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
A.J. Ewing (NYM) – 2B, OF (Yahoo – 22%)
Ewing has risen like a rocket over the past year or so. Last season, he dominated High-A and Double-A, posting a 147 wRC+ with 70 stolen bases. He began 2026 in Double-A Binghamton, where he posted a 183 wRC+ across 18 games. His subsequent stint with Triple-A Syracuse lasted all of a dozen games before the Mets called him on May 12th. And now, 53 games later, he has emerged as the Mets’ leadoff hitter. Power was not part of his prospect profile; he hit just three home runs last year. But last night’s jolt against former Met Seth Lugo was already his ninth of the year (he hit two in the minors). Given his trajectory, it wouldn’t be too shocking that the 21-year-old has started to lean into a little more power. But even if it’s simply an aberration, Ewing’s terrific speed and .360 OBP should make him a big fantasy asset while hitting in front of Soto and Bichette. His only blemish thus far is that he has been caught stealing six times on 15 attempts, and that feels very much like nitpicking.
Jared Jones (PIT) – SP (Yahoo – 23%)
Not surprisingly, Jones has endured ups and downs since returning from TJ recovery on May 29th; he entered last night’s game against the Braves with a 5.28 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. However, he pitched brilliantly last night; in fact, he was flawless through six before Don Kelly decided to go to his bullpen. Yes, the Pirates have Jones on a tight leash (he threw 77 pitches last night), but simply put, he is an electric talent with the potential to be a top-30 pitcher. Make sure he isn’t on your wire.
Logan Henderson (MIL) – SP (Yahoo – 47%)
Henderson was the cat’s meow earlier this year, holding a 2.74 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 26.6% K-BB through seven starts before hitting the IL with a strained back. But he has since fully recovered and will start today’s series finale against the Cardinals. He tossed 68 pitches during his final rehab start, so he might not pay immediate dividends, but his pitch quality metrics (5.29 PLV) corroborate his early success. He is 36th on The List for good reason. Make sure he wasn’t dropped.
Jake Bennett (BOS) – SP (Yahoo – 47%)
Boston’s 25-year-old rookie left-hander bottled up the Trout-less Angels on July 3rd, and last night, he did something perhaps a touch more impressive by holding the White Sox scoreless through seven. After last night’s gem, Bennett’s looking pretty hot with a 2.64 ERA and 0.94 WHIP through eight starts. His 19.7% K rate isn’t great, but his combination of a 98th-percentile walk rate and a 99th-percentile chase rate is awfully intriguing. As Jack Foley recently discussed, he might not have his teammate Tolle’s big fastball, but he is doing at least one thing extraordinarily well, and the results are far too good to ignore.
Yahoo and ESPN Most Added Players
Dean Kremer had a 3.18 ERA and 0.88 WHIP through his first four starts, but the Cubs tagged him with four home runs last night. We can move along; school is not in session.
Tyler Tolbert tied an MLB record with his 12th consecutive hit Tuesday night. But, alas, he went 0-for-3 last night. It was a fun story, but the 28-year-old’s extensive minor league track record suggests there are better players to chase on the wire.
Connor Prielipp started last night and did alright, holding an unimposing Guardians lineup to three earned runs across five innings while striking out six. I was bullish about Prielipp earlier in the year, but considering the results (5.00 ERA and 1.37 WHIP) and that he will face a limited workload in the second half (he has already just about matched his innings from last year and has had TJ twice), he is probably off the radar outside of dynasty leagues.
We’ve seen Spencer Arrighetti toss some gems before, but last night the Nationals reminded us that, at the end of the day, you’re never going to feel great about starting the Pasta Pirate. He’s 94th on The List.
Nick Gonzales has played well, slashing .311/ .368/ .394 across 356 PAs. But I wish his PLV profile were a little more exciting (100 Contact, 98 Power, 101 Process).
Rookie outfielder Cole Carrigg went hitless during last night’s 4-3 loss to the Dodgers. However, the 24-year-old switch-hitter has given the Rockies some depth in their lineup, hitting as high as third while slashing .307/.385/.580 across 105 PAs. He should be particularly coveted in category formats, given that he swiped 30 bases across 57 games with Triple-A Albuquerque before his promotion one month ago.
Troy Melton was excellent yet again last night, earning his sixth win while striking out a career-best nine batters. The 25-year-old righty from San Diego State will carry a 1.82 ERA and 0.84 WHIP into the second half. I’m guessing his ESPN roster percentage will climb far past the current mark of 49.6%. He’s a SPRP! He’s 42nd on The List.
Speculative Players to Add
Luke Weaver (NYM) – RP (Yahoo – 13%)
Devin Williams blew Tuesday’s game in Atlanta by allowing a game-tying, two-run tater to Matt Olson. The former Brewer has gotten the job done for the most part; that was just his second blown save of the year. However, his 4.85 ERA and 1.65 WHIP aren’t ideal. Weaver, on the other hand, has earned far better results, reflected by his 1.89 ERA and 0.84 WHIP across 38 IP. He earned the save Tuesday night in extras and could be worth adding just to see what happens.
Streaming Pitchers
Be sure to check Nick’s daily SP streamers article.
Today:
Jack Perkins (OAK) – SP, RP (Yahoo – 5%) at DET
Perkins’ 6.75 ERA and 1.45 WHIP are hideous, but he has shown some bat-missing ability with a 27.9% K rate. And he won’t have to contend with the wonkiness of his home ballparks. The Tigers, meanwhile, are an okay-not-great offense (21st in runs scored, 99 wRC+).
Tomorrow:
Tyler Mahle (SF) – SP (Yahoo – 4%) vs COL
Like Perkins, Mahle carries a bruised and battered ERA. But he gets Friday’s matchup du jour with the Road Rockies at Oracle Park.
Deep League Players to Watch
Lane Thomas (KC) – OF (Yahoo – 1%)
Kyle Isbel’s stint on the IL with a torn plantar fascia in his left foot has afforded Lane Thomas an extended opportunity with the Royals, and he has produced well lately, slashing .289/.372/.526 over his previous 10 ballgames. The 30-year-old righty doesn’t offer breakout potential, but we’ve seen him be a useful fantasy option before, namely in 2023 when he hit 28 home runs and swiped 20 bases with the Nats.
