It’s been fun writing these waiver wire articles throughout the season, and I look forward to the next few months. This is the point of the season where some fantasy managers start sleeping at the wheel, which means it’s time for us to feast on the waiver wire. I’ve also seen some bizarre drops of struggling studs, and that’s something you need to keep an eye on as well. Saving your waiver wire priority or FAAB for those one or two terrible drops can be the difference in your season, so just be cautious with your FAAB going forward. With that in mind, let’s start by looking at the catchers for this week.
The stats and roster rates below are updated on 5/8. All rostership percentages are on Yahoo.
Feel free to comment here or reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel if you have any questions!
Also, check out my Streamers article dropping tomorrow.
CATCHERS
10/12 Team Adds
Moises Ballesteros (CHC, 43% Rostership) – I had Ballesteros as one of my streamers in my other article last week, and it’s hard to believe he’s still sitting on so many waiver wires. This catcher has been one of Chicago’s best sluggers this season, compiling a .280 AVG and .870 OPS. That’s not far off from his .394 OBP and .868 OPS last season, which is why the Cubs have stuck him in their two-hole. That’s an optimal lineup spot, especially since he faces the backend of the Braves rotation and the woeful White Sox pitching staff this week.
% of Recommended FAAB: 5%
QUICK HITS: Ryan Jeffers (MIN, 39% Rostership), Carter Jensen (KC, 35% Rostership), Drew Dingler (DET, 51% Rostership)
Deep League Adds
Samuel Basallo (BAL, 28% Rostership) – Basallo was actually in the first article I wrote this season, and he continues to be overlooked on waiver wires. It feels like people don’t realize that Basallo and Adley Rutschman are in the lineup together every day, with Basallo hitting fifth nearly every game. That alone is a massive bump from a fantasy value standpoint, but Basallo has been bashing baseballs recently. He has a .378 OBP and .981 OPS across his last 20 outings while facing a Washington team this week that ranks 28th in ERA and 26th in WHIP.
% of Recommended FAAB: 2-3%
QUICK HITS: JT Realmuto (PHI, 16% Rostership), Gabriel Moreno (ARI, 10% Rostership), Joe Mack (MIA, 2% Rostership)
INFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Casey Schmitt (1B/2B/3B, SF, 39% Rostership) – I gotta be honest for a sec. I hate picking up San Fran bats off the waiver wire or even drafting them, but it’s impossible to overlook what Schmitt is doing right now. Schmitt has been hitting second every day for the Giants, generating a .296 AVG and .883 OPS so far this season. His recent form is even more ridiculous, registering a 1.086 OPS across his last 11 outings. That’s quite the run, especially since Schmitt is eligible at three positions on Yahoo. The schedule is the icing on the cake because San Fran is one of the only teams with seven games this week, including a series in Sacramento against an atrocious A’s pitching staff.
% of Recommended FAAB: 2-3%
QUICK HITS: Brooks Lee (1B/2B/3B, MIN, 28% Rostership), Andrew Vaughn (1B, MIL, 32% Rostership), Masyn Winn (SS, STL, 42% Rostership)
Deep League Adds
Sam Antonacci (2B/3B/OF, CWS, 11% Rostership) – There was some hype surrounding Antonacci when he was promoted to the White Sox, but he was relegated to most waiver wires after a nightmarish opening two weeks. It’s too early to give up on a guy like this because Antonacci had a .444 OBP and .861 OPS throughout his minor league career. That on-base ability looks even better since he had 60 steals across 153 career games. The stuff is there for Antonacci to be a 50-steal player at this level, and we love what we’re seeing right now. He has a .455 OBP and .889 OPS across his last eight outings while being moved up to the leadoff spot earlier this week.
% of Recommended FAAB: 3%
QUICK HITS: Nasim Nunez (WAS, SS, 11% Rostership), Jake Burger (TEX, 1B, 18% Rostership), Nathaniel Lowe (WAS, 1B, 8% Rostership)
OUTFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Jorge Soler (LAA, 49% Rostership) – It feels like Soler has been one of the best sluggers in baseball throughout his career, and fantasy managers just don’t care. He’s sitting on numerous waiver wires right now, despite posting a .342 OBP and .817 OPS. We’ve seen similar things from Soler over recent years, accruing a .333 OBP and .812 OPS between 2019 and 2024. Los Angeles always sticks him in their cleanup spot because of those slugging numbers, and he’s also got a .362 OBP and .912 OPS across the last two weeks.
