The waiver wire has plenty of goodies available for the taking, so let's try to get a leg up on our fellow league members and make some moves where needed.
The four players below are all owned in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues and could give your squad a shot in the arm as we enter the dog days of summer.
Mallex Smith - Tampa Bay Rays (OF)
ESPN Ownership: 51.6%
It's not often that we bend the 50% or less rule here, but with Mallex Smith, he's a player we want to take heed of immediately.
The speedy outfielder is starting to come into his own, and he now has 25 stolen bases to his name in 2018. It also comes with some average and on-base percentage goodness, as Smith is careening toward career-high water marks in those categories (.296 and .370, respectively).
If you need a shot in the arm in the steals category, peep Smith.
C.C. Sabathia - New York Yankees (SP)
ESPN Ownership: 46.2%
The New York Yankees may be fading back behind the red-hot Boston Red Sox, but one player that's held up his end of the bargain is CC Sabathia.
Over the lefty's last four turns, he has been brilliant in 19 1/3 innings, recording a 3.45 xFIP, 33.3% strikeout rate, and 22.2% hard-hit rate. And that strikeout rate is for real, as he's averaged a 12.1% swinging-strike rate over that time frame, including a season-best 21.4% rate two appearances ago.
Fantasy rotations always seem to be looking for help, and the southpaw is definitely one to consider at this point in the season.
Mark Trumbo - Baltimore Orioles (OF)
ESPN Ownership: 33.7%
Finding some solid pop can be hard to do for lineups, but if there's one dude to check out on the waiver wire, it's Mark Trumbo.
In 338 plate appearances this season, Trumbo owns 17 long balls and a .202 isolated power (ISO), which stands to be his second-best season long mark over the last five years.
Even better, the veteran doesn't possess absurd splits either way, so he can be rostered against all pitchers. Trumbo has a .200 ISO versus lefties and .203 ISO versus same-sided arms, and his weighted on-base average (wOBA) is nearly identical versus lefties (.339) as it is when facing off with right-handed hurlers (.338).
He may not be a sexy up-and-coming prospect, but Trumbo can still be a major asset for struggling squads down the stretch.
Tyler Glasnow - Tampa Bay Rays (SP)
ESPN Ownership: 19.7%
A major part of the trade that sent Chris Archer to the Pittsburgh Pirates for their playoff push, Tyler Glasnow has been going beast mode in his new digs, and he's a pitcher we need to keep an eye on.
Since transitioning to the AL East, the 24-year-old has impressed his new teammates with a 1.67 xFIP and an absurd 46.5% strikeout rate over three starts. While that strikeout rate is not sustainable, it's supported by a very juicy 16.5% swinging-strike rate.
If Glasnow can keep the command in check, as he sports an improved 12.9% walk rate this year, he could be a major pitching weapon in the last six weeks.