MLB

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds: Week 14

Run to your waiver wire and check out these five must-add players before this week's matchup starts.

Tomorrow is July 4th, and that means we only have one week left in the fantasy baseball season before the All-Star break.

It's pretty clear where our rosters stand at this point, and if there are some holes still left to fill, don't miss the chance at adding some quality players off the waiver wire.

Here are five players who sit unowned in greater than 50% of ESPN.com leagues. Get 'em while you can.

Dinelson Lamet - San Diego Padres (SP)

ESPN Percentage Owned: 14.7%

Some of you may be asking, "Who is this guy?" My answer would be that he's a young, flame-throwing strikeout machine.

Ignoring Dinelson Lamet of the San Diego Padres would be at your own risk. While he's only got a 5.35 ERA, he's posted a solid 3.21 SIERA over 37.0 innings pitched, and has this kind of strikeout upside.


In seven starts since being called up, Lamet has whiffed 32.1% of hitters while generating an absurd 13.9% swinging-strike rate. Run to your waiver wires and claim if you can.

Sam Dyson - San Francisco Giants (RP)

ESPN Percentage Owned: 15.2%

Staying out in the NL West, the closer carousel continues to spin, as Mark Melancon of the San Francisco Giants is banged up yet again.

With Melancon out, a few options seemed likely from that 'pen -- incumbents Hunter Strickland and Derek Law are two that come to mind. But it would appear that former Texas Rangers closer Sam Dyson has claimed the closing job for the time being despite his brief tenure with the team.

Dyson was very effective in this role as a member of the Rangers in 2016, saving 38 games and logging a 2.43 ERA, but this year was a bit rougher. Including his time with the San Francisco Giants, Dyson has pitched 25.0 innings, posting an 8.31 ERA while blowing four save chances. He was designated for assignment one month ago, which facilitated his path toward joining manager Bruce Bochy's bullpen.

Over the weekend, Dyson closed out back-to-back games in a very clean fashion, allowing one baserunner in two appearances. If you need help in the saves department, take a long look at Dyson.

Scooter Gennett - Cincinnati Reds (2B)

ESPN Percentage Owned: 48.9%

Tossed aside by the Milwaukee Brewers this past offseason and starting the year in a bench role for the Cincinnati Reds, Scooter Gennett has staked his claim to a more prominent role.


And while that massive evening with four bombs was certainly huge, it was no one-night stand.

Through 199 plate appearances, Gennett is on pace to record the best single-season ISO of his career at .274, leading to an extremely healthy .385 wOBA. While he doesn't have enough at-bats to qualify, that wOBA would be third among second basemen.

Michael A. Taylor - Washington Nationals (OF)

ESPN Percentage Owned: 41.4%

If there's any one team that can say they've been bit by the injury bug the hardest, the Washington Nationals would certainly be able to throw their hat into the ring.

Adam Eaton, Jayson Werth, and now Trea Turner are all the shelf, and they have continued to find a way to win. One big reason is youngster Michael Taylor, who may be finally starting to emerge.

Taylor has long been the darling of fantasy owners' eyes with a power-speed combo he's flashed on occasion.


With Eaton and Werth both missing significant time, the Nats needed Taylor to step up in the worst way. And that's exactly what he did.

In June, Taylor logged a .299 batting average and a .390 wOBA while clubbing 7 homers on his way to posting a .949 OPS. Not bad.

Denard Span - San Francisco Giants (OF)

ESPN Percentage Owned: 8.1%

Often lost in the shuffle are the old, creaky vets that just put up solid peripherals. If consistent production is your thing, Denard Span is your man.

Over 250 plate appearances, Span is hitting .297 with a .345 wOBA, and while his power (.159 ISO) certainly won't blow you away, it's probably better than you think.

He also absolutely raked in June, posting a .374 batting average en route to a .414 wOBA and scoring 21 runs. He also finished the month with a flourish.


If you're still searching for help and Taylor is already snatched up, take a longer look at the lesser-owned Span for solid contributions on a daily basis.