Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitting Targets at the All-Star Break: Kyle Stowers, Noelvi Marte and More

The MLB All-Star break might be here, but I have some fantasy baseball waiver wire targets to discuss.

Let's check out some hitters who are on the rise. We'll look at pitchers in another story.

Check out the top fantasy baseball waiver wire options everyday on FantasySP. 

Should You Add Kyle Stowers?

Stowers is rostered in 65.94% of fantasy leagues right now.

He's been on waiver lists, and then drop lists, all season, showing he's a streaky hitter. Stowers had a five-hit game (including three homers) on Sunday, so it's easy to see why he's on the rise.

Stowers had seven hits over the past three days. He had six RBIs (all on Sunday), five runs scored, a stolen base and two walks and strikeouts over that stretch.

He has a .293 average and .368 on-base percentage this season over 91 games and 346 plate appearances. Stowers has 13 doubles, three triples and 19 home runs among his 89 total hits, along with 54 RBIs, 46 runs scored, four stolen bases, 34 walks and 97 strikeouts.

If Stowers wasn't such a streaky hitter, or wasn't on a bad team, he'd be rostered in way more leagues. He ranks in the 40s in points leagues among outfielders, so he's just outside being a daily starter. That also means he's probably a bit underowned.

He's in the lineup regularly and hitting in the heart of the lineup, which makes up for being on a bad team a bit. Stowers definitely has stretches where he should be utilized in all standard leagues, but I think fantasy baseball owners have done a good job adding and dropping him during his up-and-down season.

I think he needs to remain rostered in all deeper leagues for the remainder of the season. He can be added in standard leagues when he's hot at the plate, or if you are lacking fantasy outfielders. There's plenty of those to go around, but Stowers is overlooked and an underappreciated fantasy asset.

Should You Add Noelvi Marte?

Marte is rostered in 48.75% of leagues right now.

He's missed a lot of games this season, but has been pretty solid when he's been on the field. Marte has a .284 average and .337 OBP over 28 games and 104 plate appearances for the year. He has five doubles, six homers and a triple among his 27 total hits, along with 22 RBIs, 14 runs scored, five stolen bases, eight walks and 17 strikeouts.

Since returning from the injured list on July 4, Marte has a .259 average and .323 OBP. He has three homers and a double among his seven knocks in that nine-game stretch. Marte has five RBIs, four runs scored, three walks and five strikeouts in that span as well.

The primary third baseman started in each of the team's five games before the All-Star break. He batted ninth the first four games before moving up to sixth in the final game before the break. That game was the lone time the Reds faced a lefty, so it's more likely he moved up for the matchup, and that it wasn't a sign of things to come. 

With more games and similar results, Marte would be a more-owned fantasy asset. He's a really solid deep-league option at this point, and might remain rostered in those leagues for the rest of the season. I also like him in standard leagues, but would only add him if I was struggling with my third basemen.

Having him stay on the field will get his own percentage up some more, so don't wait too long if you are hoping to add him in a standard league.

Should You Add Colt Keith?

Keith is rostered in 46% of leagues at this time.

He capped the first portion of the season with some stellar hitting, so he's been on the rise for a bit. Keith has 18 hits since June 27, which covers 14 games and 57 plate appearances.

Keith has four doubles, two homers and a triple in that stretch, but his .360 average and .421 OBP are what should stand out. He has six RBIs, 10 runs scored, five walks and 11 strikeouts in that span as well.

The Tigers faced righties for the final five games before the break, so Keith was in the lineup each day. He hit leadoff, which is a great spot for a fantasy hitter, especially one on a good offense.

He's played first, second and third base so far this season, so Keith's position versatility is another way for him to get into the lineup daily, and also become a bigger fantasy asset.

Keith is trending up and now has pretty solid numbers on the season. Over 85 games and 295 plate appearances, Keith has a .264 average and .346 OBP. He has 16 doubles, eight homers and two triples among his 68 total hits, along with 30 RBIs, 43 runs scored, 33 walks and 60 strikeouts.

He's on the verge of being added in standard leagues, and if he fills a position of need, I'd be all for adding him in a few standard setups. I'd call Keith close to a must-add bat in deeper leagues. He's a really good option right now, and is overlooked.

Again, don't wait too long if you are thinking about adding Keith, because he could be scooped up soon.

Should You Add Sean Murphy?

Murphy is up to 33.87% rostered.

He's mostly underwhelmed this season, but he got going a bit to end the first portion of the season. Murphy has nine hits over his past nine games and 35 plate appearances. He has five homers and two doubles among the hits, along with 11 RBIs, six runs scored, no walks and 13 strikeouts.

Overall, Murphy has a .231 average and .311 OBP over 60 games and 225 plate appearances. He has 38 RBIs, 23 runs scored, 18 walks and 72 strikeouts. Murphy has 46 total hits, including 16 homers and eight doubles.

The emergence of Drake Baldwin has meant Murphy sees the starting lineup a bit less this season. He started the final four games before the break though, with Baldwin appearing in just two of those games.

I don't see Murphy ever getting back into standard league fantasy ownership, unless he's moved or Baldwin gets hurt. Splitting starts will leave both catchers as better deep-league options, but at a tough fantasy position to find consistent production, streaming them for short stretches in standard leagues will still happen. If you are looking for a long-term pickup, then neither are the best options.

Should You Add Zach McKinstry?

McKinstry is owned in 78.75% of fantasy leagues.

McKinstry has been a pretty good fantasy asset most of the season. He sits with a .285 average and .364 OBP over 88 games and 331 plate appearances.

He also has 14 doubles, eight triples and eight homers among his 82 total hits. McKinstry has 31 RBIs, 49 runs scored, 15 stolen bases, 34 walks and 72 strikeouts.

McKinstry is a career .233 hitter with a .302 OBP, and that's factoring in this season's numbers. Regression is likely coming in the second portion of the season, but it's hard to deny he's a good fantasy asset right now.

Another thing working in his favor is that McKinstry has played first, second and third base, shortstop and then left and right field as well this season. The more positions he's eligible at for fantasy, the better a pickup he becomes.

I think he's a better deep-league asset, but if you have a couple needs at different positions McKinstry is eligible at, then I'm fine utilizing him in standard leagues for now. I'd keep a close eye on him and drop him in standard leagues as soon as his bat cools off.

He should remain a pretty strong deep-league asset for the remainder of the season, so I'd keep rostering him in those leagues, even if his average and OBP drop.