As we hit the stretch run of the fantasy baseball season, managing your roster with high-upside waiver wire pickups can be the difference between making a championship push or falling short. This week's pool features a compelling mix of elite, highly-touted prospects making immediate big-league impacts such as George Lombard and Kaelen Culpepper, alongside second-half breakout bats like Chase Meidroth and Andruw Monasterio who are riding hot streaks you need to exploit. On the mound, pitching options range from surging starters like Noah Cameron and Sean Manaea to strategic bullpen targets offering immediate ratio control and save potential down the stretch. Whether you need immediate positional versatility, power stashes, or rotation depth, here are the top infielders, outfielders, and pitchers to target on the waiver wire this week.

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

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 20!

Top Waiver Wire Targets at a Glance

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Infielders

George Lombard, New York Yankees - 44% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 13-15%)

We’re just four games into the George Lombard experience and it’s better than anyone could have imagined. Lombard has homered twice in his first four games and the plate discipline has been fully on display this season. He’s walked nearly 19% of the time and that was what he did in the minors too. He has excellent plate discipline. 

Lombard’s a must add this waiver cycle because the top-20 prospect will not be available in many formats next weekend. He’s already nearly 50% rostered for a guy who’s played four games at the major league level.

Chase Meidroth, Chicago White Sox - 37% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 5-6%)

The second half of the season has been very kind for Chase Meidroth as he’s hitting .300 with four home runs, 13 runs scored, and 15 more driven in in 20 games. It’s hard to ignore a .300/.390/.529 slash with a .397 wOBA and 158 wRC+ since the All-Star break.

Meidroth has great eligibility as he’s able to be used at 2B, 3B, and SS and the White Sox deploy him as their leadoff hitter against lefties and a middle-of-the-order bat against righties.

Andruw Monasterio, Boston Red Sox - 23% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 4-6%)

I wonder if the Red Sox didn’t acquire a shortstop at the deadline not because Trevor Story is coming back, but because Andruw Monasterio is playing so well. Since July 1st (26 games), Monasterio has 15 extra-base hits – 11 doubles – 14 runs scored and 19 runs batted in. His slash line over that span is .352/.425/.593 with a .433 wOBA and 178 wRC+.

Monasterio is more than likely not a long term solution, but we’ve talked about players like him a lot this year and they always pop up in fantasy baseball. Ride the hot hand while he’s THIS good and eventually the flame will fizzle out.

Kyle Karros, Colorado Rockies - 14% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 5-8%)

It’s a very extended period of time where Kyle Karros has absolutely raked and it’s been a very long period of time to start believing that this breakout is real and sustainable. Since June 1st, Kyle Karros has slashed .319/.415/.524 with a .406 wOBA. He’s had an elite walk rate (11.3%) and very low strikeout rate (16.9%). 

He gets to play his home games in Coors and that’s an obvious bonus for all fantasy players. He’s still been an above average offensive player on the road posting a .740 OPS and 103 wRC+ this season.

Angel Genao, Cleveland Guardians - 15% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 5-8%)

Since being called up, Angel Genao has started every day and that’s exactly what we’re hoping for when a prospect is called up. Genao was a top-50 prospect around major league baseball and has great positional eligibility on Yahoo! Fantasy playing 2B, 3B, and SS.

Genao was having a fantastic year at both minor league levels he played at slashing .300/.401/.474 while hitting 13 home runs and stealing 11 bases. He’s a very toolsy player as he had 50 grade hit, 50 grade power, and 60 grade speed per Fangraphs. 

Kaelen Culpepper, Minnesota Twins - 9% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 7-10%)

The Twins were looking for a spark as they head down the stretch and fight for a divisional title and Kaelen Culpepper was the answer they’re hoping for. Culpepper was a 20-20 guy at the minor league level last year and was sitting at 14 home runs and 17 steals in 74 Triple-A games.

Culpepper homered in his first big league game and has every tool in the toolbox. He’s a 55 speed, 55 power, and 45 hit tool on Fangraphs. You won’t need to spend the same FAAB on Culpepper as you will on George Lombard and in my opinion, Culpepper has a higher ceiling than Angel Genao. I’d spend a little more on Culpepper than Genao.

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Outfielders

Max Clark, Detroit Tigers - 45% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 12-13%)

Outside of the strikeouts, Max Clark has been awesome and we haven’t even seen the speed yet. He’s never really struck out all too much, so that will likely come down as he gets more time at the major league level. Despite all the strikeouts, he has a .333 AVG and has reached base 42% of his plate-appearances. 

This will be the last waiver cycle Clark will be available in over 50% of Yahoo! Fantasy formats, so if you’re looking for upside and if you’re looking for outfield help, you’re going to have to pay a pretty penny.

Joshua Baez, St. Louis Cardinals - 16% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 4-5%)

We’re trying to get ahead here even though 16% of Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball players are already owners of Joshua Baez. Baez has massive, massive power. He has belted 33 bombs in 100 games at Triple-A this season. He’s only hitting .252 and strikes out 29% of the time, but he has 70 grade power and that’s something that’s just not teachable. He’s still in the minor leagues but the trade of Lars Nootbaar made things a bit easier for him to be called up. If you’re able to stash someone, Baez is atop the list depending on need.

Spencer Jones, New York Yankees - 13% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 4-5%)

It’s not the perfect add, but Spencer Jones does have some value. Since July 1st, he’s only hit .205 but has cut his strikeout rate down to 24.5%, walk rate is up to 10.2% and has a .455 SLG% and .250 ISO. Jones has played against both splits lately and had two hits against Chris Sale, which was something he was not doing when he was first called up; he sat against all left-handers.

