This week’s fantasy baseball waiver wire is loaded and presents a ton of opportunities to substantially improve your fantasy baseball roster for the now and for the future. It seems like it’s a daily occurrence that the next big-time prospect is getting called up – except Roman Anthony. He’s never getting called up apparently. We’ve welcomed Jac Caglianone and Kyle Teel just this week and seeing more of these young studs be called up only help our fantasy rosters, but who’s worth being added on the fantasy baseball waiver wire and who’s not? Let’s dive in!

 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Lance McCullers, SP, Houston Astros

ESPN: 18% / Yahoo: 45%

FAAB: 9-11%

This is the last week you have a chance at getting Lance McCullers as his next start comes against the White Sox. McCullers has been awesome and is missing bats at a level he never has before.

McCullers has a 28.9% K-rate, which is his second highest mark, but the 12 K/9 he is sitting at is the highest number of his career. He’s struck out at least seven batters in three straight showing a ceiling of 12 punch outs over that span. He’s also had two quality starts mixed in back-to-back outings. 

McCullers has lowered his ERA to 4.44 while also posting a 3.5 SIERA and 3.64 xFIP. We didn’t get our two-start week from him last week because they decided to skip him this turn around, but it’s possible he gets both the White Sox and Twins next week.

 

Luis L. Ortiz, SP, RP, Cleveland Guardians

ESPN: 5% / Yahoo: 15%

FAAB: 6-8%

If you can shut-down the New York Yankees, you have my attention and anyone that does that should have yours as well. It’s not just the start against the Yankees for Luis L. Ortiz because he’s largely been this pitcher all year.

He has struck out a career best 25.4% of batters along with a 3.99 SIERA, 3.63 xFIP, and an elite 48% GB rate to boot. His 12.6% SwStr suggests the strikeouts will continue, too, and he’ll continue to miss bats moving forward.

Ortiz has a two start week upcoming as he pitches at home against the Reds and on the road in Seattle. Getting the Reds away from Great American Ballpark and pitching in Seattle are both plus matchups.

 

Landen Roupp, SP, RP, San Francisco Giants

ESPN: 9% / Yahoo: 25%

FAAB: 5-7%

Everything’s been solid for Landen Roupp this year as the Giants fifth starter is making the organization look good for naming him the last rotation piece after the spring. He’s pitched to a 3.18 ERA and has 61 strikeouts in 62.1 IP. He limits damage because of his heavy groundball rate sitting at 46% this year and he pitches in an elite ballpark that halts offense in its tracks. Roupp can slot into your SP and RP slots and has multiple plus pitches he relies on. 

His upcoming schedule is definitely not the easiest outing in the world as he has the Braves on Saturday and the Dodgers in LA next Friday, but after that it should be smooth sailing, like it’s been all year long.

 

Ben Brown, SP, RP, Chicago Cubs

ESPN: 8% / Yahoo: 20%

FAAB: 5-7%

Look, not everything is roses and sunshine when it comes to the youngster Ben Brown, but boy does he miss bats and generate strikeouts. He’s also had a lot of weird batted ball luck go against him this season. He has a 5.37 ERA but a 3.22 xFIP and a .368 BABIP against him. He has 78 strikeouts in 63.2 IP and also has a 42% GB rate. He’s coming off a helluva start against the Tigers in which he matched Tarik freakin’ Skubal over seven innings while striking out nine. 

Brown has a tough draw with the way the schedule lines up as he faces the Phillies his next time out, but I think with his ability to miss bats, he’s a worthy addition for those in the market for strikeouts.

 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Infielders

Addison Barger, 3B, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

ESPN: 12% / Yahoo: 41%

FAAB: 11-13%

Addison Barger just keeps hitting home runs. The guy just keeps homering. He’s hit FIVE homers over the previous seven games and look at how REAL it all is.

It’s going so well he’s hitting in the heart of the Blue Jays lineup, hitting third against righties and anywhere from fourth to fifth against lefties. Barger can be slotted in at both third and in the outfield and his fantasy value couldn’t be any higher than it is right now. Buy NOW before it’s too late.

 

Kyle Teel, C, Chicago White Sox

ESPN: 2% / Yahoo: 6%

FAAB: 6-8%

One of the headliners in the trade that sent Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox was Kyle Teel to the Chicago White Sox and now, Teel has been called up and is making his debut this weekend. Who is Kyle Teel?

Teel is a catching prospect that, coming into 2025, was a consensus top-50 prospect in the game and was as high as 32 on Major League Baseball’s preseason list. At Triple-A this year, Teel slashed .295/.394/.492 with eight home runs while stealing seven bases.

Teel has a great eye at the dish as he notched a 14% BB rate at Triple-A this year and in his debut game, he walked twice just to drive that point home. If you’re not getting production behind the dish, Teel is an extremely quality add.

 

Carlos Santana, 1B, Cleveland Guardians

ESPN: 15% / Yahoo: 19%

FAAB: 1-2%

The 14-game hitting streak Carlos Santana was on came to an end on Friday, but that shouldn’t stop you from wanting to add him. 

He’s coming off a monster month of May in which he hit .316 with five home runs, 18 RBI, 22 R, .994 OPS, and .228 ISO. He still has elite bat control, never strikes out and walks a ton. It’s no surprise to see his .358 OBP line up with his career .354 mark, despite being in year 16.

Over the last 30 days, Santana is 17th in fantasy points scored per 5x5 scoring, showing he’s still a very valuable fantasy first baseman that’s floating around on a lot of waiver wires.

 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Outfielders

Parker Meadows, OF, Detroit Tigers

ESPN: 8% / Yahoo: 25%

FAAB: 10-12%

There is a really nice blend of power and speed with Parker Meadows and that’s been on display when he’s been on the field. Health has been the primary concern when it comes to Meadows because he hasn’t had much of it. He played 37 games in 2023, 82 in 2024, and five this year and we’re in June. 

He’s back on the field now, however, and is a 20-20 candidate when healthy. In fact, he had multiple near 20-20 seasons in the minor leagues before his call up. Meadows has led off in all four games he’s played in thus far and has an elite offense hitting behind him. He should score a boatload of runs moving forward.
 

Mike Tauchman, OF, Chicago White Sox

ESPN: 5% / Yahoo: 6%

FAAB: 4-6%

I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel about 34-year old Mike Tauchman doing what he’s doing, but sometimes we just take things at face value. Sometimes we just need to ride the wave. Tauchman, who moved back into the leadoff role, hit his third homer of the season on Friday and through 17 games, has nine extra-base hits, 12 runs scored, and 10 more driven in.

For what it’s worth, everything is trending in the right direction for the White Sox as they continue to call up their top prospects and put a competent team on the field. Tauchman, as long as he’s leading off, should continue to put up solid fantasy returns.

 

Trevor Larnach, OF, Minnesota Twins

ESPN: 8% / Yahoo: 16%

FAAB: 5-7%

I’m just officially a Trevor Larnach respecter. That’s the part of the program I’m at. He hit his 10th homer on Friday night and is now sitting at 10 HR, 35 R, and 31 RBI to boot. Those are legit numbers and is hitting right near the top of the Twins lineup.

Larnach has always been a decent power guy posting an ISO greater than every year of his career including this season. He’s out pacing ALL of his career numbers this year and that will put him over 20 home runs, possibly 70 RBI and could close in on 70 runs as well.

If Larnach is available and you need power, he’s your guy. He’s even playing against lefties and although he’s not playing well against them, you like the confidence that the Twins are showing in him against southpaws.

 

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