It’s never too early to begin scouring the waiver wire for potential improvements to your fantasy baseball team. Below are a few players I like as early-season waiver additions to replace those late-round fliers that don’t look like they’re going to work out.
Waiver Wire Targets:
Los Angeles Angels C Logan O’Hoppe — Acquired from the Phillies last August, the Angels’ new top prospect was thrust into starting duties with regular catcher Max Stassi on the injured list with a hip strain and has performed well thus far. He’s tied with Adley Rutschman for the catcher home run lead with four (in 21 fewer plate appearances) and is fourth among qualified catchers in both OPS and wRC+. His strikeouts are high and his walks are low, but his track record suggests this should even out soon and his batted ball data looks exceptional. I’m buying O’Hoppe’s hot start and you should, too, especially at a weak position like catcher.
Philadelphia Phillies OF Brandon Marsh — Why not include both sides of last year’s Angels-Phillies trade? Marsh has gotten off to a scorching start in his own right, showing significant improvements in both whiff and chase rate. He’s slashing .387/.457/.839 (1.296 OPS) with a pair of home runs and a stolen base. We saw improvements to Marsh’s offensive game following his arrival in Philly last season and it looks like that’s carrying over to the new year. Once a highly regarded prospect, Marsh now looks like a potential multi-category contributor and is a great depth outfield option, even if his offensive numbers slow down a bit. He’ll sit often against left-handed pitchers but has been very good when in the lineup.
San Diego Padres RHP Seth Lugo — After a successful run primarily as a relief pitcher, Lugo is starting again regularly for the first time since 2017. Stamina doesn’t seem like an issue as one might expect, as he has completed at least six innings in both of his 2023 outings, earning a pair of quality starts and wins, to the tune of a 1.38 ERA. The Padres will have a decision to make when Joe Musgrove returns from the injured list, but Lugo has seemingly done enough to earn an extended look in the rotation. There’s some risk that this is short-lived, but I’m comfortable riding the hot hand while I can.
Cincinnati Reds RHP Graham Ashcraft — There was a bit of buzz around Ashcraft coming out of spring training and he’s exceeded those expectations in his first two starts. Like Lugo, Ashcraft is 2-for-2 in the quality start department, with 13 strikeouts in 13 innings to go along with it. Unlike Lugo, Ashcraft is not at risk of losing a rotation spot any time soon. The 25-year-old boasts an upper-90s sinker-cutter combo and is only going to improve. I’m buying on Ashcraft as the Reds’ No. 3 behind Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo despite his unfriendly home ballpark.
Honorable Mention:
Minnesota Twins 2B Edouard Julien
Seattle Mariners OF Jarred Kelenic
San Francisco Giants RHP Anthony DeSclafani
Colorado Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland