Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week 9

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. All players listed are rostered below 40 percent on ESPN. Learn to think like a NERD!

Hitters

Pavin Smith, 1B/OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Pavin Smith is another solid young prospect coming out of the Arizona Diamondbacks farm system. He had a decent 2020 but didn’t make much of an immediate impact. In 2021, his hitting has become much more production to the team especially as of late. In his last 10 games, Smith has hit .400 with a homer and five RBIs. While that hasn’t evolved into much team success for the Diamondbacks, Smith’s upside is worth picking him up most league formats while the continues to build more consistent hitting. His verisitty will also be big in keeping him in the lineup every game. 

Evan Longoria, 3B, San Fransisco Giants
Despite being in the league for 14 years, Evan Longoria has done an excellent job to let father not take him over quite yet. His recent stretch has helped the Giants maintain their running for the top spot in a crowded National League West. In his last 10 games, Longoria has hit .342 with four home runs and 12 RBIs. His OPS is also through the roof at 1.101 in those same games. Longoria should be an immediate pickup in all league formats while he has the hot bat despite his age and injury history over recent seasons. 

Mitch Garver, C, Minnesota Twins
After hitting 31 home runs in 2019, Mitch Garver essentially fell off the face of the Earth. He was a major bust during the 2020 season and hasn’t shown any signs of his 2019 form since until this last week of games. In his last eight games, Garver has hit .391 with two home runs, four RBIs, and eight runs scored. In those same games, he has also had more walks than strikeouts. His OBP was also at .541 in those eight games. Garver’s future is unknown but it is clear that this is a good start to rebuilding his career. Garver is worth adding in leagues that he available in as he continues to rebuild his hitting. 

Brad Miller, 3B/DH/OF, Philadelphia Phillies
Since 2016 with the Rays where he hit 81 RBIs, Brad Miller hasn’t entirely been the same hitter since then. He has been traded multiple times and has been often used as a pinch hitter. 2021 has been one of the best hitting seasons for Miller since 2016. In his last 10 games, Miller has hit .270 with two homers, five RBIs, and six runs scored. His OPS is also at .950 in those same games. What makes Miller a quality pickup is his potential to become the new starting third baseman with Alec Bohm struggling a ton in his second season. Miller is worth monitoring if he can keep up the hot bat and is eventually moved up on the depth chart. 

Pitchers

Kris Bubic, SP, Kansas City Royals
Kris Bubic’s shortened season was exactly what he had in mind. He finished with a 1-6 record and a 4.32 ERA in 10 starts. But at only 23 years old, Bubic has plenty of upside and time for improvement. That is exactly what we are seeing in 2021. Thorugh his last six starts, Bubic has managed a .98 ERA with a .163 opponent batting average. Bubic does need to improve on his command and walk-to-strikeout percentage. But Bubic is still worth adding now in all league formats with plenty of time to make corrections to his production. 

Logan Webb, SP, San Francisco Giants
Logan Webb has been an extremely underrated pitcher in the majors. part of that has been to his inconsistencies earlier in the season and a 10-day IL stint in mid-May. but nonetheless, his limited production is worth recognition. Not to mention that he is also becoming a much more consistent pitcher for the Giants in recent starts. In his last three starts, Webb has managed a 3-0 record with a 1.06 ERA. His strikeout to walk ratio has been excellent with a 7:1 ratio. Webb’s recent injury will likely have him available in most leagues. but he should be a priority pickup as long as he keeps this high production. 

Adbert Alzolay, SP, Chicago Cubs
Adbert Alzolay was mentioned on a previous waiver wire as a young prospect with some high upside but still needed to do some improvements in order to become an elite prospect in the majors. A month later, we are starting to see his improvements take effect on his production. In his last three starts, Alzolay has managed a 2-1 record with a 2.55 ERA. Alzolay’s next step is to become much more dominant in strikeout command. He only has 15 strikeouts over 17 innings of work in those same three starts. Alzolay is worth picking up and stashing now in all league formats. 

Alex Cobb, SP, Los Angeles Angels
While most of Alex Cobb’s career is filled with home run highlights where he’s on the opposite side, recently he has actually been pitching some of the best baseball of his career. This could very likely be from the change of scenery as this is his first season with the Los Angeles Angels. In his last four starts, Cobb has kept a 1.89 ERA with a 2-1 record. Cobb’s strikeouts over nine innings are also on track for a career-high. Cobb’s been known to have serious inconsistencies so it is tough to tell what the future is in store for him but while he is on this solid streak of production, he is worth adding in most league formats. 

MLB Early Breakout Players in 2021

While the 2020 season was only cut to 60 games due to COVID-19, fans were still able to get a small sample size on their team’s development in hopes for a World Series Championship. But despite some players who broke out in the shortened season, not everyone has transitioned into 2021. In fact, 2021 has had some of its own breakout stars who weren’t part of the picture in 2020. Here are some of the rising names amongst hitters and pitchers. 

Jesse Winker, Cincinnati Reds

There is no question that this list should start off with the explosion of Jesse Winker in 2021. Jesse Winker has been in the picture for a breakout season since 2019 but instead continued to stick in that mediocre range. Now in 2021, he has finally cracked out of that spectrum. Through 42 games, Winker is hitting .359, which leads the National League. He also has 13 home runs and 29 RBIs to tag along with that. Winker also leads the National League in Slugging percentage and OPS. Winker is already an early front-runner for NL MVP and as long as he can continue to crush homers and keep his strikeout percentage low, Winker is in a perfect position to achieve that. 

John Means, Baltimore Orioles

Who would have thought that John Means would become a legitimate ace for the Baltimore Orioles? Certainly not most. After an average season in 2019, Means was unable to maintain the same consistency in 2020. Means averaged 4.53 ERA in 10 starts in the shortened season. Means in 2021 has been ecstatic, even outside of the no-hitter he threw on May 5th against the Mariners. In 10 starts, Means has maintained a 1.79 ERA, which leads the league in the American League. He also has a 4-0 record, which is more impressive considering the Orioles are last place in the AL East by a mile. But Means also is lowest in hits over nine innings and WHIP amongst all AL starting pitching. Means will likely be top three in Cy Young voting if he can keep up this high-level consistency.

Jared Walsh, Los Angeles Angels

Jared Walsh’s initial breakout season came during the 2020 shortened season when he ended the season hitting nearly .300. However, this season he has only elevated his hitting to a new level. Through 48 games, Walsh has been hitting .316 with 11 home runs and 39 RBIs. The one downside for Walsh is that his strikeout percentage is at a much higher rate at 24 percent compared to 13 percent the season before. Walsh is already bringing significant change to an Angels hitting lineup that has struggled in years past. He can make those changes already mentioned, he will become an even more important hotter than he already is for the Los Angeles Angels who are trying to go to the postseason for the first time since 2014. 

Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers

Freddy Peralta has been on the radar for a breakout season for a few seasons now but  hasn’t quite taken that step forward until 2021. 2020 was solid for Peralta, maintaining a 3.99 ERA, an improvement from 2019. This season has put Peralta in the conversation for NL Cy Young. He has managed a 4-1 record with a 2.54 ERA. Other major improvements are his WHIP at 0.946 and hits over nine innings at 4.3. Peralta’s role going forward will be critical for a Brewers team trying to rebuild their rotation. Peralta can round out a solid trio with Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff. 

Adolis Garcia, Texas Rangers

Adolis Garcia is another major-hitting surprise this season. He was basically non-existent during the shortened season, only appearing in three games. But since then, he’s been one of the most popular up-and-comers this season. Through 42 games, Garcia has been out of this world, hitting .282 homers and 41 RBIs. Garcia is the current leader for homers in the American League. With Garcia still eligible for rookie of the year, he will likely be a frontrunner in the race as long as he keeps up this incredible pace. He will be a major piece for the Rangers moving forward as they are trying to rebuild their roster. 

Trevor Rogers, Miami Marlins

Trevor Rogers’s great spring training made him an early candidatefor an improvement season but has already surpassed all expectations to start 2021. Rogers has earned a 6-2 record with a 1.75 ERA. Not only is he still a rookie and is a frontrunner for the NL ROTY award, but he is also in the conversation for NL Cy Young as well. His numbers to start have been incredible and his production will be extremely key if the Marlins want to continue their progression. Rogers can round out a solid trio featuring Sixto Sanchez and Pablo Lopez. For now, there is no question that Trevor Rogers is already the ace for the Miami marlins going forward only into his second season in the majors. 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week 8

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. All players listed are rostered below 40 percent on ESPN. Learn to think like a NERD!

Hitters

Garrett Cooper, 1B/DH/OF, Miami Marlins
After a decent season in 2020, Garrett Cooper was looking to build off of some success in order to fill out a decent role for a rising Marlins team. His start to 2021 wasn’t pretty but recently the bat has been heating up. In Cooper’s last 10 games, he’s been hitting .364 with three home runs, nine RBIs, and seven runs scored. His OPS has also been through the roof, earning a rate of 1.205, way above the league average. Cooper’s versatility should keep him in the lineup as long as he hits well, despite depth at the positions he plays at. Cooper is worth adding in all league formats while he has the hot bat. 

Ji-Man Choi, 1B, Tampa Bay Rays
Ji-Man Choi is another player who also has been heating up over the last two weeks. After finally coming off the injuries list last week, Choi could finally get his season underway. He has had an insane start thus far. Through only six games, Choi has hit .429 with two homers and eight RBIs already. He also has an on-base percentage of .520 and an OPS of 1.330, both are monstrous numbers. It’s obvious that these numbers won’t keep up for the rest of the season. But it is good that Tampa Bay will be getting some power back into their lineup. Choi is worth adding in all league formats while he has the hot hitting.

Jurickson Profar, OF/2B, San Diego Padres
Jurickson Profar has been an above-average utility man for multiple seasons now. He now fills that same role for the Padres who have high expectations for this season after some major offseason moves. Profar has been picking up his production as of late, hitting .360 over his last six games along with seven runs scored, two stolen bases, and two RBIs. With a high-scoring and consistent offense, Profar’s numbers should stay constant throughout the season. They will also be high enough that it is deserving of adding Profar in most league formats while he continues to produce runs for the Padres. 

Freddy Galvis, SS/2B, Baltimore Orioles
Freddy Galvis has been a player hopping around from franchise to franchise. Nonetheless, his quality production stays the same wherever he goes. He is now part of the Orioles organization, hoping to help them continue their rebuild. His production as of late has helped them a ton. Galvis is hitting .236 with two homers, four RBIs, and four runs scored. His flexibility when assigning him to positions also makes him an everyday player. Galvis is worth picking up in deeper formatted leagues. The production of his teammates will be critical since he’s not the kind of player to carry the load. 

