Rotoworld’s brand-new Pickups of the Day column is designed to help fantasy managers uncover a handful of widely-available targets over the course of the season. It could be a breakout candidate, a prospect stash, an injury replacement, a pitcher with a favorable matchup or week, a player who is due some better luck, or any other number of scenarios. If there’s value to be found on the waiver wire, we will find it and bring it your way. Today’s edition features an enticing power/speed combination in Tampa and the return of a power bat in Minnesota.
Luke Raley, 1B/OF, Rays
Available in 88 percent of Yahoo leagues
Raley has had an interesting road to fantasy baseball relevance. He was drafted by the Dodgers in 2016 and then was traded to the Twins in the Brian Dozier trade in 2018. Raley made his way back to Los Angeles a year and a half after the trade that sent Kenta Maeda to the Twins and then was traded to the Rays prior to the 2022 season. After the back of the baseball card stats Raley is putting up, especially against the Dodgers this past weekend, maybe Los Angeles is regretting trading him that second time. Raley has provided managers with an intriguing power and speed combination that is, if he is still sitting on the waiver wire. Raley is hitting .254/.346/.568 with 10 homers, seven steals, and an impressive 23 runs and 21 RBI across 136 plate appearances. What I find impressive is that he has more steals than Corbin Carroll and Anthony Volpe in May. Raise your hand if you have taken Raley’s side in a bet. I know that I surely wouldn’t have. He does not play every day. Most Rays players do not. However, he does play the majority of the time against right-handed pitching and the Rays face one southpaw starter this upcoming week.
Max Kepler, OF, Twins
Available in 96 percent of Yahoo leagues
Kepler returned from the injured list Monday, and while the veteran outfielder does have noticeable flaws, he is an excellent pickup for fantasy managers searching for some power on the waiver wire. Kepler hit six homers and had a .444 SLG across 114 plate appearances before he strained his hamstring earlier this month. To put that in perspective, Kepler hit just nine homers across 446 plate appearances last season. It wasn’t all luck as there are some underlying stats to solidify his power surge. Kepler was putting the ball in the air 46 percent of the time to coincide with a 14 percent barrel rate. Elevate and celebrate! While he will surely sit against left-handed pitching, he is on the strong side of the platoon with above-average power that surely every fantasy manager needs.
