Baseball season has settled in and is roughly halfway over already. The standings are taking shape in both the MLB and fantasy leagues, but there's still time to jockey for position.
Each week we will take a look at players who are rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues and can help out your season-long squads. Remember, if you aren’t scouring the waiver wire, you are falling behind your league-mates.
Wilmer Flores - San Francisco Giants (1B/2B)
Roster Percentage: 34%
Raise your hand if you had the San Francisco Giants as one of the best offenses in baseball in 2020.
Yeah, me neither, fam. While primarily being led by precocious young slugger Mike Yastrzemski, Wilmer Flores has done a heck of a job hitting right behind him. While Flores has been known as a really good player and lefty masher, he's just been damn good, period.
So far this year over 90 plate appearances, he's got 7 jacks, a .333 batting average, and a .954 OPS. That's not just platoon mashing -- that's a beast of a hitter.
If you need help at first base or second base, or in deeper formats, at your middle and corner infield positions, consider Flores.
Josh Staumont - Kansas City Royals (RP)
Roster Percentage: 9%
In this crazy game of fantasy baseball, we often target only relief pitchers who have a closer role or could have one soon. For the faint of heart, Josh Staumont of the Kansas City Royals may not be the pick to click.
But there's absolutely no denying that Staumont is absolutely brilliant, and if you play in a league that values holds, go get him. Staumont has thrown 11 1/3 innings this year, and he owns 23 strikeouts with a 0.79 WHIP. Consider this heat he brings.
Josh Staumont, 100mph Fastball...
FOR A BALL. pic.twitter.com/G4QAn38vRx
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 22, 2020
Given his delicious ratios and his serious arsenal, he could be worth a speculative add.
Elieser Hernandez - Miami Marlins (SP)
Roster Percentage: 33%
Stunningly, despite all of their injuries and COVID-19 issues, the Miami Marlins have stayed relevant this year, and brilliant starting pitching has kept them afloat.
Elieser Hernandez is another young arm who has more than held his own, and it looks like he is here to be a mainstay. After beating the Washington Nationals on Friday evening, Hernandez is rocking a 32.9% strikeout rate with a 4.1% walk rate. That'll play.
He isn't in line to win the Cy Young -- he's got a 45.7% hard-hit rate, which isn't great -- but that's offset by a 12.9% swinging-strike rate.
If your rotation needs some help, Hernandez is your guy.
Jonathan Schoop - Detroit Tigers (2B)
Roster Percentage: 14%
Now that the Detroit Tigers have added some youngsters from their farm system, including Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal, they could be ready to compete despite losing C.J. Cron to a season-ending injury. A big reason is that Jonathan Schoop has been a sensational add for Detroit.
Up to a .287 batting average on the season, Schoop has blasted 6 homers and scored 15 runs, tallying an .828 OPS. He has been especially hot as of late with a 1.152 OPS over the last week.
If you are looking for some up-the-middle pop, Schoop could be an easy add.
Two-Start Pitchers to Consider This Week:
Merrill Kelly (AZ) - vs COL / vs SF
Sandy Alcantara (MIA) - at NYM / vs TB
Brad Keller (KC) - at STL / at CWS
Casey Mize (DET) - vs CHC / vs MIN
Games in Coors Field This Week: San Diego Padres (3)