Pitchers

Spencer Turnbull, SP, Detroit Pistons
After once earning the season title for most losses in the American League in 2017, Spencer Turnbull has shown he’s starting to turn it around after some solid starts. He recently threw a no-hitter against the Kansas City Royals. In his last three starts, Turnbull has maintained 1.47 ERA with a 2-0 record and 2-0 record. He has also held opponents hitting down to only .191. With Casey Mize also making major improvements, it looks like Mize and Turnbull are looking like a solid one-two punch for the Tigers who desperately need some quality pitching. Turnbull is worth adding immediately while he flying off of the shelves quickly. 

James Kaprielian, SP, Oakland Athletics
After a rough 2020 in the shortened season, James Kaprielian needed a major turnaround if he wanted any chance of staying in the A’s organization. Injuries paved way for his opportunity to enter the rotation and he’s been solid since. In his two starts on the season, Kaprielian is 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA. He’s done an excellent job at high-volume strikeouts, 15 K’s over with four walks over 10 innings. Kaprielian is worth taking a risk on but one more quality start should make him a popular pickup on the waiver wire. It will be interesting whether he stays in the rotation once players like Jesus Luzardo return from injury. 

Shane McClanahan, SP, Tampa Bay Rays
Shane McClanahan is one of a plethora of prospects that the Rays have over the years. His excellent spring training earned him a spot on the big league roster and in the rotation this season. Through his first five starts, McClanahan has maintained a 4.03 ERA with 26 strikeouts over 22 innings of pitching. While those numbers aren’t the most glamorous, McClanahan still has a full season to work on his production and command. McClanahan is worth adding in deeper formatted leagues and potentially taking a risk in all other league formats. He will have some big shoes to fill after Blake Snell and Charlie Morton both left to play for different franchises in the offseason. 

Austin Gomber, RP/SP, Colorado Rockies
After having an excellent 2020 season starting and finishing games with the St. Louis Cardinals, Austin Gomber was moved to the Rockies as part of the Nolan Arenado trade. Gomber’s start to this season has been a bit shaky. But he’s put together two solid starts that make a quality flier on the waiver wire. In those two starts, Gomber has maintained a 0.73 ERA with 13 strikeouts over 11 innings of work. Gomber will have the challenge of trying to earn wins with a declining Rockies team but that shouldn’t be much of a worry as long he’s pitching quality outings. Gomber is worth keeping on the watch lists for the time being until Gomber can become more consistent with his pitching.

American League Cy Young Watch

The start of the 2021 season has been pitcher dominant. We’ve already seen four no-hitters thrown and we haven’t even entered the summer season. With about six weeks of the regular season already filled with wild results, it is time to start breaking who are the top pitchers in the American League who are in the running for the Cy Young award.

Honorable Mentions

John Means, Baltimore Orioles

John Means shortened season was as much success as his 2019 campaign was when he earned his first and only all-star appearance. He has already blown through expectations to start an important 2021 season. Mean has maintained a 4-2 record with an AL-leading, 1.70 ERA. Means was the third pitcher early in the season to throw a no-hitter that came against the Seattle Mariners. He is looking like an early ace candidate for the Orioles for years to come. His consistent pitching in the future will likely not only make him an all-star for the second time but a top Cy Young contender as well.

Nick Pivetta, Boston Red Sox

After struggling to get his career off the ground for the Phillies, Nick Pivetta was traded to the Red Sox last year and looks like an entirely different pitcher. He had his first two starts at the end of last season where he finished with a 2-0 record and 1.80 ERA. 2021 was also looking like an important season for Pivetta. His start has been impressive. Pivetta has managed a 5-0 record with a 3.16 ERA. He also has a career-low in WHIP at 1.172. Pivetta’s next step going forward is to improve his walk-to-strikeout ratio. For now, he is surpassing expectations and is turning out to be a quality starting pitcher for the Red Sox going forward. 

3. Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox

Carlos Rodon is easily the biggest surprise of the 2021 season. Not only has he also thrown a no-hitter this season but he’s drastically improved his stats compared to his career, especially in 2020. Rodon in 2020 only made two appearances where he finished 0-2 and an 8.11 ERA. He also had a career ERA of 4.14 with a losing record and 4.58 in the last three seasons. Now, in 2021, Rodon is 5-1 with an ERA of 1.47. He’s also slated his 0.873 WHIP nearly in half compared to the shortened season where he had a 1.565 WHIP. Only on a one-year contract, Rodon will be due a huge payday at the end of this season if he can maintain these incredible numbers. Rodon will certainly be at least top five for Cy Young throughout the season. 

2. Lance Lynn, Chicago White Sox

What’s most impressive for the White Sox, it’s that they have two top Cy Young candidates, the other being Lance Lynn. After two impressive seasons with the Rangers, Lynn was traded to the White Sox to bring veteran play to a young rising team. Despite being 34 years old, Lynn has only continued to improve his production and is now shaping up to be a top Cy Young contender. This season, Lynn has pitched a 4-1 record with a 1.55 ERA. And despite the constant improvement from season to season, he is still hanging new career lows. He is currently maintaining a 0.984 WHIP. Lynn is looking for the new ace in Chicago with Lucas Giolito struggling to start the season. Lynn will also be in line for a huge payday if he can maintain as a top-tier Cy Young candidate. 

1. Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees

As great as Gerrit Cole is, he is only showing that he has more room to grow as he now enters his age 30 campaign. He’s lived up to every expectation since going to the Yankees despite an overall disappointing team success, especially in the postseason. He’s also living up to the expectations as one of the highest-paid pitchers in the MLB alongside Jacob deGrom at $36 million a year. He has done an excellent job maintaining a 3.19 career ERA with a 64 percent winning percentage. 2021 is on a whole new level for Cole. Cole has managed a 5-2 record with a 2.03 ERA. He is also setting career highs in WHIP, walks over nine innings, and FIP. What’s most shocking is that Cole has yet to win a Cy Young award in his entire career. Cole’s great start no doubt puts him as the frontrunner for the AL Cy Young award. He would become the sixth winner in the organization and the first since Roger Clemons in 2001.

J. Cole – The Off-Season, Album Review

J. Cole is finally back. One of the best MCs on the planet returns from his three-year layoff to release a highly anticipated album that fans have been slobbering for after KOD failed to reach the high expectations set by the public. The Off-Season was likely named to highlight his three-year layoff and that he’s been making changes to his craft, similar to The Warm Up mixtape that was released in 2009. We were lucky enough to have J. Cole drop us some hints on what might be on the album. In 2019, Cole dropped Middle Child that is now 5x Platinum. Co-produced by Toronto’s T-Minus, this was an overall good single to keep fans in the loop and the streaming numbers reflect that.

We would not hear much from J. Cole about a new album until about two weeks ago when he not only announced the album but also said a single would be coming out on that Friday titled Interlude. Not much was given on this single compared to Middle Child as it literally felt like an interlude on the album. But nonetheless, it only made fans more excited that the wait would finally be over. This album is filled out with 12 tracks that add up around 40 minutes in time.

Right off the bat, it is great to see J. Cole stick what he is best at. The lyricism on this album as a whole is off the charts. And some of the references on tracks are about as J. Cole as they can get. We hear the reference to Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies on m y . l i f e. We also hear Cole finally talk about the beef that happened between P. Diddy involving Cole and Kendrick Lamar on the track l e t . g o . m y . h a n d and many more. One aspect that I thought Cole brought differently was the energy compared to prior albums. Right off the bat in the first three tracks, guns are blazing and the lyricism is great. It generally stayed the same for the rest of the album.

What’s even more impressive and even different than previous projects are the surprise features on The Off-Season, which would easily be highlighted by 21 Savage. 21 Savage appears on m y . l i f e and absolutely torches his verse, returning the favor for Cole when he appeared on 21’s A lot on i am > i was that also had surprise features. Bas also did an excellent job on 1 0 0 . m i l, l e t . g o . m y . h a n d, and h u n g e r . o n . h i l l s i d e. The Lil Baby feature came as shock for choice. Lil Baby has shown more and more that he has evolved from being considered one of the best trap rappers in the last few years. His feature was very impressive as he looks to become more versatile in his ability when making appearances.

I personally have to give this album around an 8/10. Some of my favorite tracks are 9 5 . s o u t h, m y . l i f e, and p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l. I would’ve liked to see more out of the middle third of the album, especially 1 0 0 . m i l, which I thought was the worst song on the album. This was a solid comeback for Cole after KOD failed to meet its ridiculous expectations. The quality took a bit of a dip towards the end so that’s what made it hard to give the album a higher score. But this is a J. Cole album that will age like fine wine and will most likely sit up there with some of his best projects like Forest Hill Drive. With J. Cole now shifting his focus to professional basketball, as he is currently playing overseas in Africa with the NAL, it may be another few years before we see another album release. But the king of MCs did not fail to disappoint with another phenomenal project with The Off-Season.

What’s Next for the Houston Rockets?

The Houston Rockets decided to start a new era within their organization when they chose to trade James Harden to the Houston Rockets in exchange for mostly draft capital. This also marks a new direction in the organization. After eight straight playoff appearances, the Rockets are not only breaking that streak but they will likely go out with the worst record in the regular season. This will give the Rockets–along with the Detroit Pistons and either the Orlando Magic or Oklahoma City Thunder–an equal 14 percent chance to earn the first overall pick in this upcoming draft. However, it will take more than a top selection to get his team back on track. Let’s break down the Rockets need to do to re-build into a playoff squad.

Trade John Wall

John Wall had a half-decent season coming back for the first time since 2019 after a torn Achilles. He averaged just above 20 points per game along with seven assists and 1.1 steals per game. His shooting percentages have taken a huge dip since coming to Houston. He shot 40 percent from the field and 31 percent from beyond the arc, both lower than his career averages. Now trading him might be complicated. Not only did he have a lackluster comeback season, but Wall is due for $44 million next year which is top five in salary for the entire league. Wall should also be traded in the likelihood the Rockets land Cade Cunningham or Jalen Suggs in the draft and want to jumpstart their careers. A team like the Pelicans or the Bulls could take a flier for Wall to bring more veteran presence. Their focus in return should be mainly draft capital or any young talent with upside. 

Trade Eric Gordon  

Eric Gordon has only played a combined 65 games the past two seasons. He is always dealing with injuries and is sucking money away from the Rockets at this point. However, he is extremely underrated when he plays and can contribute much more to contending teams. Last season, Gordon averaged 18 points, two rebounds, and two assists per game. His shooting percentages were poor but they’ve been consistently low during tenure in Houston. A change of scenery may be in order. His contract will also be much easier to trade as he is only getting paid approximately $18 million in 2022. His interest should be much higher financially as his ability to be a plug-and-play scorer off the bench for any contender—borderline or not—wanting to make that next step.

