Happy Saturday everyone. For this week’s piece, I’ve unearthed 13 solid waiver wire targets for the upcoming period. With so many new faces, there should be something for everyone. Injuries are beginning to mount and prospects are getting promoted, making this a pivotal point in the baseball season. Get your FAAB fantasy baseball waiver wire wallet ready, because a few of these guys won’t come cheap.
Let’s get right to it. All players listed are rostered in less than 55% of Yahoo leagues and have never been mentioned here before (well, almost all of them). I rarely repeat players so it’s always a good idea to check back to my most recent articles to see if any of those guys are still available as well.
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets (2025)
Without further ado, here are this week’s top 13 fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups.
Kyle Stowers (OF – MIA): 53%
Stowers has settled in nicely in Miami after failing to secure a regular role in Baltimore. He’s also arguably become the Marlins best hitter. The 28-year-old corner outfielder is sporting a robust .303/.375/.504 triple slash entering the weekend. He has been a bit lucky with a few extra balls dropping in for hits, but there’s no denying the massive 19.5 barrel percentage he’s registered and the 52% hard-hit rate.
All those well-struck balls have led to an expected .291 batting average according to Statcast. So even with the lofty strikeout totals, Stowers could maintain his high average. The former Oriole is up to 25 RBIs on the season and makes for a solid addition to any fantasy squad.
Hyeseong Kim (2B, SS – LAD): 24%
With Tommy Edman on the injured list, the Dodgers have turned to the speedy Hyeseong Kim to fill the void. Kim was signed out of Korea this offseason as a glove-first option for the Boys in Blue, but his defense isn’t his only weapon. Kim possesses above-average contact skills and is a plus runner.
Already with two steals to his credit (in just four games), Kim could be an excellent asset for managers chasing speed. He’s also going to score plenty of runs batting at the bottom of the order with Ohtani on deck. As a side note, Kim may be exactly the type of hitter Ohtani managers have been waiting for. Ohtani’s RBI chances have been few and far between this season due to a lack of production from the bottom of the order.
Carson Kelly (C – CHC): 54%
We really can’t ignore Carson Kelly anymore. The home run barrage continued on Monday as the Cubs backstop celebrated Cinco de Mayo with his eighth bomb of the year. Kelly’s not only hitting homers, he’s collecting base hits as well. The thirty-one-year-old catcher is hitting .348 with a .488 on-base percentage. And did I mention he’s got 23 RBIs already? Kelly’s currently second in terms of fantasy production for catchers, trailing only Cal Raleigh, with Logan O’Hoppe a distant third.
Daniel Schneemann (2B, 3B, SS, OF – CLE): 24%
Since Tuesday, Daniel Schneemann has been hitting in the 2-hole for the Guardians. Batting in the pivotal role, Schneemann has gone three for eight, with a home run and four runs scored. Since becoming a full-time starter for the club back in late April, Schneemann has been hot at the dish, hitting over .300 while launching three home runs. He’s also collected seven RBI and eight runs scored during that span.
The 28-year-old Jack of all trades has covered nearly every position on the diamond, allowing him to qualify almost everywhere. His Statcast page is also deeply favorable with his eye-catching 20% barrel rate (98th percentile) and .573 xSLG (92nd percentile) leading the way. He also walks a ton (11.3% BB rate) and grades higher than 70% of the league in sprint speed.
Schneemann did finish with a .984 OPS last year in Triple-A, so the breakout isn’t completely out of left field. The Guardians have a knack for developing these types of players, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him continue his high level of play the rest of the season.
Cade Horton (SP – CHC): 20%
Horton’s been nearly unhittable in Triple-A this year, allowing just 12 hits and four runs over 29 innings (six starts). The former seventh overall pick in the draft has a clear path to start with Chicago’s top two arms going down with injury. If he can keep the nerves in check and pitch even remotely close to his ability, the Cubs’ top pitching prospect should stick around for a while. He’s worth a look in most leagues.
Dane Myers (OF – MIA): 10%
With Griffin Conine out for the season, Dane Myers is now getting a chance to play every day. Myers’ name should ring a bell as he debuted back in 2023 with a ridiculous 16 for 36 performance (.444 BA). A hot commodity off the fantasy baseball waiver wire then, quickly flipped to a drop candidate a few weeks later as his production fell far below league average.
