Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds: Week 18
With the 2021 baseball season in full swing, nailing the waiver wire and the players available are critical to beating out your league-mates in season-long leagues.
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.
Daulton Varsho, C/OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Roster Percentage: 35%
The multi-dimensional Daulton Varsho, who was demoted to start the season, is back up, and wow has he been an interesting add.
After homering in back-to-back contests, Varsho is still hitting an ugly .200, but he does own four dingers and three steals to his name. The steals are what make him a very intriguing waiver wire target.
He's unlikely to maintain that catcher eligibility, but for 2021, we aren't too concerned -- give him a look if you need a boost at the catcher slot.
Touki Toussaint, SP, Atlanta Braves
Roster Percentage: 42%
We really are gonna do this dance with Touki Toussaint again, aren't we, fam?
The most added player on Yahoo's site (11,988 adds), Toussaint locked up with Aaron Nola in a pitching duel for the ages, whiffing 10 Phillies at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park.
Toussaint recorded a 41% CSW mark in this one, and he has 15 whiffs in 13 2/3 innings this year. Add him now if you can.
Harrison Bader, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Roster Percentage: 19%
This was quickly looking like a lost season at the dish for Harrison Bader, but recently, he has been on fire, and the speed threat definitely makes him worth an add.
After smacking a three-run homer against the Cincinnati Reds yesterday, Bader has now slashed a .457/.513/.714 mark since the All-Star break. In 142 at-bats this season, he has accrued eight homers and five steals, and his plus defense certainly keeps him in the lineup.
The St. Louis Cardinals are still a very flawed baseball team, but a productive Bader could solve a lot of issues.
Lamonte Wade Jr., OF, San Francisco Giants
Roster Percentage: 9%
Would you be surprised to know that the San Francisco Giants rank fourth in baseball in team wOBA (.329)? And that they lead the league in ISO (.193)?
What if I told you that the primary leadoff hitter for San Francisco, LaMonte Wade Jr, was rostered in less than 10% of leagues? Wade has already smacked 12 long balls this season, good for a .318 ISO, and he owns a .391 wOBA this year.
He also has a bit of speed to his profile -- he's already swiped three bags in 2021 -- so if you need help in the outfield, peep Wade.
Notable Two-Start Pitchers to Consider This Week
Adbert Alzolay (CHC) -- vs CIN, at WAS
Joe Ross (WAS) -- at PHI, vs CHC
Games in Coors Field This Week
None