Re-sign Kelly Olynyk

This one may come as a bit of surprise considering Olynyk just turned 30 and may not fit in with the timeline of the Houston front office. However, there is a case to be made for him to be re-signed by the Rockets. Olynyk was lights out during his time in Houston to finish out this season. He averaged nearly 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and 1.5 steals per game in 27 appearances. He shot a lights-out 55 percent from the field and 39 percent from beyond the arc. All of these numbers shatter his career averages during his time in Boston and Miami. It would be in Olynyk’s best interest for him to stay in H-town because it’s clear this is the place that fits best for him. It would also be in the Houston’s best interest to keep him due to his increasing production. Even if the timeline is too slow for the Rockets to get back on track, Rafael Stone can still flip Olynyk for some very valuable pieces if Olynyk can prove that this is how he can produce on a nightly basis.

Develop the in-house talent

This is obvious for its own reasons but the Rockets should be recognized more for the kind of young talent they already have going forward. Christian Wood was an excellent signing at only $13 million a year this past offseason as he averaged over 23 points and 10 rebounds this season. Not to mention he also shot 37 percent as a big man. Kevin Porter was also a steal of a trade scoring 50 points in a game earlier this season. He showed incredible flashes throughout the year.

Outside of Wood and KPJ, the rest of this team is overlooked. Jae’Sean Tate is one of the most underrated rookies in this entire class, he should end up on an all-rookie team. Kenyon Martin Jr. also played terrific towards the end of the season and a strong full season next year should earn him the attention he deserves. Guards Armoni Brooks and Khyri Thomas are two very underrated players who can also be important in the future with some development. 


With stacked draft capital, an above-average head coach, and some in-house young talent, Houston is already ahead of the curve in the rebuilding process. Some successful drafting and development should set this team back in the playoff picture in maybe three seasons. It will be very interesting to see the moves that Stone and company make going forward as they will get a head start to the offseason. 

National League Cy Young Watch

The start of the 2021 season has been pitcher dominant. We’ve already seen four no-hitters thrown and we haven’t even entered the summer season. With about five weeks of the regular season already filled with wild results, it is time to start breaking who are the top pitchers in the National League who are in the running for the Cy Young award.

Honorable Mentions

Trevor Rogers, Miami Marlins
After an impressive spring training where he finished 3-0 and a 2.84 ERA, Trevor Rogers was in prime position for a potential breakout season. Rogers is currently rolling with a 1.89 ERA along with a 4-2 record. His most notable outing was against the Mets where he finished with a 10 strikeout shutout, one of three non-complete game shutouts he’s already had. The 2017 first-round pick also qualifies for NL Rookie of the Year this season as well. He will likely be a lead frontrunner for that award as long as continues to produce these numbers.

Alex Wood, San Francisco Giants
Alex Wood has had inconsistent seasons since his years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wood’s peak was his all-star season in 2015 where he led the National League in winning percentage, earning 16 wins with only three losses. But since then, it has been disastrous until he joined the Giants, where it looks like he’s turned around his career. Wood is currently 5-0 with an ERA of 1.75, which ranks sixth-best in the league. Wood could be looking at another all-star season if he keeps up this consistency over the next couple of starts. 

3. Kevin Gausman, San Francisco Giants

Kevin Gausman had a great 2020 season, finishing 3-3 with an ERA of 3.68 and a career-high of 11.9 strikeouts over nine innings in his first season with San Francisco. This was enough for Gausman to earn a qualifying offer from the Giants after playing for three other franchises beforehand. Despite many questioning whether Gausman was worth a qualifying offer, he has only disproved that to start the new season. Through eight starts, Gausman is 3-0 with an impressive 1.84 ERA. He’s also on track to have career lows in WHIP at .84 and hits over nine innings. His stellar pitching has helped the Giants have a better-than-expected start to the season, currently sitting at 24-16 and first in the NL West. Gausman will be in line for a big payday if he continues this production and can show interested franchises that all of his inconsistencies from seasons prior are behind him. 

2. Jake Flaherty, St. Louis Cardinals

Jack Flaherty struggled in the shortened 2020 season. He was only able to make nine appearances and finished 4-3 with a 4.91 ERA. 2019 was a much better season for Flaherty where he finished 11-8 with a 2.75 ERA. Flaherty needed a comeback season in order to stay in the conversation of best pitchers in the National League. His start to this season has been just what he needed, if not better than expectations. Flaherty is leading the league in wins, starting off 7-0. But he has also maintained a solid 2.47 average. His WHIP is also at a career-low at only 0.944. Only being 25 years old is also a huge advantage for Flaherty when trying to readjust his career back on track. Flaherty’s pitching will be key if the Cardinals would like to punch their ticket to the postseason season again and their 13th straight winning season.

1. Jacob deGrom, New York Mets

For obvious reasons, the already two-time Cy Young winner is easily the frontrunner in 2021. Jacob deGrom has been off to an insane start to the season despite the Mets’ batting problems. deGrom is number one in ERA with a 0.68 and WHIP with 0.60. He’s also pitched a complete game shutout where he finished with 15, yes 15, strikeouts against the Washington Nationals on April 23rd. But it is also worth mentioning his prior two starts both concluded with 14 strikeouts. deGrom has already struck out 65 batters while walking only seven in his first six starts. He is also maintaining a career-high in strikeouts over nine innings with 14.6, which is also first in the entire league. The stats speak for themselves for deGrom as he’s not only looking to earn NL Cy Young for the third time but he is very likely in the conversation for National League’s Most Valuable Player Award.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week 7

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

Bobby Dalbec, 1B, Boston Red Sox
After showing some solid production in the shortened season, Bobby Dalbec was a solid sleeper in the late rounds of fantasy drafts this year. That start, however, did not translate from last year. Dalbec was hitting below .200 before this stretch of hot games over the last week. In his last five games, Dalbec has hit .353 with two home runs and six RBIs. The Red Sox as a team have been quite a surprise to most around the league. Dalbec recently has played a big role in that and if he is able to keep that up over the next few games, he should be a quality pick-up on the waiver wire. 

