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
Payton Tolle (BOS) SP (31% rostered on Yahoo)
It’s that time when we start to see an influx of young pitchers. Last Thursday, we highlighted Jonah Tong. A day later, we saw Payton Tolle, and I don’t know how else to say it, but he just looks like a lot of fun. You mean, as in to hang out with? Well, sure, I would be stunned if he weren’t a good dude. Look at that stache, cmon! My idiocy aside, Tolle has a really awesome profile. He is a 6’6″ lefty who sits mid-90s with seven and a half feet of extension; the latter, as Nick discussed in his SP Roundup, is unicorn territory for a lefty. His heater’s 1.4 HAVAA is really impressive too. Of course, everything isn’t sunshine and rainbows. His secondaries aren’t perfect, and the Red Sox are deploying him cautiously, giving him five days between starts while leaving him on a strict pitch count (he tossed 84 in his debut). You know the drill with young pitchers. Still, he has a ton of upside, demonstrated by his arrival barely a year after being drafted out of TCU. That speaks volumes, and so does the 30.2% K-BB he posted in the minors. Be still, my beating heart.
Trent Grisham (NYY) OF (44% rostered on Yahoo)
Grisham blasted a grand slam into the Crawford boxes last night off Framber Valdez. It’s a snapshot of what has, for my money at least, been one of the most unexpected breakouts anyone could’ve scripted. He entered 2025, hitting .191 with an 87 wRC+ over his previous three seasons (1,288 PAs). He entered last night, hitting .241 with a 134 wRC+; the latter is second-best on the Yankees. And, oh yeah, he is now five home runs from doubling his previous career-high of 17. Just like everyone expected. His 122 DV+, 112 Power+, and 120 Process+ paints a glorious picture.
Shawn Armstrong (TEX) RP (15% rostered on Yahoo)
Armstrong has pitched well, holding a 2.51 ERA and 0.84 WHIP through 61 IP. On Monday, he nailed a 7-5 ten-inning win over the D’Backs by getting Ketel Marte to bounce a groundball to short. That gives Armstrong ten saves, and each of the Rangers’ past three. As Rick Graham mentioned in Tuesday’s Closing Time, he looks to have nudged ahead in Bruce Bochy’s bullpen.
Jac Caglianone (KC) 1B/OF (21% rostered on Yahoo)
Caglianone returned from the IL on Monday and sat against the lefty Mitch Farris last night. However, he should get a chance to get the ball rolling after a few quiet weeks. Last year’s sixth overall pick slashed .357/.426/.705 across 28 games with Triple-A Omaha, hinting at his astronomical upside if/when he figures out big league pitching. Maybe it’s wrong to list him as a priority add, given his struggles during his first stint, but this dude absolutely has the talent to swing leagues down the final few weeks.
Yahoo and ESPN Most Added Players
Luis Severino returned last night following about a four-week hiatus on the IL with a strained left oblique and did Yeoman’s work, holding the Cards off the scoreboard through five. Still, his 9.8% K-BB leaves a lot to be desired.
I mentioned Jeremiah Jackson as a deep league guy to watch last Thursday, and, hey, what do you know? His roster rate has climbed from 4% to 16% after hitting his second, third, and fourth home runs, and he’s riding a 13-game hitting streak. He has hit second every day in front of Gunnar Henderson. The 25-year-old righty is riding a .429 BABIP, so fortune has been on his side, and he does not walk much at all, judging by his minor league numbers. He is nowhere near a big-time prospect. Still, it’s not a bad spot to chase.
Forgive me, but part of me wonders how many people would notice Blaze Alexander if his name were Joe or Steve. Anyway, he has been reasonably productive, hitting .237 with seven home runs and three stolen bases across 180 PAs. His eligibility is neat (12 starts at 2B and 34 at 3B), but his 32.2% K rate is a big, red flag.
It feels as if Michael Lorenzen is a popular addition every Thursday. Hey, I get it, points leaguers need a SPARP. Lorenzen hosted the Angels last night. Keep on churning that roster spot.
The Rangers’ lineup looks pretty ragged sans Corey Seager’s appendectomy. Nabil Crismatt, though, has been pretty dicey with a 9.2% K-BB through 14.2 IP (two starts). He is a SPARP, though, so I get it for those in points leagues. I’m not sure he’ll get another turn, so feel free to let him loose if you picked him up last night.
Not much has changed on ESPN since Mitch Steinberg’s column yesterday. Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong are two hot-shot rookies worth chasing, especially McLean, who is 43rd on The List. McLean faced the Tigers last night, and Tong will see the Reds at the GABP on Friday.
Mark Vientos sank many fantasy teams, but he has come around in August, and his rolling Power+ is a sight to behold.
Mitch highlighted Luis Morales yesterday, and he was also Nick’s lead for Sunday’s roundup. He’s another young call-up who has shown good stuff, but his command and control are suspect; he had a 9.6% walk rate across 14 starts in the minors this season. Regardless, he has had great results, particularly in his last three turns, and is well worth adding.
He is nowhere near the force he used to be, but future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw has a 3.06 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP through 17 starts. The career-low 16.3% K rate portends worse results lie ahead. And, we got them last night against the Pirates, no less. Still, there’s no reason he can’t pick up a few more wins while riding off into the sunset.
Speculative Adds
Kyle Harrison (BOS) SP (5% rostered on Yahoo)
Kyle Harrison will start on Wednesday, with Tolle’s second outing being pushed to Friday. Harrison was a part of the blockbuster that sent Rafael Devers to San Francisco. I have no idea if this is temporary (Dustin May was shifted to the pen), but Harrison was a good prospect for the Giants and worth a gamble if you have a roster move to burn. Again, this could easily not work out, but I’m a little interested to see how/if Harrison has developed since moving to Boston.
Edit: Welp, so much for that! Cross Harrison off your list, since he’s no longer starting Today.
Streaming Pitchers
Be sure to check Nick’s daily SP streaming article.
Taj Bradley (MIN), SP (22% rostered on Yahoo)
Firstly, I’m obliged to report that PL Bot likes Bradley’s counterpart, Shane Smith (15% rostered on Yahoo!), for Thursday’s series finale in Minnesota. But I’ll go with Bradley, who recently admitted that he never read a hitter’s scouting report. I admire his candor if it’s true, but I have difficulty believing it. It’s probably white noise. Anyway, Bradley has been mostly a disaster this season with a 4.82 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. However, he had a pretty good start his last time out against the Padres. It could be a mirage, but his fastball showed extra giddy up, and he threw it for strikes at a 68.6% clip. Again, Bradley has given you more reason to doubt than trust him, but as a former top prospect, there is perhaps a small chance he has taken a step in the right direction. Well, worth a shot against the White Sox, no?
Deep League Players to Watch
Romy González (BOS) 1B, 2B, 3B, SS (9% rostered on Yahoo)
González had previously been stuck in a weak-side platoon. However, that might be changing with him having been in the lineup six games in a row, while riding a six-game hitting streak. He has been productive in a rotational role, slashing .299/.337/.494 across 270 PAs. His 118 Power+ has me thinking he could make some noise if he is indeed shaking the platoon role.
For more deep leaguers, check Ben Rosener’s Deep League Waiver Wire column every Thursday and Saturday.
