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
Jordan Hicks (SF), SP, RP (10 % Rostered on Yahoo!)
Hicks pitched brilliantly Monday night, blanking the Astros across six innings with six Ks (36% CSW) while allowing only one hit (a 1st inning single to Christian Walker) and two BBs. Velocity often dictates success, especially with pitchers who aren’t blessed with precise command, like Hicks. And after what he did on Monday, you gotta be intrigued a little.
Fastest pitches by Giants SP, pitch-tracking era (2008):
6/12/22 Carlos Rodon: 100.2 mph
Tonight Jordan Hicks: 100.0 mph
4/24/08 Tim Lincecum: 100.0 mph
Tonight Jordan Hicks: 99.9 mph
Tonight Jordan Hicks: 99.9 mph pic.twitter.com/J3NWjRYmUp— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 1, 2025
Hicks clanked his way to a 4.10 ERA and 1.45 WHIP across 20 starts last season with the Giants in what amounted to his first extended test as a starter (he also started eight games with the Cards in 2022). The right-hander leaned on his sinker a ton last year (51%). However, it averaged 94.5 on the radar while earning a middling 5.09 PLV. On Monday, it sat at 98.
I’m usually bearish on rookie pitchers because the ability to flip a lineup multiple times often improves with experience. Sure, some succeed from the jump, but pitching in the bigs entails a steep learning curve. It’s a game of cat and mouse, reading swings, adjusting, etc. Hicks, of course, isn’t a rookie but point being I’m intrigued to see how he fares during his second go-around as a starter. Sure enough, Giants new pitching coach J.P. Martinez mentioned Hicks as being a candidate to take a step forward now after having more experience and a productive offseason (BSOHL). Perhaps improved stamina could unlock Hicks’ electric talent. Of course, this could be a flash in the pan, but as Nick led in his SP roundup, it’s a ceiling worth chasing.
Spencer Torkelson (DET), 1B (36 % rostered on Yahoo!)
Torkelson entered the season facing a part-time role after a dismal 2024. However, injuries have opened the door to an everyday spot in the lineup, and he’s hit the ground running with a 1.189 OPS through his first five games. His hot start continued last night with an oppo double to right against Logan Gilbert. Maybe this is a mirage, but the former first overall pick out of Arizona State is still 25 and only two years removed from banging 33 home runs.
Heston Kjerstad (BAL), OF (7 % rostered on Yahoo!)
Kjerstad slashed .253/.351/.394 over 114 PA last year. Colton Cowser’s fractured thumb should give Kjerstad an extended opportunity to prove himself, something he didn’t have while shoehorned into a reserve/platoon role last year. The 26-year-old lefty produced a .425 wOBA and 152 wRC+ across 56 games with Triple-A Norfolk, hinting at his potential as a middle-of-the-order thumper. His history as a prospect and Baltimore’s big lineup will entice a race to the waiver wire the minute he has a productive game.
Yahoo and ESPN Most Added Players
I’ll admit, I fantasized about Lars Nootbaar when last season ended. He is my sort of hitter in that he rarely swings at bad pitches; he posted an 18.8% O-Swg% in 2024. Last year’s .759 OPS might seem underwhelming, but his batter’s eye and hard-hit rate (91st percentile via StatCast) make me believe he has another gear to get to. He hit leadoff against RHP Kyle Hendricks last night and went 2-for-6. He’s been phenomenal and remains 45% rostered on Yahoo! That number should be higher.
Gavin Sheets has posted a 1.390 OPS through his first 15 PA with the Padres. I get the excitement, but he’s also posted a .687 OPS through 1,449 career PA. Managers in shallow/standard leagues might quickly grow weary when he sits against LHP, like he did last night against Logan Allen.
Otto Lopez has been discussed recently and deserves the attention given his SB upside; he swiped 20 last year across 434 PA.
Once upon a time, Dustin May was one of baseball’s most electric pitching prospects. Injuries derailed his trajectory, but he has a spot in the Dodgers’ rotation and pitched well last night, holding Atlanta to one unearned run across five innings with six punchouts (32% CSW on 82 pitches). He averaged around 94-95 with his sinker and four-seamer, not quite the triple digits he once hit with ease. He might not have the same ceiling he did a few years ago, but he’ll be a threat for a win every fifth day, and most importantly, you’ve gotta appreciate his comeback story.
Brady Singer’s strong start against the Rangers sparked intrigue. He’s always had a strong slider, but the rest of his arsenal has lagged, making him somewhat of a tease. But as Nick mentioned in his SP roundup, his increased four-seamer usage might be the ticket.
