Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups by Category (2025)

It’s important to have a plan when scouring the fantasy baseball waiver wire or placing your weekly free agent acquisition budget (FAAB) bids. Below are some players rostered in fewer than 50% of fantasy baseball leagues to consider as we near the fantasy playoffs.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

Runs & Batting Average

Sal Frelick (OF – MIL) | 35% on Yahoo; 27% on ESPN

Sal Frelick has been a catalyst for the Brewers’ offense. He’s slashing .294/.356/.410 with 58 runs, nine home runs, 47 RBI and 18 steals. He has one of the lowest strikeout rates in the league at 12.8%, and his sprint speed is in the 87th percentile, helping lead to an above-average expected batting average.

Since moving Frelick to the leadoff spot, the Brewers are a league-best 42-12. They play eight games next week, five at the Cubs and three versus the Giants.

Home Runs

Daulton Varsho (OF – TOR) | 14% on Yahoo; 9% on ESPN

Daulton Varsho’s power has been on full display this season. In 36 games, he’s slashing .248/.306/.620 with 23 runs, 13 home runs and 34 RBI.

Varsho has always done a good job of pulling the ball in the air, and this season, he set a new career-high max exit velocity. The Blue Jays have the eighth-best hitter matchups next week, and they’re all against right-handed pitchers.

RBI

Noelvi Marte (3B – CIN) | 25% on Yahoo; 19% on ESPN

Noelvi Marte has been heating up for the Reds. On the season, he’s slashing .292/.328/.510 with 28 runs, nine home runs, 37 RBI and seven steals in 54 games.

Marte has been batting primarily in the six hole, and his 19% strikeout rate should help him capitalize on the RBI opportunities he sees. His max exit velocity is one of the best in the sport, showcasing the talent Marte has.

Stolen Bases

Jakob Marsee (OF – MIA) | 47% on Yahoo; 19% on ESPN

Jakob Marsee had another huge game last week. His two-homer, seven-RBI game added to an impressive start to his MLB career. In his first 16 games, he’s batting .353 with eight runs, three home runs, 13 RBI and six steals.

This level of production is unsustainable. However, Marsee continues to keep his strikeouts down and is worth a gamble late in the season.

Wins

Matthew Liberatore (SP – STL) | 21% on Yahoo; 19% on ESPN

Matthew Liberatore has two solid matchups next week. The first game is against the Marlins, with the Rays being the second matchup. Both teams are in the bottom six of wOBA against right-handed pitching.

Liberatore has seemingly been wearing down as he continues to add to a career-high 117 innings. He’s a risky play as he’s been limited to no more than 85 pitches in his last four outings. However, if he can be efficient enough to complete five innings, he has a chance for a positive decision with the two-start week.

Strikeouts

Brady Singer (SP – CIN) | 45% on Yahoo; 32% on ESPN

Brady Singer is a sneaky decent strikeout pitcher. He gets the Angels next time out, and their 25.8% strikeout rate is second-worst against right-handed pitchers.

Singer has four starts with eight or more strikeouts in his past nine outings. He also has four starts in that timeframe with four, three, one and two strikeouts. But the talent is there, and the Angels are a great matchup.

ERA & WHIP

Matt Brash (RP – SEA) | 11% on Yahoo; 4% on ESPN

Matt Brash has the third-best ERA among pitchers with at least 30 innings. In his 32.1 innings, he has a 1.39 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 10.3 K/9. His xERA is one of the best in the league at 2.78, and his average exit velocity given up is the best of his career. He’s traded some of his strikeouts for more ground balls, and it’s working perfectly.

Saves

Bryan Abreu (RP – HOU) | 49% on Yahoo; 28% on ESPN

Bryan Abreu steps into the closer’s role with Josh Hader landing on the injured list (IL). On the season, he has a 1.61 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, one save and a 13.5 K/9. He’s had a sub-2.00 ERA in two of the past three seasons and has long been one of the best set-up men in the league. He’s a top-10 closer going forward.

Articles MLB Streamers Waiver Wire MLB Weekly Advice Sal Frelick Daulton Varsho Noelvi Marte Jakob Marsee Matthew Liberatore Brady Singer Matt Brash Bryan Abreu Josh Hader