Josh Fuentes, 1B/3B, Colorado Rockies
Similar to Dalbec, Josh Fuentes had a fantastic shortened season where he hit over .300. That production hasn’t completely carried over to this year until recently. In his last five games, Fuentes has hit .364 with two homers and 11 RBIs. The Rockies are bout to enter a rebuilding process so it will be interesting whether Fuentes is part of that rebuild or traded to another team. He is only 28 years old so he still has time to elevate his game. The next couple of games will be big. For now, Fuentes is a solid pickup in deeper formatted leagues. 

Jonathan India, 3B/2B, Cincinnati Reds
Jonathan India was a top-five pick in 2018 and has now been called up to play his first season in the majors. He had a hot start but quickly cooled off. Now, he’s started to show more signs of better consistency compared to the start of the season. In his last five games, India has hit .417 with two home runs and five RBIs. His value as a prospect and age give him major upside for the rest of the season but it is good to see that India is having a good start to his young career. India is worth taking a flyer on in all league formats.

Starlin Castro, 2B/3B, Washington Nationals
Starlin Castro might not be in his all-star form like he was in 2017 for the New York Yankees. But now with the Nationals, Castro has still been able to give significant production for a National’s team trying to regain their footing after winning the World Series in 2019. In his last five games, Castro has hit .318 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Castro’s next step is to have more of his hits become runs scored but that’s more due to a lackluster start for the National’s offense as a whole. Castro is worth watching in all leagues to see whether his high percentage hitting turns into more runs.

Pitchers

Rich Hill, SP, Tampa Bay Rays
The journeyman, Rich Hill, has now found himself down south with the Tampa Bay Rays. After giving up four runs in each of his first four, Hill has turned it up to play a significant role for the Rays. In his last four starts, Hill has maintained a 0.83 ERA and 27 strikeouts over 21 innings of work. Hill has only allowed two total runs and a batting averaging of .114 over those same four starts. Hill is a priority pickup on the waiver wire as he will continue to pitch productive games for the Rays who are trying to return to the World Series again. 

Griffin Canning, SP, Los Angeles Angels
Griffin Canning’s success in 2021 was key coming into the season if the Angels would like to elevate their status after missing out on key free agents like Trevor Bauer in the offseason. Canning’s start was slow but quickly turned it around. IN his last three starts, Canning has held a 1.59 ERA with 20 strikeouts over 17 innings of pitching. Canning is a solid candidate off the waiver wire for someone with high production and still an opportunity to become a consistent productive pitcher at only 25 years old. Canning should be picked up in all league formats while he is still available. 

Martin Perez, SP, Boston Red Sox
Martin Perez has also been a key member of the Red Sox who has been overlooked by his teammate Nick Pivetta who is having a breakout season. Over his last five starts, Martin has maintained a 2.08 ERA with 25 strikeouts over 25 innings. It would be nice to see Perez have more nightly strikeouts but I won’t complain for a guy who has a career ERA of 4.66. Perez just turned 30 and could still have some room for improvement. But for now, he is a solid pickup in all league formats while he continues this consistent production. 

Luis Garcia, RP/SP, Houston Astros
Luis Garcia had a very productive 2020 season in only the 12 innings he pitched towards the end of the regular season. 2021 was going to be interesting in whether he can show out as an elite prospect or still need some kind to develop. After some long relief appearances, Garcia finally got some starting opportunities where he has capitalized. In his first three starts, Garcia has held a 3.60 ERA with 26 strikeouts over 20 innings of work. He finally earned his first win in his last start against the Rangers. Garcia is worth keeping watch to see if he can polish his game and become another key young prospect for the Astros.

UFC 262 Predictions

UFC is taking their next pay-per-view event down to Houston, Texas at the Toyota Center to turn a new chapter in the lightweight divisions that was dominated by Khabib Nurmagomedov since 2018. While a handful of fights have already been postponed, including the original co-main event that featured a five-round battle between Nate Diaz and Leon Edwards, this is still an event that will hold a lot of history. Ethan Hartley and Frank Bartunek give their expert opinions and predictions on who will come out on top in the main card.

Matthew Christopher Schnell vs. Rogerio Bontorin

Frank Bartunek

Matt “Danger” Schnell holds a pro record of 15-5, but lost his last back in January. Currently not in the top 15 of the UFC Bantamweight rankings, Schnell is trying to work his way up, and a win here over Bontorin could help establish himself in that lower part of the division. However, Bontorin holds a 16-3 pro record and has roots in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, and this could spell trouble for Schnell, who is known for his ability to induce tapouts. I do not think this fight can end on the ground, because of the games of both fighters. Also, Bontorin will be more aware on his feet after the destruction he suffered against Kara-France in his last fight.

