The key to winning your fantasy baseball league is not how well you draft, but the players you add off waivers. This is extremely important because securing hidden talent and call-ups could replace those late-round selections, even mid-rounders, that aren’t having the best season. Here at NFS, we provide the best picks for players you should grab off waivers now before it is too late. As always, both opportunity and performance are taken into consideration for these players, and also all players listed are rostered below 40 percent on ESPN. Learn to think like a NERD!
Hitters
Miguel Rojas, SS, Miami Marlins
After great production in the shortened season, Miguel Rojas has become a key player with the Miami Marlins. The Marlins have been trying to advance their status after years of selling and rebuilding. In his last 10 games, Rojas has hit .308 with two homers and six RBIs. In recent games, he has been shitting as high as .500. If Rojas can stay consistent, he has plenty of time to elevate his game to become an above-average shortstop. Rojas is worth picking up in all league formats while he continues his hot hitting.
Brandon Crawford, SS, San Francisco Giants
With the Giants performance coming as a surprise to most, Brandon Crawford has played a key role in the Giants’s successful start. In his last 10 games, Crawford has been hitting .348 with four homers and eight RBIs. In those same stretch of games, he has also pulled off more walks than strikeouts. He has also been recently hitting around the .500 mark as well. The former all-star is in a contract year and this season will have big implications on his next contract. Crawford is worth adding in most league formats for the time being.
Robbie Grossman, OF, Detroit Tigers
Robbie Grossman was an offseason signing by the Detroit Tigers to bring a veteran presence to a raising Detroit franchise. He has recently been on a solid stretch of games where he’s recently hit .368 and on OBP of .538. He’s also hit a homer and four RBIs in those same stretch of games. His consistency will be key on whether the Tigers are a team ready to advance after years of rebuilding. Robbie Grossman is worth adding in deeper formatted leagues but could be a must-add if he’s able to keep his production consistent.
Matt Beaty, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers
With Cody Bellinger on the injured list with a leg injury, it has been Matt Beaty who has replaced him in the lineup. The 28-year-old has been struggling to stay in the majors since 2019 but this recent stretch of games could be a good building block to keep his career in the majors consistent. In his last five games, Beaty has hit .333 with a homer and 11 RBIs. This includes a seven RBI game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Beaty is worth adding in deeper formatted leagues until he proves he can stay consistent in the majors.
Pitchers
Wade Miley, SP, Cincinnati Reds
Now playing for his seventh MLB franchise, Wade Miley is having by far the best start to his career at the age of 34. Not only has he thrown a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians, but he has also maintained Cy Young quality numbers. Through six starts, Miley is 4-2 with 2.00 ERA and 27 strikeouts to only eight walked batters. Miley should be the first player added when looking on the waiver wire. It will be very intriguing if he is able to keep this consistency to be an above-average starting pitcher for the rest of the season.
Garrett Richards, SP, Boston Red Sox
After a solid season with the Padres last year, Garrett Richards cashed in this offseason to play for the Boston Red Sox for the next two years. His start to the season was shaky, but he quickly smoothed out and has been pitching some solid outings. In his last three starts, Richards has managed a 2.84 ERA with 22 strikeouts over 19 innings of work. He’s also done a great job at maintaining a .286 OBP during those same starts. Richards is a quality pick-up on the waiver wire. His consistency will be key going forward.
Robbie Ray, SP, Toronto Blue Jays
Since being an all-star in 2017, Robbie Ray has struggled to stay in that same form. But after being traded to the Blue Jays, he is starting to show signs of life as a quality starting pitcher again. In his last four starts, Ray has maintained a 3.04 ERA with 26 strikeouts over 23.1 innings of work. Ray is a quality pick-up in most league formats. He will play a key role in a Blue Jays team trying to make a deep postseason run after making the postseason last year for the first time since 2016.
Vince Velasquez, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
Throughout his career, Vince Velasquez has struggled to become an above average pitcher because of failing to stay consistent after some legitimately productive starts. In 2021, he’s put together three solid starts in hopes to fill out the back end rotation of a Philles team who has struggled to build a complete rotation. In his last three starts, Velasquez has managed 2.87 ERA with 17 strikeouts over 15.2 innings of baseball. Velasquez is worth keeping on the radar in deep formatted leagues until he can prove that he’s moved past his issues of consistency.
Ethan Hartley 