With the stretch run officially here, staying active on the waiver wire is what separates contenders from pretenders. Between deadline movement, recent call-ups, and post-All-Star break breakouts, there are plenty of high-upside bats and arms available across standard leagues. Not to mention all of your league mates starting to dive into their fantasy baseball research. Let’s dive into the top waiver wire additions and FAAB targets you should be prioritizing this week. 

Take a peak at some of the other fantasy baseball content on Fantasy Alarm from this past week;

Buy or Sell: Kyle Stowers

Fantasy Baseball: Stock Watch

Fantasy Baseball: Closer Grid

If you want more waiver wire content, head over to the Fantasy Alarm YouTube channel where Colby Conway and I broke some waiver wire options down for Week 17!

 

 

 

Top Waiver Wire Targets at a Glance

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Infielders

Ryan Jeffers, Minnesota Twins - 38% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 6-8%)

A lot of people just lost Shea Langeliers for the remainder of the season at an already bad fantasy position so they’re going to be rushing to the waiver wire. Ryan Jeffers is the top catching option available on the waiver wire currently and things could be even better for him if he’s put into a new lineup as we approach the trade deadline. 

Jeffers has a career-high 14.4% BB rate and career-low 16.7% K-rate along with career highs in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging. He’s hit nine homers in 45 games this year and it’s possible that his power doesn’t come back for a bit as he’s eight games back from a hamate bone injury, so patience in that department comes along with the addition.

Ty France, San Diego Padres - 26% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 6-8%)

What has gotten into Ty France? Is it real? Looks pretty real to me.

He’s really been good all year posting an .804 OPS or higher in every month, but in July he’s posting a 1.007 OPS and is hitting .319. He’s hitting .368 since the All-Star break with an OPS approaching 1.300! In July alone, he’s tied for eighth in home runs and sixth in runs batted in. He should continue to hit in the heart of a Padres lineup that is on the rise, giving him more and more opportunity to hit with base runners on.

Nolan Arenado, Arizona Diamondbacks - 25% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 4-5%)

After a tough month of June, Nolan Arenado has bounced back in a big way blasting five home runs with 12 runs scored and 14 more driven in, which is tied for the most homers he’s hit in a month this season. Since the All-Star break, Arenado has a .952 OPS, .410 wOBA, and 160 wRC+. Third base is really bad and Arenado could be a clear upgrade to a lot of different third basemen that might still be on your roster.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Baltimore Orioles - 10% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 2-3%)

Sometimes, a second chance is all someone needs and that’s what we have with Christian Encarnacion-Strand in Baltimore. The former 70-grade power prospect is showing off what he does best early on in his Orioles tenure; homering. He’s already blasted three home runs through his first six games and has a .792 SLG%. Everything on his Baseball Savant page looks really good and although it’s a really small sample, it’s something to keep note of.

Luis Rengifo, San Diego Padres - 3% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 1-2%)

The caveat here is simple; we’re talking about Luis Rengifo. In his first eight games with the Padres, Rengifo is slashing .423/.483/.654. I doubt many believe that this is real, but it’s notable and something that could be worth adding and riding the high. He belted two bombs and swiped a base too. On Yahoo, he has second, third, and outfield eligibility and that makes adding Rengifo that much more appealing.

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Outfielders

Luis Robert, New York Mets - 42% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 7-9%)

Luis Robert has been back for five games and has already homered twice. Robert Jr. is simply a high-upside add. In the one year in which he played 145 games, Robert belted 38 home runs, scored 90 runs, and drove in 80 runs to boot. Robert has a 33 steal season as well, which just shows you how many different areas Robert can beat you. 

Robert’s expected numbers are better than his surface stats, too. If he’s dealt out of the current situation he’s in could be an even bigger boost to Luis Robert’s stock.

Tommy Edman, Los Angeles Dodgers - 31% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 5-7%)

The positional eligibility for Tommy Edman is elite and so is his play to this point. He’s hitting .330 to this point and has scored 16 runs and driven in 17 more in 31 games played this year. Edman is still raking against left-handed pitching but hitting .348 against righties this year has been the difference. This has been his best season against righties to date.

Cole Carrigg, Colorado Rockies - 22% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 4-6%)

It’s definitely been a stretch of luck at the dish for Cole Carrigg but guess what? He plays his home games at Coors Field and luck is baked in. He has an elite .363 OBP and .504 SLG% this year and has yet to really flash the elite speed he’s shown off during his minor league career.