Official Prediction: Rogelio Bontorin wins

Frank’s Bet: Bontorin by KO/TKO

Ethan Hartley

Two flyweight submission specialists clash off to start the main card. However, it is worth noting that both have agreed to fight one weight class up at Bantamweight. These two are currently ranked eight and nine in the flyweight division. These two also combine for 19 total submissions and you can absolutely expect another one on Saturday. Rogerio Bontorin is coming off of back-to-back losses against Ray Borgos and Kai Kara-France. While Matt Schnell is coming off of a recent split decision win against Tyson Nam. I think Schnell will roll with the momentum over his last win and earn his ninth career submission on Saturday. Bontorin also came in one pound overweight and I also believe that will throw off his focus to try to get back on track. 

Prediction: Schnell by Round 2 Submission

Shane Burgos vs. Edson Barboza

Frank Bartunek

Burgos is 13-2 in his pro career, while Barboza sits at 21-9, so two fighters who have a good amount of experience. Barbosa, especially, is a seasoned veteran in the fight game, but losses to some of the best the UFC has to offer in Justin Gaethje, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Tony Ferguson have held him back from reaching the top. Shane “Hurricane” Burgoshas the nickname “hurricane” for good reason. He is an offensive powerhouse, finishing off 10 wins out of 15 fights, 5 knockouts and 5 submissions. Burgos’ quick firepower offense could always land him in trouble when facing someone like Barboza, who Joe Rogan proclaimed “the best kicker in MMA.” 

Official Prediction: Shane Burgos wins

Frank’s Bet: Under 2.5 rounds

Ethan Hartley

Shane Burgos is coming off a loss against UFC veteran Josh Emmett back in June after being much more active in 2018 and 2019. It will be almost a year since that fight. But that same momentum hasn’t stuck around for Burgos since the loss. Edson Barboza is 35 and most would think this is a gatekeeper fight to excel Burgos’s career, who is the younger and much newer fighter to the UFC. But honestly, I don’t see this as a gatekeeper fight, Barboza is coming off of a win against Makwan Amirkhani. Before that, he had two split decision losses to Dan Ige and Paul Felder. This will be Barboza’s 25th UFC appearance and he’s recently earned a new six-fight contract with the promotion. I also think Barboza’s versatility will be a major advantage on Saturday night.

Prediction: Barboza by Unanimous Decision

Katlyn Chookagian vs. Viviane Araujo

Frank Bartunek

This is a big fight with the number 2 ranked women’s flyweight division in Chookagian taking on the number 7th ranked in Araujo. Both women need to win this fight. Araujo needs a win over a formidable opponent to climb the rankings, and Chookagian needs a win to be in the conversation for a title fight. Neither women are known for explosive offense, with 5 combined knockouts in 31 pro fights. I think this fight will have to go the distance because of this. This is where the difference lies. Chookagian is 5’9 compared to Araujo at 5’5.

Official Prediction: Kaitlyn Chookagian wins

Frank’s Bet: Katlyn Chookagian moneyline

Ethan Hartley

Katlyn Chookagian is 2-1 since her title loss to Valentina Shevchenko in February of 2020 at UFC 247. Her one loss comes to Jessica Andrade via knockout in the first round. Her most recent win came against now number five contender, Cynthia Calvillo, which she dominated, sweeping the scorecards. But Viviane Araujo is not one to overlook. She’s won two in a row and her most recent win came against Roxanne Modafferi where she also dominated, even scoring a 10-8 round by one judge. As long as Chookagain can keep this fight on the feet, I think she takes this one with ease, considering her major height and reach advantage. 

Prediction: Chookagian via Unanimous Decision

Tony Ferguson vs. Beneil Dariush

Frank Bartunek

Tony Ferguson is 26-5. He is one of the best to ever do it. Unfortunately, he is on a 2 fight losing streak. He is also one of the hardest fighters to break down because of how free and loosey goosey his offense is. He can knockout almost anyone at any time because of how difficult it is to get a grasp on him. His opponent, Dariush, is certainly no easy matchup for Ferguson, with Dariush even favored to win the fight by Vegas. Dariush is 20-4-1 for a reason, after all. He has not lost since March of 2018, and is extremely well rounded. He can fight on his feet, on the ground, and does not tire easily. I am very tempted to say “oh there’s no way Tony Ferguson can lose 3 in a row,” but Dariush might be too good for a 37 year old Ferguson. 

Official Prediction: Beneil Dariush

Frank’s Bets: Beneil Dariush moneyline’

          To go the distance? Yes.

Ethan Hartley

Tony Ferguson hasn’t won a round since the doctor stoppage win against Donald Cerrone in 2019. This is a crossroads fight for him in whether he can keep up with the top fighters at 37 years old. Beneil Dariush is still a tough cookie in this division. He’s on a six-fight win streak and recently defeated Diego Ferreira via split decision in a brawl back in February. Dariush’s momentum is high right now and I think defeating a guy like Ferguson can elevate Dariush to become a top contender in an already stacked division. Ferguson is biting a little more than he can chew but I don’t think he will be dominated like he was against Charles Oliveira. I give Dariush a slight favorite going into this one.

Prediction: Dariush vis Split Decision

Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler

Frank Bartunek

“THE MOMENT YOU’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR………IIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTSSSS TIIIIIIIMMMMMMMEEEE!!!” Main event. Title fight. It doesn’t get much bigger than this. Oliviera sits at 30-8, Chandler at 20-5. These guys are both the real deal. Chandler has 1 UFC fight, which he won with a first round knockout. Oliveria has a legit ground game. He can very well submit Chandler in this fight. Then again, go watch UFC 254, and see what Chandler did to Dan Hooker. He can knock out anyone. This is the main event. This is title time. This is time to have fun. I HAVE to take Michael Chandler based off the fun metric. 

