Wednesday's Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Options: Austin Hays, Harrison Bader and More

It's time for another fantasy baseball waiver wire article!

We'll skip talking about anyone we covered in waiver stories on Monday or Tuesday, or who appeared in Wednesday's streaming pitcher article.

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Should You Add Austin Hays?

Hays has been added in 3.59% of leagues and sits at 31.03% overall.

Hays is riding a seven-game hitting streak, and has nine knocks over that span. He has three home runs and a double among the hits, along with eight RBIs, five runs scored, no walks and eight strikeouts.

He's been in and out of hot streaks this season, and been a waiver wire option a few times. Overall, he has a .265 average and .315 on-base percentage over 93 games and 381 plate appearances, which line up well with his career marks.

Hays has 92 total hits, including 15 doubles and homers and five triples. He has 64 RBIs, 56 runs scored, six stolen bases, 27 walks and 100 strikeouts.

The outfielder would be more rostered if he wasn't at a stacked fantasy position. He's hit fourth or fifth in five straight games, so those are favorable spots for a fantasy hitter, even if the Reds' lineup isn't the best overall.

He's probably a better deep-league asset, but this deep in the season, I'm all about getting the best hitters on my fantasy team. I wouldn't rule him out as a short-term standard league waiver add, but I'd also bet there's other outfielders or hitters that I like more than Hays for the stretch run.

Should You Add Harrison Bader?

Bader is owned in 18% of fantasy leagues - he was at 11% back on September 7.

He's recorded back-to-back three-hit games for the Phillies, who have been decimated by injuries of late. Bader hit fifth two nights ago, and first last night - both of those are favorable spots for a fantasy hitter to be in.

Bader has a homer among his six hits the past two nights. He also has two RBIs and runs scored, no walks and three strikeouts among his nine plate appearances.

Dating back to August 31, which is nine games and 36 plate appearances, Bader has a .412 average and .444 OBP. He has 14 knocks, including three doubles and two homers, along with seven RBIs, eight runs scored, two walks and 12 strikeouts.

In 33 games and 118 plate appearances with the Phils, Bader has a .333 average and .398 OBP. He also has 13 RBIs, 19 runs scored, nine walks and 31 strikeouts. Bader has four homers, a triple and seven doubles among his 35 hits with the club.

For the season overall, he's played in 129 games and logged 425 plate appearances. Bader has a .279 average and .355 OBP, which are career-high marks. He has 20 doubles, a triple and 16 homers among his 105 total hits, along with 51 RBIs, 50 runs scored, 10 stolen bases, 36 walks and 112 strikeouts.

There's a lot of good numbers in there, so it's surprising that he isn't already owned in more leagues. I'd say he's close to being a must-own guy in deeper leagues, and you could at least stream him until his bat cools off.

There's some standard league appeal with him as well. He's not a priority add in those leagues, but his fantasy outlook is up for the foreseeable future, so it's not crazy to add and utilize him for a bit, at least.

Should You Add Josh Bell?

Bell is up 2.3% and is now rostered in 9.77% of leagues overall.

Talk about a red-hot hitter. Bell has four homers across his six hits in the past three games. He has 13 RBIs, five runs scored and no walks or strikeouts over this short span.

Bell has had a down year, and sits with a .232 average and .324 OBP over 125 games and 485 plate appearances. He has 98 total hits, including 20 homers, 13 doubles and a triple. Bell also has 58 RBIs, 48 runs scored, 54 walks and 77 strikeouts.

The primary designated hitter is also eligible at first base, which is a stacked fantasy spot this year. That's keeping his own percentage down some, but really it's been Bell's down season at the plate that's taken away his fantasy value.

He's mashing at the plate right now, and is capable of producing big fantasy totals when he's in these grooves. If he was eligible at a different spot, his own percentage would already be a lot higher, but as is, he's been one of the top fantasy sluggers over the past couple days.

Bell is worth adding in some deeper leagues until he cools back off. There's definitely better standard league options out there, but I also could justify streaming him in some standard leagues to see if he can keep mashing.

One thing is for sure though… he needs to be added in more leagues right now.

Should You Add Eduardo Rodriguez?

Rodriguez has been added in 2.87% of leagues and is owned in 22.41% overall as he prepares for a start.

He will make a start against the Giants on Wednesday afternoon. Rodriguez faced them back on May 14, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks over four innings, while striking out four.

Overall this season, Rodriguez has been underwhelming on the bump. He owns a 5.22 earned run average across 25 appearances and 131 innings. Rodriguez has allowed 84 runs (76 earned) on 156 hits and 53 walks, while striking out 124 batters.

He's been better in his last two starts. Rodriguez earned a win after working six scoreless innings against the Dodgers on August 30, allowing four hits and walks, but also striking out four. He earned a win against the Red Sox on September 5, allowing a run on four hits and two walks, while striking out four.

He gives up too many walks and hits, and his strikeouts aren't super high, so he's an average-or-so fantasy option for most starts. Rodriguez's fantasy floor is a bit lower than a lot of starters, and so is his fantasy ceiling.

The matchup is solid today, but Rodriguez is simply not a top-end streaming option. That's why he's on the rise today, but isn't being heavily added - and why his own percentage isn't higher overall.

I'd only consider starting him in deeper leagues. There's better streaming options out there who offer higher upsides. I'd avoid him in standard leagues as best I could.

Should You Add Jordan Leasure?

Leasure is up 3.84% and is rostered in 14.37% of leagues.

No White Sox reliever has been a constant fantasy asset this season. Leasure is changing that as the season winds down.

He hasn't allowed a run since August 26. In six appearances and seven innings since, Leasure has three saves and a hold, while allowing just one hit and two walks. He's also struck out 10 batters along the way.

Leasure earned saves on September 1, 3 and 5, then a hold on September 7. Chicago usually doesn't win enough to offer those stats to relievers, but things have changed down the stretch.

He's definitely got some deep-league fantasy value right now, even if it's not a lot. There's a chance to earn some saves and holds the rest of the season, and even if those don't come, scoreless innings with good strikeout totals can tack on a few fantasy points here and there.

These are the low-level moves late in the season that can push your team over the top, so definitely look into adding Leasure if he's available in your deep fantasy setup.