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 heat of the fantasy baseball playoffs.
Adalberto Mondesi - Kansas City Royals (2B)
ESPN Ownership: 42.5%
The Kansas City Royals have clearly turned the page to 2019, and that means the youngsters have gotten a lot of run recently. As they continue to explore possible lineup combinations for next season, Adalberto Mondesi has clearly made his case that he should be starting full time.
The 23-year-old second baseman flashed a gorgeous power-speed combination last season in Triple-A, and even though he only logged 357 plate appearances there, it was long enough to rip 13 home runs and swipe 21 stolen bases en route to a .370 weighted on-base average (wOBA).
While those skills don't always translate to the big leagues, Mondesi's did. This year in just 226 plate appearances, Mondesi is nearing double-digit home runs (8), and he's been an elite speed asset with 24 steals.
If you've got a hole to fill up the middle, peep Mondesi.
David Dahl - Colorado Rockies (OF)
ESPN Ownership: 15.0%
Is the real David Dahl finally breaking out? An uber-hyped prospect beset by injuries, the Colorado Rockies outfielder may finally be flashing what he has to offer.
The 10th overall pick in the 2012 Amateur Draft, Dahl has grabbed regular playing time in the outfield and over 212 plate appearances, he's recorded 10 homers and 5 steals. While he is whiffing quite a bit (25.5%), his .231 isolated power (ISO) mark will definitely play.
The lefty still struggles against same-side arms, posting a .241 wOBA against them this year, so if you can afford to plug and play Dahl against righties, he could help your fantasy offense quite a bit.
Sandy Alcantara - Miami Marlins (SP)
ESPN Ownership: 15.2%
As part of the Marcell Ozuna trade that sent the outfielder to the St. Louis Cardinals, Sandy Alcantara made his way to the NL East and in his first three major league starts, he's acquitted himself quite well. In 19 innings, he's recorded a 1.42 ERA, and that solid ERA has been built thanks to a strong 29.8% hard-hit rate.
That ERA could be in line for some regression, as his 5.22 skill-interactive ERA (SIERA) shows, due to a 13.7% walk rate and a lucky 91.4% strand rate. But if Alcantara can harness that command, he gets a major park factor boost -- the Marlins' home stadium, Marlins Park, checks in second-best in park factor in 2018.
While he hasn't cracked the 20% strikeout barrier this year, he does possess a juicy 11.6% swinging-strike rate, so check out Alcantara for a late-season rotation boost.
Wade Miley - Milwaukee Brewers (SP)
ESPN Ownership: 21.4%
The Milwaukee Brewers are making life very interesting on the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central, and a big reason for that is starting pitcher Wade Miley, whose success can be attributed to a major pitch-mix change:
Wade Miley, Mr. Cutter, has made 13 Brewers starts now. He has surrendered two or fewer earned runs in 12 of them, and three earned runs in the other. His ERA is 2.23 in 68 2/3 innings.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) September 11, 2018
Miley was awful as a member of the Baltimore Orioles last season, posting a 5.61 ERA and 5.07 SIERA over 157 1/3 innings pitched. He largely struggled with his control (12.8% walk rate), but Miley has reduced that rate to 8.8% in 2018.
However, with only a 15.8% strikeout rate this year, what gives? This cutter, which has helped Miley generated an absurd amount of ground balls (52.7%), limiting fly-balls to only a 24.9% rate. Despite the lack of punchouts, he has been a fantastic member of the Brewers rotation, and he definitely can help fantasy staffs in the playoffs.