Official Prediction: #ANDNEW Michael Chandler wins

Frank’s Bets: Michael Chandler moneyline          Under 2.5 rounds           Michael Chandler to win by KO/TKO

Ethan Hartley

I simply can’t buy into the idea that Michael Chandler should earn a title shot after only one fight. Not to mention that that one fight came against someone he was barely favored against and was coming off of a loss. This is no disrespect to Dan Hooker, but if Chandler won against Justin Gaethje or Dustin Poirier in his debut, I wouldn’t have an issue with this. It also should be mentioned that Chandler lost his Bellator belt in 2019 to Patricio “Pitbull” Freire, the now double-champ in Bellator. Charles Oliveira’s last loss came to Paul Felder in 2017 and has since gone on an eight-fight win streak that includes seven finishes and an absolutely demolishing performance against Tony Ferguson. I like Chandler’s confidence, but that will only take him so far. I think Oliveira will overwhelm Chandler when the fight likely goes to the ground. 

Prediction: Oliveira via Round 3 Submission

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: End of Season Awards

The key to winning your fantasy basketball league is not how well you draft, but the players you add off waivers. This is extremely important because securing hidden talent could replace those late-round selections 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! Check out the NBA New Age Rankings for every player’s year-to-date performance valuation.

Guards

Darius Garland, PG/SG, Cleveland Cavaliers
After a subpar rookie season, Darius Garland was a low flyer in the drafts coming into this season. However, he quickly earned himself as an early priority pickup and hasn’t fallen throughout the season. He did suffer a writs injury where he missed multiple weeks but it didn’t miss a step once he returned. Garland finished his sophomore season averaging 18 points, six assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He also shot a solid 45 percent from the field and 40 percent from the beyond the arc. Garland improved in every statistical category except for turnovers. Garland is in a prime position for another breakout season and could be a potential all-star with where he is heading right now. 

Kevin Porter Jr, SG/PG, Houston Rockets
While Kevin Porter only appeared in 26 games this season, his peak was phenomenal. In his short time of consistent play, he played a level to become a key future player for the Rockets. He even dropped 50 points and 11 assists on over 60 percent shooting against the Milwaukee Bucks. Porter finished the season averaging 17 points and six assists per game. His only struggle this season was his shooting percentages. Not only were they inefficient, but they were also lower than last season with Cleveland. With a proper offseason, Kevin Porter can be a terrific player for the Rockets and whoever Houston selects with their top pick. 

T.J. McConnell. PG, Indiana Pacers
T.J. McConnell has been one of the best backup point guards in the entire league, playing being Malcolm Brogdon. He was able to achieve a triple-double with steals in March which put him in a category with only six other NBA players. Since that triple-double, he didn’t slow his production, finishing the season averaging 10 points, six assists, and two steals a game. He also shot an incredible 60 percent from the field in those same games. McConnell will be an unrestricted free agent this summer but is in line for a big payday after an impressive second season with the Pacers. 

Forwards

Bogdan Bogdanovic, SG/SF, Atlanta Hawks
After dealing with a leg injury that forced him to miss most of the first half of the season, Bogdan Bogdanovic came back and had an impressive second half. I would personally say that Bogdanovic was one of the best fantasy pickups this season. Since being lifted from his minute restriction, Bogdanovic has been averaged 20 points, four rebounds, four assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He also shot nearly 50 percent from both the field and from beyond the arc. Bogdanovic’s incredible play was critical in helping the Hawks secure their first playoff spot since 2017. 

Robert Williams III, PF/C, Boston Celtics
Robert Williams III showed some good flashes depose dealing with some inconsistent minutes and a crowded center position for the Boston Celtics. The former first-round pick brought the block party to every game. Since the All-Star break, when Williams’s minutes started to pick up, he averaged nine points, eight rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. He also an insane 72 percent from the field since the break. If Williams can have a productive offseason and elevate his game, he has the potential to become the franchise center for the Celtics. He could be a quality sleeper pick next season. 

Darius Bazley, SF/PF, Oklahoma City Thunder
After the Thunder decided to go fully into tank mode, Darius Bazley was able to capitalize on his opportunity to get some good playing time with a thin frontcourt. In his sophomore season, Bazley averaged 14 points and seven rebounds a game. He really struggled on trying to stay efficient, only shooting about 40 percent from the field and 29 percent from beyond the arc. Nonetheless, Bazley will very likely become a key player for the Thunder in the future as he still only 20 years old. A productive offseason could see him as a quality late-round pick next year. 

Centers

Kelly Olynyk, C/PF, Houston Rockets
After the Victor Oladipo trade, most thought the Rockets got absolutely scammed when they only got Avery Bradley and Kelly Olynyk in return. However, Olynyk reached a whole different level once he arrived in Houston. Since being traded, he averaged 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He also drastically improved his shooting percentages, hitting 56 percent from the field and 38 from beyond the arc. Both are much better than his splits in Miami this season. Olynyk is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason but it would likely b in his best interest to stay with the Rockets, as he has by far played his best basketball for the organization.

Isaiah Stewart, C/PF, Detroit Pistons
Isaiah Stewart is one of the most underrated rookies we saw this season. Despite playing in a very crowded backcourt, he worked his way up to have a very productive second half of the season. Since the All-Star break, Stewart averaged 10 points, eight rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. He also shot an efficient 55 percent from the field and was even a half-decent shooter for his position, hitting 34 percent from three. Stewart’s late breakout may even be enough for the front office to trade veterans in front of him.