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
Jonah Tong (NYM) SP (21% rostered on Yahoo)
You can’t accuse me of burying the lede! Jonah Tong, the Mets’ fourth-ranked prospect via Pipeline, is getting the call. Tong more or less skipped Triple-A, having had just two starts with Syracuse. However, his numbers across 20 starts with Double-A Binghamton were pretty good, as you might have guessed: a 1.59 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and a 29.7% K-BB. And yes, he has the most strikeouts in the minor leagues. That sounds pretty good to me.
Cam Schlittler (NYY) SP (52% rostered on Yahoo)
Schlittler, a seventh-round pick by the Yankees out of Northeastern three years ago, throws hard, really hard. How hard? I’m glad you asked. According to Savant, his average fastball velocity of 97.9 is in the top 5th percentile. Not bad. Schlittler dominated the Nats Monday night, striking out eight while earning his second win and completing six innings for the second consecutive start. He flirted with a perfect game into the seventh against the Rays last Wednesday, the key being good command of his cutter and curveball.
Can he do it, start in and start out? I’m not entirely convinced. I still think his command is a little scattershot, for lack of a better word. We saw that against the Nats, with his cutter and curveball falling below a 50% zone rate. So, yeah, he’s not perfect. Regardless, his fastball is obscenely good, not quite as good as fellow rookie Jay-Mis, but it gives him a margin for error that most pitchers simply don’t have. Through eight starts, Schlittler owns a 2.76 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and a 15.4% K-BB. Yeah, I know, the walk rate is a little higher than you’d like, but his upside shouldn’t be overlooked.
Kyle Bradish (BAL) SP (26% rostered on Yahoo)
The last time we saw Bradish, he had a 2.75 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 23.3% K-BB across eight starts. The season before that, 2023, he posted a 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and an 18.5% K-BB across 30 starts. This is to say, he was awfully good in case you had forgotten. His return from Tommy John surgery last night couldn’t have gone better. Yes, it could’ve. He got saddled with loss! Let’s not be greedy. Ten strikeouts across six innings against the Red Sox seemed like a pretty decent start. If you need pitching help, make sure he is not on the wire.
Drake Baldwin (ATL) C (22% rostered on Yahoo)
Last night was unexpected, with Baldwin riding the pine against Sandy Alcantara. Nevertheless, he was ready when Brian Snitker called his number, punching a two-run single to right off lefty reliever Josh Simpson. Yeah, how about that? Who says he can’t hit lefties? Short sample, sure, but he has managed a 136 wRC+ vs. lefties. Sean Murphy, meanwhile, has faded, his average dipping to .209 along with a 106 wRC+. Baldwin is hitting .279 with 14 home runs and a 124 wRC+, the latter being fourth-best among qualified catchers. With Atlanta playing out the string, you’d figure getting Baldwin at-bats to chase the RoY would be a priority, but what do I know?
(Edit: On second thought, Baldwin probably sat because Wednesday (today) is an afternoon game. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get some DH at-bats down the stretch, perhaps at Ozuna’s expense.)
Giancarlo Stanton (NYY) OF (54% rostered on Yahoo)
Another friendly reminder for shallow-leaguers. The 2017 NL MVP is having an unbelievable renaissance. Last night, he swatted his 17th home run and plated five more runs. He is hitting .313 with a 1.051 OPS. Just stay healthy.
Gabriel Moreno (ARI) C (23% rostered on Yahoo)
As much as I adore Baldwin, Moreno might not be that far off. Arizona’s top backstop returned from the IL on Friday and has since gone yard twice. The 25-year-old righty is slashing .279/.332/.447 with seven home runs across 205 PAs, showing why he was a huge prospect with the Jays a few years ago. His PLV metrics, including a 106 Contact Ability+, 107 Power+, and a 112 Process+, are what you like to see.
Yahoo and ESPN Most Added Players
Atlanta’s No.4 prospect via MLB Pipeline, Hurston Waldrep, owns a 0.73 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and a 20.3% K-BB through 24.2 IP (four appearances; three starts). He dominated the White Sox last Wednesday and faced the Marlins last night. He relies on a splitter, which can be a volatile pitch. Still, the results have been too good to ignore. He is 66th on The List and will get a much tougher test against the Cubs at Wrigley Field early next week.
