If you’re wondering who the top Week 5 fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are, Fantasy Alarm has you covered.

Once again, the list of MLB injuries continues to grow and fantasy baseball players find themselves in yet another hunt for help in both hitting and pitching. The rise of elbow and forearm injuries has claimed the likes of Merrill Kelly and Jesus Luzardo, but we’ve also lost some to fringe injuries that are likely connected. Brayan Bello (lat), Zac Gallen (hamstring) and Blake Snell (adductor) are included here.

Add in some big-time hitters going down – Cody Bellinger (rib), Francisco Alvarez (thumb)and Ozzie Albies (toe) – and we’ve got a hot mess. Oh yeah, and how about a demotion for Jackson Holliday? With the Orioles sending him back to Triple-A to get himself back on-track, we’ve got plenty of holes to fill. 

 

 

Remember, be smart with your FAAB dollars and be careful to not blow your top waiver priority on someone who isn’t going to contribute across the board. As always, we’ll get category-specific with some of our choices and, before you know it, have you back atop your fantasy baseball league standings.

**Keep in mind, these FAAB bids are merely suggestions. Only you know how the bidding has gone in your league, so if you REALLY need the player, always give the bid a little boost. 

Now, let’s see who is available and who is worthy of your attention.

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Catchers

Ryan Jeffers, Minnesota Twins

He was in last week’s waiver wire article yet is still owned in less than 40-percent of leagues on ESPN and under 20-percent on Yahoo. Probably because he’s still sharing time with Christian Vazquez, but even so, he’s still producing at a high rate for backstops, posting a .295 average with four home runs and 11 RBI over the past week. He is not a big strikeout guy, so keep in mind that the batting average should sit in a very nice spot for the position and then the power numbers you should get will certainly be of use. FAAB: 3-5% 

Patrick Bailey, San Francisco Giants

Not only has Bailey entrenched himself as the top catcher for the Giants, but he’s flipped a switch over the past week and has posted a .313/.377/.522 slash line with three home runs and 10 RBI over the last seven days. He even kicked in a stolen base just for funsies! He’s, obviously, not going to continue on such a tear, but if you’re looking to accrue at-bats behind the plate, he is still wildly under-owned in most leagues. Yes, even in two-catcher formats. FAAB: 2-4%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: First Basemen

Mark Canha, Detroit Tigers

As of writing this, Canha is sitting on a six-game hit streak with two home runs and six RBI. He’s seeing all the playing time in Detroit, mostly in the outfield, but he still qualifies at first base. He’s a fantastic addition in OBP leagues, currently posting a .407 mark, but he’ll also hit for a decent .270ish average along the way as well. He’s a good guy to have on the roster with the position flexibility, but even more so to get that batting average/OBP help. FAAB: 5-7%

Garrett Cooper, Boston Red Sox

If you’ve caught me and Jon Impemba on the Fantasy Alarm MLB DFS Show, you’ve heard Cooper’s name thrown around quite a bit. You’re now likely to hear it even more as Cooper lands with Jon’s Red Sox in the wake of the Triston Casas injury. The 33-year -old veteran should be able to supply you with some power at the position, though keep in mind that his long swing keeps that strikeout rate up. He’s not going to whiff 31-percent of the time like we currently see, but a 25-percent K-rate seems very likely. Still, where else are you going to see legitimate power at this position on the waiver wire? FAAB: 4-6%

DJ LeMahieu, New York Yankees

Despite the recent setback – LeMahieu was shut down for a few days with swelling in his foot – it still may be time to stash the Yankees corner infielder if you have the roster space. He is due back in about two weeks and, once he returns, he should slot in as the regular third baseman. Yes, you can certainly use him there as well. He’ll fall into regular at-bats and likely sit atop the lineup with Juan Soto and Aaron Judge hitting behind him. No power, but the runs scored and batting average help should be big. FAAB: 2-4%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Second Basemen

Tyler Freeman, Cleveland Guardians

He may be the Guardians primary centerfielder right now, but Freeman qualifies at both second and third with second base being where we probably see the most value. We’ve watched his batting average and OBP climb over the past week as he settles in and he should be able to give you some stability at second if you are looking for regular at-bats. There isn’t much in the way of power but he will splash in some speed at times. FAAB: 5-7%

