Baseball season is back, and that means weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups by category are officially underway. This marks my sixth season covering waiver wire targets for FantasyPros, and it’s one of my favorite pieces to write because I’m constantly scanning the wire for impact players myself.
I’ll be with you all season long, highlighting players each week who can help in at least one specific category. For example, if your team is scoring plenty of runs and hitting for a strong average but struggling to steal bases, you can scroll directly to the stolen base section for a targeted pickup. While most of these players will contribute across multiple categories, their primary value comes from the one they’re listed under.
Welcome back, everyone—I hope you’re as excited as I am. Let’s get into this week’s fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups by category.
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- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups by Category
All players listed are rostered in 50% or fewer of Yahoo leagues.
Runs — TJ Friedl (OF – CIN)
TJ Friedl is expected to hit leadoff for a much-improved Cincinnati lineup this season. Bolstered by the additions of standout rookie Sal Stewart and power bat Eugenio Suarez, Friedl has a legitimate chance to post strong run totals atop the order.
Friedl is an ideal table-setter. He finished last season with an impressive .364 on-base percentage, which helped him score 87 runs. He also runs extremely well. With better hitters behind him, 100 runs scored is well within reach.
Friedl can also hit for a bit of power and steal a few bases. While a 20/20 season may be unlikely, a 15/15 campaign with a .275 batting average is very realistic.
If you’re looking for a widely available player who can significantly boost your runs scored, Friedl is your guy.
RBIs — Nolan Schanuel (1B – LAA)
This spring, Nolan Schanuel spoke about his offseason work to improve both his bat speed and launch angle—and so far, it seems to be paying off. Schanuel has already launched two homers in the campaign and driven in four runs. He has batted third in all three games for the Angels this season and seems to be locked into the prime RBI spot. Schanuel also comes with the added bonus of producing a solid batting average. With his new mechanics in tow, the Angels’ first-round pick of the 2023 MLB Draft could put up lofty numbers this season.
Home Runs — Jake Burger (1B – TEX)
Jake Burger is a must-add in all leagues everywhere. Reports surfaced in the offseason of him working hard with Texas’s newest hitting coach. He also stated publicly that he felt immense pressure to perform right away last year with a new club, which hindered his performance. He also dealt with some injuries.
This year, Burger seems to be locked in, as he raked in spring and is off to a scorching start (two homers in two games). The Rangers’ first baseman is primed for a 30+ homer season, and with the way he’s hitting, his average could even finish above the .270 mark. I’m kicking myself for missing him in the majority of my drafts. If he’s still available in your league, consider yourself lucky.
Stolen Bases — Nasim Nunez (2B/SS – WAS)
Nasim Nunez may not be an elite hitter, but he gets on base and should see regular playing time. A Rule 5 pick in 2023, Nunez ranks in the top 2% of the league in sprint speed.
He stole 219 bases in the minors and added another 17 in the majors. He also swiped seven more this spring.
Nunez is a switch-hitter whose elite defense should keep him in the lineup consistently. There’s little competition at his position, and no immediate prospect threat pushing for his role.
While he may struggle to hit .250, his excellent walk rates (12 percent in MLB, over 15 percent in MiLB) should provide plenty of opportunities to get on base and run. He’s a strong target in deeper leagues and still a useful one in shallow roto formats as well.
Batting Average — Ryan O’Hearn (1B/OF/DH – PIT)
Ryan O’Hearn hit .281 with Baltimore and San Diego last season. This year, he already looks locked in, collecting two hits on Opening Day.
Long known as a solid platoon bat, O’Hearn made significant strides last year by improving against left-handed pitching—he actually performed better against southpaws than righties. Now with Pittsburgh, he’s expected to play regularly.
With a favorable right-field porch and consistent at-bats, O’Hearn could maintain—or even surpass—his recent production. His batting average has hovered around .280 over the past few seasons, and with his expanded splits, there’s little reason to expect a drop-off.
He’s a strong addition for anyone looking to stabilize their batting average.
ERA — Braxton Ashcraft (SP – PIT)
Braxton Ashcraft is one of my favorite sleeper pitchers this year.
I highlighted him earlier this spring after he posted a 2.16 ERA as a starter, along with more than a strikeout per inning and an elite .587 opponent OPS across eight starts (33.1 innings).
Ashcraft features a nasty five-pitch mix that generates plenty of whiffs. He limits home runs (0.39 HR/9), suppresses barrels (4%), and induces ground balls at a strong 51% rate.
His high-spin rate curveball held hitters to a minuscule .122 average with a 37% whiff rate, while his slider was just as effective, generating weak contact and a 32.4% whiff rate.
If you’re looking to lower your ERA, Ashcraft is an excellent target with real upside.
WHIP — Reynaldo Lopez (SP – ATL)
Reynaldo Lopez turned heads in his season debut, pumping 97 mph and looking fully healthy after shoulder surgery cost him nearly a full year.
The last time Lopez threw without pain, he was dominant. The Braves starter registered an ERA under 2.00 with a WHIP near 1.10. He consistently limited walks (7.7% BB rate since 2021) and holds opponents to a low batting average (.218 innings 2024).
Despite a mediocre spring, Lopez looked sharp in his debut, missing barrels and inducing weak contact. If he stays healthy, he has the potential to deliver strong WHIP production all season.
Strikeouts — Brayan Bello (SP – BOS)
Brayan Bello saw his strikeout rate dip last season, but he looks back on track.
He dominated in his recent outing against Minnesota, striking out seven over six scoreless innings. The 28-year-old right-hander generated 13 swinging strikes on just 69 pitches, good for an impressive 36% CSW rate.
Bello recorded 153 strikeouts over 161.1 innings two years ago, and he has the tools to surpass that mark this season. While a strikeout per inning may be ambitious, he did rack up 17 strikeouts in 14 spring innings.
With his stuff trending back up, Bello is a strong option for boosting strikeouts.
Wins — Jack Leiter (SP – TEX)
I’m going out on a limb here—Jack Leiter is going to be a solid fantasy pitcher this season.
Entering his third year in the majors, Leiter is expected to continue improving his command and control while maintaining his ability to miss bats.
The former No. 2 overall pick began to find his footing in the second half of last season, posting a 3.28 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 26.3% strikeout rate. He also opened the year strong, winning his first two starts.
Leiter finished spring on a high note, throwing four shutout innings against Kansas City. With a two-start week coming up, he’s a strong bet to notch at least one win.
Saves — Jordan Romano (RP – LAA)
There are several bullpen options this week, but Jordan Romano stands out given his early-season performance.
After injuries hit the Angels’ bullpen, Romano stepped into the closer role and hasn’t looked back. He converted his first save on Opening Day against Houston and followed it up with another strong outing the next night.
Romano was a top-tier fantasy closer in 2022 and 2023, and there’s a real chance he returns to that form in Anaheim. While perfection won’t last, he has the skill set to hold onto the role for most of the season.
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Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.
