We’re hitting the summer months of the baseball season and the data we need is right in front of us. We’ve collected nearly two months of data to this point and that gives us what we need to tell if a player’s breakout is real, fake, or if someone’s luck is going to turn whether it be for the better or for worse. There are a bunch of young talented players who show up on this week's waiver wire such as Carson Benge, Zebby Matthews, Ryan Waldschmidt, and Walbert Urena but there are some veterans that look good such as Spencer Steer and Cade Cavalli. We have additions for everyone so let’s dive into everyone’s favorite flavor of the week.

Be sure to check out the 2026 Fantasy Baseball Closer Grid to run down a list of players that are likely available in your fantasy baseball leagues

If you want more waiver wire content, head over to the Fantasy Alarm YouTube channel where Howard Bender and I broke some waiver wire options down for Week 10!

 

 

 

Top Waiver Wire Targets at a Glance

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Infielders

Casey Schmitt, San Francisco Giants

32% Rostered on Yahoo Fantasy

FAAB - 9-11%

Casey Schmitt just keeps on hitting and we should all keep on believing because he’s doing it at such a high level. The power has carried at home, too, which is surprising considering how hard it is to homer in San Fran. He has five homers and a .288 ISO in San Francisco this season.

Schmitt, like many of the names below, can be rostered at multiple positions and the additive value to that is fantastic. It’s not often you find a player available in nearly 70% of Yahoo! Fantasy leagues that have an OPS of nearly .900.

Spencer Steer, Cincinnati Reds

28% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

FAAB - 7-8%

Spencer Steer is a jack of all trades and is having a fantastic month of May. This tweet (from your truly) should now say over 70% available;

Steer has 1B and OF eligibility already and has played three games at second and two at third, so he’s closing in on endless fantasy value at four different positions. In May, Steer has hit .313 with an .805 OPS and .360 wOBA and gets to play his home games in Great American Ballpark. He’s a very good add rest of the season.

Jackson Holliday, Baltimore Orioles

26% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

FAAB - 4-5%

I can say I’m not the biggest Jackson Holliday fan, but there is a void at second base for a LOT of fantasy teams and he can provide many things that fantasy owners need. He was a 17-70-55-17 guy a year ago and his numbers won’t make it there due to his IL stint, he has the upside to be a top-10 second basemen for the remainder of the year.

Zack Gelof, Athletics

14% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

FAAB - 3-4%

There are things happening for Zack Gelof that make me into a believer and possibly for the long term. Gelof has already hit six homers and stolen six bases as well but that’s something he’s always been able to do. He’s cut his strikeout rate nearly in half from a year ago and it’s actually a career-low 23.3% overall. It can’t be overstated that he plays in a minor league ballpark, can be slotted into multiple positions, and has 20-20 upside.

TJ Rumfield, Colorado Rockies

5% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

FAAB - 3-4%

The production has not dropped at all and with half of his games played in Coors Field, TJ Rumfield is truly someone that should be on all of our radar. He doesn’t strike out, he has a decent walk rate, and currently has over an .800 OPS. Rumfield has been thriving in the month of May slashing .329/.402/.534 with a .205 ISO and .413 wOBA. His first and third base eligibility is fantastic.

 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Outfielders

Carson Benge, New York Mets

18% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

FAAB - 6-7%

I am a Carson Benge believer and you should be too. The Mets continue to run him out in the leadoff spot and he’s thrived there. He’s hitting .308 and with a .350 OBP atop the order. Benge has yet to flash the power we know he has but he’s been stealing bags at a plus clip, swiping eight bags thus far. I love the Benge add for the rest of the campaign.

Noelvi Marte, Cincinnati Reds

32% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

FAAB - 1-2%

I just…can’t let Noelvi Marte go. He’s absolutely decimating Triple-A pitching to the tune of a .374/.428/.588 slash along with seven homers, 26 runs scored, and 23 more driven in. Marte is forcing the Reds hand and he’ll be up sooner rather than later. It’s a stash and pray addition, but he has 3B/OF eligibility everywhere and we know how bad third is.

