The waiver wire can seem barren at this time of year. Most top prospects in or close to the majors have been snapped up, and players in a breakout year are long gone.
That doesn't mean there aren't still opportunities to improve your roster. Here are a few players worth targeting.
Kody Clemens
Available at first, second, and outfield, Clemens’ versatility makes him a hard player to ignore with a 109 OPS+ for the season and an .829 OPS over the last 28 days.
His underlying numbers are strong enough to suggest this can be maintained for the rest of the year, including a 65th percentile xwOBA.
Trevor Larnach
Rostered in approximately 3% of leagues, Larnach has a 171 wRC+ in June. He’s been walking more and striking out less than usual and ranks 21st in the majors in xwOBA over that period.
He could see more offspeed pitches as opponents adjust, which may eventually cool his production. But there’s still value in the short-term if you can ride this hot streak.
Matt McLain
Yes, we’ve been hurt before by the McLain hype. But the flip side of that is relatively low ownership and some of your league rivals might be hesitant to make a move for him.
Eligible at both middle infield positions, he is definitely a worthwhile upside swing. He’s got the third-best barrel rate in the majors this month and sits 20th in xwOBA. A 12% walk rate is an encouraging sign, too.
Mauricio Dubón
Another ultra-versatile player, Dubón is having a career year at the plate with a 103 OPS+. Dubón has the highest xwOBA of his big-league career and ranks 25th in xwOBA since the start of June.
Per Fantasy Pros, Dubón’s ownership is considerably higher than the other players on this list, so it’s far from guaranteed that he will be attainable, but he’s a useful piece to add to your roster if available.
Martín Pérez
Does Pérez have great stuff? No. Does he have elite command? No. Is Pérez having a phenomenal, under-the-radar season? Very much yes.
Pérez has a 103 location+. He’s got a 2.76 ERA in June and the eighth-best xERA in the majors this month. The season-long expected metrics don’t indicate he’s going to be in the Cy Young mix, but he’s consistently going five innings.
This is a useful pitcher for anyone needing counting stats and wins.
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