Fantasy Baseball Week 21 Waiver Wire Adds: Ryan Walker, Alex Call, Joey Bart and More

The 21st week of the fantasy baseball season is here, so it’s time to go over some of the top waiver wire options.

These players were all pulled off the FantasySP Waiver Wire Pickups page. There’s two relievers and four hitters we will cover today.

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Ryan Walker Fantasy Outlook

Walker has possibly been thrust into the Giants’ closer role after the organization sent Camilo Doval down the other day. Walker earned a save on Saturday.

Walker’s own percentage has shot up to 52%. It was around 28% just a couple days ago.

In his second MLB season, Walker is 7-3 with a 2.20 earned run average across 60 games and 61 1/3 innings. He’s allowed 16 runs (15 earned) on 41 hits and 14 walks, while striking out 73 batters.

As a non-closer, being rostered in 28% of fantasy leagues shows how valuable Walker already was. Now that he’s got the chance to pick up some saves, his own percentage is rightfully climbing up.

We don’t know how long Doval will stay in the minors, or if he’d regain the job if he ever gets called back up, but I’m all for adding Walker right now. It doesn’t matter what type of league you are in, he’s a good fantasy closer for the time being.

Even if it doesn’t last long or he doesn’t close every game, his strikeout work should be appealing enough to fantasy owners. Add Walker now and hope he retains the job for the remainder of the season.

Jake McCarthy Fantasy Outlook

McCarthy has had a pretty solid season overall, but is especially hot of late. He’s up to 24% rostered in fantasy leagues.

In 100 games this season, McCarthy has a .303 average and .375 on-base percentage. He’s got nine doubles, seven triples and six homers among his 84 total knocks, along with 36 RBIs, 45 runs scored, 16 stolen bases, 25 walks and 55 strikeouts.

His average and OBP are fantastic, but he’s not a big power guy, which makes him less appealing to fantasy baseball owners. Still, he’s not racking up many negatives, so McCarthy is a better fantasy option than he’s probably being credited for right now.

In his past eight games played (seven starts), McCarthy has 12 hits, including three homers and a triple. He’s drove in 12, scored six times, walked once and struck out six times. McCarthy won’t sustain those numbers for the rest of the season, but he’s hot right now, which means he needs to be rostered/started in more leagues.

McCarthy is a better option in deeper leagues, especially because he’s at a deep outfield position. I think he needs to be heavily considered in those leagues.

I also think McCarthy isn’t too far off from being a fantasy option in standard leagues. He’s playing pretty regularly and putting up enough hits to be a positive fantasy asset for teams. Don’t overlook McCarthy just because he lacks a ton of pop.

Alex Call Fantasy Outlook

Call has been red hot since being recalled from the minor leagues in late July. He’s up to 21% rostered now.

Since his July 29 callup, Call has started 12 of the 13 games he’s appeared in. He’s got 21 hits, including five doubles and a homer over that span. Call also has 10 RBIs, five runs scored, six walks, seven strikeouts and three stolen bases over that span.

The Nationals are not exactly an imposing lineup, but Call is doing a lot of positive things right now, while not hurting himself with a bunch of strikeouts. He’s playing often and delivering consistently, which has him in the daily takeaway stories often.

He is another outfielder, so while there’s plenty of options available for fantasy owners, Call is definitely doing enough right now to be heavily considered.

I like adding Call in deeper leagues right now. You can immediately throw him in your starting lineup somewhere.

In standard leagues, he’s another short-term option. Last week, I wrote about mindsets changing at this point of the season to get the hottest hitters in your lineup. Call is one of the hottest hitters right now, and although he doesn’t have a ton of power, is probably outplaying a bunch of your regular starters.

I’m not saying to drop the regulars for Call, but to add him if you have a roster spot to work with.

Joey Bart Fantasy Outlook

Bart is a catcher, which is one of the weaker fantasy positions out there. Some strong results of the plate of late has his own percentage up to 17 - after being hardly owned just over a week ago.

Bart has hits in nine of his last 10 games (all starts). He’s got 15 knocks over that span, including a double and four home runs. Bart has 10 RBIs, nine runs scored, two walks and 10 strikeouts in that span.

He’s been starting at designated hitter when he’s not catching, so the team is finding ways to get him into the lineup. That’s never a bad thing.

His own percentage suggests he needs to be rostered in deeper leagues, and I’d agree with that. Bart can not only be added, but started right away as well.

He’s also a standard league option because he’s a catcher. Bart has been hitting cleanup, and until he leaves that spot or cools off at the plate, he could be a fantasy starter in any league type.

Lucas Erceg Fantasy Outlook

Erceg was dealt from the Athletics to the Royals at the trade deadline. He earned a save in his most recent appearance, which explains why his own percentage is on the rise. Erceg is at 18% now.

Erceg had five holds across his first five outings in KC. He allowed a hit over five innings, while striking out six and walking none.

He got the save against the Cardinals on Saturday after getting the final four outs. He allowed two hits, but didn’t allow a run or walk and struck out a pair.

He’s got solid all-around numbers this season, and could become the closer for the Royals down the stretch. I’d like to see him earn another save before adding him in a standard league, but he’s a player to watch for sure.

I think his ERA around three and strikeout work is enough to take a gamble on him in a deeper league. He’s a good fantasy option even if he isn’t closing.

Jorge Soler Fantasy Outlook

Soler popped four homers over the weekend, so it’s no surprise he’s on the waiver wire list. He’s now rostered in 72% of leagues.

He had been having a bit of a down season, but a strong weekend has his average near what he posted a season ago. Soler has 16 homers this season, with the latest four being his first with the Braves since being dealt to Atlanta.

Soler isn’t going to wow as a fantasy hitter with a high average, or a bunch of RBIs even. But he’s a solid home run threat and playing every day (and hot right now), so he’s at least a short-term option. I’d hang on to him for at least a week or two and only drop him if his production dries up for several games at a time, not just a contest or two.