Here is The Game Day’s Week 13 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Top Free-Agent Pickups. Set these key Week 13 MLB Pickups for your waiver wire list this weekend, then follow along with our full fantasy baseball tips page all MLB season.
Week 13 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Top MLB Pickups To Target
Week 13 MLB Waiver Wire: Top Pickups
Amed Rosario, SS/OF, Cleveland Indians (51% rostered on Yahoo)
I’m skirting the rules to include Amed Rosario. He fits the spirit of this piece, and he’s under-rostered relative to his talent level and production. The Yahoo Fantasy Sports player rater has him 21st overall over the last 30 days.
Rosario bounced around the lineup a bit earlier in the year, but has settled into the two-hole since May 23. In 84 plate appearances during that time, he’s slashed .373/.416/.506 with two homers, 18 runs, 12 RBIs, and four stolen bases.
The 25-year-old’s .426 BABIP during his heater is unsustainable. Still, his 14.6 K% over that same stretch bodes well for his long-term batting-average outlook.
- Amed Rosario Waiver Wire Tip: Rosario’s been a box-score-busting contributor of late, and he’s the only player I’m going to suggest making an aggressive bid for this week. He’s worth a FAAB claim for 35-40% of your budget.
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Logan Gilbert, SP, Seattle Mariners (37%)
Logan Gilbert barely nudges out a fellow young hurler who appeared in this section last week, and will be appearing below. The 24-year-old righty didn’t enjoy immediate success after debuting earlier this year, but he’s quickly flipped the script, demonstrating why he’s one of the game’s top pitching prospects.
He isn’t a workhorse, but in his last four starts (21 2/3 innings) he’s compiled a 2.49 ERA, a 0.97 WHIP, and a 22:6 K/BB ratio. Gilbert allowed two runs or fewer in each of those turns, and he’s pitched five or more innings in his last three starts.
- Logan Gilbert Waiver Wire Tip: Gilbert appears to be settling in nicely at the big-league level. I don’t advise going overboard bidding on him, but a 15-20% FAAB bid is a reasonable allocation of resources.
Jake Fraley, OF, Seattle Mariners (33%)
It’s graduation season, so it’s fitting that Jake Fraley graduated from a depth/streamers touting last week to top-pickup status this week. The 26-year-old outfielder hasn’t been able to replicate the lofty batting averages he flashed in the minors in 2018-2019, but his power and speed have moved up the ladder with him.
Fraley’s already notched four homers and four stolen bases in just 83 plate appearances this year. He’s also exhibiting elite plate discipline, walking in an eye-popping 26.5% of his plate appearances. His stellar offensive contributions have led to getting bumped up in the lineup, as he’s batted second in his last four starts.
- Jake Fraley Waiver Wire Tip: Fraley’s doing the sort of things that bode well for him being more than a flash in the pan and retaining a full-time gig even when Jarred Kelenic and Kyle Lewis return. I suggest spending 15-20% FAAB to add him.
Mariners outfielder Jake Fraley has been swinging a hot bat over the past several weeks (Image: USA Today).
Week 13 MLB Waiver Wire: Sleeper Pickups (6-15% FAAB)
- Lucas Sims, SP/RP, Cincinnati Reds (49% rostered)
- Tarik Skubal, SP, Detroit Tigers (47%)
- NEW - James Kaprielian, SP/RP, Oakland Athletics (42%)
- Max Stassi, C, Los Angeles Angels (36%)
- Odubel Herrera, OF, Philadelphia Phillies (31%)
- Brandon Belt, 1B/OF, San Francisco Giants (24%)
- Joey Votto, 1B, Cincinnati Reds (28%)
- Michael Fulmer, SP/RP, Detroit Tigers (20%)
- Gregory Soto, SP/RP, Detroit Tigers (19%)
Rather than rehash Kev Mahserejian’s spot-on analysis of Lucas Sims from Week 12 Fantasy Closers: Depth Chart News & Baseball Saves Tips, I’ll second his coverage while suggesting to make a waiver claim if he’s still available.
Since I recommended adding Tarik Skubal last week, he’s made back-to-back quality starts, although his overall ERA went up a few ticks to 4.36. If he’s still available in your league, you might be able to nab him for a slightly cheaper FAAB bid than I suggested last week. I have him narrowly behind Gilbert as my favorite pitcher waiver claim this week, and a 15% FAAB bid feels about right.
