UPDATED: Sunday, June 23 at 2pm ET

If you’re looking for the top fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for this week, Fantasy Alarm has you covered.

The 2024 MLB season rolls along and the MLB injuries continue to pile up. Losing Mookie Betts at the start of the week was a nightmare and then almost losing Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres was quite the scare. Fortunately, we dodged a bullet there and both New York Yankees are good to go. But we’ve also been dealing with a lot of day-to-day issues like Yordan Alvarez missing time due to a personal matter, CJ Abrams dealing with a wrist injury, Nolan Jones sitting with an illness and last week’s waiver wire mention, Jose Soriano finding his way to the 15-day IL with some sort of an abdominal infection. It makes closing out the first half of the season on a high note a daunting task.

 

 

On the lighter side of things, we are also getting a number of players back from injury, so be sure to check your league’s free agent list for players who may have been dropped. Not that anyone was dropping Gerrit Cole who returned Wednesday or Kyle Tucker who is finally resuming baseball activities, but there are some role players who are on the mend, such as Wilyer Abreu, Eloy Jimenez, Michael Wacha, Blake Snell and Josh Jung, who may have been let go should your league have a short bench or shallow rosters. Always check the last two or three weeks of waiver articles as I continue to mention players who are on their way back and should be stashed.

**Please keep in mind, these FAAB bids are a guideline, not the gospel. You should be keeping track of how everyone in your league is bidding, so you understand that if you really need the player, you should raise your bid accordingly.

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Catchers

Ben Rice, New York Yankees

With Anthony Rizzo landing on the injured list, the Yankees brought up Rice who tore up Double-A pitching (12 HR, 26 RBI, 8 SB over 218 PA) and then slashed .333/.440/.619 with three homers and 10 RBI over 11 games following his promotion to Triple-A. He’s off to a bit of a slow start here in the majors, batting just .182, but he’s walked as much as he’s struck out and should continue to be a fixture at first base. Obviously, the value is here at the catcher position, but the flexibility is nice should you need some corner infield help as well. FAAB: 8-10% 

Tyler Soderstrom, Oakland Athletics

Here’s another guy you can use behind the plate but also has that first base eligibility. Soderstrom is rostered in less than 10-percent of leagues on both ESPN and Yahoo and offers up a little bit of pop while he’s in the groove at the plate. He’s hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games with three multi-hit performances, two doubles, four home runs and 11 RBI. Don’t expect great things from his batting average, but with the lack of offensive production from around the league, every bit of help counts. FAAB: 6-8%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: First Basemen

Nolan Schanuel, Los Angeles Angels

While he can be streaky at times and doesn’t offer much in the way of batting average and OBP, if you have a hole at a position as critical as first base or corner infield, then Schanuel at least offers opportunity with the regular playing time. He’s hit safely in six of his last nine games with two doubles, one home run and three RBI. He even swiped a base, though that’s, obviously, not his thing. Miguel Sano is on his way back from the injured list, but he’ll still likely handle the work at first while San spends most of his time as the DH. FAAB: 5-7%

Spencer Horwitz, Toronto Blue Jays

Horwitz was in last week’s column, but considering he is owned in fewer than five-percent of leagues on ESPN and Yahoo, I think he bears mentioning again. He started the first five games upon promotion and then started to get mixed and matched based on the opposing starter, so he takes a seat every four or five games. Still, , he’s slashing .343/.439/.400 with a handful of RBI and runs scored. The overall production hasn’t been eye-popping, but the help at batting average and OBP is big right now. If you are struggling in those categories, sliding Horwitz into your lineup for as long as he lasts in the majors could prove beneficial. He certainly won’t cost much. FAAB: 3-5%

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Second Basemen

Willi Castro, Minnesota Twins

His versatility in the field makes him a favorite of manager Rocco Baldelli and the steady production with multi-position eligibility should make him a favorite of yours. He offers a solid blend of power and speed and is getting most of the playing time at second base while the Twins need a stopgap at the keystone. They are looking within their system, which we’ll get to later, but for now, Castro fits beautifully for fantasy owners. He’s currently riding a five-game hitting streak with four multi-hit performances, six doubles, one home run and six RBI. He’s one of those guys I absolutely love having on my bench to fill in for injured players. He spends most of his time back and forth from my starting lineups, but I always hold him because he is helpful in so many spots. FAAB: 8-10%

Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals

He’s having quite the month of June and considering he is owned in fewer than 40-percent of leagues on ESPN and Yahoo, it’s worth checking out your league’s waiver wire to see if he’s still available. Throwugh 17 games this month, Donovan is batting .299 with two doubles, three home runs, 11 RBI and one stolen base. He’s got multi-position eligibility in most league which is always helpful and the Cardinals love his glove so he’s in the lineup almost every day. FAAB: 8-10%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Third Basemen

Noelvi Marte, Cincinnati Reds

Just another reminder that Marte’s suspension ends on June 27, he’s hitting well in his “rehab assignment” and he could be available on your waiver wire still. If he is, grab him. The bat will be extremely helpful in the second half of the season. FAAB: 20-25%

Josh Jung, Texas Rangers

Another reminder for everyone as Jung is eligible to come off the injured list on Sunday and remains a must-add if someone in your league was forced to drop him. Given the nature of the injury (wrist), he may need a little time to get that power stroke back, but once he does, it’s wheels up for Texas and your fantasy statistics. FAAB: 20-25%

Mark Vientos, New York Mets

Seems like Vientos makes an appearance in this column about every other week. People just don’t believe in him or maybe they hate the Mets as much as I do, but you cannot argue against production, especially at a position from which you are expecting decent power numbers. Vientos is slashing .291/.347/.509 on the season and projects to be a 0-homer bat by season’s end. That means he’s got at least another 15 homers in him, right? Again, every at-bat counts in fantasy and he continues to be an every-day player. FAAB: 10-12%

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Shortstops

Zach Neto, Los Angeles Angels

Sadly, there’s not much out there at the shortstop position, so finding someone who not only plays every day but also contributes fairly regularly is a must-have. Wildly under-owned across most formats, Neto has hit safely in seven of his last games with two home runs, eight RBI, six runs scored and one stolen base. And if you play in a league with daily roster moves, you want him in against any lefty he faces. This season, Neto has a .422 average with a .438 wOBA against southpaws. FAAB: 3-5%

Brooks Lee, Minnesota Twins

Here’s your stash of the week, or at least someone to add to your watch list. While Willi Castro works the keystone for the Twins, it is worth noting that Lee has been getting more work at second base down at Triple-A recently.  We have him ranked 30th overall in our 2024 Fantasy Baseball Rookie Rankings and the switch-hitter is slashing .351/.383/.632 at Triple-A right now, so the position move is indicative of the Twins potentially bringing him up to settle their second base position. It may take another IL stint for someone to pull Castro off second and get Lee up to the majors, but with Alex Kirilloff on the 10-day IL, Max Kepler day-to-day with a neck issue and Byron Buxton on the roster, it seems plausible that a promotion is imminent. FAAB: 5-7%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Outfielders

Jarred Kelenic, Atlanta Braves

Guess who starting hitting again! And just at the right time too as the Braves are currently using a combination of Kelenic, Ramon Laureano, Adam Duvall and Forrest Wall in their outfield right now. Sounds horrible, doesn’t it? But despite the usual platoon Kelenic finds his way into every year, he’s playing every day in center with Michael Harris on the injured list and, regardless of the handedness of the opposing pitcher, continues to bat leadoff. He is currently riding an eight-game hitting streak and through 16 games in June, is slashing .288/.333/.492 with three double, three home runs, seven RBI and two stolen bases. He’ll likely fall back into a platoon at some point, but for now, you have to strike while the iron is hot. FAAB: 8-10%

Joc Pederson, Arizona Diamondbacks

If you’re looking for cheap power, you’ve come to the right place. Pederson usually sits against the tougher lefties, but has been a fixture in the Arizona lineup for some time now and has been heating up lately. He’s hit safely in five of his last seven games with four multi-hit performances, one double, three home runs and 11 RBI. He’s been settled in as the team’s designated hitter, so if power is your need, here you go. FAAB: 5-7%

Jake Meyers, Houston Astros

He’s been rostered and dropped about a dozen times in most leagues, so check on his availability. It says he’s rostered in less than five-percent of leagues on ESPN and Yahoo, so chances are, he’s available in your league. His body of work this season has been impressive enough that he’s locked into the centerfield job and Chas McCormick has been shifted over to left field. He’s streaky, so it’s always nice to get him at the start of a hot one and he’s now hit safely in each of his last three games with two doubles, one homer and three RBI. FAAB: 3-5%

