Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Picks: A Deep Dive into the Best Adds
Fantasy baseball is a game of strategy, and the waiver wire is where the real magic happens. It's where you can find hidden gems, turn the tide of your season, and make your opponents scratch their heads in confusion. So, let's dive into the latest waiver wire picks and explore the players who could be the difference between a good season and a great one.
Top Priority Players to Add
Jake Burger (TEX) – 1B
Jake Burger is a player who has the potential to be a game-changer. While he may not be a consistent producer, his recent hot streak is worth noting. Before last night's game, Burger had hit a pair of dingers and accumulated ten RBI over his previous five games. However, I'm more interested in the version of Burger we saw in 2023-24, a bona fide slugger with 63 home runs and a 114 wRC+. With a favorable schedule ahead, including two more games at Coors Field and a series against the Angels, Burger could be a valuable addition to your roster.
Colt Emerson (SEA) – SS
Colt Emerson is a young prospect who has the potential to be a breakout star. While his 27.2% K rate in Triple-A is a bit concerning, his game power is around league average, and he has stolen ten bases this year. With looming 3B eligibility, Emerson could be a valuable addition to your roster, especially in deeper leagues.
Logan Henderson (MIL) – SP
Logan Henderson is a pitcher who has been on fire lately. With a 28.2% K-BB% through his first four turns, Henderson has a 5.40 PLV that is off-the-charts. His fastball's 27.5% whiff rate is a tough trick to fake, and his performance last year was pretty good. Now is your chance to grab a pitcher who looks absolutely legit for more reasons than one.
Yahoo and ESPN Most Added Players
J.T. Ginn (PIT) – SP
J.T. Ginn is a player who has been added to rosters due to his start against the Angels. However, his Toby ranking near the bottom of The List suggests that he's not a player worth adding.
Gavin Sheets (CWS) – 1B
Gavin Sheets is a player who has been on a hot streak lately, hitting three home runs this weekend in Seattle. However, his career 20 wRC+ against lefties suggests that his performance may not be sustainable.
Zebby Matthews (MIA) – SP
Zebby Matthews is a player who has been added to rosters due to a spot start against the Marlins. However, his arsenal is not exciting, and his command remains shaky. It's hard to get excited about him at this point.
Seth Lugo (NYM) – SP
Seth Lugo is a player who has been eating innings, but his sparkling 2024 season seems like a fever dream. His performance against the Red Sox, who have struggled to score, is not impressive.
Ben Brown (ATL) – SP
Ben Brown is a player who fanned seven Braves last Thursday across four innings. However, his curveball is great, but there's nothing else in his arsenal that suggests he can flip through a lineup multiple times. I'm not a fan of him.
Angel Martínez (ARI) – 2B
Angel Martínez is a player who has been added to rosters due to his recent hot streak. However, seven of his nine home runs this season have come as a left-handed hitter, which is interesting.
Ryan Weathers (SD) – SP
Ryan Weathers is a player who has held a no-hitter through six against the Orioles and owns a K rate just under 30%. However, I don't think he belongs on waivers.
Category Specific Players to Add
Austin Martin (MIN) – 2B/OF
Austin Martin is a player who has been making exemplary swing decisions and has a 91 power. While his counting stat upside may be muted, he is a valuable addition to your roster if you need to gain ground in batting average and/or OBP.
Speculative Adds
Dylan Crews (WAS) – OF
Dylan Crews is a player who has mustered a 78 wRC+ through the first 454 PAs of his big-league career. While he's still only 24 and a former first-round pick, the Nats are giving him another shot after slashing .258/ .345/ .432 across 177 PAs with Triple-A Rochester. Whether or not Crews can hit enough for the bigs remains to be seen, but we do know he can run based on last year's 17 stolen bases.
Streaming Pitchers
Be sure to check Nick's daily SP streamers article for the latest streaming pitcher options.
Griffin Jax (TB) – SP, RP
Griffin Jax is a player who has a nasty sweeper that can be a great strikeout pitch. I'm curious to see where this goes, but just know that Jax might not be the best bet for a win, considering he tossed 70 pitches in his first start.
Sean Burke (CWS) – SP, RP
Sean Burke is a player who has endured two rough starts, but we know he is capable of pitching deep into games, thanks to a low 5.4% BB rate. He could also pick up another strikeout or two with this game being at T-Mobile Park.
Deep League Players to Watch
Brett Baty (NYM) – 1B, 2B, 3B, OF
Brett Baty is a player who was intriguing after hitting .291 with a 135 wRC+ over the second half last season. However, I've gradually lost interest. Until last night's home run! That's a seven-game hit streak! Are we back in business? Probably not; his PLV metrics aren't noteworthy. Right now, a best-case scenario seems like a left-handed version of Alec Bohm. Still, he's playing every day, and that eligibility makes him very useful.
