Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Picks: 4/13

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

 

Lars Nootbaar (STL), OF (58% rostered on Yahoo, 56.5% on ESPN)

 

It’s been a while since we’ve discussed Nootbaar in this space, but he’s still rostered under the 60% threshold across the industry. That is quite simply a mistake.

Nootbaar has cooled down slightly after his torrid start to the year, but he continues to check every box you look for in a fantasy player. He’s occupying a premium spot in the Cardinals’ lineup, batting leadoff in all 13 of his outings this season. He’s also been in the lineup nearly every day, getting just one day off to start the year. That hasn’t always been the case with Nootbaar, who would occasionally sit vs. southpaws.

Nootbaar’s biggest strength is his ability to get on base. His OBP is currently above .400, and there’s no reason to expect much regression in that department. In fact, his expected batting average and slugging percentage are both above his actual marks, so it’s possible he will actually improve moving forward.

Nootbaar isn’t a huge power or speed threat, but he can still contribute in those departments as well. He already has two home runs and two stolen bases while scoring 10 runs. He’s inside the Top 30 on ESPN’s Fantasy Player Rater, making him a start-worth outfielder in all but the shallowest of leagues. If he’s still out there and you’re looking for outfield help, rectify that mistake immediately.

 

Clarke Schmidt (NYY), SP (55% Yahoo, 15.3% ESPN)

 

Schmidt is a former top prospect who broke out with the Yankees in 2024. He made 16 starts and pitched to a 2.84 ERA while striking out better than a batter per inning. He ultimately finished in the 79th percentile for Whiff Rate and 74th percentile for strikeout rate, and while he definitely got a bit fortunate from a run-prevention standpoint, his 3.78 xERA was still an above-average figure.

Schmidt has yet to throw for the Yankees in 2025, but he’s set to make his return early next week. He’s made two rehab starts in Double-A in preparation, and he’s thrown 7.1 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts. The majors are obviously a huge step up in weight class, but he appears to be up to full speed.

The best part is that Schmidt is set to debut either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week, setting up a strong first matchup vs. the Royals. They don’t strike out a ton, but they’re dead last in wRC+ against right-handers so far this season. If he starts on Tuesday, it also sets him up to make another start next week Sunday vs. the Rays, which is another exploitable matchup. Pitching for the Yankees also gives him plenty of win expectancy, so he’s worth being added in all formats.

 

Yahoo and ESPN Most Added Players

 

Yahoo’s top adds for Saturday were headlined by a trio of streaming pitchers: Andrew Abbott, Martín Pérez, and Ryan Gusto. Perez was off to a sizzling start this season, but he came crashing back to reality vs. the Red Sox. He failed to make it out of the fifth inning, surrendering five hits, four walks, and two earned runs. His next start is tentatively scheduled for next Friday vs. the Red Sox, this time in Boston. He’s a very risky option in that outing.

Gusto also had a truncated outing, which is not all that surprising. He appeared in four previous games this season out of the bullpen, and he had yet to throw more than 3.0 innings. He got through four innings on Sunday, adding six strikeouts in the process, but he ultimately surrendered three earned runs. His next start is scheduled for Friday vs. the Padres, so he’s another player that can be returned to the wire.

Abbott was the most successful of the streaming targets. He made it through five innings, and he allowed just one earned run with five strikeouts. He also allowed just two hits and two walks and managed to secure the win, so he helped a bit in every category across the board. Abbott has pitched to a sub-4.00 ERA in each of the past two seasons, so he has the most long-term upside of the above trio.

Zach McKinstry batted leadoff for the Tigers on Saturday, and he ultimately went 0-4 with a walk and two strikeouts. Still, his average still sits at a very healthy .326 for the year, while his on-base percentage is at .412. While the average and positional flexibility are nice, McKinstry doesn’t bring much else to the table. He’s never had more than nine home runs at the MLB level, and he’s never had more than 16 steals.

Cam Smith was a trendy sleeper pick this offseason after posting big numbers with the Astros in spring training. Smith got off to a rough start this season, but he swatted his first career homer and added his first career steal on Friday. That was enough to get him some attention as an add for Saturday’s slate. While Smith likely has a promising MLB career ahead of him, he doesn’t stand out as a particularly intriguing option for the time being. Most of his advanced metrics are subpar, and he continues to hit near the bottom of the Astros’ lineup. You can do better.

 

ESPN’s most-added list features four players at the top who are approaching universal ownership: Kyren Paris, Kris Bubic, Tyler Soderstrom, and Jesús Luzardo. We’ve spent plenty of ink covering all four players in these write-ups, so let’s keep this one short: if any of these players are available in your leagues, go out and get them. It could be your last opportunity.

Logan O’Hoppe is the new addition to this section, and he is the definition of an “all-or-nothing” type of hitter at catcher. He ranks in the third percentile in strikeout rate, but he’s doing serious damage when he makes contact. He’s already hit five homers this season, thanks to an elite 28.9% barrel rate. His .651 xSLG puts him in the 94th percentile, and he’s currently the No. 1 catcher in ESPN’s Fantasy Player Rater. It’s very unlikely he maintains that spot all season, but he’s on pace to smash his previous career-high of 20 homers that he set last season.

 

Category-Specific Players to Add

 

Josh Jung (TEX), 3B (66% Yahoo, 24.5% ESPN)

 

Jung is technically over the 60% rostered threshold on Yahoo, but he’s well below that figure on ESPN. That needs to change. Jung started the year on the IL but has absolutely raked since being activated. He’s posted a .474 average with one homer and one steal through his first 19 plate appearances, and he’s backed up his production with solid Statcast data. Jung isn’t going to produce to that extent all year, but there’s no reason he can’t provide start-worthy numbers at a weak position.

