We’re heading into the fourth week of the Fantasy Baseball season already, didn’t it just start yesterday? Heading into the fourth edition of the fantasy baseball waiver wire column, some players are really emerging as breakout candidates and others need to be shown patience as it may be their first crack in a major league lineup. This week's waiver wire column features Casey Mize, Eduardo Rodriguez, Cam Smith, and Zac Veen.

 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Casey Mize, SP Detroit Tigers

ESPN: 34% / Yahoo: 54%

FAAB: 12-15%

Before you do anything else, listen up; get to your waiver wire RIGHT NOW and scoop up Casey Mize before it’s too late. He’s looked incredible in his first two starts this year and all of his pitches profile as elite per baseball savant. I mean, look how beautiful it is. 

Everything is finally lining up for Mize, he just needs to limit the walks, which hasn’t ever really hurt him the way it has through these two starts. Expect the control to bounce back, the strikeouts to continue, and the ground ball rate to rise as well.
 

Eduardo Rodriguez, SP Arizona Diamondbacks

ESPN: 12% / Yahoo: 22%

FAAB: 7-9%

We’re through three starts for Eduardo Rodriguez and things have started off very well for him. His next start comes against the Miami Marlins too, which should once again be an advantageous spot for him. Rodriguez has already flashed a massive strikeout appeal already posting a 12-punchout outing and despite a near five ERA, his xFIP is 2.70 and the .300 BABIP against him suggest he’s been incredibly unlucky. Rodriguez has punched out 20 batters in his first 16.2 IP this season.
 

Andrew Heaney, SP Pittsburgh Pirates

ESPN: 11% / Yahoo: 12%

FAAB: 4-6%

The 33-year old Andrew Heaney is off to a dazzling start, especially in his last game against the Yankees where he punched out 10 Yankees across seven one-run innings. Heaney is normally a solid bet for strikeouts as he’s a career 9.5 K/9 guy and even in a 14-loss season a year ago he had 159 Ks. If you’re looking for a source of strikeouts, Heaney is exactly that. Grab him and wait until his start in Great American has passed. Not exactly pitchers haven.


Tommy Kahnle, RP Detroit Tigers

ESPN: 3% / Yahoo: 15%

FAAB: 1-3%

It wasn’t pretty, but Tommy Kahnle picked up his second save on Friday, which is tied for the team lead. When Jason Foley was optioned to Triple-A, there was no certainty with who would take over that role and there still hasn’t been any clarity other than seeing Kahnle getting the call more than his teammates right about now. This waiver wire add is for those severely lacking in the saves department and is looking to bolster things a little.

 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Infielders

Geraldo Perdomo, SS Arizona Diamondbacks

ESPN: 33% / Yahoo: 35%

FAAB: 5-7%

Nobody can EVER take away the fact that Geraldo Perdomo was an All-Star in 2023. He’s looking like that version again and man, it looks like it’s sustainable. Perdomo’s been an insane run producer to start the year and it’s definitely been helpful for him to be hitting near the top of the order. He’s never been anything special offensively, but he has a little power and a little speed. Nice option available in over 60% of both ESPN and Yahoo! Fantasy leagues.


Trevor Story, SS Boston Red Sox

ESPN: 11% / Yahoo: 35%

FAAB: 7-9%

Seeing this start of the 2025 season for Trevor Story really reminds you that he's an incredibly multi-faceted offensive talent on offense when he’s healthy. That hasn’t been often as he hasn’t played more than 94 games since 2021. That said, he’s already stolen five bases in his first 15 games after stealing six last year in 26 games. He’s twice topped 20 SB and has hit 24 homers or more home runs he’s played at least 100 games in. He’s a very solid pickup if you missed out on one of the top shortstops during draft day.


Zach McKinstry, 2B, SS, 3B, OF Detroit Tigers

ESPN: 16% / Yahoo: 25%

FAAB: 2-4%

The value on Yahoo! Fantasy is insane because of his positional eligibility. You can slot him in at all but 1B and don’t tempt the Tigers with a good time, they might try that too. McKinstry’s also been really good and although he’s playing way above his head, according to Baseball Savant, he has an expected batting average of .290 and xwOBA of .360. Both above average for a guy you can play at four different positions. He’s one of the highest added players on Yahoo! Fantasy and I’d be getting on line to acquire him.


Jorge Polanco, 2B Seattle Mariners

ESPN: 8% / Yahoo: 15%

FAAB: 4-6%

It’s very logical to think we’re not going to see the 2021 version of Jorge Polanco anytime soon – probably ever – unless Rob Manfred is seen juicing baseballs in the Rawlings facility in Costa Rica but the power has been on display at the start of 2025. He heads into the weekend with three bombs in nine games and has already driven in 11 runs to boot. He’s been a consistent double-digit home run threat at 2B, which is one of the worst positions in fantasy baseball. In the intermediate, Polanco is the full-time DH, which could bode well for his hot start to continue.

 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Outfielders

Cam Smith, OF Houston Astros

ESPN: 8% / Yahoo: 22%

FAAB: 7-10%

The reason why Cam Smith is here is because a lesson should be taught to those that aren’t patient. Cam Smith, a dynamic rookie, struggled out of the gate with inconsistent at-bats but guess what? Cam Smith is now playing every day and he’s coming alive before our eyes. The headliner of the Kyle Tucker trade has massive power and is a dual threat to boot. Smith has driven in at least one run in three straight games, has two multi-hit games and stole his first bag and hit his first home run over that span. A lot of the time fantasy baseball is about the long game.


Zac Veen, OF Colorado Rockies

ESPN: 6% / Yahoo: 25%

FAAB: 4-6%

It’s been a rocky start for Zac Veen, but after just spending an entire paragraph on patience, I’ll double down here. Veen couldn’t do anything wrong at AAA before his call-up and that was in line with what he did in the spring for Colorado. The speed is what immediately jumps off the page as he had nine steals during the spring and had 55 steals across 126 games back in 2022 at the minor league level. We can’t overlook his home games being at Coors Field either.
 

Mike Yastrzemski, OF San Francisco Giants

ESPN: 8% / Yahoo: 8%

FAAB: 2-4%

Because he’s been so good, the Giants were forced to move Mike Yastrzemski into the leadoff spot as the Giants started their series against the Yankees. He responded well to that move going 1-for-3 and scored two runs. He’s been fantastic, scoring seven runs and driving in six more through the first 11 games of the year. Some really important statistical data backs Yaz’s start to the year, suggesting that this may continue.

It’s not as if we haven’t seen good stretches out of him in the past, but I’m buying the current version and you’ll get him for cheap, so it’s worth the dart.