Dylan Crews, Washington Nationals

31% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

FAAB - 4-5%

As per usual with Dylan Crews, the signs are always there and why he’s such an appealing and polarizing fantasy option. He has 60 grade power and 70 grade speed and has hit a bomb and stolen a base through his first five games. He’s been unable to put it all together dating back to 2024, but this was formerly number one prospect and you could strike lightning in a bottle.

Ryan Waldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks

5% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

FAAB - 3-4%

It’s been a pretty good start to his career as Ryan Waldschmidt is hitting .340 through his first 15 games. The speed has been on full display as he’s already swiped four bags. He hasn’t hit any home runs yet and that hasn’t necessarily been the best part of his game, so that’s not overly surprising. He’s definitely – and I mean DEFINITELY – gotten lucky posting a .500 BABIP, but he’s been on base a lot and because of his prowess as a base stealer, he has plenty of fantasy value.

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Zebby Matthews, Minnesota Twins

16% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

FAAB - 7-8%

Things are on the up and up for Zebby Matthews as he’s looked incredibly sharp in his first two starts at the major league level. It’s interesting to see his swinging strike percentage go down to 9.3% after registering swinging strike rates up over 11% in the first two seasons of his career. Matthews has changed his pitch mix this year as he’s throwing less cutters, sinker, and sliders while throwing more four-seam fastballs, curveballs, and change ups and the fastball has dominated opponents so far. Matthews has a two-start week coming up and that’s an added bonus.

Cade Cavalli, Washington Nationals

13% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

FAAB - 7-8%

It’s not typical that you find this elite strikeout rate on the waiver wire so widely available, but alas, Cade Cavalli is nearly 90% available in Yahoo! Fantasy leagues. Cavalli has struck out at least eight batters in four of his last six starts and has reached double-figures twice. He’s up to 10.2 K/9 and 25.1% K-rate on the year. It’s possible the strikeouts take a small step back because his SwStr is *only* 10.7%, which is still good, but typically elite strikeout arms are up over 12%.

Walbert Urena, Los Angeles Angels

11% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

FAAB - 5-6%

The Angels 18th-ranked prospect has looked REALLY good at the major league level and the numbers under the good look great for Walbert Urena. 

Urena keeps everything on the ground as his GB% is over 50% on the year. His strikeouts aren’t pretty to look at, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel there. He’s actually generating 11.6% SwStr this year and that is typically the first indicator that strikeouts will come.

Jonah Tong, New York Mets

11% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

FAAB - 2-3%

We saw Jonah Tong enter his first game of 2026 in a relief role and it’s possible he enters the Mets rotation sooner rather than later. He has elite swing-and-miss stuff and that’s what you’re adding Tong for – punch outs. Tong needs to harness the control because that’s what has hurt him the most at every level, including the majors last year.

Troy Melton, Detroit Tigers

6% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

FAAB - 2-3%

The Tigers are activating Troy Melton on Sunday to make his first appearance of the year and man, his rehab assignment was absolutely dominant. In four rehab assignments, Troy Melton had a 12.3 K/9 and a robust 35.6% K-rate. It’s worth taking a shot on a former top-75 overall prospect if he’s going to translate all his swing and miss to the major league level.

Kirby Yates, Los Angeles Angels

2% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy

FAAB - 1%

This is one of the worst closer weeks in fantasy baseball but Kirby Yates did pick up the Angels last save and he does have a history of closing. He’s had two seasons during his career in which he’s picked up at least 30 saves. This situation is eerily similar to Jordan Romano earlier in the year where opportunity is king and he’s one of the only pitchers on the Angels pitching staff with any closing experience. I’m not throwing many dollars at him, but Yates is the top option if you’re desperate for saves.