 

Tommy Kahnle (DET), RP (16% Yahoo, 2.9% ESPN)

 

The Tigers’ bullpen was considered a bit of a wild card coming into this season. It was believed that they would use a committee to close out games, but Kahnle has gotten the save opportunities so far. He picked up his second save of the year on Friday, and he’s also pitched well in his opportunities. He’s posted a 1.80 ERA with five strikeouts in five innings, and his 1.50 xERA suggests he’s been as good as advertised.

If Kahnle can hold down the closer job in Detroit, he has some sneaky fantasy upside. Detroit was a playoff team last season, and they’re 9-5 to start 2025. It gives Kahnle the upside for 20+ saves if his current usage continues.

 

Matthew Boyd (CHC), SP (28% Yahoo, 14.6% ESPN)

 

Is it time to get excited about Boyd? It might be. It’s hard to start the year much better than he has. He’s had to navigate three brutal matchups vs. the Diamondbacks, Padres, and Dodgers, yet he’s pitched to a 1.59 ERA while averaging a strikeout per inning.

This isn’t exactly a new development. Boyd also made eight starts for the Guardians last season, and he posted a 2.72 ERA with more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings. Boyd’s advanced metrics aren’t quite as impressive, but if he can find success against some of the best offenses in baseball, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be owned. He’s up to No. 70 in the Pitcher List rankings, so scoop him up if he’s available. Even if he regresses a bit from an ERA standpoint, he should be a solid source of strikeouts with decent win equity for a good Cubs squad.

 

Streaming Pitchers

 

Be sure to check out the great Nick Pollack’s SP Streamer Rankings to see his favorite choices in the opening week. Sunday is a slate full of aces, with only two pitchers falling into the “probably start” category. Nick makes the case for Hayden Wesneski vs. the Angels, so I’ll make the case for the other.

 

Casey Mize (DET), SP (56% Yahoo, 37.1% ESPN)

 

Mize was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2018, and at one point, he was considered one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. He’s lost some luster since then, but he could finally be ready to break out in 2025.

Mize has looked the part of an ace through his first two outings. He’s pitched to a 0.77 ERA while striking out 12 batters in 11.1 innings. He blanked the Mariners in his first start this season, but what he did against the Yankees in his second was arguably more impressive. Mize limited a potent offense to just one run in six innings, so his outlook for the rest of the season is optimistic.

The Twins have been a middle-of-the-road matchup for right-handers, but if Mize can succeed against the Yankees, there’s no reason he can’t do it vs. Minnesota. He’s a viable streamer, and he may be someone who deserves to stick in your rotation.

 

Speculative Adds

 

Tyler Stephenson (C), CIN (44% Yahoo, 33.9% ESPN)

 

Stephenson has yet to suit up for the Reds after suffering an oblique injury during spring training, but he has reportedly been cleared to “ramp up” baseball activities. That puts him on track to potentially return before the end of the month.

When Stephenson is healthy, he has been a pretty reliable fantasy backstop. He had a 112 wRC+ across 138 games last season, combining a .258 batting average with a career-best 19 homers. He also drove in 69 runs and scored 66, and having a catcher who plays half his games at the Great American Ball Park certainly doesn’t hurt. If you’re looking for help at catcher, he’s worth an IL stash.

 

Zebby Matthews (MIN), SP (19% Yahoo, 2.7% ESPN)

 

The Twins have officially placed Pablo López on the IL, which opens a spot for Matthews in the rotation. He was considered the team’s top pitching prospect before graduating from their system last year, though his first stint in the big leagues did not go well. He made nine starts for the Twins and struggled to a 6.69 ERA and 6.01 xERA.

However, Matthews did average more than 10 punchouts per nine innings in the big leagues, and he’s put up huge strikeout totals in the minors. He’s off to an excellent start this season, posting a 1.80 ERA and 1.29 FIP through his first two starts at Triple-A.

Matthews has the talent to stick in the Twins’ rotation even after Lopez returns from the IL, especially with guys like Chris Paddack and Simeon Woods Richardson struggling. He should be a solid source of strikeouts at a minimum.

The only downside with Matthews is that his first start is tentatively scheduled for Monday vs. the Mets. That’s far from an ideal first opponent. The Mets haven’t been as dynamic as expected offensively to start the year, though they’re still extremely talented on paper.

 

Brayan Bello (BOS), SP (14% Yahoo, 7.0% ESPN)

Bello threw 64 pitches in a rehab assignment on Friday, and he will reportedly make at least one more minor-league start before making his season debut for the Red Sox. Bello is coming off a disappointing season, but he’s a former top prospect with solid stuff. If you have an IL spot available, it could be worth stashing him with a late-April debut in the offing.

 

Deep League Players to Watch

 

Dillon Dingler (DET), C (5% Yahoo, 4.1% ESPN)

 

In deeper leagues—or leagues that require you to start multiple catchers—Dingler is someone who should be on your radar. He is off to a torrid start, posting a .387 batting average with two homers through 32 plate appearances. He has undoubtedly run hot from a batted-ball perspective, with his BABIP sitting at a ridiculous .526, but his underlying data is still impressive. His .308 xBA still puts him in the 87th percentile, while he ranks in 75th percentile for xSLG.

Dingler’s big flaw is that he strikes out a ton, and his strikeout rate is at 31.3% so far this season. That’s a big concern, but Dingler has solid pop and posted a 139 wRC+ at Triple-A in 2024. If he can keep the strikeouts in check at the MLB level, he could provide enough value to warrant some fantasy consideration.