Greetings to the Waiver Wire Tracker, your regular handbook for fantasy baseball free agency. This season, we are adopting a revised approach, with Eric Samulski releasing the preliminary waiver insights on Friday afternoons. Following this, James Schiano will refresh the content each Sunday to guarantee you receive the freshest details.
The fundamental concept of this piece is quite simple. Each week, we will suggest potential additions to your team, focusing on their recent performance or shifts in their roles. For every player presented, we will indicate the specific area in which they are expected to contribute or provide a concise justification for their inclusion. Our aim is to assist you in deciding if a player aligns with your squad’s requirements. Not every player currently “in vogue” will be a suitable pick-up for your individual lineup.
For eligibility on this compilation, an athlete must be rostered by less than 40% of participants in Yahoo! leagues. We acknowledge that you might comment, “These athletes are not accessible in my league,” and regrettably, we cannot intervene in such cases. However, these individuals are accessible in more than 60% of leagues, and some in as many as 98%, ensuring their availability across numerous platforms, which should ideally accommodate players across various league configurations.
⚾️ Major League Baseball on NBC again: The league comes back to NBC and Peacock in 2026! Besides being the sole broadcaster for Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports is set to air MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day evening matchups, the initial phase of the MLB Draft, the complete Wild Card round of the playoffs, alongside numerous other events.
Major League Baseball: Houston Astros versus Miami Marlins
Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Update: Josh Hader approaches comeback, Kenley Jansen sidelined by groin issue
Jorge Montanez analyzes the prior week’s save situations across the league, featuring revised closer evaluations.
Batters for Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Consideration
JJ Bleday – OF, CIN (39% rostered)
(OUTSTANDING ABILITIES, SIGNIFICANT EMERGENCE)
Bleday continues to impress without any indication of decline, and the Reds have demonstrated complete confidence in his capabilities by featuring him in their starting lineup for 26 straight contests, with five of those appearances coming against southpaw hurlers. His power progression appears genuine, marked by a personal best in bat velocity, leading to hard-hit and barrel percentages akin to those of top-tier players. Incorporating his excellent contact ability, strong plate judgment, and home field advantage at Great American Ballpark, it is astonishing how few leagues he is owned in. Per the FanGraphs Player Rater, he stands as the 11th-best outfielder over the preceding month and ought to be claimed from free agency in all competitive leagues.
Gabriel Moreno – C, ARZ (34% rostered)
(INCREASING BAT VELOCITY)
Even with his current modest output (three homers, a .252 batting average, and a .716 OPS), Moreno is generating greater bat speed than at any prior point in his career. This, combined with a respectable contact rate, positions him to potentially become a top-10 catcher for the remainder of the season.
Jake Burger – 1B, TEX (30% rostered)
(REGULAR STARTER, OFFENSIVE THREAT)
Burger has been performing subtly well recently, effectively overcoming a dismal start to the season by posting a .256/.322/.488 slash line in May, including five long balls. His strikeout tendency was significantly decreasing until a recent uptick this past week. Nevertheless, the Rangers have consistently moved him back into the middle of their batting order on most occasions, and he serves as an underestimated source of RBI.
Colt Emerson – SS/3B, SEA (29% rostered)
(HIGH-CALIBER PROSPECT BACKGROUND, DAILY LINEUP FIXTURE)
The freshman, aged 20, has accumulated five extra-base hits during his debut week in the major leagues, even without having recorded a barreled ball. His discerning eye at the plate has emerged as a strong attribute, featuring average swing and zone-swing rates for the league, remarkably low chase and whiff rates, and an elevated zone-contact rate. While his offensive power or quickness might not propel him to fantasy prominence in his inaugural year, he possesses sufficient skill to contribute meaningfully.
Sam Antonacci – 2B/3B/OF (20% rostered)
(BASE-STEALING DANGER, REGULAR STARTER)
Antonacci maintains his effectiveness operating from the leadoff position for the White Sox, batting ahead of their potent middle lineup. He has also finally hit his stride as a base runner, accumulating four stolen bases in the past 10 days without being caught. Across his most recent 30 contests, he boasts a .320 batting average, a .398 on-base percentage, 20 runs scored, and seven stolen bases, creating the impression that he consistently delivers valuable contributions daily.
Spencer Horwitz – 1B, PIT (15% rostered)
(VALUABLE IN POINTS FORMATS)
Primarily suited for points leagues due to his limited power and speed, Horwitz and his impressive .842 OPS have largely gone unnoticed. Additionally, he has drawn more walks than strikeouts this season, started in games against the last two left-handed pitchers the Pirates encountered, and led off against the past three right-handers.
