Austin Lowell | Sun, Apr 5th 2026, 9:41am EDT

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups by Category (Week 2)

Week 1 is in the books, and what a week it was. Multiple rookies, including several of the game’s top prospects, took the league by storm, while a few familiar veterans came roaring back to life. Nearly all of the household names and shiny new toys are already rostered, but thankfully, there’s still plenty of value available with this week’s fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups.

I’ll be with you all season long, highlighting players 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 bases section for a targeted pickup. While most of these players will contribute across multiple categories, their primary value comes from the category they’re listed under.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups by Category

All hitters listed are rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues, and pitchers in fewer than 60%. Without further ado, here are this week’s best waiver wire pickups by category:

RBI

Carlos Correa (3B, SS – HOU)

Carlos Correa is consistently batting fourth for the red-hot Astros. With Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez setting the table at the top of the lineup, Correa is regularly coming to the plate with runners on base. He already has seven RBI to his credit and should have no problem continuing that trend with a trip to Colorado coming up.

The Gold Glove veteran is off to a strong start, hitting .276 with a home run and five runs scored. He’s in an excellent position to keep producing, and with a favorable schedule ahead, he’s worth adding in nearly all league formats. Correa also gained third base eligibility in most leagues this week.

Batting Average

Mickey Moniak (OF – COL)

Ryan O’Hearn was my recommendation for batting average last week, and he did not disappoint. Now let’s see if Mickey Moniak can keep the good times rolling.

Moniak briefly missed time with a finger injury this spring but was activated again on Friday. Now with a slew of right-handed pitchers coming up on the schedule, Moniak should see his name penciled into the three hole for the Rockies regularly. The former No. 1 overall pick crushes righties (.857 OPS in 2025) and is even better at home against them (.948 OPS).

After the favorable home stretch, Moniak heads to San Diego, where he should continue to produce. He’s scheduled to face Randy Vasquez, Walker Buehler and German Marquez — hardly a formidable group.

It may take him a week or two to fully regain his timing, but the upside is real. Last season, Moniak posted 24 home runs, nine steals and a .270 average in just 461 plate appearances. He could be on the verge of a similar campaign.

Runs

Miguel Vargas (1B, 3B – CWS)

Miguel Vargas had a bit of a slow start to begin the season, but he’s been taking matters into his own hands lately. Stealing bases in back-to-back games has led to four runs over the last two games, upping his total to six on the season.

Vargas typically hits third in the lineup, and his strong walk rate (10.7%) helps him get on base consistently for the hitters behind him. While playing for the White Sox isn’t ideal, the lineup has improved enough to give him solid run-scoring opportunities.

Vargas scored 80 runs last season in just 138 games, and there’s a good chance he surpasses that total this season.

Home Runs

Jake Bauers (1B, OF – MIL)

Jake Bauers went 0-for-7 in the doubleheader yesterday, but he had been swinging a hot bat before that. With Andrew Vaughn sidelined, Bauers is in line for regular playing time.

While Bauers struggles against left-handed pitching, the Brewers tend to maximize their players’ strengths, and Bauers is no exception. The 30-year-old posted a 114 wRC+ and a .753 OPS last season, and is off to a similar start this year with two home runs, a .273 batting average and a pair of steals.

Batting in the middle of the lineup, Bauers offers solid power potential and is a worthwhile pickup in most formats.

Stolen Bases

Garrett Mitchell (OF – MIL)

Sticking with the Brewers, Garrett Mitchell is an exciting option. While swing-and-miss is a big part of his game, he generates elite contact when he connects — and more importantly, he’s a major threat on the basepaths.

Mitchell already has three stolen bases, along with 11 RBI, and is hitting over .300. The average likely won’t hold given his strikeout rate is north of 33%, but should maintain a high batting average on balls in play (BABIP) thanks to his hard contact.

Mitchell’s underlying metrics this season are eye-popping. He has registered an average exit velocity north of 98 miles per hour (MPH), a top-tier swing speed (over 76 MPH) and a sprint speed in the top 10%. Even with all the strikeouts, Mitchell can contribute across multiple categories, with stolen bases leading the way.

WHIP

Eric Lauer (SP, RP – TOR)

Eric Lauer is an excellent addition this week and should stick in the rotation for the time being. The Blue Jays are dealing with multiple injuries to their pitching staff, and Lauer has stepped up to help stabilize things.

Lauer pitched well for Toronto last season, posting a 3.18 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP over 104.2 innings, with nearly a strikeout per inning. He picked up right where he left off in his season debut, striking out nine of the 20 batters he faced. Facing the imposing Athletics lineup, Lauer held them to just three hits, one walk and two runs over 5.1 innings.

With upcoming matchups against the White Sox and Twins, Lauer is a strong streaming option with upside.

ERA

Jose Soriano (SP – LAA)

Jose Soriano has yet to allow a run this season, and he’s done it against tough competition. Shutting down both the Astros and Cubs on the road is no easy feat. His WHIP sits at an impressive 0.83, and he has struck out 11 batters over 12 innings. He is also 2-0.

While Soriano had his ups and downs last season, he showed glimpses of his talent two years ago when he fished with a 2.27 ERA over his final six games. Soriano, now in his fourth season in the Majors, could be the formidable arm the Angels have been looking for to anchor their staff. He’s a solid play in most leagues for his two-start week coming up.

Wins

Lance McCullers Jr. (SP – HOU)

Lance McCullers Jr. logging seven innings in his season debut is an extremely encouraging sign. Health has been the biggest question mark for him, but if he’s able to go deep into games, the upside is massive.

The Astros’ offense is firing on all cylinders, which should give him plenty of win opportunities. If he stays healthy, a 14-win season is well within reach.

McCullers was dominant in his opener, posting a 37.5% strikeout rate while allowing just one run. His fastball velocity has ticked back up above 92 MPH, and he’s made some noticeable adjustments to his pitch mix that paid immediate dividends.

The schedule ahead isn’t easy, but if he continues pitching like this, he won’t be on the waiver wire for long.

Strikeouts

Emerson Hancock (SP, RP – SEA)

Emerson Hancock’s stuff was absolutely electric in his season debut. I won’t get into too many details, but to put it simply, the horizontal break he achieved on his pitches was nearly off the charts. The vertical drop on his sinker was also downright nasty. Even the opposing announcers couldn’t believe the amount of movement he was getting on his pitches. It was a shockingly masterful performance.

Hancock was once thought of as a top prospect, but he fizzled out after a handful of mediocre minor league seasons. Now, as if reborn, with a few tinks to his delivery and pitch selection, Hancock looks like a bona fide ace. He sure looked like one when he completed six near-perfect innings in his debut. Other than the zero hits allowed, Hancock reached an astronomical 47.4% strikeout rate in that game. He should be rostered everywhere.

Saves

Lucas Erceg (RP – KCR)

Jordan Romano was a strong addition last week and is looking like the potential full-time closer for the Angels. This week, I was considering Paul Sewald, but his long-term outlook is unclear, and watching him in the ninth makes me nervous. Instead, I’m going to go with Lucas Erceg as the preferred option here.

Carlos Estevez entered the season as the presumed closer, but his velocity dipped significantly during spring training, and his struggles carried over into the season. Erceg didn’t exactly light the world on fire in spring either, but his stuff remained strong, and it felt like only a matter of time before he got the opportunity to close.

Erceg is still available in about half of all leagues, but there’s a real chance he holds onto the role all season long. If that happens, Erceg could finish as a top-15 or top-12 closer. He’s a must-add wherever saves are a category.

Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.

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