The fantasy baseball playoffs are just days away! It’s time to shore up your roster at every position, and one of the most volatile positions in fantasy baseball is catcher. As someone who has tried the no-catcher strategy in the past, getting those additional at-bats and counting stats in the playoffs is crucial. You can’t be punting anything in a win-or-go-home matchup. Don’t miss out on these fantasy baseball waiver wire players!
Here are three young catchers you should have your eye on for the fantasy baseball playoffs and beyond.
Go here for daily free MLB picks!
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire & Dynasty Stashes: 3 Young Catchers To Pick Up (Aug. 31)
Keibert Ruiz (WSH) – 57% Rostered
We like highlighting players available in most leagues in these articles. Ruiz is still underrostered at 57%. The switch-hitting catcher has broken out in a big way in the second half.
After slashing .226/.279/.360 with nine home runs and 31 RBI in 73 first-half games, he’s already up to seven home runs and 24 RBI in just 38 games in the second half. Oh yeah, he’s doing that while raising his slash lines over 100 points to .329/.388/.540 for a .928 OPS!
Ruiz has really picked it up in August with a season-best .326 batting average and .954 OPS. In fact, since August 5th, Ruiz has five home runs and five doubles with 16 RBI while batting .346 (27 for 78) with a 1.016 OPS.
If Ruiz is somehow still available in your league and you don’t have one of the top catchers, it’s time to go pick up the 25-year-old backstop.
Gabriel Moreno (ARI) – 20% Rostered
Moreno was traded over to the Diamondbacks as a part of the Daulton Varsho deal with Toronto. After a slow start, the 23-year-old catcher is strutting his stuff in Arizona.
Much like Ruiz, Moreno has great second-half splits after dealing with some shoulder soreness in July.
- 1st Half (210 AB): 2 HR, 26 RBI, .267 AVG, .655 OPS
- 2nd Half (61 AB): 4 HR, 14 RBI, .328 AVG, .992 OPS
Since returning from the injured list on August 13th, Moreno is 16 for 49 (.327) with three doubles, one triple, three home runs, and 12 RBI.
The catcher is helping the Diamondbacks push for a playoff spot in the second half and can help you in the fantasy baseball playoffs as well.
Bo Naylor (CLE) – 5% Rostered
For those of you in deeper leagues, Naylor should be available, and he should be on your radar as well.
The Cleveland Guardians prospect struggled in the early going with a .191 average (13 for 68) and just two home runs while striking out 22 times in his first 21 games (17 starts). Since then, he’s hit .230 (17 for 74) with five home runs, 11 RBI, and just 21 strikeouts in 27 games (21 starts).
Naylor has been very hit-or-miss this season. He has been hitting the ball well recently. In his last nine games (six starts), Naylor is 9 for 25 (.360), with six of those nine hits going for extra bases (three doubles, three home runs).
The Guardians are hoping to chase down the Twins in the AL Central. Naylor can be a part of that if he keeps this up. Keep an eye on him for next season primarily, but he can help you out a bit in the playoffs as well.
