The injuries have been out of control, but that’s the best time to scavenge the waiver wire. There are new players popping up every week due to these injuries, and stumbling into those gems can change your fantasy season. Discovering those diamonds in the rough off the waiver wire is one of my favorite aspects of fantasy baseball, and it’s why I traditionally love to play in daily lineup leagues. There’s something thrilling about searching that waiver wire every day and taking some risks, whether they work or not!

The stats and roster rates below are updated on 6/4. 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

Ryan Jeffers (MIN, 34% Rostership) – Players coming off the IL will be a theme in this article. Jeffers is the first of a few because it was bizarre to see him relegated to so many waiver wires after his IL placement. We say that because Jeffers was one of the best catchers in baseball before that hand injury. He had a .408 OBP and .949 OPS before suffering that injury while hitting in the heart of Minnesota’s lineup. This is the time you have to go pick him up, though, because everyone will want him once we get more updates about his status. The most recent update says Jeffers is back to throwing and is about three weeks out from a possible return. If you have an IL slot available or are in need of a catcher, pick up Jeffers off your waiver wire!

% of Recommended FAAB: 1-3%

QUICK HITS: Gabriel Moreno (ARI, 37% Rostership), Carter Jensen (KC, 38% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Francisco Alvarez (NYM, 15% Rostership) – We may as well include another IL guy for the other catcher spot! The difference with Alvarez is that he’s expected to be back with the Mets sometime next week. He started his rehab assignment on Tuesday, tallying two doubles in his debut. That’s the form we wanted to see, especially since Alvarez has a .763 OPS since the start of last season. That’s not something you see on the waiver wire from many catchers, and he needs to be rostered in every deep league out there.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

QUICK HITS: Alejandro Kirk (TOR, 24% Rostership), Endy Rodriguez (PIT, 1% Rostership), Mickey Gasper (BOS, 2% Rostership)

INFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Spencer Steer (1B/2B/OF, CIN, 49% Rostership) – People who haven’t been playing fantasy for long probably don’t remember that Steer used to be a must-roster player. This guy had 43 homers and 40 steals between 2023 and 2024 while flirting with an .800 OPS. The steals aren’t so much an asset anymore, but Steer is hitting the ball better than at any point in his career. Steer has a .322 AVG, .397 OBP and .901 OPS across his last 33 fixtures. He also has a .425 OBP and .939 OPS over the last three weeks and needs to be picked off of every waiver wire until he cools off. Picking up eligibility at second base only adds to his intrigue because that’s one of the weakest positions in fantasy.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%

QUICK HITS: Jake Bauers (1B/OF, MIL, 46% Rostership), Brooks Lee (1B/2B/3B, MIN, 38% Rostership), Travis Bazzana (2B, CLE, 51% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Vaughn Grissom (1B/2B/3B, LAA, 3% Rostership) – There’s a reason why Grissom was once one of the top prospects in baseball. This guy had a .291 AVG and .793 OPS in his rookie season with Atlanta in 2022 after accruing a .391 OBP and .848 OPS throughout his minor league career. Grissom also had 51 homers and 78 steals across 489 minor league games, so the potential is there to be a 20-20 player. We’ve seen glimpses of that since he joined the Angels, with Grissom generating a .405 OBP and 1.016 OPS across his last nine games. That’s why they’ve been hitting him third or fourth recently, and having that type of lineup spot from a waiver-wire player is a godsend, especially with the multi-position eligibility.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

QUICK HITS: JP Crawford (SEA, SS, 16% Rostership), Bryce Eldridge (SF, 1B, 9% Rostership), Spencer Horwitz (PIT, 1B, 21% Rostership)

OUTFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Luke Raley (SEA, 32% Rostership) – This is an exciting week to recommend Raley. This guy has been one of the Mariners’ best bats this season, posting a .261 AVG, .547 SLG, and .847 OPS. Those are absurd averages to find on the waiver wire, and it looks even better since Raley is batting fourth or fifth every day. The schedule might be the best part of this recommendation, though, because Seattle is one of two teams that have seven games this week. They couldn’t be better matchups either, as they face the Orioles and Nationals in this seven-game week.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1-3%

QUICK HITS: Brandon Marsh (PHI, 38% Rostership), Carson Benge (NYM, 32% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Jasson Dominguez (NYY, 9% Rostership) – Let’s keep the IL guys rolling with Dominguez. What’s sad about this one is that we’re only recommending Dominguez because of Aaron Judge’s injury. Seeing a superstar sidelined for a lengthy absence is unfortunate, but it makes Dominguez a phenomenal pickup off the waiver wire. People are also sleeping on this guy because he’s on the IL, but he’s on a rehab assignment and should be back next week. Dmoniguez has a .415 OBP and .893 OPS at Triple-A this year after posting a .381 OBP and .836 OPS at the minors since 2022. What’s most important is that he’ll have to play every day since Judge is out, and that’s the opportunity fans have been waiting to see since Dominguez had a .980 OPS in a shortened rookie season.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1-3%

