The fantasy baseball waiver wire has produced some excellent players over the last few weeks. Jake McCarthy and Royce Lewis have been good free agent additions over the last week and they should be on a roster in every league. Like McCarthy, Cardinals rookie outfielder Jordan Walker was sent down to the minors after 20 games and was called up Friday. Walker was getting hot in the minors the last two weeks and could be available in some leagues. Some other waiver wire pickups this week are players producing good stats, yet they remain low-owned on some platforms. There are a few other players available that could be more short-term adds and can help fill the gap of some injured players that recently landed on the injured list like Alec Bohm, Kris Bryant, Cedric Mullins, Lars Nootbaar, Chris Sale, Eduardo Rodriguez and Riley Greene. The fantasy baseball waiver wire FAAB percentages are a guideline and should be adjusted based on your roster and needs. By now, you should know how aggressive your league is and looking at others remaining budgets can help gauge how much to spend.

 

 

 

Top Waiver Wire Hitters

Jordan Walker, OF, St. Louis Cardinals; FAAB: 15-20%

Walker was drafted aggressively in many leagues and the Cardinals sent him down to Triple-A after 20 games when he was slashing .274/.321/.397 with two home runs and two stolen bases. The Cardinals called him back up on Friday. He didn't hit well when he was first sent down and was heating up recently over the last 12 games, batting .292 with three home runs and a 13:10 K:BB ratio. Lars Nootbaar was placed on the injured list and Tyler O'Neill and Dylan Carlson remain out, so Walker should play consistently. Walker should be added if he's still available.

Jose Siri, OF, Tampa Bay Rays; FAAB: 15-20%

How is Siri available in 82 percent of Yahoo leagues? At least it increased 10% since last week when he was featured here previously. Siri doesn't play every day and hits at the bottom of the order, but he's productive when he gets the at-bats and is in a great lineup. He is hitting .245 with 22 runs, ten home runs, 22 RBI, and five stolen bases. Siri is in the 98th percentile of sprint speed, so expect more stolen bases.

Bryan De La Cruz, OF, Miami Marlins; FAAB: 10-12%

De La Cruz has been mentioned a few times, yet he's still available in some leagues. De La Cruz has been hitting well the last few weeks and often in the top three of the batting order. He is slashing .295/.348/.456 with 25 runs, seven home runs, 23 RBI, and three stolen bases. He had a .939 OPS in May.

Elly De La Cruz, SS, Cincinnati Reds; FAAB: 8-10%

Another reminder to stash De La Cruz before it's too late. While it's not clear when he will get called up, it should be soon. Over the last 21 games, he's hitting .341 with ten home runs and nine stolen bases. He has cut down on his strikeouts and could be a difference maker.

Owen Miller, 1B/2B/3B, Milwaukee Brewers, 6-8%

Miller has been playing well and often hitting second. The profile indicated he won't keep this up, but he can be a short-term help. He's slashing .331/.366/.496 with 19 runs, four home runs, 15 RBI, and seven stolen bases.

Zach McKinstry, 2B/SS/3B/OF, Detroit Tigers; FAAB: 4-6%

McKinstry is playing well for the Tigers and often hitting lead off in addition to his position versatility. He is slashing .279/.390/.419 with 24 runs, four home runs, ten RBI, and ten stolen bases. He won't help in power and RBI, but he's hitting for average, getting on base, and stealing bases.

Jesus Sanchez, OF, Miami Marlins; FAAB: 4-6%

Sanchez recently came off the injured list and he homered on Friday. He is slashing .316/.379/.582 with ten runs, four home runs, and a dozen RBI in 79 at-bats.

Akil Baddoo, OF, Detroit Tigers; FAAB: 4-6%

Baddoo had 13 and 18 stolen bases in 124 games as a rookie before a .558 OPS in 73 games last season that had him play most of the season in the minor leagues. Baddoo got off to a slow start and then had a big May, hitting .294 with nine runs, three home runs, 15 RBI, and three stolen bases.

Luis Urias, 2B/SS/3B, Milwaukee Brewers; FAAB: 3-5%

Urias injured his hamstring on Opening Day and is currently on a rehab assignment. Urias is expected to return early next week. He had 16 home runs in 406 at-bats last season.

Nolan Jones, OF, Colorado Rockies; FAAB: 2-4%

Even when C.J. Cron returns, Jones will have a chance to stay in the lineup with Kris Bryant on the injured list. In his first 26 at-bats with the Rockies, Jones is hitting .308 with a home run and six RBI. He batted .356 with 12 home runs and 42 RBI in 39 games at Triple-A and will at least be worth streaming in games at Coors Field in deeper formats. The Rockies play six home games in the upcoming week.

 

Top Waiver Wire Pitchers

Braxton Garrett, Miami Marlins; FAAB: 6-8%

One awful start against the Braves has made Garrett's stats seem worse. On May 3, Garrett allowed 14 hits and 11 runs over 4.1 innings. Since that start, he has pitched 27.1 innings and allowed 19 hits, eight earned runs, walked seven, and struck out 32.

Louie Varland, Minnesota Twins; FAAB: 6-8%

The risk with Varland is the possibility of being taken out of the rotation when Kenta Maeda is ready to return. It is likely down to Varland and Bailey Ober, who has been pitching well unless the Twins decide to go to a six-man rotation. Varland has pitched well enough to keep the job. He has a 3.51 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 23.2% strikeout rate, and 4.8% walk rate. Varland is lined up for two starts next week on the road in Tampa Bay and Toronto.

Griffin Canning, Los Angeles Angels; FAAB: 6-8%

The overall stats aren't great, but Canning has been excellent his last two starts where he threw his fastball less. Against the Red Sox and White Sox, he combined for 13 innings and allowed eight hits, three runs, walked three, and struck out 14. He had nine strikeouts in his last start against the White Sox and induced 20 swinging strikes.

Ben Lively, Cincinnati Reds; FAAB: 3-5%

Lively has been a surprise in his first three starts against the Yankees, Cardinals, and Red Sox. The 31-year-old hadn't appeared in the majors since 2019. In the three starts he’s made, he has a 2.08 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and a 32.8% strikeout rate. A .216 BABIP has helped, so be careful.

Adbert Alzolay, Chicago Cubs; FAAB: 3-5%

The Cubs can't find a closer. Mark Leiter Jr. Jr. appeared to be on the verge of getting consistent saves, but he came into the seventh inning Wednesday and allowed two hits, three runs, and two home runs, while getting one out. Alzolay had a two inning save with four strikeouts in his last appearance. He has a 2.33 ERA, 0.89 ERA, 25.7% strikeout rate, and 4% walk rate. He could get some saves or help ratios.

A.J. Smith-Shawver, Atlanta Braves; FAAB: 2-3%

The 20-year-old began the season in High-A and the Braves thought highly of him to promote him quickly. He pitched seven innings in his final start at Triple-A. For now, he's pitching out of the bullpen, but in deep formats he's a solid stash in case they move him into the starting rotation. Smith-Shawver has a good fastball with a nasty slider and between High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A he had a 1.09 ERA, 0.94 WHIP with a 45:12 K:BB ratio over 33 innings.

 

More Fantasy Baseball Content

MLB Injury Report

Fantasy Baseball Closer Grid

Cash It Podcast

Fantasy Baseball Prospect Report