This week’s Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire column is a mixture of players who could provide long-term contributions and those who may be helpful for next week only. Managers who are looking for a short-term boost this weekend can check out this article.
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups
Addison Barger, Blue Jays, 41%
Barger is the most under-rostered player in this article. The youngster checks all the boxes to get onto the roster in every 12-team league and most 10-team formats. He is playing great, having posted a .928 OPS in June that follows up an .887 OPS in May. The left-handed hitter is also playing well enough against same-sided hurlers (.723 OPS) to get into the lineup for virtually every game. Barger has also recently found a prominent new home in the batting order, hitting second, in between Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The icing on top is multi-position eligibility (3B/OF), which makes Barger easy to fit into a lineup.
Evan Carter, Rangers, 34%
There is one number that makes me a big proponent of adding Carter right now — 15.0%. That’s the strikeout rate for the outfielder this year, which is a vastly superior mark to his strikeout rate in 2024 (26.5%) and 2023 (32.0%). Sure, this year’s rate was achieved across a small sample of 80 plate appearances, but fantasy managers need to take calculated risks when adding young players; otherwise, they will always be a day late and a dollar short. Still just 22 years old, Carter has the power-speed blend that fantasy managers covet, and he should be a big part of a Rangers lineup that has been looking for a spark all season.
Pavin Smith, Diamondbacks, 7%
Smith has some of the largest splits in baseball, thriving against right-handers (.881 OPS) and having virtually no success vs. southpaws (.511 OPS). The Diamondbacks, who sit 4th in baseball in runs scored, are in great position for a high-scoring run. Over the next nine games, the D-backs face three teams that rank among the bottom 10 in ERA. The final seven games are scheduled to take place against right-handed starters, which makes Smith and left-swinging outfielder Alek Thomas (1%) great short-term additions in deeper formats.
Mike Yastrzemski, Giants, 7%
Yastrzemski has maintained massive platoon splits throughout his career. True to form this year, the lefty slugger with a lifetime .811 OPS against right-handers has posted an .828 OPS in those matchups this season. The Giants will face a pair of bottom-10 pitching staffs next week, and all six games are scheduled to be started by a righty.
Danny Palencia, Cubs, 43%
I’m perplexed by the lack of interest in Palencia, who is clearly the Cubs closer. The right-hander has earned seven of the team’s past eight saves, with the lone exception being a June 12 game in which he worked the eighth inning against the heart of the Pirates lineup. The Cubs rank 2nd in baseball in winning percentage, and Palencia has pitched well this year (1.67 ERA, 0.96 WHIP). He’s easily a top-15 saves option.
Chad Patrick, Brewers, 28%
Patrick is the best streamer in baseball by a country mile next week. Not only has he pitched well this year (3.50 ERA, 76:26 K:BB ratio), but he is scheduled to make home starts next week against the Pirates (29th in runs scored on the road) and Rockies (27th in runs scored on the road). He will be a one-week asset in the shallowest leagues, and then he can return to waivers in 10-team formats.
Max Scherzer, Blue Jays, 36%
This is the time to stash Scherzer in deeper formats, as he should return from the injured list next week. The 41-year-old fared well in nine starts last year (3.95 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) and in 27 starts the previous year (3.77 ERA, 1.12 WHIP). Toronto is sitting in an A.L. wild-card spot and has a solid relief corps, which means that Scherzer should have the support he needs to pick up some wins this summer.
Lucas Giolito, Red Sox, 21%
I’m not sure if Giolito is all the way back, but this may be the last window to add him in many leagues. The 30-year-old has had a pair of clunkers in nine starts since returning from the IL, but he has also allowed one run or fewer in four of his past five outings. And his last start was his best one, as he struck out 10 Mariners across six shutout innings. His next start is lined up to take place at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park on Sunday.
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Hunter Dobbins, Red Sox, 8%
Two Boston pitchers in this article? Maybe this team can continue to win without Rafael Devers! Dobbins has the potential to be a big part of the club’s success, as he has logged solid ratios (3.74 ERA, 1.19 WHIP) while working primarily as a starter. The righty has made two starts since rejoining the rotation, allowing three runs across 11 innings despite having both outings against the high-scoring Yankees. He could succeed at Oracle Park on Friday before racking up plenty of whiffs when he faces the A.L. leaders in team strikeouts (Angels) next Wednesday.
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