In all honesty, I expected the waiver wire to cool down once we established some separation from the MLB trade deadline.
…I was wrong.
There are plenty of terrific options sitting on waivers in most fantasy baseball leagues right now, with a healthy mix of stable veterans and intriguing youngsters. And there is something for everyone, with an equal distribution of appealing options on the hitting and pitching side.
Spencer Arrighetti (SP, Houston Astros, 56%)
Arrighetti should be rostered in absolutely every league today. The rookie has flashed eye-popping strikeout skills of late, compiling 25 whiffs in his past two starts, which has boosted his K/9 rate to 11.1 across 105 innings. To put that rate into perspective, Arrighetti would rank fifth in baseball if he had enough innings to qualify. His value is even greater in the short term, as the right-hander will face the worst offense in baseball tonight, when he starts against the historically bad White Sox.
I’m excited to recommend Matthews as a long-term option after he struck out five batters across five innings of two-run ball in his Major League debut. The youngster has been spectacular in the minors this year (2.60 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 10.6 K/9 rate) and could provide a major fantasy spark as a rotation member on a postseason-bound team. Matthews has incredible control skills (22 BB in 205.1 career Minor League innings), which virtually ensures that he will be a WHIP asset. He is also heading into a two-start week, with matchups against the Padres and Cardinals.
Harrison is easily the best target for those in shallow leagues who need a two-start pitcher next week. The right-hander has been unremarkable this year (4.14 ERA, 1.31 WHIP), but he should have more than enough skill to navigate the cakewalk that is his upcoming schedule. Harrison will open the week against the inept White Sox and will close it out by facing a Mariners offense that leads the majors in strikeouts and ranks 27th in runs scored.
Blackburn took a step back when he struggled against the A’s on Tuesday, but those who grabbed him for a two-start week (or those who need a boost to win their weekly matchup) should give him another chance this weekend. Blackburn has allowed no more than one earned run in half of his starts this year, and his matchup on Sunday against the Marlins (29th in runs scored) is an extremely favorable one.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo hasn’t named Martínez as his closer, but he continues to deploy the right-hander in that way. Martínez has earned a win and three saves since August 5, and this season he has overcome mediocre control skills (4.5 BB/9 rate) by inducing grounders at an elite rate (63.7%), which has led to solid ratios (1.89 ERA, 1.20 WHIP). The D-backs are on the fast track to the postseason, which means that Martínez should get plenty of save chances in the coming days.
Domínguez may be emerging as the Orioles closer. Craig Kimbrel continues to show that he cannot be reinserted into the role, and Domínguez has collected two saves in the past five days. The right-hander has been stellar since joining the Orioles (1.00 ERA, 0.73 WHIP) and could have immense value as the ninth-inning man on one of baseball’s best teams.
Wagner isn’t going to set the fantasy universe on fire, but he should be an asset for those who are looking to improve their batting average. The 26-year-old, who arrived from Houston at the MLB trade deadline, has proven in the minors to have terrific control over the strike zone.
Wagner was hitting .315 with 59 walks and 37 strikeouts at the time of his promotion, and last year he batted .337. The Blue Jays are committed to using the final weeks of 2024 to build for the future, which means that Wagner will be one of several prospects who receive regular playing time.
Spencer Horwitz (1B/2B, Toronto Blue Jays, 12%)
The Blue Jays have some of the best pitching matchups next week, as they play seven games, with four coming against a subpar Angels staff that has logged a 4.54 ERA. The matchups are especially appealing for the lefty-swinging Horwitz, as Toronto’s first six games of the week will come against right-handed starters. Hitting behind red-hot Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the lineup should give Horwitz plenty of RBI opportunities.
Geraldo Perdomo (2B/3B/SS, Arizona Diamondbacks, 28%)
I’m happy to get as many shares as possible of an Arizona offense that leads the majors in runs scored. Plus, Perdomo is both readily available and easy to fit into a lineup, based on his triple-position eligibility. The infielder is light on power, but he can steal bases and has hit .293 in the second half.
David Peralta (OF, San Diego Padres, 5%)
Peralta is an easy streamer when the Padres face right-handed starters at Coors Field today and on Sunday. The lefty-swinger outfielder has fared well of late as the heavy side of a platoon in right field and should be part of two high-scoring affairs. And those who want to keep Peralta for a few more days can do so, as the Padres will face righties in their initial five games next week.
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