Thursday's Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds: Ramon Laureano, Eric Lauer and More

It's time for another round of fantasy baseball waiver wire options.

We won't cover anyone who appeared in waiver stories on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. We'll avoid any pitchers mentioned in Thursday's streaming article.

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

Should You Add Ramon Laureano?

Laureano is up 2.74% so far today and sits at 26.29% overall now.

Laureano homered in back-to-back games earlier this week, and has five hits since the All-Star break. 

He has played in 74 games and gotten 259 plate appearances so far this season. Laureano has a .279 average and .340 on-base percentage. He's got 65 total hits, including 13 home runs and 16 doubles, along with 41 RBIs, 37 runs scored, four stolen bases, 20 walks and 68 strikeouts.

When on the field this season, Laureano has been a pretty solid fantasy asset. He's missed time with injuries, and still is a bit inconsistent with his results, but when he's locked in at the plate, he's a pretty solid fantasy hitter.

I think he tops out as a deep-league asset, but that he's streamable in these hot stretches. He might be at the start of a hot streak now, so I'd be willing to add him in a few more deeper leagues. 

Over the team's past five games, Laureano has either hit fourth or fifth. Those are favorable spots to be in, even if the Baltimore offense is weak overall. Really, all Laureano needs to do is collect some hits and drive in runs, and it doesn't matter what else is happening around him.

Give Laureano a roster spot in deeper leagues, especially if you are lacking in the outfield right now. Utilize him while you can, because he's a streaky hitter.

Should You Add Eric Lauer?

Lauer has been added in 4.25% of leagues, bringing his overall mark up to 53.28%.

Lauer is the only pitcher in today's story. He will make an evening start against the Tigers. It's not a super favorable matchup, but on a day where there's only five MLB games, Lauer is a better option than you think.

Lauer faced Detroit back on May 17. He only worked three innings and threw 40 pitches though. Lauer allowed a run on three hits and no walks, while striking out five. He did well enough in that outing and has pitched well enough all season to be a streaming option today.

He has made 15 appearances on the season - he's made nine starts. Lauer is 5-2 with a 2.80 earned run average over 61 innings. He's allowed 19 runs on 43 hits and 16 walks, while striking out 65 batters.

Lauer has allowed no more than three runs in any of his outings, and has given up two runs in all three of his July starts. He's struck out at least six batters in his July starts as well.

For his season numbers and recent results being good, I'm surprised Lauer isn't rostered in more leagues. He's not a big name, but he's pitching very well right now.

I like the idea of starting him in deeper leagues today, and think he could end up as one of the top fantasy pitchers. He's a good option in standard leagues as well, but is by no means a must-start pitcher. 

Should You Add Nolan Schanuel?

Schanuel is rostered in 33% of leagues right now - he's ever so slightly trending up.

He had four hits, including two doubles, a couple nights ago, so it's easy to see why he's on the rise. I've been begging fantasy owners to add Schanuel, because he's a pretty underrated fantasy asset.

Over 98 games and 422 plate appearances, Schanuel has a .275 average and .365 OBP (both very solid marks). He has 100 total hits, including 19 doubles, eight home runs and a triple. Schanuel also has 41 RBIs, 48 runs scored, four stolen bases, 46 walks and 50 strikeouts.

He plays every day and bats second. Even if he's not in a great lineup, that's a great spot for a fantasy hitter to be in. Schanuel is at a stacked first base position, which is what is holding his own percentage back a bit.

I really do think Schanuel is underrated. His own percentage says that deep-league owners should consider adding him, but in my eyes, standard league owners should be the ones after Schanuel right now.

I always say that if fantasy owners were to add him, that in time, they'd come to really enjoy having Schanuel on their squad, and maybe never drop him the rest of the season. Give it a trial run, and you'll likely come away surprised at just how good of an asset Schanuel is.

Should You Add Christian Walker?

Walker is owned in 71% of leagues - that's up from 68% back on July 21.

He's on a tear at the plate right now, collecting nine hits over his past five games. Walker has a homer and two doubles among the hits, along with five RBIs, three runs scored, two walks and six strikeouts.

Walker has been one of the bigger fantasy disappointments this season, but his recent stretch is a glimpse into what fantasy owners were expecting from him this season. He's still at just a .237 average and .296 OBP despite the recent hot stretch.

Walker has played in 96 games and gotten 406 plate appearances so far. He has 88 total hits, including 14 doubles, 13 homers and a triple, along with 52 RBIs, 40 runs scored, 25 walks and 111 strikeouts.

Walker is probably owned in too many leagues after looking at his season numbers, but a hot stretch actually makes him worth owning in as many leagues as he is.

Again, we're talking about a first baseman, and there's plenty of those to go around. I still like the idea of adding Walker as an additional first base option who can start at an extra infield or utility spot. Maybe he heats up down the stretch and turns into the fantasy asset we expected him to be before the season.

It's a good time to sell Walker as well, especially in deeper leagues. He was due to bounce back a bit, so I'd be more inclined to hold on to him if you rostered him to this point of the season.

Should You Add Mickey Moniak?

Moniak has been added in 3.59% of leagues, bringing his total mark to 28.69%.

Moniak is red hot at the plate, with a hit in eight straight games. Moniak has 13 hits over that stretch, including two home runs and doubles. He has seven RBIs and runs scored, three walks and nine strikeouts over that span as well.

He still strikes out a lot, but Moniak is definitely trending up as a fantasy asset. He's an outfielder, so his own percentage is hindered a bit by having so many other assets out there.

Moniak has a .275 average and .324 OBP over 85 games and 275 plate appearances this season. He's got 70 total hits, including 15 homers, 11 doubles and six triples, along with 39 RBIs, 38 runs scored, five stolen bases, 17 walks and 67 strikeouts.

He's started in each of the team's past five games (all against right-handed starting pitchers). Moniak has either hit first or second in those contests.

It's a favorable spot to be in, even if the Rockies' lineup is not great overall. He gets plenty of plate appearances, which is his best chance at fantasy production.

He'll top out as a deep-league asset, but he's hitting well enough to utilize in more deeper leagues right now. Add and start him until his bat cools off.