QUICK HITS: Jung-Ho Lee (SF, 16% Rostership), Tyler Johnston (COL, 9% Rostership), Heriberto Hernandez (MIA, 1% Rostership)

STARTING PITCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Shane Baz (BAL, 53% Rostership) – Injuries have derailed Baz’s career, but fantasy managers forget just how highly touted this guy was at one point. Baz had a 3.38 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in his first three seasons with Tampa after totaling a 3.09 ERA and 1.22 WHIP throughout his minor league career. Things have fallen off the last two seasons, but Baz looks fully healthy for the first time since 2024. This righty has a 1.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 9.4 K/9 rate across his last three starts and has a wonderful matchup this week. Baz plays host to the Padres this week, with San Diego sitting dead-last in runs scored, wOBA and OPS.

% of Recommended FAAB: 5%

Dustin May (STL, 31% Rostership) – I had May in my streamers article last week, and he’s a must-add off every waiver wire right now. Something has changed since signing with St. Louis, sporting a 3.19 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across his last nine starts. The strikeout stuff is starting to turn around, too, with May picking up at least seven Ks in three of his last four starts. That makes him impossible to avoid this week because May has two starts against the Mets and Twins. New York ranks 29th in OPS and wOBA, while Minnesota ranks 20th in K rate and wOBA.

% of Recommended FAAB: 3-5%

QUICK HITS: Grant Holmes (ATL, 32% Rostership), Jack Flaherty (DET, 49% Rostership), Merrill Kelly (ARI, 55% Rostership), Bubba Chandler (PIT, 55% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Kodai Senga (NYM, 13% Rostership) – This is our final IL recommendation off the waiver wire. It’s hard to get excited about Senga after what we saw before his IL placement, but this guy is still worth considering in deeper formats. We’re talking about a pitcher who has a 3.39 career ERA and 1.29 WHIP. He also had a 3.09 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 12.3 K/9 rate through his first two starts this year before struggling the next three. We’ll trust the first 54 starts of this guy’s career over the last three because Citi Field is one of the best parks to pitch in. That makes Senga a nice speculative add, since he’s expected to return from the IL and the Mets have all their games at home next week!

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

Gage Jump (ATH, 12% Rostership) – This is one of the wildest names I’ve seen, which says something since I’ve covered EPL and NBA in the past. You have to perform with a name like this, and Jump has done just that. This lefty had a 3.73 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 32 percent K rate throughout his minor league career and then looked brilliant in his most recent start. Jump held the Cubs to just three hits and one run across seven innings in Wrigley Field in his second start at this level. That’s quite the performance, but it’s less surprising since he threw 11 scoreless innings in his last two starts at Triple-A this year. The best part is that he has a home matchup against Colorado this week. The Rockies rank last in every offensive road statistic over the last decade.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

QUICK HITS: Keider Montero (DET, 11% Rostership), Spencer Kolek (KC, 23% Rostership), Lucas Giolito (SD, 9% Rostership), Noah Cameron (KC, 22% Rostership)

RELIEVERS

10/12 Team Adds

Troy Melton (DET, 29% Rostership) – There aren’t many great closing options right now, so let’s find some RP-starters off the waiver wire. Melton broke out last season with a 2.76 ERA and 1.01 WHIP, but has backed it up with a 1.74 ERA and 0.87 WHIP so far this year. That’s only three starts this season, but those are incredible averages, nonetheless. All of those were also on the road, and Melton should thrive in a spacious stadium like Comerica Park. That’s where he’ll start this week when he has a favorable home matchup with Minnesota.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1-3%

QUICK HITS: Jacob Latz (TEX, 38% Rostership), JT Ginn (ATH, 30% Rostership)

Deep League Adds

Kai-Wei Teng (HOU, 21% Rostership) – Wu-Tang Clan is one of the greatest rap groups ever, and Teng is doing everything he can to live the C.R.E.A.M lifestyle. This right-hander struggled in his most recent start but still has a 3.06 ERA and 1.17 WHIP this year. That alone makes him an attractive option off the waiver wire at such a low rostership, but he has another magical matchup this week. Teng tussles with the Angels this week, who have the worst K rate in baseball for the second straight season.

% of Recommended FAAB: 1%

QUICK HITS: Yoendrys Gomez (MIN, 9% Rostership), Antonio Senzatela (COL, 18% Rostership)