Austin Slater, San Francisco Giants

With Mike Yastrzemski landing on the 10-day IL, Slater is primed to take over the right field job. Yes, Luis Matos is still there, but Slater is the better defender and the Giants like using him in the leadoff spot against lefthanded pitching. He’s actually started in seven of the last eight games for the Giants, so he’s finding himself a nice groove. Typically a high-average, strong OBP guy, Slater can help with runs scored and maybe even a stolen base or two while he’s starting. FAAB: 3-5%

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Starting Pitchers

MacKenzie Gore, Washington Nationals

Pitching can be tough from league to league so you always want to check in on the availability of some. Gore is rostered in fewer than 35-percent of leagues on ESPN and Yahoo, so if you’re in need of strikeouts, he’s definitely someone to add. He’s had a couple of recent hiccups, but he’s also allowed twi runs or less in 11 of his 15 starts this season. He’s seen a significant uptick in strikeouts (11.03 K/9) and has also shown improved command this season, as evidenced by the 3.49 ERA, 2.83 FIP and reduced walk rate. If he’s out there, make the move. FAAB: 12-15% 

Taj Bradley, Tampa Bay Rays

Here’s another you may want to check in on and see if he’s available. The ratios aren’t as strong as Gore’s, but the 10.76 K/9 and the diminished walk rate are very encouraging if you need strikeouts. Rostered in fewer than 20-percent of leagues on the major sites, Bradley has some really nice starts coming up against Seattle and Washington. FAAB: 10-12%

Reese Olson, Detroit Tigers

Abandoned by his owners after a three-game span in which he allowed 17 earned runs over just 14.2 innings, Olson bounced back in a major way, limiting Atlanta to just four hits over six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. Before that horrendous run of starts, Olson hadn’t allowed more than two runs in any of the previous eight starts, so we can be encouraged by the resurgence. He’s got the White Sox on Sunday, but his start for next week comes against an Angels team that struggles against righthanded pitching. FAAB: 5-7%

Spencer Schwellenbach, Atlanta Braves

We pointed out Schwellenbach a few weeks ago and he had a decent debut against the Nationals but then got his ass handed to him by the Red Sox in Fenway Park. But since then, he’s tossed back-to-back quality starts against the Orioles and Tigers and allowed just three runs in total with 10 strikeouts over 12 innings. The Braves are going to leave him in the rotation and he’s a two-start pitcher this week with matchups against St. Louis and Pittsburgh, FAAB: 5-7%

Tobias Myers, Milwaukee Brewers

It took some adjusting on Myers’ part when the Brewers began stretching him out to be a starter, but he’s now gone three-straight starts where he’s tossed at least six innings with just one earned run allowed in total. He’s not a huge strikeout guy, but he does have 15 over those three games, a total of 20.1 innings. He’s got a start Sunday against the Padres but then gets the Cubs at home which should be a solid outing. After that it’s a Coors Field start, but he will miss the Dodgers and get the Pirates and Nationals to close out the first half. FAAB: 3-5%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Closers/Relief Pitchers

Chad Green, Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays opened this past week putting Yimi Garcia on the 15-day IL with an elbow issue and Jordan Romano is just starting to get some actual mound work in. As such, Green defaults as the Blue Jays closer and while he hasn’t recorded a save all week, he will be the guy when it is needed. Check the market value for closers in your league, but chances are, he’s going to cost a fair amount. FAAB: 12-15% depending on your league

Aroldis Chapman, Pittsburgh Pirates

With news of the Pirates putting David Bednar on the injured list, it's time to throw those bid dollars at Chapman who should be the guy to own in this bullpen. Bednar is dealing with an oblique issue and while the team seems to be downplaying it and calling it minor, he won't be eligible to return until July 5th and if he is even remotely showing signs of not being fully recovered, they could hold him out until after the All-Star break. Chapman should be worth the investment, even if it is for only a short time. FAAB: 12-15% depending on your league's market value.

**As always, be sure to check out the Fantasy Baseball Closer Grid. Our man, Joe Gallina updates it nearly every day with all the bullpen movement. The grid is a great reference tool and then he posts a weekly Fantasy Baseball Closer Report each week to offer further insights and analysis.