Luis Rengifo, Los Angeles Angels

With Anthony Rendon landing on the injured list and Miguel Sano banged up as well, Rengifo is seeing regular at-bats at the hot corner for the Angels now. He’s hit safely in eight of his last 10 games with three multi-hit performances, a pair of doubles and two stolen bases. He’ll help you stay afloat in all categories save for home runs, and he qualifies at multiple positions as well. FAAB 4-6%

Luis Garcia, Washington Nationals

It was relatively comical seeing the Nationals bat Garcia at clean-up recently, but he’s hit safely in eight of his last 10 games and that kind of consistency is tough to find on this Washington roster. The unfortunate thing is that he has just four extra-base hits this season and none in his last 12 games. That means it’s about the batting average and OBP. Ride that wave now if you can as it probably won’t last. FAAB: 2-4%

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Third Basemen

Wilmer Flores, San Francisco Giants

He’s an old standby and we know exactly what we are getting when using Flores. You always have to look at the upcoming week’s pitching match-ups, but Flores flashes the occasional power and can go on a multi-game hit streak as he floats around the Giants infield. The multi-position eligibility is a bonus and he makes for a solid bench guy when you need the help. FAAB: 5-7%

Joey Ortiz, Milwaukee Brewers

He also qualifies at second base, so bonus points for multi-position eligibility as well. He’s been fairly productive over the past week with a pair of multi-hit games, two doubles, his first home run and five RBI. He’s not a big power guy, but the batting average and on-base percentage are both going to help you along of you are looking for help in those categories. Full-time at-bats here, so don’t overlook the opportunity. FAAB: 5-7%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Shortstops

Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals

The batting average over the past week has been a little rough, but Winn still sees regular playing time and has also been used atop the lineup against some lefthanded pitching. We’re not looking for power here. It’s about speed and batting average. The Cardinals are shaking things up with the Jordan Walker demotion, so the pressure is on Wynn to perform. He seems like he is responding well thus far. FAAB: 5-7%

Blaze Alexander, Arizona Diamondbacks

With how many times we’ve mentioned Alexander in this column, it’s a wonder if he’s available in your leagues. He could be sitting on your roster already. If not, it’s a solid move to make as he continues to perform well in the absence of Geraldo Perdomo. It still might be a temporary fix as Perdomo is the better fielder, but even when Perdomo was playing the Diamondbacks have found ways to keep Alexander’s bat in the lineup. FAAB: 5-7%

Tim Anderson, Miami Marlins

The veteran shortstop continues to be overlooked in fantasy leagues, owned in fewer than 15-percent of league on Yahoo and under three-percent on ESPN. We haven’t see a whole lot out of him recently as an illness took him out of action and he’s still recovering, but he’s now hit safely in four of his last seven games and even swiped a base. It’s a mildly desperate move if you lost Holliday, but still one that should provide a quick-fix. FAAB: 3-5%

Orelvis Martinez, Toronto Blue Jays

If you’re looking to stash away some help, this might be the sneaky move you need to make this week. Martinez is tearing up Triple-A right now, coming off a 15-game hit streak and posting five multi-hit performances in his last nine games. He’s got seven home runs and 20 RBI over his last 11 games and has been taking some work at second base recently as Bo Bichette is locked in at shortstop. The caveat that comes with him is the strikeouts. He definitely needs to rein that in, but with the Jays needing some consistent production at the keystone, his call-up seems fairly imminent. FAAB: 2-4%  

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Outfielders

Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox

He’s been white-hot lately, hitting safely in seven of his last eight games with three multi-hit performances, two home runs and at least one RBI in eight-straight games. The Red Sox continue to deal with a rash of injuries and Abreu seems pretty locked in as a regular starter in the outfield right now. He won’t stay this hot forever so ride the wave until it breaks. FAAB: 7-9%

Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs

The early returns on Crow-Armstrong have been good and the strikeouts have not been as bad as we may have expected them to be at this time. Still, a 27.3-percent K-rate does lend to some concern. But with Cody Bellinger on the IL with a fractured rib, Crow-Armstrong should be up for a little while. He’s a phenomenal defensive guy out there in centerfield so that should help keep his bat in the lineup and we should see more production in the counting stats as the opportunities stay high for him. FAAB: 7-9%

Brenton Doyle, Colorado Rockies

Look who’s catching fire lately! As I’ve said before, Colorado hitters should always get a second look because of playing half their games in Coors Field and after a tasty homestand, Doyle is slashing .326/.373/.516 on the season and has hit safely in five-straight games. Even better are the four stolen bases in his last nine games. Doyle isn’t a big power guy but should get a little boost at Coors. The Rockies are on the road for the next two series against Miami and Pittsburgh, but return home for another two series shortly after that. FAAB: 6-8%

