Friday's Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets: Luke Keaschall, Slade Cecconi and More

The MLB season kicks back into gear today, so it's time to jump back into waiver wire stories!

I covered some hitters and pitchers earlier in the week, and also provided some weekend options based on projections here at FantasySP. Also be sure to check out some streaming options for Friday. Let's go over a few hitters and pitchers today.

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

Should You Add Luke Keaschall?

Keaschall is rostered in 25% of fantasy leagues right now.

He has not played since April 25 because of a fractured right ulna bone. Keaschall is going to begin a rehab assignment Friday, which means a return to the big leagues is imminent. 

In his first seven big league games this season, Keaschall had a .368 average and .538 on-base percentage. He had three doubles among his seven hits, along with two RBIs, four runs scored, five stolen bases and walks and just two strikeouts.

He's the No. 45 prospect in baseball, so he's highly regarded. The 22-year-old has a career .297 average and .415 OBP across 147 minor league games, so there was nothing left for him to prove there.

Keaschall is at least a good deep-league option, so I'd be happy to add him in deeper leagues as his return gets closer. His own percentage is already trending up, so don't wait too long if you are interested in adding him.

Should You Add Slade Cecconi?

Cecconi is rostered in 33.7% of leagues after an early 1.99% increase today. That will rise as the day progresses, because he's a streaming option on Friday.

Cecconi will face the Athletics on Friday night. He faced them back on June 22, working seven scoreless innings. Cecconi allowed six hits and one walk, while striking out three batters. He needed just 79 pitches to get through that outing.

Since then, he's allowed three runs in one start, and two runs in the other two. Cecconi has really been solid since the start of June, posting a 2.72 earned run average over seven starts and 39 2/3 innings. He's allowed 12 runs on 35 hits and 13 walks over that stretch, while striking out 39 batters and sporting a 3-3 record.

For the season over 10 starts, Cecconi has a 3.44 ERA. He's covered 55 innings, allowing 21 runs on 52 hits and 18 walks, while striking out 56 batters.

Cecconi is pretty underrated after looking at his season numbers. He's been at least an average starter for nearly every start he's made this season.

After he shut down the Athletics already, and seeing how he's pitched of late, I'd be a fan of streaming Cecconi on Friday. He's definitely a deep-league streaming option, and I'd even consider him in a standard league tonight.

He might not have the highest ceiling, but he has a decent floor and is maybe one of the few without a major chance of posting a blowup start. Assess all streaming options, but definitely don't overlook Cecconi tonight.

Should You Add Colin Rea?

Rea is rostered in 34% of leagues - that should rise as the day progresses as he's also a streaming option tonight.

Rea will start against the Red Sox in an afternoon tilt. He hasn't faced the Red Sox yet this season.

Across 19 appearances and 15 starts, Rea has a 7-3 record and a save. He's posted a 3.91 ERA so far. Rea has worked 92 innings, allowing 41 runs (40 earned) on 93 hits and 23 walks, while also striking out 65 batters.

He's been good over his past three starts, going 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA over 18 2/3 innings. Rea has allowed four runs on 10 hits and four walks in that stretch, while striking out 11 batters.

Rea allowed seven runs in the start before that, so the chance of a blowup start is there. Across his 10 starts, I'd say that six were good ones - he also had a bulk relief appearance that he excelled in, so 7-for-11 is a pretty solid mark.

The matchup is solid, but not elite. Fantasy owners are after Rea because of how he's looked over his past three starts.

I am fine streaming Rea in deeper leagues, but wouldn't call him a must-start pitcher today. He's fine to try in some standard leagues too, but I'm not as high on him as others seem to be - I like Cecconi over Rea today, and Rea also falls behind some others in the streaming story and the next guy listed here.

Should You Add Sean Manaea?

Manaea is a guy we discussed earlier this week, but he's making a start today, so he's worth mentioning again. He's rostered in 66% of leagues.

He's got a favorable fantasy start against the Reds today. It will be just his second appearance of the season, and Manaea's first start.

Manaea made a bulk relief appearance right before the All-Star break, working 3 1/3 innings. He allowed a run on five hits and no walks against the Royals (who are another favorable matchup). Manaea had seven punchouts in that contest. 

He threw 65 pitches in his lone appearance, so while he's just getting going this season, there's reason to expect a deeper start from him today. The matchup is what fantasy owners are after anyways.

Manaea can be a top-end fantasy pitching option, so while some see this as a streaming opportunity, I see it as another reason to add Manaea for the stretch run. At least add him for a couple starts to see if he can regain his old form.

Manaea should be added in all deeper leagues already, while being picked up in a good amount of standard leagues too. He has the chance to be a great fantasy asset today, and improve his numbers the remainder of the season as he settles in.

Should You Add Brandon Walter?

Walter is up 2.35% today so far, bringing his overall mark to 32.3%.

Walter will start against the Mariners on Friday night, so he's yet another streaming option. He hasn't faced Seattle yet this season.

Walter has started seven games so far, with the Astros going 2-5 in those contests. Walter is 1-2 with a solid 3.98 ERA though.

He's covered 40 2/3 innings so far, allowing 18 runs on 39 hits and two walks (yes, two walks). Walter has struck out 40 batters.

Those are good fantasy numbers, and the matchup is solid enough to want to try Walter in. It's a small sample size for Walter, but it's been positive results so far.

He's coming off a six-inning start against the Guardians. Walter allowed two runs on two hits and no walks in that one, while striking out seven.

He allowed five runs to the Rockies before that, and seven runs in an earlier start against the Angels, so he doesn't always shut down the offenses he should be.

Walter has been stellar outside those two blowup starts, and shut down some better offenses in the process. He's not the most consistent fantasy pitcher, but there's enough positive starts to be streaming him here and there.

This is a matchup to try Walter in. I don't have super high hopes, but I do think he's at least worth a streaming slot in deeper leagues. I'd rank him behind Manaea, Cecconi and Rea, plus the streamers from the other article, but for those in deeper leagues, Walter might be the only one available.

He's a solid option tonight. I wouldn't expect greatness, but can hope for at least average results.