Congratulations are in order for everyone reaching the final round in their fantasy baseball leagues! You are one step from the top of the mountain. This baseball waivers championship edition can help bring that last step to immortality! Let’s dive right in and see which players are worthy of a title home and which ones need to be sent to the bottom of the hill.

Championship Roster Adds

Brady Singer, Starting Pitcher, Kansas City Royals

In the last edition, a rookie got the honor of being selected to the waiver claim list. We double down this week with the addition of Brady Singer. While the Royals are going nowhere once again this season, Singer has been a pillar of strength his last two starts. Against Cleveland and Detroit, Singer pitched 14 innings, allowing no runs on three hits with 16 strikeouts and three walks. Most importantly, Singer won both starts.

For the year, Singer is 3-4 with a 4.14 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 54.1 innings and a 1.178 WHIP. That WHIP is particularly noteworthy, especially for a first year pitcher. He made his last start on Wednesday, which sets Singer up for two starts next week. Championship teams can certainly use a pitcher throwing this well that will provide a two start week. Singer is currently rostered in only 25.1% of leagues. Pick him up today and the title banner will almost surely follow.

Chris Taylor, 2B/SS/OF/DH, Los Angeles Dodgers

While Chris Taylor is rostered in just 50.5% of fantasy teams, he deserves to be much higher. He has multi position eligibility, is playing for a team in the middle of a hot pennant race and best of all, is hitting the ball hard. For the season, Taylor is hitting .277-6-24 with an outstanding .371 OBP. As usual, those numbers don’t tell the story of how hot he is right now.

Taylor has hits in 11 of his last 12 games, including four home runs with 13 RBIs and 15 runs scored. He began the season as a super sub that forced his way into playing every day for what may be the best team in baseball. It is fortunate that the Padres are nipping at the Dodgers’ heels. Because of that, it will keep their regulars in the lineup for several more games. Taylor is an excellent way to round out a title roster. As such, he is the highest recommended add in this baseball waivers championship edition list.

Ty France, 1B/2B/3B/DH, Seattle Mariners

A young player qualifying at multiple positions, Ty France is proving how valuable he can be on a major league roster. France had a hit on Wednesday against the Giants, breaking a two game hitless streak. Now that the cold stretch is out of the way, France can get back to smashing the ball with authority. Demonstrating how hot he was, France had hits in three of his last four games as a Padre.

After arriving in Seattle, he had hits in seven of his first eight Mariner games. He makes plenty of contact, striking out in only eight of his 46 Seattle plate appearances. Due to the fact that the Mariners, as usual, are in the outhouse, they will let the youngsters play. That works well for a fantasy roster. Currently, France is 22.3% owned. Add and get him into your lineup. You can thank me later.

Alec Bohm, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies

It shouldn’t be stunning that another rookie, Alec Bohm, makes his way onto the baseball waivers championship edition list. A lot of veteran hitters on non contending teams will find themselves on the bench as the final games wind down. This is so organizations can take a look at their young players to see what they may have. That is not the case with Bohm, however. The Phillies are pursuing a playoff spot and the hot hitting Bohm deserves a lot of the credit.

Largely due to the injuries and ineffective play of Scott Kingery, Bohm has appeared in 34 games this season. He is hitting .317-4-20 and has hits in three straight and seven of his last nine games. Bohm homered among his two hits Thursday against the Mets. He finds himself hitting behind Bryce Harper, which means he will see frequent at bats with runners on base. This is the type of player that championship teams thrust for. He is 30.6% owned and that needs to change immediately. Add him today.

Alec Mills, Starting Pitcher, Chicago Cubs

Is it possible to be hotter than a pitcher that throws a no hitter in the middle of a pennant race? The answer is an obvious no. This is the position that Alec Mills finds himself in. Mills threw 114 pitches in his sparkling no hitter of the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. Many may feel that Mills is a Johnny come lately, but that isn’t the case. Mills has pitched well all season with a 5-3 record with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.063 WHIP in nine games.

Mills has really turned things around in his last two starts. Before his no-no against the Brewers, Mills pitched six innings of four hit shut out ball against Cincinnati. The Cubs lead their division and the performance of their pitching staff is a huge reason why. Mills has been a pillar in that rotation and he can take another huge step forward if he can pitch well against Minnesota this weekend. If that happens, you can be sure that his 31.7% roster rate will rise during the final week of the regular season.