Heston Kjerstad, Baltimore Orioles

This is one you may need to be careful with right now. His popularity and the popularity of the Orioles is very likely to drive the price up, but given the depth the team has in the outfield, at-bats are going to be tough to come by. We have only seen him used sparingly and he’s sat against lefthanded pitching. There is no guarantee of playing time and while the name recognition is big and the future is bright, we urge you to take a step back and survey everything before you start bidding. If the Orioles end up with an injury on Sunday, then beef up the bid, but if not, be very frugal here. FAAB: 6-8%

Joey Loperfido, Houston Astros

Here’s another stash play for you if you have the roster space to give. The Astros are getting very tired of Jose Abreu’s lack of production which has led them to playing Loperfido at first base at Triple-A Sugar Land over the past couple of weeks. He’s got great power potential, but the strikeouts are still too high. Expect to see him brought up sooner than later, so stashing him right now could be the move. Who wouldn’t want another power hitter from the Astros lineup? FAAB: 3-5%

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Starting Pitchers

Slade Cecconi, Arizona Diamondbacks

I had Cecconi in the most recent Stock Watch article/video and he has not disappointed one bit. He got two starts this week for Arizona, posted quality starts in both outings and now has a 2.25 ERA with an 11:1 K:BB over 12 innings. Exactly when Cecconi makes his next start is temporarily up in the air as the DBacks are still waiting to see what happens with Zac Gallen’s hamstring issue. The team also got Jordan Montgomery into the rotation finally, but with both Ryne Nelson and Merrill Kelly on the injured list, he should get another start. Granted it could come against the Dodgers or Padres, but still, the level of performance has been rock-solid. FAAB: 8-10%  

Bryce Elder, Atlanta Braves

Two weeks ago, I told you to grab him and stash him as the Braves were still sorting things out for the back end of their rotation. He looked fantastic against the Twins, tossing 6.2 scoreless innings with four strikeouts and no walks. He’ll get the start here on Sunday, so watch him closely, but it appears as if he will be locked in as the fifth starter for a while now. FAAB: 8-10%

Landon Knack, Los Angeles Dodgers

Just like a hitter on Colorado gets a second look, so do any starters for the Dodgers. You know the win-equity is strong and the home ballpark is extremely favorable to pitchers. He’s allowed just four runs over his first 11 innings (all against Washington) and has made a decent case for himself to stay in the back end of the rotation while the rest of the Dodgers pitchers continue to work themselves back from the injured list. The command is being honed and there is some strikeout upside. The next start does come against a dangerous Diamondbacks lineup, but that also should help suppress the price here. FAAB: 6-8%

Mitchell Parker, Washington Nationals

The Nationals have been giving him an opportunity to shine over the past two weeks and Parker has done just that, posting a 1.69 ERA with a 0.94 WHIP and a 14:2 K:BB over 16 innings. The stuff is good and the command has definitely been there, so there is definitely some value. His next outing is going to scare people as he faces the Rangers in Texas, but I’ve got faith in this southpaw as the Rangers are loaded with lefty bats and are posting just a .304 wOBA with a 24.6-percent strikeout rate against lefties. FAAB: 4-6%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Closers/Relief Pitchers

Hector Neris, Chicago Cubs

After blowing another save recently, Adbert Alzolay has been removed as the closer and manager Craig Counsell has said that he’ll now treat the role as a “day-to-day thing.” Huge bummer for Alzolay owners, so it’s time to grab Neris who has the most closer-experience in the Cubs bullpen right now. Neris has converted the last three saves and should be considered the guy to run with for now. FAAB: 12-15% 

Joel Payamps, Milwaukee Brewers

Guess who is now getting saves alongside both Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill? Ugh. We hate the closer-by-committee, but Payamps is hot right now and manager Pat Murphy is perfectly content with riding the hot hand. For those chasing saves, you’ll have t invest some, but keep in mind that the situation is extremely fluid right now. FAAB: 8-10%

Jason Adam, Tampa Bay Rays

Though it may just be a temporary look while Pete Fairbanks is on the injured list, Adam should be the guy most often used in save situations for the Rays right now. We know manager Kevin Cash likes to play the match-ups, so don’t get crazy with your bids. He should probably be the contingency bid you place should you not land either Neris or Payamps. FAAB: 6-8%