We have reached the end of the line.
This is the season finale of the Waiver Wire Report. After 26 weeks I can say with confidence that my first season writing this for The Action Network was not only fun but successful. I am allowed to toot my own horn, and based on the projected rostership of the hitters I have recommended throughout the season, at least some of you listened and thrived.
For that, I thank you.
If you are on the verge of white-knuckling your way to a championship, here is one last column of hitters you should consider to seal the deal.
Thank you for your time during this marathon of a season.
Pick Them Up
Adam Duvall – OF, Atlanta Braves
Yahoo: 67%, ESPN: 70%
His rostership is high, but Adam Duvall — he of 101 RBI (T-6th in MLB) — should be on 100% of rosters! I mainly added him as one of my bigger victory laps. He is two RBI away from tying his career-high set in 2016.
Myles Straw – OF/SS, Cleveland Indians
Yahoo: 57%, ESPN: 41%
Straw has done majority of his damage in the second half at home. After a weekend trip to the Bronx, Straw and Cleveland play nine straight at home. He is fifth in steals and deserves to be rostered as the season winds down.
Austin Hays – OF, Baltimore Orioles
Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 50%
Six of Hays’s 20 home runs have come in September. Hays is also hitting .302 for the month and is showing the promise he had as a prospect before injuries snowballed and delayed his development.
Worth A Look
Brandon Belt – 1B, San Francisco Giants
Yahoo: 56%, ESPN: 33%
The injuries slowed down an excellent season for the veteran Giant. His .948 OPS is the best of career that is not 2020 and will be in the lineup nightly as the NL West is still in doubt.
Kolten Wong – 2B, Milwaukee Brewers
Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 46%
Wong’s next two series are against the Cubs and Cardinals, and he has the opportunity to help Milwaukee clinch the NL Central against the team that let him walk. I’m taking a hard left onto #NarrativeStreet.
Jeimer Candelario – 1B/3B, Detroit Tigers
Yahoo: 35%, ESPN: 41%
Candelario has set a career-best in RBI in seven fewer games than when he reached 54 in 2018. He will be the short-term Miguel Cabrera for the up-and-coming Tigers offense that has shown a lot of good.
Short-Term Solutions
Bobby Dalbec – 1B/3B, Boston Red Sox
Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 30%
I will take an L on Dalbec because he has been solid. He does have three monstrous performances but has started to sprinkle RBI’s here and there. His next five games are against Baltimore and the deflated Mets.
Mike Zunino – C, Tampa Bay Rays
Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 36%
Zunino is on another homer heater and has three more home games against the Detroit Tigers this weekend.
I Am Skeptical
Abraham Toro – 2B/3B, Seattle Mariners
Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 26%
Toro is a better hitter away from Seattle, but he excels against lefties. He only gets Kris Bubic from the left side this weekend and for the most part has seen his power disappear. Toro has four doubles and zero home runs in September.