NEW -Injuries have plagued James Kaprielian on his climb up the professional baseball ladder, but he’s done an outstanding job for the Oakland Athletics in his rookie campaign. In seven starts stretching across 38 innings, he’s spun a 2.84 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and struck out 26.8% of the hitters he’s faced. Although blemishes on his profile include a 10.8 BB% and 4.25 SIERA, that’s more mediocre than his actual ERA. Regardless, he’s earned his way onto fantasy baseball rosters.
The percentage of rosters that Max Stassi is on has climbed 26%, yet he’s still too widely available. In 182 plate appearances since the beginning of last year, he’s batted .296/.368/.560 with 12 homers, 30 runs, and 32 RBIs in 54 games. He’s become a viable catching option in single-catcher, 12-team mixers.
Odubel Herrera isn’t a major contributor in any single category, but his ability to chip in across the board makes him a player whose sum is greater than the individual parts. He also continues to hold down the leadoff spot for the Phillies, which has been a significant boon to his fantasy value.
Flip a coin between Brandon Belt and Joey Votto if you need help at first base or corner infield. Belt’s more likely to swipe a bag here or there, but he also plays in a pitcher’s park while Votto plays in MLB’s best park for homers. They’re in the same tier.
Michael Fulmer was shaky recording a save in his first opportunity this week after being activated from the injured list. He should reclaim his role as Detroit’s primary closer, where he’s listed in the Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings, Depth Charts, Bullpen Report & Sleepers for Saves. Still, Gregory Soto‘s saved six games with a 2.60 ERA, and his left-handedness could help him vulture saves against lefty-heavy lineups.
Week 13 MLB Waiver Wire: Depth/Streamers (0-5% FAAB)
- Myles Straw, SS/OF, Houston Astros (15% rostered)
- Steven Duggar, OF, San Francisco Giants (4%)
- Pete Fairbanks, RP, Tampa Bay Rays (33%)
- NEW - J.P. Crawford, SS, Seattle Mariners (18%)
- Bobby Bradley, 1B, Cleveland Indians (18%)
I was skeptical of Myles Straw‘s bat playing well enough for him to maintain a regular spot in Houston’s talented lineup. His .252/.324/.317 slash line isn’t great, but the Astros have given him enough opportunities to steal eight bases. His bat has also come around after a slow start, as he’s hitting .278/.347/.353 since the beginning of May.
Steven Duggar is a repeat visitor to this section from last week. Duggar’s 35.3 K% provides pause, but his .324/.387/.593 batting line, six homers, and three stolen bases in 119 plate appearances are tantalizing. Additionally, he was in the lineup against a lefty this week, which is a noteworthy development if it’s a sign of things to come.
Diego Castillo‘s 11 saves represent half of the Tampa Bay Rays’ 22 saves this year. He’s their top dog for saves, but not their only option as four other Rays relievers have also notched multiple saves. Pete Fairbanks is one of them, as he’s tied for second on the team with three saves, two of which have come during Tampa Bay’s last three save opportunities.
NEW - Do you need middle-infield help? J.P. Crawford is a widely available stop-gap who’s swinging a hot stick. In 78 plate appearances since taking the reigns as the leadoff hitter on June 1, Crawford’s hit .382/.436/.588 with two homers, 11 runs, nine RBIs, and one stolen base.
Bobby Bradley has top-shelf pop, as evidenced by his four homers in 35 plate appearances for the Cleveland Indians this year. He’s also hitting .375/.429/.813. Be cautious, however, as he was slashing .196/.266/.485 with a 32.1 K% before being called up from Triple-A and has struck out in 33.3% of his 84 career big-league plate appearances. The other shoe’s likely to drop eventually, but there’s nothing wrong with riding his heat wave for now.
NEW - Abraham Almonte is a 31-year-old journeyman outfielder, so let’s immediately temper expectations. Still, the switch-hitter has also batted cleanup in the last four games against righties, and he hit sixth against the only southpaw the Atlanta Braves faced during the previous five games. His lineup spot alone merits rostering in deep leagues.
