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. 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
Cam Smith (HOU), 3B, OF (35% rostered on Yahoo, 11% rostered on ESPN)
Cam Smith has been on a TEAR! And for those who have held onto the guy, I’m happy for you. But for those who are looking for someone to add through the waiver wire, Smith might be your guy.
He had some really rough patches early in the season after finding himself on everyone’s radar following the Kyle Tucker trade. This is normal for young players, as they all have a low floor when they first start out in the Major Leagues. Smith has a high ceiling, though.
Smith has looked really solid overall in terms of xStats. His expected batting average is pretty much in line with his real-world one, which showcases that this level of production is what you can expect from him going forward. His power has not been amazing, but his high bat speed, solid exit velocities, and great launch angle management show that he could be a big piece for both your fantasy team and his real-life time.
Lucas Giolito (BOS), OF (22% rostered on Yahoo, 8% rostered on ESPN)
I’ve spoken about Lucas Giolito here before, and yet, I feel like he still is a somewhat underrated add. He has all the makings of a consistent Holly-type arm; he just hasn’t been able to consistently prove it yet this year.
Giolito’s last start was one that was worthy of him being on your radar, as his fastball looked genuinely great with 6.8 feet of extension and well above-average vertical break. The rest of his arsenal didn’t look as hot, but with the solid foundation guiding him out of the slump, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic.
Now Giolito has a matchup in San Francisco against a Giants team that hasn’t gotten a lot going offensively, especially in the pitcher’s park they call home. Grab Giolito now and maybe hold onto him, as he could be a serious bounce-back player this summer.
Yahoo and ESPN Most Added Players
Like usual, Yahoo’s picks were dominated by streamers and Nick Kurtz, who has been electric lately. The highly regarded first baseman prospect has been excellent as of late, delivering again and again for his Athletics squad. If clutch were a fantasy stat, he wouldn’t be on any wire, as he notched two walk-off home runs in the same week. Kurtz is on a tear right now, but he also has really impressive offensive skills that made him a top prospect.
Hunter Dobbins was coming off a really solid start against an elite Yankees offense heading into yesterday, so of course, he’d be a popular streamer pick against the Giants in San Francisco. This was not much of a successful stream, as Dobbins was knocked out after four messy innings in which he walked 5 batters. Obviously, you still always want to look to stream in games that take place at Oracle Park, as the ceiling is high, especially considering how poor the Giants’ offense can be.
There’s been a fair bit of hype surrounding Clayton Kershaw as of late, with some thinking he’s playing like the good ol’ Kershaw. The Nationals are a pretty mediocre offense, so any pitcher starting against them could be viewed as a possible stream. Kershaw was solid, only allowing two earned runs (off of solo shots) and grabbing four strikeouts. It looks like Kershaw is in the streamer stage of his career, which could either be a sad thing for those who miss the ace days or a happy thing for those who thought he wouldn’t be able to pitch this year.
Didier Fuentes yesterday exemplified why you never start a rookie in their MLB debut. He wasn’t half bad, but he still allowed 7 baserunners and 4 earned runs, taking a loss and only notching three strikeouts. There’s plenty to like about Fuentes in terms of his future outlook, but remember, the floor is going to be low for such a young pitcher who is running on adrenaline, trying to prove his worth with the big league club.
Brady Singer was definitely the most successful streamer of the group, as across 6 innings, he only allowed 1 earned run and got 7 strikeouts. Unfortunately, the rest of his team let him down, as the Reds were handed a pretty ugly loss overall. Singer has overall had a pretty solid stretch of games, which makes him a valuable pick for a good matchup like this one. Unfortunately, it feels like the ceiling and floor are too low for Singer to be someone you hold for any more starts.
Yesterday’s top 5 ESPN adds were almost the same as the day before, featuring 4 pitchers who we already spoke about (including one in Kershaw), who we included in the Yahoo section.