Curtis Mead – 1B/2B/3B, WSH (7% rostered)
(EMERGENCE AFTER INITIAL BUZZ, DAILY STARTER)
Following Brady House’s demotion to the minor leagues, Mead has assumed the role of the Nationals’ primary third baseman. He had been a starter in that position for eight of nine games leading up to Friday’s play, including a streak of four consecutive starts. Initially known as a specialist against left-handed pitching in the season’s early months, he is now consistently playing against right-handers without any drop in performance. To date, his 11.1% barrel rate exceeds twice his previous career high. Concurrently, his 45.5% hard-hit rate, 16.6% strikeout rate, and 13.8% walk rate are also outstanding. He was once a top prospect and deserves consideration in more fantasy leagues given his eligibility at multiple positions and robust underlying metrics.
Nathaniel Lowe – 1B, CIN (4% rostered)
(PREFERRED-SIDE PLATOON, IMPRESSIVE RUN)
Despite consistently excelling against right-handed pitchers throughout the season, Lowe has found it challenging to secure an everyday position, yet he continues his superb performance. He boasts a .910 OPS across his most recent 30 contests, including eight long balls. A more recent positive sign saw him shift to first base from designated hitter when Eugenio Suarez returned from injury and Spencer Steer briefly took Matt McLain’s spot at second base. While the Reds’ infield still presents numerous lineup puzzles to solve, Lowe is simply demonstrating too much offensive value to be benched.
Blake Dunn – OF, CIN (1% rostered)
(OPENING BATTER, CONSISTENT STARTER)
Although the Reds’ infield situation is somewhat chaotic, their outfield presents numerous chances. Dunn has capitalized on this opening, making seven consecutive starts, with the most recent four occurring in the leadoff position. The top of their batting order has seen frequent changes all season, and Dunn might solidify that spot with further strong offensive displays. Additionally, he is a competent defender and possesses 99th percentile sprint speed, offering various avenues for his contributions.
Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Consideration
Reid Detmers – SP/RP, LAA (40% rostered)
This particular case is challenging to explain logically. Certainly, his 4.57 ERA is unattractive and will probably deter a significant number of managers instantly. However, looking beyond that, his 1.14 WHIP suggests improved performance is on the horizon. His 21.1 K-BB% indicates that potentially excellent outcomes are approaching. Furthermore, he recently delivered a magnificent 14-strikeout, eight-inning performance against the Angels last Sunday, where he displayed arguably his finest command of his slider all season. It was genuinely overpowering, generating 12 of his 23 total swings and misses and enabling him to de-emphasize his changeup – which has shown flashes of brilliance despite its variability. He will likely require his full pitching arsenal to conclusively advance to the next level, but everything appears on the verge of synchronizing.
Zebby Matthews – SP, MIN (39% rostered)
We are making an effort not to be completely swayed by Zebby again. Nevertheless, his performance over three starts has been exceptional, featuring a 2.37 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, a strikeout rate exceeding the league average, and virtually no bases on balls. Concurrently, nearly all of his pitches exhibit marginally less effective movement compared to last year, resulting in fewer missed swings. Despite these points, he is scheduled to pitch against the Pirates, Royals, and Tigers in his upcoming three outings. Therefore, he is likely a worthwhile speculative add based solely on his upcoming schedule.
Jacob Latz – SP/RP, TEX (34% rostered)
Apart from Latz, no other Rangers bullpen arm has recorded a save since April 12th. This is significant, and the improvement in his pitches since transitioning to the relief corps has established him as a legitimate late-inning choice. The team, however, must now perform well enough to actually present him with situations for recording saves.
Troy Melton – SP/RP, DET (18% rostered)
Returning at last after an elbow sprain earlier in the spring, Melton delivered a notable performance in his seasonal premiere last Sunday. He surrendered only two hits and a single run over 5 1/3 frames versus the Orioles, recording three bases on balls and three punchouts. Although he found it difficult to finish off batters, he showcased the reasons for our high expectations, featuring a 96 mph fastball consistently located at the top of the strike zone and a diverse arsenal of complementary pitches. When facing right-handed batters, he combined his fastball with a sinker as his main offerings, incorporating a cutter and slider from these. Against lefties, the fastball remained paramount, complemented by the same slider and a splitter. His control of that splitter, in particular, was not yet fully refined, explaining his difficulty in retiring hitters, yet he still managed to pitch into the sixth inning. Significant promise exists here.