This year, he’s not off to quite the same blistering start, but he has polished his approach, leading to more consistent production. Myers is hitting .342 with three home runs and six steals over 81 plate appearances. Steals are likely his greatest asset, but he can contribute across the board. He lit up the Dodgers over both recent series and has a decent chance at continuing to produce.
J.P. Crawford (SS – SEA): 21%
I’ve been hesitant to add Crawford because we’ve seen this movie before. Crawford teases us with a two-week hot streak, then suddenly goes ice cold. It’s normal for guys to go through lull periods, but Crawford’s seems to come more often than not. He also doesn’t possess a ton of power or speed. That said, Crawford might be evolving into a player you can trust on a week-to-week basis.
Now 30 years old, the former prospect shows great discipline at the plate. He rarely whiffs (17.8%), walks a ton (16%), hits the ball on the sweet spot better than 93% of the league, and he rarely chases pitches outside of the zone (22.9%). Crawford’s exit velo still isn’t great, but with a 12% improvement on where he’s meeting the bat with the ball, the former first-round pick should be able to continue getting on base at a high clip.
His OBP likely won’t stay above .400 for long, but with all the free passes and line drives he hits, Crawford could be an on-base machine the entire year. He’ll throw in the occasional stolen base and homer as well, making him a fine starting middle infielder for those in leagues that require it.
Tyler Stephenson (C – CIN): 39%
Tyler Stephenson returned late last week, and while he’s not my most exciting add for the period, he’s still worth mentioning. Stephenson had the ability to hit in the middle of the order and regain his status as a run-producing backstop. It may take him a few weeks to get up to speed, but if you’re in search of a catcher or play in a deeper league, Stephensons is a solid addition.
Victor Scott II (OF – STL): 39%
I’ve mentioned Victor Scott before, but if he was dropped in your league, he may be worth taking a second look at. Scott’s greatest asset is easily his speed, as he’s likely to rack up over 40 (possibly 50) steals this season. The batting average may fluctuate, but it seems like he’s got his stroke back as he’s riding an eight-game hitting streak. Scott is deserving of your consideration in most leagues.
Bubba Chandler (SP – PIT): 23%
Bubba Chandler hasn’t received the call yet, but his promotion could be vastly approaching. Carmen Mlodzinski‘s days are numbered with an ERA over six and a WHIP of 1.66. Meanwhile, Chandler continues to mow guys down in Indianapolis, recording an average of 13.18 strikeouts per nine. His ERA is barely above two, and he rarely surrenders home runs or hits for that matter. The Pirates’ top pitching prospect is a must-add for the coming week everywhere he’s available.
Coby Mayo (3B – BAL): 8%
Mayo was called up earlier in the week to help fill an Orioles squad decimated by injuries. While many fans have been calling for Mayo’s promotion, the power-hitting third baseman does strike out a lot, limiting his potential value. Still, the power is real, and he could start mashing before long. He may not stick with the big league club once guys get healthy, but for now, he’s worth a shot for those in deeper leagues. *Mayo was sent down on Friday, but he’s a decent stash candidate in the deepest of leagues.
Porter Hodge (RP – CHC): 17%
It may be time for the Cubs to take a different approach at closer. Ryan Pressley can no longer strike anyone out, and after a historically bad night, his ERA now sits at an unsightly 7.62. He’s also dealt with a lower leg injury, so an IL stint may be just around the corner.
With all that in mind, it’s not a bad idea to stash Porter Hodge now if you’ve got the room. Hodge is far from perfect himself, but he does strike out a batter per inning and generates plenty of ground balls. He’s likely to be the next man up for a good Chicago team, so now’s the time to get him.
Clayton Kershaw (SP – LAD): 30%
Let’s close out with an old reliable – Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw has been a shell of his former self lately as he’s dealt with injuries in the twilight of his career. However, the man is still serviceable as a fantasy arm. He not only plays for one of the best teams in baseball (he’ll get you wins), but he rarely walks anyone and seldom has a blow-up game.
Kersh likely won’t pitch past the fifth inning, but a two earned run performance with a 1.00 WHIP and five strikeouts goes a long way in non-shallow leagues. Especially if he’s earning the victory.
The recently turned 37-year-old looked great in his most recent outing, tossing six no-hit innings. The outing did come against low-level hitters, but Kershaw hit his spots and looked spry as ever.
Dave Roberts was recently quoted as saying Kershaw may only need one more rehab start before being activated to take on the Angels. Gone are the days of the future Hall of Famer pitching deep into games, but Kershaw should be efficient enough to be a value in mixed leagues going forward.
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Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.
