Welcome to the Waiver Wire Picks, our daily fantasy baseball article that looks at the best players in baseball that you should be adding to your rosters. We’ll look at the players that are likely to be available in most leagues, as well as some deep league waiver wire options, and we’ll also look at the most added players in fantasy baseball across the major sites, and let you know which players to add and which players you can leave on the wire.
Top Priority Players to Add
Nathaniel Lowe (CIN), 1B — 5% Rostership
Lowe is scorching hot and somehow it feels like he’s available in every league. The 30-year-old is slashing .273/.353/.570 with a .392 xwOBA and 152 wRC+ – both numbers that are in-line to be career-highs. He already has nine home runs through 41 games and is on pace to hit 20+ bombs for the first time since 2022.
Lowe not only provides a bat that has hits in eight consecutive games entering play today (237 wRC+ over that span), but he’s a suitable injury replacement for any managers that are feeling the pain after losing Munetaka Murakami yesterday.
Carlos Cortes (ATH), OF — 14% Rostership
Cortes has been one of the best bats in baseball, period, but is somehow losing rostership rate. I don’t know how to explain it. The 28-year-old is slashing .333/.422/.523 with a 165 wRC+ and has more walks (19) than strikeouts (15, good for a sub-10% rate). He’s a great grab if you’re trying to fill out an outfield or utility spot that will boost your OBP.
Cade Cavalli (WSH), RHP — 34% Rostership
Cavalli was an arm that I had identified early this offseason as my breakout right-handed starting pitcher in the 2026 season. I admit, it was certainly a little rattling with how he started the year, but Cavalli has been magnificent throughout the month of May, posting a 3.41 ERA/3.21 FIP, .232 BAA, and 18.4% K-BB rate. His knuckle curve has provided lights out results (.247 xwOBA, 47% whiff rate) all year long, forcing a usage increase, and the four-seamer has taken a step forward after limiting the usage a bit this month. His sweeper is a pitch I could see tick up in usage as the year goes on as well.
Yahoo and ESPN Most Added Players
Reid Detmers is such a talented pitcher, but he’s lacked results with the Angels over the course of his young major league career. This year? He’s somehow gotten better. He’s turned in a just a 4.57 ERA, but all the underlying metrics suggest he’s in for some lights out positive regression – a 2.88 xERA, 2.81 FIP, and 3.21 SIERA, for example. Despite a horrible eight run implosion on 5/19 that really inflated his ERA, Detmers has been a steady contributor all year long. You’re not only claiming him for his production right now, but perhaps if a smarter organization acquires him at the deadline, his stock will rise tremendously.
Curtis Mead is a really high IQ claim on waivers right now. The 25-year-old has been dominating with Washington this year, slashing .244/.360/.496 with a 142 wRC+ over 43 games. He’s got a monster .405 OBP and seen his wRC+ increase to 162 throughout the month of May, walking as many times as he’s struck out (14).
If Ben Brown somehow isn’t added in your league, sprint to acquire him right now. The 26-year-old has excelled through 44.2 innings after making an obvious tweak this offseason – implementing a sinker against same-handed matchups. He owns a 2.01 ERA/2.26 FIP and 19% K-BB rate.
It seems like a broken record considering he’s always listed in the most added category on ESPN, but Ryan Weathers is worth a claim. His 3.14 ERA/3.81 xERA paired with a career-best 21.3% K-BB rate and .224 BAA is a big reason the Yankees have gotten off to such a good start despite an offseason some considered to be quite lackluster.
I’m all set on Anthony Kay, who’s xERA (5.69) is nearly two runs higher than his actual mark. The 6.8% K-BB rate is another sign he’s due for an implosion… don’t let that happen on your squad.
Streaming Pitchers
Our guy Nick Pollack does a fantastic job at highlighting and ranking starting pitcher streaming options… check out his list here!
Bryce Miller (SEA), RHP — 43% Rostership
Miller has been fantastic since returning from the IL, showcasing +2 mph on FA-types and posting a 2.25 ERA/2.15 xERA with a 19.4% K-BB rate through 16 innings. The four-seamer/splitter/slider trio has been unhittable, all featuring put-away rates above 20%, and he’s also got a sweeper/sinker/knuckle curve waiting in the wings if need-be. This is an arm that should take off in rostership rate with more innings.
Zebby Matthews (MIN), RHP — 41% Rostership
Matthews has been so fun to watch this season, posting a 2.34 ERA/2.54 xERA, fueled by a miniscule 2.7% walk rate and a wipeout slider that’s turned in some of the best results among offspeed pitches this season. The offering owns a .132 xBA, .124 xwOBA, and 46% whiff rate on 20% usage. Electric!
