Welcome to the Waiver Wire Picks, our daily fantasy baseball article that looks at the best players 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 tell you which players to add and which to leave on the wire.
Top Priority Players to Add
Curtis Mead (WSH) – 1B, 2B, 3B (Yahoo – 18%)
Mead didn’t start last night’s game against the Phillies, but he came up huge in the sixth inning with a pinch-hit, go-ahead two-run bomb off righty reliever Jonathan Bowlan. So that’s 13 home runs for Mead in 231 PAs. His 18.7% K rate and 11.7% BB rate are a few points above the league average. Yes, his .225 batting average isn’t pretty, but his PLV profile is superlative. He’s making excellent swing decisions (117 DV), avoiding strikeouts (118 Whiff Avoid), and his over-the-fence pop is legit (114 HR Power). Not many people would have guessed it back in March, but Mead has settled in a dream spot, hitting behind James Wood, and looks terrific.
Jasson Domínguez (NYY) – OF (Yahoo – 15%)
Domínguez’s splits against left-handers have been a talking point for a while; he had a 63 wRC+ against them last year. If you happen to watch him, you might have noticed he has a sort of weird helicopter follow-through while swinging right-handed. It’s not the prettiest-looking swing. But, guess what? It worked last night as he spoiled Skubal’s line last night with a go-ahead, two-run shot in the sixth. As a 23-year-old switch-hitter with barely 600 PAs, it’s anyone’s guess as to where his true-talent level lies, but he has a big opportunity in front of him, thanks to a banged-up Yankee outfield. Having also stolen four bases in his last five games, he is starting to make noise, and if he comes anywhere close to his billing as a former top prospect, he could give your squad a jolt over the next couple of weeks, and maybe even longer. And by the way, Goldy had the other two longballs that Skubal gave up. Did you add him yet?
Yahoo and ESPN Most Added Players
Mitch Bratt is the latest pitching prospect to get the call. Matt Heckman highlighted the 22-year-old southpaw this past offseason in his Unsung 2025 Prospect Breakouts article. The nuts and bolts: he’s a control-over-stuff guy with a deep arsenal. He posted a 17.6% K-BB across 11 starts with Triple-A Reno before last night’s debut, during which he completed three innings while holding the Cards to one earned run on two hits and two walks with three strikeouts (54 pitches). I think you’re safe to wait this one out a bit.
Nasim Nuñez plays second base and leads the league with 31 steals. I totally get adding him. Just know he has zero power while rocking a .228 xBA.
Shane Drohan entered last night’s tilt at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park sporting a 3.40 ERA and 1.17 WHIP across 47.2 IP (15 appearances; five starts). He’s ranked 80th on The List, far from must-roster territory. Still, the RP tag makes him neat for points leagues.
Dansby Swanson has gone nuclear over the last week or so. He took Kodai Senga deep and drove in four Tuesday night, and then blasted two more home runs in Game 1 of yesterday’s doubleheader, one of which included a three-run shot off Nolan McLean. Swanson is an alright grab, considering he went 24/20 last season; however, it also came with a drab .244/.300/.417 slash. Despite the recent barrage, his current .188/.293/.343 slash would make even Volpe blush. Temper expectations.
Caleb Durbin makes the list for the second consecutive day. The former Yankee farmhand has strung together some hits, but I echo Mitch Steinberg’s sentiments; I’d rather chase something a little more exciting, unless you’re in dire straits in a points league. He also dislocated his pinky in yesterday’s game. Ouch. Hopefully, he’s alright.
I’m much more interested in the guy just below Durbin: Daulton Varsho; he’s slashing a steady .262/.335/.440 with seven dingers, six steals, and a much–improved K rate.
Jac Caglianone has 14 home runs in just under 300 PAs and an .837 OPS in his second taste of the bigs. Yeah, you don’t need me to tell you that he ought to be saved from any waiver wire he happens to be on.
Gage Jump earned the spotlight in Monday’s column after a brilliant outing against the Angels. Nick adored the outing in his SP Roundup; it was quintessential BSB. He had another good outing last night, piling up nine strikeouts while holding the Giants scoreless through five. His home ballpark isn’t an easy place to pitch, but the rookie left-hander has jumped up the List to 43rd, making him an easy add in just about every league.
Alas, I can’t say the same about Martín Pérez, despite his carrying a pristine 2.78 ERA and 1.07 WHIP into last night’s start against the Padres. It’s a classic Vargas Rule.
Ryan Weathers got the job done last night against the Tigers and left the game after six innings, having outdueled Skubal 4-2. The outing dropped his ERA to 3.95. He has been bitten by gopheritis at times, but his 20.5% K-BB is far too good to leave on the wire. He’s 42nd on The List.
Troy Melton owns a 2.56 ERA and 0.95 WHIP through five starts. His 8% K-BB makes it feel like he’s walking a tightrope. Still, he should probably be rostered in most leagues in anticipation of his next start Thursday at home against the Astros. He’s 57th on The List.
Speculative Players to Add
Brandon Sproat (MIL) – SP (Yahoo – 6%)
If you’ve followed the SP Roundup, you may have filed away Sproat in the back of your brain despite his alarmingly ugly ERA and WHIP. Well, he finally delivered a gorgeous outing in Cincinnati on Tuesday, holding the Reds to just one hit over six innings, whilst piling up a career-high ten strikeouts. He’s got good stuff. Maybe this is the start of him turning the corner?
Streaming Pitchers
Be sure to check Nick’s daily SP streamers article.
Today:
Ian Seymour (TBR) – SP (Yahoo – 7%) vs KC
Seymour didn’t have the prettiest-looking line against the Nats his last time on the mound, but he, more importantly, tossed a season-high 81 pitches. The Royals, meanwhile, have struggled to score and will be without Maikel Garcia and possibly Witt, too. I like that Seymour will have the platoon advantage against two of the Royals’ best hitters: Jensen and Cags.
Tomorrow:
Joey Cantillo (CLE) – SP (Yahoo – 28%) vs SEA
Cantillo was brilliant against the Astros in Houston last Saturday. How could you not want to give him a shot against a middling Mariners lineup at home?
Deep League Players to Watch
Endy Rodríguez (PIT) – C, 1B (Yahoo – 2%)
I’ve mentioned him before, but E-Rod the batter has continued to impress, slashing .263/.398/.447 through just under 100 PAs. His playing time could be a little murky, with Joey Bart returning a few days ago. Still, he’s given the Pirates something to think about. If you’re in a two-catcher league, make sure he’s not on the wire.
Esteury Ruiz (MIA) – OF (Yahoo – 2%)
The speed demon has tallied 14 steals in just 88 PAs. And, while he hasn’t played much, he’s also one home run shy from matching his career-high from three years ago, during which he also tallied a career-high 497 PAs with the A’s. This can’t be real, right? Right!?
