Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups: Adam Duvall, Hunter Renfroe Highlight Week 15 Adds (July 2)
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images. Pictured: Adam Duvall.
If you had Cedric Mullins as a top-10 hitter coming into the 2021 season, play the lottery.
Mullins has been one of the biggest surprises despite playing on one of the worst teams in baseball. He is 67 at-bats away from matching his career total and has set career highs across the board and is third in baseball in hits with 99. Mullins is a deserving All-Star starter and no matter how his season finishes, will be one of the fantasy storylines of the season.
He was a waiver-wire All-Star earlier this season. Here are the best pickups for Week 15 of the fantasy baseball season.
Pick Them Up
OF Adam Duvall, Miami Marlins
Yahoo: 53% • ESPN: 46%
Duvall is on another one of his home run heaters, finishing June with a long ball in back-to-back games. It would be nice if his batting average was higher, but Duvall’s production is unmatched on the waiver wire.
OF Hunter Renfroe, Boston Red Sox
Yahoo: 46% • ESPN: 56%
Renfroe had a hit in all but six June games. The strong month was due in part to being protected by better hitters above him in the lineup and seeing better pitches because of it.
SS J.P. Crawford, Seattle Mariners
Yahoo: 27% • ESPN: 32%
It is not too often to see reverse-split hitters, but that is Crawford. He has a .339 average against lefties compared to .251 against righties. The Mariners’ shortstop also has one fewer home run against southpaws in 67 fewer at-bats.
2B Kolten Wong, Milwaukee Brewers
Yahoo: 34% • ESPN: 45%
It sounds like Wong (calf) might be headed back to the injured list, but when in the lineup he has been exactly what the Brewers have needed as a leadoff hitter.
OF Akil Baddoo, Detroit Tigers
Yahoo: 24% • ESPN: 25%
The rookie continues to score runs and is driving in batters without needing the long ball. Baddoo has an OPS over .900 over the last two weeks, entering play on Friday night, and he has three stolen bases to go with that. His .391 BABIP is a concern, but at least he is not hitting home runs while getting lucky like he did to start the season.
Worth A Look
2B/SS/OF Josh Rojas, Arizona Diamondbacks
Yahoo: 47% • ESPN: 51%
As the trade deadline approaches, certain players will benefit from others changing scenary. Rojas can play in multiple spots and has sprinkled in a few steals.
2B/3B/SS Luis Urías, Milwaukee Brewers
Yahoo: 28% • ESPN: 27%
Urías has taken advantage of mediocre pitching the past few weeks and has the Pirates, Mets, and Reds over the next week. His hitless outing on June 29 ended an 11-game hitting streak.
OF Steven Duggar, San Francisco Giants
Yahoo: 35% • ESPN: 27%
The BABIP gods continue to side with Duggar. He had a down series against the Dodgers earlier this week but gets Arizona and St. Louis over the next seven days. Arizona is 30th in WAR and 29th in ERA, while St. Louis is 22nd and 17th.
C Mike Zunino, Tampa Bay Rays
Yahoo: 31% • ESPN: 20%
It is difficult to expect a lot of RBIs from a catcher with limited plate appearances. Zunino having 36 on 18 home runs is not ideal but good for top five at the position. Like Duvall, this type of production is difficult to find on waivers. Catching leader Salvador Perez has one more homer and 12 more RBI’s than Zunino in 142 more at-bats.
OF Yonathan Daza, Colorado Rockies
Yahoo: 10% • ESPN: 14%
Daza offers little outside of average, but adding a player like Zunino could require a boost in other categories. The 27-year old is not a “set him and forget him” player, but he should be rostered as long as he’s hitting (.383 BABIP).
Short-Term Solutions
1B Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
Yahoo: 25% • ESPN: 33%
The longtime Reds star finished June with two home runs in three games and has alternated days with RBIs since June 20. Votto gets the Cubs’ struggling pitching over the weekend before the new week.
OF/SS Myles Straw, Houston Astros
Yahoo: 58% • ESPN: 39%
The speedy Straw has helped solidify center field in Houston for now, with Kyle Tucker and Michael Brantley handling the corner-outfield positions. Straw had hits streaks of six and seven games during June and will have to perform at a similar level prior to the trade deadline to keep his playing time. He is one of the best stolen-base options on the waiver wire.
OF Austin Hays, Baltimore Orioles
Yahoo: 10% • ESPN: 37%
When Hays is in the lineup of late, he has been hitting second behind Mullins and taken advantage of the opportunity. He has six RBIs in his past three games and is seeing his BABIP climb closer to his career mark of .296.
I Am Skeptical
2B/SS Gavin Lux, Los Angeles Dodgers
Yahoo: 54% • ESPN: 57%
We have seen fewer than one season’s worth of Gavin Lux at-bats over three seasons, but at what point is it OK to show more than just a basic level of concern with his performance sheltered in a stacked lineup? Lux is 23 years old and has more than enough time to figure it out, but I would feel comfortable looking elsewhere for middle infield help for 2021.
1B/OF Garrett Cooper, Miami Marlins
Yahoo: 6% • ESPN: 6%
Since returning from the injured list on June 25, Cooper is 7-for-13 with one home run and four RBIs. The concern here is he cannot crack the Marlins’ lineup as a regular and should lose at-bats once his hot streak is over.
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