Waiver Wire: De Paula impresses early, Mesa Jr returns to form

Fantasy managers hunting for late-season help have several under-rostered hitters worth chasing, according to Yahoo Sports' latest waiver wire guide.

Marlins outfielder Jakob Marsee, rostered in just 49% of Yahoo leagues, has been quietly excellent since the All-Star break. Across nearly 200 plate appearances he is slashing .287/.394/.482 with six home runs, 31 runs scored and four stolen bases, per Yahoo Sports. The steal total is modest given his running history, but the walks and average make him a strong source of on-base production.

Rays outfielder Victor Mesa Jr, at 26% rostered, is back and productive after returning from a hamstring strain on 1 September. In 12 games since, he has hit .383 with three home runs, 12 runs scored, eight RBI and three stolen bases, Yahoo Sports reports. He has sat only occasionally against left-handers and has started against three lefties in that span, suggesting a looser platoon than he faced earlier in the summer.

Dodgers prospect Josue De Paula has drawn the most attention of the group despite the smallest sample. Rostered in only 12% of leagues, the 21-year-old left-handed slugger has posted a .789 OPS across 25 plate appearances in his first week in the majors, according to Yahoo Sports, including six starts and a lead-off assignment against a right-hander. He jumped straight from Double-A Tulsa, where he hit .303/.401/.547 with 27 home runs and 31 stolen bases in 124 games this season, and Yahoo Sports describes him as having plus bat speed, disciplined swing decisions and elite power for his age.

Orioles infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand, rostered in 10% of leagues, has found a late-season groove since joining Baltimore. In 51 games he has hit 10 home runs and 12 doubles with an .846 OPS, backed by a 15.3% barrel rate and 73.6 mph average bat speed, per Yahoo Sports. Concerns remain about his overall hit tool, but the power output is currently real.

Cardinals catcher Leo Bernal, at just 3% rostered, has been the most productive September call-up in the piece. Since his 1 September promotion he has started all 15 games, going 18-for-61 with three home runs, three doubles and 15 RBI, Yahoo Sports reports. The switch-hitter split time mostly behind the plate, with some appearances at designated hitter and first base, after posting 16 home runs, nine stolen bases and a 115 wRC+ in 101 Triple-A games this season as a 22-year-old.

Yahoo Sports notes the list is refreshed each week, with an initial version published on Fridays and updates following through the weekend as roles and workloads shift heading into the season's closing weeks.