Players Destined for the Basement

Dansby Swanson, Shortstop, Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves lead the National League East, but the play of Dansby Swanson, especially lately, hasn’t helped much. Swanson is owned in a mammoth 91% of leagues and this is what fantasy owners have received from him the past week- one hit. Despite a respectful .278-7-27 season hitting line, Swanson is ice cold right now.

After getting five hits in games on September 9th and 10th, Swanson has flamed out with only one hit in his last 29 plate appearances. He hasn’t had a day off since September 3rd. It is most likely a case of burn out that is affecting Swanson. It follows that the Braves will get some breathing time for him when they clinch the division. A cold player facing a limited number of at bats during championship week does not a winner make. Find a player, preferably one that qualifies at multiple positions, that is hot right now, and send Swanson, the fantasy player, to the bench where he can join his real life self.

Kyle Seager, Third Base, Seattle Mariners

In the week two waiver wire edition, it was recommended that Kyle Seager make his way onto rosters. Now, however, he has to hit the bricks. The play of France, above, is a big reason for the recommendation, but it is not the only one. In his last 40 plate appearances, Seager has two hits and three RBI. That is beyond cold and is what’s known as hibernation.

Seager is one of those veteran players that will most likely hit the bench a lot as the season winds down. His .246-7-33 and five steals will not save him. Despite the cold spell, Seager is on 90.7% of rosters. If you managed to direct your team this far, don’t let a player like Seager spoil a chance at a championship. Send him to the outhouse today. Seager is the definition of frozen on this week’s baseball waivers championship edition list.

Mike Moustakas, 1B/2B/3B, Cincinnati Reds

The Reds were predicted by many, including this humble correspondent, to make a lot of noise this season in the National League. The addition of Mike Moustakas was expected to be a huge contributor in making that happen. While it is true Cincinnati is in second place, they are 25-26 and only in that position because the Central behind the Cubs has completely collapsed. Speaking of collapse, that is exactly what Moustakas has done the entire season and especially in the past week.

Moustakas has just one hit in his last 21 plate appearances. He is hitting, if you can call it that, .208-5-18 for the year. As has been stated many times, multi position eligibility won’t ever erase poor hitting in a fantasy lineup. Despite his season long slumber, Moustakas is owned in 77.6% of leagues. Come on managers, what gives? It is way past time to send Moustakas to the curb. Don’t delay another second.

Edwin Encarnacion, 1B/DH, Chicago White Sox

Unlike the Reds, the White Sox are steaming to the postseason with the best record in the American League. The pitching has been outstanding and the hitting has been top notch as well. Unfortunately, Edwin Encarnacion isn’t pulling his weight in that regard, He does have nine homers on the season, but is only hitting .172 and has driven in a scant 17 runs.

Despite hitting a home run Thursday against the Twins, Encarnacion isn’t swinging the bat well at all. He has two hits in his last 20 plate appearances. Other than the homer, he has one RBI in his last five games. Hitting with power is what got Encarnacion on to fantasy rosters this season, but that is just a mirage at this point. He is 56.7% owned and that needs to be cut drastically. Celebrate Chicago’s push to the playoffs if you must, but don’t allow feelings to get in the way of a championship. Cut Encarnacion today.

Madison Bumgarner, Starting Pitcher, Arizona Diamondbacks

It is truly sad to see the depths that Madison Bumgarner has fallen to this season. He was brought in by Arizona in their bid to take down the Dodgers, but it is Bumgarner that is down for the count. He has yet to win a game for the Diamondbacks and has an ungodly 8.53 ERA and a 1.737 WHIP. Bumgarner has certainly earned his reputation of one of the great pressure pitchers of all time, but that is way in the past.

His last start truly shows how far removed Bumgarner is from his glory days. In 5.1 innings, Bumgarner allowed eight runs on 13 hits to the Angels. He doesn’t have a strikeout pitch any more with just 19 in 31.2 innings. Add it all up, and it is time to say good bye to Mr. Bumgarner. Your fantasy roster will appreciate it.

That’s it for this fantasy baseball waivers championship edition. Again, congratulations on reaching the championship! It is an accomplishment that demands and deserves recognition! Best to everyone to close out the season. As always, please share if there are suggestions on adding or removing players to the list. Don’t forget to send me pictures of that championship banner!

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