We have completed another week of baseball action and are ready for our next waiver wire free agent acquisition budget (FAAB) run. It’s too early to overreact to some studs who may have gotten off to slow starts, but it is also time to start taking chances on others who may have gotten off to fast starts. Early in the season, we’ll be taking some chances on some players who need to be rostered in most formats.
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire & FAAB Targets
Each week, I will highlight a few players to target in your weekly waiver wire FAAB process, but know there are many others available and, more importantly, others that may be better fitting for your teams. If you have any questions, please ask me on Twitter (@bdentrek).
Note: We use Yahoo for player percentages and recommend players rostered in no more than 60% of leagues.
Hitters
Rostered: 42%
Suggested Bid: 12%
After a horrible start to the season that started some early rumblings of a trip back to Triple-A, Andy Pages has turned things on and seems like a lock for the Dodgers’ lineup and fantasy lineups. Pages entered Friday hitting safely in 10 of his previous 12 games, including an eight-game hitting streak.
Pages is hitting .467 over the 12 games with four home runs, 10 runs scored, 12 RBI and three steals. He’s only striking out 14.3% of the time with an 84.2% contact rate and 92.3% Z-contact. Pages is on a roll and has 20/20 potential with the ability to score a lot of runs in the Dodgers’ lineup. He should be rostered in 12-team and deeper leagues.
Rostered: 32%
Suggested Bid: 9%
There was a lot of hype behind Victor Scott entering the 2024 season, but that did not work out, and Scott spent most of the season at Triple-A. This year, he earned a starting job out of spring training, showcasing some of the skills many have been waiting for.
Scott entered Friday hitting .271 on the season with two home runs and 10 stolen bases. Scott is known for his speed, with 94 stolen bases in the Minors in 2023. If Scott continues to play daily, Scott could be in store for 50+ steals to go with 10+ home runs. He should be rostered in 12-team and deeper leagues.
Rostered: 11%
Suggested Bid: 6%
Kyle Stowers was one of the primary pieces traded to the Marlins last year in the Trevor Rogers trade. His time with the Marlins in 2024 was not great, but he may have learned a few things as he has come out hitting in 2025.
Entering Friday, Stowers is hitting .323 with four home runs, 15 runs scored, 19 RBI and two stolen bases. Stowers has showcased an outstanding 17.9% barrel rate and 49.3% hard-hit rate to go with a .907 OPS. Stowers may regress some with a .429 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) and 27.9% strikeout rate. He’s hitting now, though, and is worth rostering in 12-team and deeper leagues.
Pitchers
Rostered: 44%
Suggested Bid: 9%
Reese Olson is having a strong season and has been throwing well over his last three starts. He has allowed three earned runs over his last three starts with 19 strikeouts over 18 innings pitched. He has a 3.55 ERA on the season with a 3.81 SIERA and a 23.4% strikeout rate.
Olson faces a struggling Rangers lineup next week, and he will be serviceable more times than not this season, especially while he’s throwing this well.
Rostered: 33%
Suggested Bid: 17%
Tony Gonsolin returned from the injured list (IL) to make his first start of the season this week. He threw six nice innings, allowing three earned runs with nine strikeouts and zero walks. He produced an impressive 45.5% O-Swing% with an outstanding 22.1% SwStr%.
It was Gonsolin’s first start since 2023. He was an ace in 2022 with a 2.14 ERA and 16.9% K-BB rate. Gonsolin is a solid starter who gets a great matchup versus the Marlins next week.
Rostered: 13%
Suggested Bid: 11%
Lucas Giolito returned from the IL this past week to make his first start since 2023. He threw six strong innings, allowing three earned runs with seven strikeouts and two walks.
Giolito struggled with command in his rehab starts, so that’s something to monitor, but he’s worth rostering with his two-step next week versus the Rangers and Royals.
Closers
Rostered: 54%
Suggested Bid: 16%
The Reds started the season with a question as to who would take over as the team’s closer, with Alexis Diaz struggling and losing his job. Emilio Pagan was one of the options, but he ran away with the job.
Pagan has eight saves on the season to go with 14 strikeouts over 14.1 innings pitched. He has a 24% K-BB rate to go with a 14.2% SwStr%. Pagan is the closer to roster in Cincinnati and should be rostered in most formats.
Rostered: 48%
Suggested Bid: 22%
David Bednar was once one of the most reliable closers in baseball, but struggles last season and to start this season saw him lose his job and head to Triple-A. He worked on his mechanics in the Minors and has returned looking like his former self.
Bednar picked up his third save of the season on Wednesday with nine strikeouts over seven innings pitched. He has only given up one run over his last seven outings and appears to have regained his closing duty for the Pirates.
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