Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Final Hitting Pickups Before the All-Star Break
These five hitters are finishing the first half strong and could provide a fantasy boost before the break begins.
It's time for a final look at fantasy baseball waiver wire hitting options this week, and before the All-Star break.
Here are waiver articles from Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, plus Friday's starting pitcher streaming options.
Fantasy baseball waiver wire options can be found all season on FantasySP!
Carson Benge - New York Mets
Benge is rostered in about 67% of fantasy baseball leagues right now. He is up a couple percent since Tuesday.
He has four two-hit games in a row. Among the hits, he has a double and a home run. Benge has three RBIs, seven runs scored, five walks and just one strikeout - he's also stolen a base.
Benge has a .269 average and .332 on-base percentage across his first 91 games and 374 plate appearances in the big leagues. He has 92 total hits, including 12 doubles, 11 homers and two triples, plus 37 RBIs, 52 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, 28 walks and 78 strikeouts.
The outfielder has shown some promise, and is red hot at the plate right now. He's worth adding in some standard leagues now, at least for a short-term stint. Benge should be held in most deeper leagues the rest of the season.
Caleb Durbin - Boston Red Sox
After we discussed him as a drop candidate this week, Durbin is back on the rise. He's sitting at 49% owned right now.
Durbin has three hits across his past two games, and he has a double and a homer among the hits. He also has two RBIs, two runs scored, a stolen base and no strikeouts in those contests.
Across 84 contests and 304 plate appearances this season, Durbin has a .225 average and .288 OBP. He has 18 doubles, nine homers and a triple among his 62 total hits, plus 39 RBIs, 36 runs scored, 10 stolen bases, 20 walks and 42 strikeouts.
The primary third baseman now could be eligible at second base or shortstop too - the more positions he's eligible at, the better a pickup he becomes. Durbin is again worth some adds in deeper leagues. If he keeps hitting, he could be utilized in some standard leagues too.
Chase DeLauter - Cleveland Guardians
DeLauter has been added in 2.35% of fantasy leagues today, and that brings his overall mark up to 75.89%.
He has eight hits over an ongoing five-game hitting streak. DeLauter has 25 hits over his past 17 games.
DeLauter now has a .279 average and .345 OBP over 77 contests and 319 plate appearances this season. He has 16 doubles, nine homers and a triple among his 80 total hits, plus 43 RBIs, 31 runs scored, three stolen bases, 30 walks and 43 strikeouts too.
DeLauter has been up and down as a fantasy hitter this season, but he's definitely one to utilize now while his bat is red hot. Scoop him up in any league he's available in, especially if you need some outfield help.
Jake Mangum - Pittsburgh Pirates
Mangum is owned in roughly 14% of leagues right now. He was under 10% on July 5, so he's trending up of late.
Mangum had a four-hit game on Thursday, and that included a double and a home run. He has six hits over his past four games.
Over 73 games and 244 plate appearances, Mangum has a .311 average and .361 OBP. He has 18 RBIs and stolen bases, 32 runs scored, 13 walks and 42 strikeouts. Among his 69 total hits, he has 10 doubles and two homers.
There's not a ton of production in his hitting, but when he's racking up the hits, like he has most of the season, and especially of late, Mangum is worth adding in some deeper leagues. Look into the move today.
Lane Thomas - Kansas City Royals
Thomas is rostered in just 6% of leagues. He was below 2% just four days ago.
He has at least one hit in all but one game this month. Thomas has six doubles, two homers, six runs scored, seven RBIs, four walks and six strikeouts over the past seven contests.
Thomas has a .233 average and .339 OBP over 79 contests and 257 plate appearances this season. He has 14 doubles, seven homers and 51 total hits, plus 30 RBIs, 26 runs scored, four stolen bases, 34 walks and 57 strikeouts.
He's trending up this month, and could be trending toward being a trade candidate as a result. Thomas is worth adding in some deeper leagues today, and he could work into even more if he lands in a better situation in a couple weeks.