Carrigg has had 30-plus stolen bases in three straight minor league stops and only has three at the major league level. The Rockies have continuously run him out near the top of their lineup day in, day out, and there’s no reason to think that will change anytime soon.

Braden Montgomery, Chicago White Sox - 10% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 2-4%)

Over his last nine games, Braden Montgomery has driven in 11 runs and is consistently hitting in the heart of the Chicago White Sox lineup. Montgomery has had an elite walk rate at the minor league level and has yet to show that off in the bigs, but eight-percent is solid. Montgomery is a really good prospect with multiple tools including a 65 raw power grade as well as 50 speed. He should be a factor in both categories.

Esteury Ruiz, Miami Marlins - 2% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 1-3%)

If you’re looking for a boost in speed, look no further than a guy that is available in 98% of Yahoo! Fantasy baseball leagues. Esteury Ruiz is tied for seventh in baseball with 24 steals and hasn’t been a slouch at the plate either when given opportunities. Ruiz has posted a .371 OBP and .853 OPS this season.

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Shane Bieber, Toronto Blue Jays - 47% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 7-8%)

Although I’m not fully sold on everything about Shane Bieber, his last two starts have definitely been interesting. He’s pitched extremely well in each of those outings against two teams currently winning their respective divisions. He’s allowed one earned run and just six hits over his last 13 innings pitched and has registered quality starts in each outing.

What has changed? Well, he’s gotten boatloads of ground balls and hasn’t allowed any hard contact. In each of the last two outings, Bieber has generated a 61% GB rate or higher and it’s been over 53% in three straight. The hard% has been 28% or lower in the last two outings to boot. Something to definitely keep note of as he’s still available in over 50% of Yahoo! Fantasy leagues.

Shane Drohan, Milwaukee Brewers - 41% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 7-8%)

Although he didn’t net another quality start his last time out, there was once again a LOT to like from Shane Drohan. His 7.5 ERA was paired with a 3.35 xERA and .353 BABIP. He had three straight quality starts before this last one but has completed six innings four consecutive times out.

Drohan is a guy I believe in and the strikeouts should continue to stick. He has a 12.1% SwStr this year and has been over 10.9% in four of his last five outings, which shows he’s still generating whiffs as a starter and didn’t just have them in relief. He’s harnessed his control in Milwaukee’s pitching lab and with Brandon Woodruff done for the year and Kyle Harrison on the injured list, Drohan is here to stay.

Robert Gasser, Milwaukee Brewers - 20% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 4-5%)

People who read my work probably think I’m a Milwaukee Brewers fan but man, they just know how to develop pitchers. Robert Gasser has looked really sharp outside of two blowups this year against the Pirates (#1 in wRC+ vs. RHP) and in Las Vegas, which was unfair for all pitchers.

Gasser has two quality starts over his last four outings and has allowed two earned runs or fewer in three of four. Gasser is a decent strikeout arm as his 10.1% SwStr and that’s largely on par with his 21.5% K-rate on the year. Of the two Brewers arms largely available, Drohan is the priority add but I like Gasser if you miss out on him.

AJ Smith-Shawver, Milwaukee Brewers - 20% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 4-5%)

The return of AJ Smith-Shawver is imminent and he’s expected to need one more rehab start before being activated. He’s been really good on his rehab assignment and hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last two outings and three of his last four. He’s worked up to 77 pitches and with one more rehab start on the horizon, 80-plus pitches in his debut is well within reason.

The Braves are desperate to get help in their rotation and Smith-Shawver is an extremely talented arm that will do just that. Here’s something of note; at the major league level in 2025, Smith-Shawver averaged 95.6 MPH. During his minor league rehab assignment this year, he’s sitting 97.1. Big increase in velocity for an already hard thrower.

Yoendrys Gomez, Minnesota Twins - 31% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 3-4%)

Yoendrys Gomez continues to be the best waiver wire add for those in need of saves. He’s notched two saves since the All-Star break and four since July 11th. He’s up to 13 on the year and is available in nearly 70% of Yahoo! Fantasy leagues. He’s not a traditional closer as he allows a lot of flyballs and doesn’t miss many bats, but he gets out and has the job in Minnesota on lock. I’m not spending a LOT of FAAB on Gomez, but if I’m in the market he’s the guy I’m adding.