Oh buddy, there is some JUICE on the fantasy baseball waiver wire heading into the 13th week of the fantasy baseball season. There aren’t many hitters hotter than Nick Kurtz around baseball and he’s available basically everywhere. But not for long. How about top pitching prospect Chase Burns, who has tore through Triple-A opposition in his first two starts at the level and likely won’t make many more starts in the minors. That’s just scratching the surface with what’s available to YOU today!

There are a lot of great fantasy baseball waiver wire additions and we’re attacking them all in this week’s column. If you have any questions about your waiver wire, hit us up in the Fantasy Alarm Discord or hit me up on Twitter!

 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Chase Burns, RP, Milwaukee Brewers

ESPN: 5% / Yahoo: 15%

FAAB: 12-15%

It’s not too late. You can still do the right thing. You can add him in 95% of ESPN leagues and over 80% of Yahoo! Fantasy leagues. Burns has now made two starts at Triple-A and looks as good as he was expected to.

In his debut, he threw 5.1 IP and struck out seven while giving up just two runs. In his latest start, which came this past Wednesday, Burns fired seven one-run innings while striking out seven, not walking anyone, while allowing just three hits.

Look at some of this data per TJStats on X from his last outing:

  • 17 Whiffs
  • 70% strikes
  • .293 xwOBA

ELITE stuff coming from TJ on the number one pitching prospect in baseball. Burns isn’t long for AAA if this is the stuff he’s going to do. He’ll be doing it for a contending team at the Major League level sooner rather than later.


Eduardo Rodriguez, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

ESPN: 3% / Yahoo: 9%

FAAB: 4-6%

When you look at Eduardo Rodriguez on the surface, you’d just read this and move onto the next name on the list. But let me try and sell you on the unlucky numbers and why his two-start week will start a trend in the right direction for Rodriguez.

First off, here are his two starts upcoming: Mon 6/23 at Chicago White Sox & Sun 6/29 vs. Miami Marlins.

Now, to the numbers. E-Rod has a 5.93 ERA, 3.89 xERA, 3.99 SIERA, and 4.06 xFIP and is over 1 strikeout per inning sitting at 9.5 K/9 this year. Rodriguez is back up to a 10.2% SwStr this year after a 8.9% clip last year. I like the matchups this week and I like the stuff under the hood, too. For at least this week, Rodriguez is a fantastic waiver wire add.
 

Jose Soriano, SP, Los Angeles Angels

ESPN: 12% / Yahoo: 26%

FAAB: 5-7%

The last few outings for Jose Soriano have absolutely been eyebrow raising, especially his last two. He’s allowed one earned run over his last two starts that have spanned 14 innings and has an 18:3 K:BB ratio. He’s been great in three of four outings. And the strikeouts are rising quickly.

Speaking of strikeouts, Soriano has now posted a SwStr of 11.9% or better in three straight starts and has 21 Ks across those 17.2 innings. His dominant starts came against the Yankees and Athletics, which are obviously two good offenses to mow down.

Soriano is a 99th percentile ground baller and it’s IMPOSSIBLE to hit home runs off of him. The 97 MPH sinking fastball isn’t going anywhere and Soriano is worth taking a flier on if you’re looking for pitching help.
 

Orion Kerkering, RP, Philadelphia Phillies

ESPN: 5% / Yahoo: 20%

FAAB: 7-9%

The last time Orion Kerkering gave up an earned run was May 6th and that’s the only run he’s allowed since May 1st. He’s had 18 straight scoreless outings and Kerkering has gotten save opportunities in two of the last three games.

There are multiple things to like about the upside of Kerkering as the Phillies closer long-term. One, they’ve been unable to sustain any consistency in the ninth inning. They’ve had PED suspensions, blown saves, and everything in between very often. Secondly, Kerkering’s strikeouts and ground balls are down, which are two things that could trend in the opposite direction.

2024 Strikeouts: 10.6 K/9, 28.8% K

2024 Swinging Strike: 11.4%

2024 Ground ball Rate: 53.5%

2025 Strikeouts: 8.3% K/9, 21.1% K

2025 Swinging Strike: 9.5%

2025 Ground ball Rate: 41.9%

For a guy who is throwing a career-high 17% sinkers this year, the ground ball rate will rise and we’ve seen Kerkering miss bats at every level he’s pitched at and that will likely come, which is a great ratio helper from the closer spot.
 

Lucas Giolito, SP, Boston Red Sox

ESPN: 7% / Yahoo: 22%

FAAB: 5-7%

Look, Fantasy Alarm’s own Jonathan Impemba has been sending me texts, emails, waking up my family and I every morning to tell me that Lucas Giolito is back and it’s because his pitch mix is changing.

Seriously… Every morning.

