Some of us are looking to rebuild dynasty teams after too many players were struck down by injuries. Others are readying for a second-half surge and will be hunting every short-term marginal gain available. Whichever camp you fall into, the waiver wire deserves your attention this week.
Dalton Rushing
Need a catcher? Look no further.
Rushing has the starting job behind the plate with Will Smith on the injured list. He had four hits on Sunday, and while his underlying numbers are not as strong as his traditional metrics, he has still been impressive. There has been plenty of hard contact and he is pulling the ball in the air frequently. Smith is expected back relatively soon, so this is a short-term play, but there is real value in rostering Rushing right now.
Javier Assad
Since the start of June, Assad has thrown 12.1 scoreless innings. All of those have come against the Giants, but he has quieted an offense that had been trending upward, which is worth noting. Among pitchers this month, only two carry a better xERA. He has done enough to earn more starts and could be a quietly valuable addition from a fantasy standpoint.
Miles Mikolas
Being used behind an opener has worked wonders for Mikolas. His overall numbers for the year are bleak, but he carries a 3.38 ERA across his last six appearances, all of which have seen him enter after the first inning. In June, his xERA is better than both Freddy Peralta and Payton Tolle. The ceiling is limited, but Mikolas is a reasonable option for anyone needing to fill innings.
Heriberto Hernández
Hernández ranks fourth in the majors in hard-hit rate this month and carries a 1.063 OPS in June, which has pulled his season average close to league average. That is not cause for celebration on its own, but it is a hot streak worth riding for a week or two. His expected metrics for the season are largely encouraging, and he possesses near-elite bat speed, both of which suggest this recent surge has some staying power.
Kyle Karros
Karros has emerged as an intriguing option at third base and corner infield. He consistently drives the ball at an effective launch angle and ranks 20th in hard-hit rate this month. His greatest asset is plate discipline. He makes sound swing decisions and almost never chases out of the zone. More power upside would be welcome, but he is a work in progress and the foundation is there.
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