored, five walks, three stolen bases and 13 strikeouts this month.
Call has a hit in five straight games, including two home runs. He’s not usually a big power threat, but he’s shown he can pop a homer from time to time. His real fantasy value comes from making contact and not striking out a bunch.
He’s still just a fantasy option in deeper leagues though, and should be avoided in standard leagues. Call should be added and started in deeper leagues until he cools off at the plate. He’d need to add some consistent power to his numbers to warrant a spot in standard leagues.
Mark Vientos Fantasy Outlook
Vientos is heating up at the plate again, so his own percentage is rising. He’s up to 62% rostered.
Vientos has a hit in 10 straight games. He’s got 14 knocks in that span, including four doubles and three home runs. Vientos also has 10 RBIs, seven runs scored, four walks and 16 strikeouts in that span.
The high strikeout numbers are a concern, but he’s more than made up for it with his extra-base hits and run production at the plate. Vientos has been a borderline standard league option all season, but with his recent surge, really should be rostered and utilized in those leagues.
He hits second in the team’s lineup, so he’s in a favorable spot to be a good fantasy asset. I’m all for adding Vientos in all formats - he should remain rostered for the remainder of the season in deeper leagues, and at least rostered as long as he’s hot at the plate in standard leagues.
Brendan Rodgers Fantasy Outlook
Rodgers is quietly having a really nice season for the Rockies. He’s up to 27% rostered.
In 109 games so far this season, Rodgers has a .279 average and .324 on-base percentage. He’s got 24 doubles, 10 homers and a triple among his 113 hits, along with 45 RBIs, 53 runs scored, one stolen bases, 25 walks and 96 strikeouts.
Rodgers has at least one hit in 18 of the past 20 games. In that span, he has 27 total knocks, including eight doubles and three home runs. Rodgers has 12 RBIs and runs scored, three walks and 17 strikeouts in that run as well.
I am a bit surprised that his own percentage isn’t any higher, but considering the offense he’s on, I get it. I still think Rodgers should be rostered in just about every deep league, and be getting consideration as a waiver wire add in standard leagues. The fantasy 2B position isn’t the greatest, and Rodgers is about as hot as any of those options right now.
Don’t let the low own percentage dissuade you from adding Rodgers. Assess your team situation and add Rodgers if it makes sense to.
TJ Friedl Fantasy Outlook
Friedl hasn’t had a hit in three straight contests, so his rise in own percentage is more about what he's done over the past couple weeks. He’s sitting at 52% owned right now.
Even with three straight hitless games, Friedl has 16 hits across 20 August games and 19 starts. He’s got five homers and a double among the hits, along with 13 RBIs, eight runs scored, six walks and 18 strikeouts.
He should be rostered and in all deeper leagues right now - I won’t say he needs to be started after three hitless games in a row. In standard leagues at a crowded fantasy outfield spot, Friedl is worth considering, but there’s probably some better options out there right now.
If he were collecting hits every game, maybe my advice would be a little different, but you want the best hitters on your team for the stretch run, and Friedl just isn’t one of them right now. Keep a very close eye on him, because his hot stretches are usually super productive, but for now, I’m looking elsewhere for fantasy outfield help in standard leagues.
#waivers #2024-fantasy-baseball
