The waiver wire. Free agent budgets (FAB). It's back, it's real and it's glorious.
With the 2021 baseball season in full swing, nailing the waiver wire and the players available are critical to beating out your league-mates.
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.
Domingo German, SP, New York Yankees
Roster Percentage: 48%
After a rough start to begin the 2021 season, Domingo German of the New York Yankees was demoted, and it seemed like this season could have been a lost one for him.
Boy, has he proved those naysayers wrong.
German has pitched to a 3.69 SIERA, 24.2% strikeout rate and 5.2% walk rate in 2021. He's fanned exactly six batters in five straight starts and has given up just eight earned runs in that span (30 1/3 frames).
German can contribute in several categories, and he really shouldn't be available in more than half of Yahoo leagues.
Andrew Vaughn, 1B/OF, Chicago White Sox
Roster Percentage: 34%
Perhaps we are simply just bearing witness to Andrew Vaughn week for the Chicago White Sox. With the Pale Hose decimated by injuries, the rookie slugger has taken advantage of some playing time, and he has he been hot at the dish.
Slugging two very long homers this week, Vaughn has started to showcase the pop that everyone thought was coming for the large slugger. He's got a .334 wOBA across 102 plate appearances this year. And with Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert out for quite some time, Vaughn should be here to stay.
Hunter Renfroe, OF, Boston Red Sox
Roster Percentage: 8%
I don't think anyone expected the offense of the Boston Red Sox to be as bad as it was last season. But 2021 has certainly shown that the shortened 2020 campaign may have simply been a fluke for this lineup.
Hunter Renfroe has been a solid addition to Boston. Through 124 plate appearances, he's got five jacks 17 runs and 19 RBI. He isn't walking much -- to be fair, he hasn't recorded a walk in the last two weeks -- so there are the typical red flags with Renfroe. But he's getting regular playing time against lefties and righties, and if you need some pop, he isn't a bad option.
Luis Garcia, SP, Houston Astros
Roster Percentage: 20%
With the Houston Astros turning every which way for starting pitching help, Luis Garcia has gotten an extended chance, and he's shown some tremendous upside.
Thrust into a starting role, Garcia has recorded 26 punchouts across 20 innings over his last four starts. For the season, he's got a 27.8% strikeout rate, 12.8% swinging-strike rate and 3.76 SIERA.
It is fair to be a bit nervous about the lack of innings as the Astros are clearly monitoring the young righty's workload. But Garcia has been allowed to throw 92, 92 and 94 pitches over his past three starts, so if he can be more efficient, he can start working deeper into games.
Garcia's roster percentage will likely skyrocket soon. Make the claim now.
Notable Two-Start Pitchers to Consider This Week
Justin Dunn (SEA) -- vs DET, at SD
Alex Cobb (LAA) -- vs CLE, vs OAK
Zach Davies (CHC) -- vs WAS, at STL