% of Recommended FAAB: 2-3%
QUICK HITS: Addison Barger (TOR, 29% Rostership), Adolis Garcia (PHI, 33% Rostership), Trent Grisham (NYY, 41% Rostership)
Deep League Adds
Brandon Marsh (PHI, 24% Rostership) – Marsh was another player in my streamers article last week, and we’re flirting with must-roster territory with the way he’s playing right now. The season-long numbers speak for themselves, with Marsh maintaining a .333 AVG and .869 OPS. He’s also got a hit in 13 of his last 14 fixtures, accumulating a .431 AVG and 1.102 OPS in that span. The Phillies have moved him up to fifth and sixth during that hot stretch and have made him an everyday player, even against left-handers. Good luck finding numbers like those on the waiver wire, especially since the Phillies are quickly turning their seasons around.
% of Recommended FAAB: 1%
QUICK HITS: Matt Wallner (MIN, 6% Rostership), Trevor Larnach (MIN, 3% Rostership), JJ Bleday (CIN, 7% Rostership)
STARTING PITCHERS
10/12 Team Adds
Noah Schultz (CWS, 51% Rostership) – It’s been a tough opening month for this top-rated prospect, but having him sent back to some waiver wires is a blessing in disguise. This 6’9″ southpaw has the stuff to be one of the best pitchers in baseball, producing a 1.29 ERA and 0.43 WHIP at Triple-A before his call-up. He also had 254 strikeouts across 207 innings throughout his minor league career. A seven-run shelling in his most recent start had fantasy managers running for the hills, but he had a 2.53 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in four starts before that. Our favorite part about this is that he has a home matchup against KC, with the Royals ranked 21st in xwOBA and 24th in runs scored.
% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%
Joey Cantillo (CLE, 36% Rostership) – There are a handful of organizations that seem to have great pitching no matter who’s out there, and Cleveland is one of them. They’ve found something with Cantillo, who’s collected a 3.27 ERA and 1.29 WHIP since the start of last season. One of his biggest assets has been his ability to avoid blow-ups, allowing four runs or fewer in 20 of 21 starts during that span. That’s quite the run of consistency, but we didn’t even discuss this week’s matchups. Cantillo has two home starts against the Angels and Reds, with LA ranked dead-last in K rate. Not to mention, Cantillo has a 3.48 ERA and 1.21 WHIP at home since the start of last year.
% of Recommended FAAB: 3%
QUICK HITS: Jeffrey Springs (ATH, 39% Rostership), Reid Detmers (LAA, 42% Rostership), Bailey Ober (MIN, 39% Rostership)
Deep League Adds
Jared Jones (PIT, 28% Rostership) – Jones has been rehabbing for close to a year, but this Pirates pitcher is nearing a return. That makes him a worthy speculative add off the waiver wire because he showcased some nasty stuff before tearing his UCL. Jones had a 4.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 9.8 K/9 rate through his rookie season. He’s also gotten off to a nice start during his rehab assignment, amassing a 1.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 10.5 K/9 rate through two starts. That means he should be back in about 2-3 weeks, and he’s a worthy stash on your IL to see what he looks like when he eventually returns.
% of Recommended FAAB: 3%
Brady Singer (CIN, 18% Rostership) – This is a risky recommendation, but Singer has been a reliable option at times in the past. He had a 3.86 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over the last two seasons, despite posting a 5.63 ERA and 1.64 WHIP this year. The recent form makes him a difficult player to trust, but we love this two-start schedule. Singer has starts against the Nationals and Guardians. Washington is due for some regression, as they’re 16th in xwOBA, while Cleveland ranks 23rd in OBP and 24th in wOBA. Singer should be able to rack up 10 strikeouts in this two-start week and could be a sneaky pick to provide some decent peripherals as well, since his 4.58 xFIP indicates some positive regression.
% of Recommended FAAB: 1%
QUICK HITS: Robby Snelling (MIA, 21% Rostership), Christian Scott (NYM, 6% Rostership), Peter Lambert (HOU, 10% Rostership)
RELIEVERS
10/12 Team Adds
Jacob Latz (TEX, 31% Rostership) – I actually thought this was Jakob Junis’ job a few weeks ago, but it looks like Latz now. This lefty has been the Rangers best reliever this season, registering a 0.96 ERA and 0.48 WHIP. Those absurd averages have led to Latz picking up three saves over his last four fixtures.
% of Recommended FAAB: 5-10%
QUICK HITS: Lucas Erceg (KC, 58% Rostership), Jack Perkins (ATH, 28% Rostership)
Deep League Adds
Rico Garcia (BAL, 24% Rostership) – Garcia quietly looks like one of the best relievers in baseball. He’s been the setup man in Baltimore all year, tallying a 0.53 ERA, 0.41 WHIP and 10.1 K/9 rate. The most important variable is that Ryan Helselsy is on the IL, which led to Garcia picking up the O’s first two saves since that injury.
% of Recommended FAAB: 5-10%
QUICK HITS: Tony Santillan (CIN, 24% Rostership), Kirby Yates (LAA, 11% Rostership)