Jeremy Heist and Mitch Steinberg reviewed most of these players over the last two editions. Mackenzie Gore’s 13 Ks passed Max Scherzer’s 12 for the most on Opening Day by a Nat. Eugenio Suárez is the lone veteran here, as he probably went a little overlooked after hitting 30 home runs a year ago, second-most by a third baseman. Kristian Campbell has the most upside as a big-time prospect who could approach a 20/20 season at second base if everything falls in place. Campbell’s teammate, Wilyer Abreu, is off to the races, hitting .636 with a 2.114 OPS, but his upside will probably be capped if his poor splits against LHP keep him in a platoon like last year.
Category Specific Players to Add
Jung Hoo Lee (SF), OF (27% rostered on Yahoo!)
Lee slashed .318/.406/.455 during his final season in the KBO. Before needing shoulder surgery, the 26-year-old lefty slashed a comparatively pedestrian .262/.310/.331 with two home runs and two steals. He’s back and hit third in the Giants’ first five games. Part of me wants to believe in Lee busting out, but the projections are tepid on his power, leaving him as a situational play for managers needing batting average; the BATx has him hitting .286.
Streaming Pitchers
Be sure to check Nick’s daily SP streaming article.
Landen Roupp (SF), SP (10 % rostered on Yahoo; ESPN %)
The 26-year-old right-hander posted a reasonable 3.58 ERA across 50.1 IP and four starts, but produced a ho-hum 9.7% K-BB. However, he looked much better this spring, posting a 28.3% K-BB across 12 innings. Yes, a dozen spring innings is hardly something to hang one’s hat on, but SF’s reputation for getting the best out of their pitchers adds some mystery box appeal. However, the matchup isn’t ideal as PLV projects the Astros as an above-average lineup.
Jameson Taillon (CHC), SP (16 % rostered on Yahoo; ESPN %)
The D-backs torched Taillon last Friday for six earned runs on nine hits. He also ended his 2025 debut with, gulp, one strikeout. Sure, Taillon won’t rack up whiffs (9.4% SwStr rate last year), but he’s a veteran pitcher who avoids free passes, and could certainly produce against what PLV projects to be a below-average A’s squad. After all, he ended last year with a 3.27 ERA and 1.13 WHIP across 28 starts.
Speculative Adds
Dennis Santana (PIT), RP (5% rostered on Yahoo!)
The Pirates optioned David Bednar, leaving their closer situation in flux. Santana looks like the top option. He held a relatively modest 24% K rate last year, but produced a 3.89 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 71.2 IP with the Yankees and Pirates. He also nailed three saves last year. Colin Holderman might also get an opportunity, but his 27.9% chase rate seems suspect compared to Santana’s 35.7% (29.9% is average for RP).
Emilio Pagán (CIN), RP (14% rostered on Yahoo!)
Alexis Díaz remains on the IL with a hamstring injury and is also to fix his mechanics. Terry Francona has mentioned wanting to have Díaz be the guy again, but in the meantime, Pagán might be a decent saves spec; he earned the Reds’ first save this past Saturday and might’ve gotten another on Sunday had the Reds taken the lead in their half of the eighth. Tony Santillan is probably their best reliever, but Francona recently said he prefers to deploy him in high-leverage spots.
Deep League Players to Watch
Gavin Lux (CIN), 2B (7% rostered on Yahoo!)
Remember when Gavin Lux was one of the best prospects in baseball? It seems like ages ago, especially after being sent to Cincinnati this past offseason. Lux slashed a forgettable .251/.320/.383 across 487 PA during his final season as a Dodger. He’s crept onto the radar lately, having hit cleanup in four of the Reds’ first five games. Lux hasn’t shown much pop so far in his career, but don’t underestimate the power of the Great American Ball Park. I’m reminded of Scooter Gennett banging a career-high .873 OPS with the Reds in 2017. Lux probably won’t be that good, but he deserves to be on deep-league watch lists as long as he’s hitting in the middle of the lineup.
Mason Montgomery (TB), RP (2% rostered on Yahoo!)
Who doesn’t love a lefty reliever with a 101 mph fastball? Mongomery doesn’t have much stand-alone value currently unless you’re in a holds league. Still, his stuff is off-the-charts, as our bullpen expert Rick Graham mentioned a couple of weeks ago.
For more deep leaguers, check Ben Rosener’s Deep League Waiver Wire column every Thursday and Saturday.