Shane Bieber gave the Jays just about everything they could have hoped for in his debut, holding the Marlins to one earned run on two hits across six innings with nine punchouts. Bieber’s fastball has always been a weakness, and that’s not going to change, but we saw the precise command/control with his secondary pitches that made him a mainstay with Cleveland. No, it wasn’t a result of the Marlins being the Marlins. He is 49th on The List and needs to be rostered everywhere.
Met rookie Nolan McLean posted a 2.78 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a 16.4% K-BB across 87.1 IP (16 appearances; 13 starts) with Triple-A Syracuse before being promoted to Queens two Saturdays ago. He most recently stifled the Braves in Atlanta last Friday and will face the Phillies at Citi Field today. He’s 43rd on The List.
I’ll admit, I wanted to write off Jurickson Profar after the half-season suspension, and because he is a 32-year-old coming off what was a career-best 139 wRC+ with the Padres last season. And, would you believe it? He’s made me look like a moron. Don’t worry, he won’t be the last; we’ve got five weeks left! Profar’s 86 Power+ is pretty much the only weakness in his PLV profile. He is slashing .261/.364/.473 with ten home runs and eight stolen bases as Atlanta’s leadoff hitter.
Parker Messick debuted last Wednesday and did well, holding the D-Backs to one earned run on seven hits and a walk with six strikeouts over six and two-thirds innings. The 24-year-old left-hander posted a 3.47 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and an 18.8% K-BB across 20 starts with Triple-A Columbus before the Guardians came calling. Judging by Nick’s SP Roundup, Messick could be a prototypical deceptive lefty, but there doesn’t seem to be anything overwhelming that screams must-roster in his profile. For now, I’m viewing him as an interesting streamer to take a flier on without the same ceiling as some of the other hotshot prospects we’ve seen lately.
Oh, hey, speaking of a not overwhelming but completely serviceable left-hander, there is Martín Pérez. The oft-traveled journeyman did well in his return to the rotation, blanking the Braves across five and a third innings last Wednesday. He should have a spot the rest of the way with Cannon and Burke being sent down. We know what to expect from Pérez; he can be a serviceable streamer, but at the same time, the supporting cast in Chicago isn’t going to give him much help.
Jared Triolo is on a seven-game hitting streak, including consecutive homers against the Rockies this weekend. Hmm, a couple of big games against the Rockies, huh? You don’t say. Yes, indeed, Captain Hindsight, would you believe it? In all seriousness, Triolo hasn’t shown any reason to think he will keep this going; he slashed .216/.296/.315 across 446 PAs last season. A deep-league add, sure, but there probably isn’t much to see here.
Michael Lorenzen was a SPARP streamer last night and allowed four runs across five innings in a no-decision against the White Sox. Blegh.
Speculative Adds
Jac Caglianone (KC) 1B/OF (21% rostered on Yahoo)
Poor swing decisions hindered Caglianone during his brief stint before hurting his hamstring. Alas, big league pitching is tough. However, he has slashed .388/.444/.714 across 11 games in Triple-A during his rehab stint. Maybe he doesn’t pan out this year, but he absolutely has the talent worth stashing if you have an open IL spot.
Riley O’Brien (STL) RP (3% rostered on Yahoo)
The closing situation in St. Louis remains unsettled, but recent usage indicates Riley O’Brien (1.73 ERA and 1.16 WHIP) should be on your radar if you’re hunting for saves; he relieved JoJo Romero in the eighth inning Monday, blew the save, but got the Win.
Streaming Pitchers
Be sure to check Nick’s daily SP streaming article.
Jason Alexander (HOU), SP (19% rostered on Yahoo)
Jason Alexander has provided points leaguers in need of a SPARP with a surprising run of relevancy. But one glance at his 8.9% K-BB is all you need to know. It isn’t going to last. Alas, the ocean called, and they are running out of shrimp. Still, why not try it one more time against the Rockies at home?
Deep League Players to Watch
Jeremiah Jackson (BAL) SS, OF (4% rostered on Yahoo)
Jackson, a 25-year-old whom the Angels drafted in the second round seven summers ago, has hit second for the Orioles in each of their last six games. He is slashing .324/.342/.451 across 73 PAs. He had a pretty decent time in Triple-A Norfolk before being promoted on July 31st, hitting .313 with a 134 wRC+, 11 home runs, and nine steals in 40 games. He doesn’t walk much, though, so keep that in mind if you’re in an OBP league. He has played 16 games in RF, three at DH, and two at 3B. And yet for some reason, he has SS eligibility on Yahoo, go figure.
For more deep leaguers, check Ben Rosener’s Deep League Waiver Wire column every Thursday and Saturday.