Cam Smith, Houston Astros - 10% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 4-6%)

It’s been a weird season for Cam Smith because his counting stats don’t look terrible, but his averages and ratios leave a lot to be desired. He’s off to a scorching hot start in August slashing .435/.480/.739 and has already belted two home runs. He’s up to 15 bombs, 10 steals, 49 runs scored, and 42 more driven in.

Smith has incredible physical tools including 99th percentile bat-speed and 93rd percentile sprint speed, he’s just been slightly unlucky in using them. His .260 BABIP is far below league average and his xwOBA of .329 is way higher than his .300 wOBA.

Justin Crawford, Philadelphia Phillies - 6% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 4-6%)

It’s been a fine rookie campaign for Justin Crawford and August is giving us a glimpse into what the final two months of the season can look like. Crawford has a 1.011 OPS, .190 ISO, .426 wOBA in August and has driven in seven runs through eight games, which already TIES his season-high for any month. His speed is what was advertised coming into the season and he’s up to 16 steals on the year, but the bat is coming around to match the speed and THAT is a valuable fantasy asset.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Noah Cameron, Kansas City Royals - 43% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 8-9%)

The thing that has stood out the most about Noah Cameron is the change in strikeouts. He’s punched out seven or more batters in five of his last six outings. He has pitched deep into games as he’s completed seven innings in three straight and four of five. This is as good a stretch as Cameron has ever pitched and it looks real.

Cameron’s strikeouts are a direct connection to all the swings and misses he’s started getting. He’s had a 12.4% SwStr or higher in three straight and five of his last six outings overall. That’s helped raise his SwStr up to 11.1% on the year, which is a really respectable number. Cameron’s next matchup comes against a struggling Dodgers offense and that could continue his recent form going.

Outside of the strikeouts, Cameron is keeping everything on the ground as he’s posted a 50% or higher ground ball rate in three straight games, helping raise his seasonal average to 37.8%. Cameron is turning into a pretty elite fantasy pitcher as he’s checking off all of the boxes you want; strikeouts, depth of start, and groundballs.

Dustin May, Milwaukee Brewers - 33% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 8-9%)

I was a fan of Dustin May before he was traded to the best possible situation imaginable, so landing in Milwaukee is an actual dream. May notched a quality start in his debut with his new team, his second in three starts. He’s now up to a career-high 11 quality starts overall!

All of May’s expected numbers are better than his surface level stuff as he has a 4.3 ERA, 4.06 xERA, 3.92 xFIP, and 3.98 SIERA. May has always been a power-sinker guy, which translates into a lot of ground balls and that hasn’t changed this year as his GB rate sits at 42.2%.

Just getting into the Brewers pitching program instills the utmost confidence that we’re going to see the best out of May for the remainder of the year and he’s already been good. MAYBE it’s a coincidence because it’s just one start, here was a breakdown of his pitch mix compared to his seasonal averages;

  • Cutter Usage: 35.1% last start (highest mark of the season), 22.7% on the year
  • Sinker Usage: 10.3% last start (third-lowest mark of the season), 17.9% on the year
  • Slider Usage: 12.4% last start (second-lowest mark of the season), 19.2% on the year

Luke Weaver, Pittsburgh Pirates - 29% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 4-6%)

Just because Luke Weaver doesn’t have any save opportunities yet doesn’t mean he won’t. He’s pitched extremely well this season and was acquired by the Pirates to be their closer, not any other role. On the year, Weaver has a 25.9% K-rate and has pitched to a 1.8 ERA to boot. Weaver has closer experience and will help your ratios to boot. It’s arguable that he’s the top relief option available right now.

Jackson Jobe, Detroit Tigers - 25% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 5-8%)

We had the long awaited return of Jackson Jobe on Saturday and he pitched extremely well. Across 71 pitches, Jobe fired five scoreless innings and generated nine whiffs. He averaged 98.3 MPH on his fastball, which is up from 96.7 from before his Tommy John surgery. The fastball velocity trend continues as pitchers come back throwing harder post surgery.

Jobe had the Giants chase nearly 40% of the pitches he threw, which typically translates to more swing-and-miss and more strikeouts. As the season progresses, Jobe will take on a heavier workload and will eventually become much more viable in quality start formats.

Sean Manaea, New York Mets - 22% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 5-7%)

After a bad start to the year, Sean Manaea has completely turned things around in the best way possible. He’s fired off three consecutive quality starts and has four over his last five outings. He’s struck out seven batters twice over his last four and six-plus in three of five. His swinging strikes are trending upwards, notching 11.2% or higher in three of four.

His first 14 outings this year were in relief and his last 10 have been as a starter. As a starter, Manaea has pitched to a 3.79 ERA compared to 5.02 as a relief pitcher. Manaea has a really good upcoming schedule pitching today against the Pirates, his next outing against a depleted Nationals lineup, and then the Padres.

Steven Cruz, Kansas City Royals - 5% Rostered on Yahoo! Fantasy (FAAB - 1-2%)

If you’re dumpster diving for saves Steven Cruz could very well be your best option at this point. He’s notched three saves since July 22nd, which is solid. He did pitch in the eighth inning on Saturday, but the Royals deployed him against the heart of the Cubs order, so he clearly works best in a saves+holds league, but is still going to lead them in saves moving forward.

Cruz has pitched well since the All-Star break notching a 2.31 ERA across 11.2 IP. His strikeouts have actually dipped lately but for the year, but he has a career-high 27.5% K-rate this season. His previous high was 24.2% and that was 2023.