Friday's Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Options: Payton Tolle, Brooks Lee and More

It's time for one more fantasy baseball waiver wire story this week.

We won't cover anyone who appeared in stories on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, and will skip over any starting pitcher streamers who were mentioned in Friday's article.

Check out the top fantasy baseball waiver wire options everyday on FantasySP. Join the new FantasySP Discord to keep up to date with all the recent news from FSP!

Should You Add Payton Tolle?

Tolle is up 11.9% today and sits at 16.19% overall.

He will make his MLB debut on Friday against the Pirates. That's a favorable matchup, but he'll be facing off against Paul Skenes, so Tolle might have a harder time earning the win.

Tolle is the No. 28 prospect in baseball. He's 22 years old, is a left-handed pitcher, stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 250 pounds. Tolle was drafted in the second round of last year's draft, so he's made his way to the big leagues in a hurry.

He has a 65-grade fastball, 50-grade slider and 45-grade changeup. Tolle has 55 marks overall and for his control.

Tolle has pitched in 20 minor league games this season, making 18 starts. He's worked at High-A, Double-A and Triple-A.

He has a 3-5 record and 3.04 earned run average. Tolle has covered 91 2/3 innings, striking out 133 batters and walking just 23 along the way. He's allowed a .203 average against him.

I like the matchup, but his fantasy ceiling is capped a bit by the opposing starting pitcher. It's also unlikely that he works super deep into the game, and a four- or five-inning start will likely hold Tolle back some as well.

He could be a decent fantasy asset in this one, and down the stretch, but he might top out as a deep-league asset if he's limited to five innings or so each start. Keep an eye on Tolle for sure, but I'd probably only give him a streaming start in deeper leagues today.

Should You Add Heliot Ramos?

Ramos is owned in 66% of leagues right now - he was at 63% on August 27.

He went hitless on Thursday, but had collected six hits over the three contests before that. He had a homer and double among the hits.

Ramos has a .255 average and .324 on-base percentage over 24 August games and 108 plate appearances. He has two homers and three doubles among his 25 total hits, along with seven RBIs, 11 runs scored, seven walks and 24 strikeouts.

He's played in 131 games and gotten 576 plate appearances on the season. Ramos has a .265 average and .339 OBP, to go along with 57 RBIs, 68 runs scored, six stolen bases, 44 walks and 133 strikeouts. He's posted 23 doubles, a triple and 16 homers among his 135 total hits.

It's been a bit of a disappointing fantasy season for Ramos, who is trailing most of his 2024 starts despite playing in 10 more games already. He's a solid fantasy asset, but not a must-own guy.

He is a standard league streaming option when he's going right at the plate. Ramos had been trending up, but his 0-fer on Thursday took some of the wind out of that sail.

He's a player to keep tabs on, but one to only add in standard leagues if you are lacking in the fantasy outfield.

Should You Add Brooks Lee?

Lee has been added in 3.33% of leagues and is rostered in 45.71% of leagues overall.

Lee has three hits over his past two games, including a home run. He has an RBI in three straight games, and scored three times over the past two contests.

He's got a .235 average and .320 OBP over 24 games and 97 plate appearances this month. Lee has 20 hits, including four homers, three doubles and a triple. He also has tallied 13 RBIs, 14 runs scored, 10 walks and 13 strikeouts.

Lee has a .249 average and .297 OBP over 113 games and 427 plate appearances this season. He's posted 14 homers, 13 doubles and a triple among his 98 total hits. Lee has 56 RBIs, 41 runs scored, two stolen bases, 25 walks and 74 strikeouts as well.

Lee should be eligible to play second and third base and shortstop, so that's where he gains some needed fantasy value. He's not hitting for a great average, but he is getting on base enough to have some fantasy value as well.

He's just a deep-league option for now in my eyes, but could sneak into standard leagues eventually because of his position versatility. Lee is a player to keep an eye on, especially if he's at the start of a hot stretch at the plate.

So I'd be willing to add him in deeper leagues if he's available, and then maybe add him in standard leagues over the weekend if he keeps delivering at the plate.

Should You Add Jack Leiter?

Leiter is up 4.07% and is owned in 48.57% of leagues overall.

He's a streaming option for Friday. Leiter will make a start against the Athletics. Leiter started against them on July 21, earning a win after striking out seven batters over six innings. He allowed two runs on four hits and four walks.

While he's made some shorter starts, Leiter has pitched pretty well for an extended stretch now. He hasn't allowed over three runs in an appearance in his last 11 games. 

Leiter is 4-3 with a 3.15 ERA over 54 1/3 innings in that stretch. He's allowed 20 runs (19 earned) on 46 hits and 27 walks, while striking out 62 batters.

He's coming off a seven-inning shutout of the Guardians - he struck out 10 in that contest. Leiter only reached five innings in one of his four other starts this month though, so his fantasy ceiling is a bit capped.

The matchup tonight is fine, and with the way Leiter is pitching, he's definitely a streaming option. He's not a must-start guy in deeper leagues though, and while I'd be fine utilizing him in standard leagues, I also think there's better options out there.

Should You Add Nathan Lukes?

Lukes is rostered in 4% of leagues right now, but is having a big week at the plate.

He has six hits over his past three games, including three doubles. In 24 games and 80 plate appearances this month, Lukes has a .284 average and .325 OBP. 

He has delivered 21 hits this month, including seven doubles and a triple and homer. Lukes has 11 RBIs, 12 runs scored, a stolen base, five walks and 10 strikeouts.

The outfielder has hit second or seventh over the past five games. Obviously, he's a better fantasy asset from the No. 2 spot, but he's delivered enough at the plate of late to have some fantasy appeal regardless of where he's hitting.

I'm a bit surprised to see his own percentage where it's at. Over 108 games and 349 plate appearances this season, Lukes has a .262 average and .338 OBP, along with 53 RBIs, 47 runs scored, two stolen bases, 34 walks and 44 strikeouts. He has 15 doubles, 10 homers and a triple among his 80 total hits.

He has solid season numbers and has been trending up of late, so again, it's surprising to see his own percentage really low. Yes, he's at a stacked fantasy position, but several deep-league owners could benefit from adding Lukes.

Give him an add and you'll see what I mean.