Anyways, Giolito has looked good to quite good lately throwing two straight scoreless outings, while striking out 14 batters in 12 innings. Giolito’s fastball has been the focus lately because he’s thrown it over 51% of the time in each of his last two outings and before that, his fastball usage had been 38.8% or lower for four straight starts. It’s worked and he’s owned the Mariners and Rays with it.

In four of his last five starts, he’s allowed one run or fewer and some of the bad luck should start to turn for Giolito here. He has a 4.07 SIERA and 3.91 xFIP this season. He is slated to start his next outings against the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals, both offenses aren’t all that great.

 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Infielders

Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics

ESPN: 14% / Yahoo: 37%

FAAB: 12-14%

Nick Kurtz was a ticking time bomb and has absolutely exploded lately, belting five home runs over his last six games including TWO walkoff home runs. We knew that the power would come and buddy, has it come. His power has looked like Mike Tyson minus the face tattoo.

Kurtz is up to 10 home runs through his first 38 games along with a .280 ISO and .538 SLG%. Very rarely do you see a guy available in over 80% of ESPN fantasy baseball leagues that could potentially approach 30 bombs this year.

Let’s not ignore the fact that Kurtz plays in a minor league stadium. In fact, per Baseball Savant, the number ONE rated park this year for offense IS..you guessed it..Sutter Health Park. 

 

Alec Burleson, 1B, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

ESPN: 32% / Yahoo: 33%

FAAB: 7-9%

Alec Burleson is casually just hitting .313 after getting off to an extremely slow start of the year. Here’s some monthly numbers for Burleson:

Mar/Apr: .259 AVG, .602 OPS, .268 wOBA

May: .303 AVG, .888 OPS, .383 wOBA

June: .400 AVG, 1.031 OPS, .443 wOBA

You can slot him in at multiple positions and even are starting to get a power surge out of him. He hit 21 home runs last year and that isn’t completely out of the realm of possibility here. Love Burleson hitting in the heart of the Cardinals lineup.
 

Brooks Lee, 2B, 3B, SS, Minnesota Twins

ESPN: 5% / Yahoo: 15%

FAAB: 2-4%

Going into Friday’s game, Brooks Lee is riding an 18-game hitting streak in which he’s hit .338 with an .872 OPS, .169 ISO, and .380 wOBA. Lee can play SO many different positions and there are few things more valuable than positional eligibility. 

Lee has graduated from prospect status, but was formerly a top-30 prospect at his peak, which is something we shouldn’t forget and something that is forgotten when top prospects don’t have immediate success.

Lee will continue to play every day because of his roster flexibility and how Royce Lewis is always on the injured list.
 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Outfielders

Jo Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels

ESPN: 9% / Yahoo: 27%

FAAB: 6-8%

The sooner we realize that Jo Adell is never going to hit .300 or probably close to it the sooner we can appreciate his development. The former top prospect is hitting BOMBS. He’s up to 15 home runs in the first half and after just two in March and April, Adell hit five in May and is already up to EIGHT in June. He’s slugging .667 in June with a .995 OPS, .421 ISO, and .421 wOBA. Those are numbers that stack up against mostly everyone around the sport and we’re talking about Jo Adell who was basically written off last year.

There are some wild underlying stats that suggest he’s been wildly unlucky. He has a .221 AVG, .265 xBA, .471 SLG, .543 xSLG, .332 wOBA, and .373 xwOBA. There could be even MORE on the horizon for Adell, a player who hit 20 HR with 15 SB last year. I’m really fond of this add if you need power.
 

Jake Meyers, OF, Houston Astros

ESPN: 6% / Yahoo: 9%

FAAB: 1-2%

If you’re adding Jake Meyers, you’re not bringing him aboard thinking he’s going to provide much power. He’s not. He has three homers this year but he’s hitting north of .300 and has 11 stolen bases on the year, which is already tied for his career high.

The key for Meyers this year has been his on-base percentage. He can run, he’s 74th percentile sprint speed, but he’s posted an OBP of less than .300 for three straight years, so his inability to get on base has stopped him from stealing. He’s getting on base this year and it’s helped big time. He’s a nice influx of speed and average right now.
 

Jurickson Profar, OF, Atlanta Braves

ESPN: 20% / Yahoo: 25%

FAAB: 2-3%

Eligible to return on July 2nd, Jurickson Profar will soon be back in the major leagues after serving an 80-game suspension for PEDs. Profar had a career year in 2024 and it makes you wonder what led to that. Nevertheless, he’ll be back and with the Braves slotting both Alex Verduo and Eli White into their two-hole in the order, it’s likely the switch-hitting Profar will take their place.

Profar, in 2024, hit 24 home runs with 94 runs and 85 RBI. He was a shell of that version before his suspension, but the Braves are hoping he could spark something for a team currently drawing dead unless a miracle happens for them. If you have the ability to stash someone for two weeks, Profar could be worth it.
 

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