Jacob Misiorowski got the start yesterday against the Twins, and he did really well. He got the win, snagged six strikeouts, and only allowed 2 earned runs despite giving up only one hit and one walk. It was a great stream, though it seems that Misiorowski won’t just be a one-time use type player. He has serious chops with what is the best fastball in the game and an arsenal that has some serious potential. He just needs to figure out his control …
Clarke Schmidt has been one of the better ratio plays as of late, as he’s really gotten his signature sweeper/cutter combination working right now. He gets the Orioles now, who haven’t been the offensive force that many thought they’d be entering the season. Schmidt is one of those pitchers who is somewhat on the borderline of keeper and high-end streamer, but if he continues to help ratios, notch strikeouts, and go deep for a winning team, he may be impossible to grab off the wire in the near future.
Grant Holmes is coming off a start that turned A LOT of heads. He dominated the lowly Rockies, notching 15 strikeouts in the process. He’s a really solid pitcher who takes advantage of easy matchups, and the Marlins are certainly a team that, for the most part, isn’t worth fearing. He can be a whiff machine when his breakers are working and is riding a high that led to him being picked up in many leagues. Hop on the Grant Holmes train before it’s too late.
Ryan Pepiot is new to this top 5, and he’s definitely the best pitcher on it. Pepiot has been incredible lately, coming off an 8-inning affair against the Orioles where he looked like an inner circle ace. Control has been the main problem for Pepiot, as well as a home ballpark that can be tough for pitches. His high IVB fastball that he locates in the top of the zone mixed with a highly regarded changeup AND a slider/cutter type pitch makes for a well-realized arsenal. You should grab Pepiot now, as he should be rostered everywhere at this point.
Category Specific Players to Add
Jake Meyers (HOU), OF (9% rostered on Yahoo, 6% rostered on ESPN)
Jake Meyers is a really underrated player this year. He isn’t hitting home runs like crazy, but he’s put up solid ratios at the plate. He’s vastly improved his discipline, chasing and ultimately whiffing way less to become a contact-oriented player. The power isn’t going to be seen, but if you need help with your batting average and maybe with cashing a few runs, Meyers is one of the top options available in most leagues. His above-average sprint speed also lends itself nicely to stolen bases, which he has a healthy amount of as well. These scrappy types aren’t always the most valuable, especially when they hit deeper in the lineup, but Meyers has been productive this year and should be a player you consider.
Streaming Pitchers
WAIT! You haven’t read Nick Pollack’s starting pitcher streamer rankings for today? Get on that pronto. He ranks every expected starter for each day, highlighting who you should start, sit, and claim off waivers. The whole series of these can be found here: https://pitcherlist.com/category/fantasy/sp-streamers/
In terms of whom I would recommend you pick up? A couple of names come to mind.
Cade Horton (CHC), SP (28% rostered on Yahoo, 12% rostered on ESPN)
Cade Horton has looked like a really solid rookie pitcher for some time now, and when up against a Seattle team that strikes out a lot, this could be a good combination. Obviously, the Mariners are actually decent on the road this year, and Wrigley can give pitchers trouble, but Horton has shown that he is worthy of your trust in the past, and he has a team that is able to get to any pitcher, especially an inexperienced one like Emerson Hancock. Here is a win chance and a chance to boost your ratios. Consider adding Horton today to reap the benefits of his start against the M’s.
Ben Casparius (LAD), RP (16% rostered on Yahoo, 7% rostered on ESPN)
So everybody is excited about Shohei Ohtani pitching, and for good reason. He’s one of the most talented (if not the most) players in the history of the game, and we love seeing that electricity on the mound and at the plate. Perhaps, though, for fantasy baseball players, Ben Casparius is the more exciting option for the Dodgers when they face off against the Nationals on Sunday. Casparius has become a dedicated bulk guy for the Dodgers, and with Ohtani opening, could be in line for a win against an offense that can really struggle. Yes, Ohtani gets the flowers, but if you want to outsmart your league-mates, consider grabbing Casparius.
Deep League Adds
Eric Lauer (TOR), SP, RP (5% rostered on Yahoo, 1% rostered on ESPN)
Every year, we have a few really fun bounce-back pitchers, and this year, one of them has been Eric Lauer with the Toronto Blue Jays. His success has really come out of nowhere, but he has been a great addition to a team that has struggled with the starting rotation. The lefty has been a master of keeping the ratios low, with a sub-2.30 ERA and a sub-1.00 WHIP. This isn’t necessarily something to expect him to continue throughout the year, but with solid xStats against and a higher K rate and lower walk rate than in previous seasons, he could find somewhat sustained success.
