JJ Bleday and Jakob Marsee Among Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets for Thursday

Let's go over another round of fantasy baseball waiver wire options for Thursday!

We won't cover anyone who appeared in stories on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, and will skip the three pitchers who were included in Thursday's streaming article.

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

Should You Add JJ Bleday?

Bleday has been added in 3.17% of leagues, bringing his overall mark up to 17.06%.

Bleday recently got called back up to the big leagues, and he's collected four hits in back-to-back contests, so it's easy to see why he's on the rise. He has two doubles and two home runs among his hits, along with seven RBIs, five runs scored, no walks and one strikeout.

For the season, Bleday has a .219 average and .307 on-base percentage. He was at a .190 average and .286 OBP before the past two games. Bleday has played in 65 games and gotten 244 plate appearances.

Bleday has 12 doubles and 10 homers among his 47 total hits. He also has 29 RBIs, 35 runs scored, a stolen base, 28 walks and 59 strikeouts.

He's a career .217 hitter with a .311 OBP in the big leagues, so his recent hot stretch just got him up near those marks. Bleday also had a .243 average and .324 OBP last season, so he's capable of more.

Bleday should be in the starting lineup for the Athletics often down the stretch. Having him be an outfielder knocks his fantasy value down with so many other options available, but he could have some deep-league value still.

I'm fine with adding Bleday in some deeper leagues, and continuing to add him in deeper leagues if he continues to produce at the plate. He's not going to stay as hot as he's been of late, but might get added a bunch as a streaming option in the short term.

I think he'll top out as a deep-league asset, so I wouldn't waste a standard league roster spot on him, unless it's simply just a spot you've been streaming the best hitters at. There's better options out there for sure, and those guys give you a better long-term outlook as well.

Should You Add Jakob Marsee?

Marsee is up to 14% rostered and has slowly risen over the past few days.

Marsee got his first promotion to the big leagues at the start of this month. In his first five games, he has six hits and five walks over 17 plate appearances. Marsee has three doubles, a triple and a home run among his hits, along with three RBIs and runs scored and five punchouts.

Marsee is another fantasy outfielder who should be in the lineup a bunch down the stretch. Miami is all of a sudden a pretty solid offense to be hitting inside of. So far, Marsee has hit sixth against right-handed pitchers and eighth against the one lefty they faced since he got called up.

His fantasy outlook from those spots in the order isn't the best, but Marsee has made it work so far. His overall numbers are going to drop a bit as he gets more games in, but Marsee is still worth some adds in deeper leagues.

Marsee might top out as a deep-league asset, but with this being his first MLB experience, you just never know how things are going to go for a young player. Marsee is worth keeping an eye on in all formats, but at a stacked fantasy position, Marsee would really have to rake to work into most standard leagues.

Utilize Marsee at least until his bat cools off. Those who roster Marsee in dynasty/keeper leagues have to be thrilled with his MLB results so far. Those are the leagues where Marsee is the most valuable.

Should You Add Carlos Carrasco?

Carrasco is up 2.78% and sits at 3.57% overall now.

Carrasco is a streaming option for Thursday, and will face Marsee and the Marlins. Carrasco hasn't faced Miami yet this season.

He made his first start with the Braves on August 31, working six innings against the Reds. Carrasco allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks, while striking out five batters. 

Carrasco has made nine appearances this season, mostly starting, but also coming out of the bullpen a couple times. He's covered 38 innings, allowing 24 runs on 46 hits and 12 walks, while striking out 30 batters.

His 5.68 ERA and 2-2 record leave a lot to be desired, but the veteran can be a solid streaming option here and there. Carrasco is coming off a solid start, so he's definitely an option for today.

As you can see by his own percentage, Carrasco should only be a streaming option in deeper leagues. The matchup against the Marlins isn't as good as it was earlier in the season, and that might mean Carrasco tops out as an average pitcher today. 

His fantasy ceiling is pretty limited, so I'm avoiding him in a lot of deeper leagues, and all standard leagues.

Should You Add Mitchell Parker?

Parker has been added in 1.5% of leagues and is up to 13.1% overall.

Parker will make a start against the Athletics this afternoon. It will be the first time this season Parker has faced the Athletics.

He's coming off a start against the Brewers in which he allowed eight runs on 12 hits and a walk over four innings, and he struck out just three batters. Parker has four or less strikeouts in seven straight starts.

Parker allowed two runs in back-to-back starts before his last one, so that's why he's still a streaming option after a blowup start. Again though, this is a pitcher with a pretty low fantasy ceiling, so he's not a great option today.

He's OK to utilize in some deeper leagues, but I wouldn't stream him in all deeper leagues, and definitely would avoid him in standard leagues. The risk just isn't worth it, especially when the fantasy matchups are so big.

Should You Add Shane Smith?

Smith got a 1.96% boost so far and sits at 11.16% overall.

Smith will make a start against the Mariners tonight. He's faced them once this season, allowing three runs on two hits and two walks over five innings, while striking out six.

He has allowed two runs in back-to-back starts, but covered just 7 1/3 innings total. Smith hasn't reached five innings in six straight outings, so he might be having his innings and pitch counts monitored down the stretch.

Smith is 3-7 with a 4.25 ERA over 91 innings worked this season. He's made 19 appearances and has allowed 51 runs (43 earned) on 78 hits and 41 walks, - he's also struck out 85 batters.

He started the season really well, but has faded over the past few months. Smith could be a pitcher that Chicago builds around, as he's just 25, so the team is playing things safe with him. 

That limits his fantasy upside quite a bit. He'd have to not allow runs for him to deliver an above-average fantasy score in any given start, and that's only the case if he's not allowing many baserunners and striking out several guys too.

The matchup against the Mariners is an OK one, but many will start Smith because of his last appearance against them. I'd advise against starting Smith today and only stream him in some deeper leagues. There's got to be better options out there to take advantage of.