Walbert Ureña – SP, LAA (16% rostered)
Ureña exhibits some unpredictability as a right-handed pitcher who primarily relies on his changeup. This is evident in his elevated 1.38 WHIP contrasted with his low 2.58 ERA. His changeup, however, boasts a whiff rate exceeding 50% against batters batting from the same side, and his sweeper shows moments of being a plus-pitch. His tendency to pitch around the edges often results in walks, extended innings, and overall complications. He is slated to encounter the Rays on Friday evening and the Rockies at home next week, suggesting that now might be an opportune moment to take a chance on him.
Gage Jump – SP, ATH (13% rostered)
As one of the premier pitching talents in the league, Jump was called up by the Athletics for his major league premiere this past week, which yielded somewhat inconsistent results. While pitching at home versus the Mariners, he conceded nine hits and four runs, along with five strikeouts over five innings. However, his underlying raw talent was superior to his statistical outcome. His signature pitch is a 96 mph fastball featuring significant vertical movement, designed to be thrown high in the strike zone and generate swings and misses. The only eligible left-handed starters with a fastball velocity of that magnitude are Jesús Luzardo, Payton Tolle, and Tarik Skubal, placing him in an elite group. In addition to this powerful fastball, Jump possesses a variety of breaking pitches – a sharp slider, a sweeper, and a curveball – which should provide him with diverse options against batters from both sides of the plate. He utilized the curveball more frequently in Triple-A, but favored sliders during his debut. Furthermore, he occasionally mixed in changeups. This represents major league-caliber pitching; the sole drawback is his home ballpark in Sacramento, which is among the most challenging environments for pitchers. Nevertheless, he remains a worthwhile addition to fantasy rosters, especially for his road appearances.
River Ryan – SP, LAD (12% rostered)
An excellent player to keep on standby, Ryan recently delivered another superb performance at Triple-A, pitching six scoreless innings and fanning eight batters. Eric Lauer is currently a member of the Dodgers’ starting rotation and could be replaced by Ryan at any given time.
Kyle Finnegan – RP, DET (10% rostered)
Kenley Jansen exited his most recent appearance due to a groin ailment, indicating that Finnegan is poised to assume the closer duties for the Tigers. His 1.75 ERA would imply his readiness for this demanding role, yet he has issued more bases on balls than he has recorded strikeouts this season, potentially struggling if presented with the opportunity. Alternatively, Drew Anderson (1% rostered) secured their most recent save last Sunday and boasts an almost 30% strikeout rate this season, primarily serving as a multi-inning relief specialist. He might represent the superior choice in this scenario. Naturally, for any of this to be relevant, the Tigers must actually secure victories.
David Sandlin – SP/RP, CWS (6% rostered)
The standout talent highlighted in this week’s segment, Sandlin effortlessly handled the Twins in his initial appearance, yielding just one hit and one run over six innings, accompanied by four strikeouts and no walks. Curiously, both that hit and run occurred on the second pitch of his professional career when Byron Buxton connected for a solo blast. Following that, he needed only 59 pitches to retire 18 consecutive batters. This demonstrates remarkable efficiency, supported by exceptional pitching repertoire. He is a high-velocity pitcher, featuring an upper-90s fastball with impressive vertical break from a flat release point, which effectively generated missed swings within the strike zone. Furthermore, he exhibited no hesitation in attacking the zone, which enabled him to navigate through at-bats so swiftly. This potent fastball is complemented by a powerful curveball that registers around 83 mph, displaying more pronounced movement than typical breaking balls. He commanded it quite effectively, generating seven called strikes while also inducing several poor swings on pitches outside the zone. These two pitches dominated his outing, accounting for 45 of his 61 total deliveries, but he also showcased a cutter, changeup, sinker, and sweeper, each appearing to be potentially high-quality offerings. He should have a clear path in this rotation with Noah Schultz moving to the injured list and possesses the skills to make a substantial impact. However, it’s important to note that he never pitched more than four innings in the minor leagues, and this was only his second time throwing at least 60 pitches in a single game, so he will need to maintain extreme efficiency to achieve similar length until he develops greater endurance.
Spencer Miles – SP/RP, TOR (3% rostered)
Given the frequent injuries to the Blue Jays’ starting pitchers throughout the season, Miles has been transitioned into a long relief role. He delivered a strong recent performance, giving up three hits and one run, along with one walk and three strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings against the Marlins, securing the victory. This marked his second consecutive outing of at least four innings, and he delivered at least 63 pitches in both, in addition to 56 pitches in the game prior. The speed of both his fastball and sinker has remained consistent around 95 mph as he has extended his workload, and his curveball and slider form a potent combination against batters from either side of the plate. He also possesses excellent control. He is certainly an individual worth monitoring closely.
