Kev Mahserejian | Mon, Apr 6th 2026, 7:01am EDT

Top Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 2 (2026)

The waiver wire is often loaded after Week 1. Everyone is excited for the shiny new thing or the hot old thing that might finally have its year. We have you covered from all angles with our top fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups.

Injuries and FOMO (fear of missing out) are real factors when it comes to making lineup decisions. You are often not harming your fantasy team by dropping a steady, boring vet for a league-ready prospect or post-hype player.

Typically, the boring vet you drop can be attained soon after letting go (either via waivers or trade), while that new thing is often a hot commodity. Here are the top fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for the week.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

All players listed are rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues.

Dillon Dingler (C – DET): 23% Rostered

Dillon Dingler’s start to the 2026 season is impressive after undergoing offseason arthroscopic elbow surgery. He is slashing .273/.385/.591 through seven games with two home runs, four runs and seven RBI.

Despite a quiet 2025 season, there was a lot to like in Dingler’s underlying profile. His .326 wOBA ranked 11th among catchers, while his .351 xwOBA ranked sixth. The disparity was significant enough to expect plenty of regression for 2026.

The Tigers’ offense ranked 12th in wRC+ last season, but should be better in 2026 with the addition of top prospect Kevin McGonigle. With this improved environment around Dingler and his potential regression, we could see him take a step up as a quality fantasy baseball catcher.

Cam Smith (OF – HOU): 10% Rostered

The Astros’ patience with Cam Smith may be paying off. Smith played 134 games last season as a rookie, but was subpar as a hitter and fielder. His bat was streaky, and the former third baseman was forced to play outfield regularly after the re-acquisition of Carlos Correa.

Regardless, Smith continued to receive plate appearances. Despite his underperformance, those plate appearances spilled into this season, and he is batting .273, with two home runs, three stolen bases, seven runs and five RBI. Smith is one of the most valuable fantasy bats to start the season and will be playing in Coors Field against the lowly Colorado Rockies to begin this week. Grab him everywhere.

Colt Keith (2B, 3B – DET): 21% Rostered

The Tigers are experimenting with their lineup daily. This has resulted in Colt Keith jumping up from third in the order to leadoff. Both spots are valuable, but the leadoff position is a special spot for fantasy potential. Keith’s approach and plate discipline are a good mix for the spot that provides massive run upside.

The Tigers’ offense is improving yearly, and so is Keith. He is still swapped out for right-handed bats later in games, and at risk of a full platoon, but in leagues of 12 teams or more, a leadoff hitter in a platoon is a good trade-off. That’s especially true with Keith’s potential power jump and the offense behind him.

Garrett Mitchell (OF – MIL): 7% Rostered

Is this the Garrett Mitchell breakout season? We have waited years for the toolsy outfielder to put it together, but it has not occurred yet. Injuries and underperformance have marred the former first-round pick. However, a hot start to the season is a potential sign of things to come.

Mitchell has never played more than 69 games in a season (2022) and played just 29 games between the minors and Majors last season. He is not someone you want to bank on long term, but he is healthy now and producing. With one home run, three steals, 11 RBI, four runs and a .318 average to start the season in a solid lineup, why not take a shot?

Mark Vientos (3B – NYM): 10% Rostered

The Mark Vientos breakout in 2024 did not carry over into 2025. He went from slashing .266/.322/.516 to .233/.289/.413 and falling out of the regular lineup. Even with the departure of Pete Alonso, expectations were low for Vientos this season. Jorge Polanco and Bo Bichette‘s arrival essentially pushed him to the bench, but he is fighting for a regular spot.

Vientos is slashing .476/.522/.714 through 23 plate appearances, with only three strikeouts. His playing time with the roster at full strength is still to be determined, but Juan Soto may miss time due to his calf, while Brett Baty may miss time due to his thumb. Also, if Vientos continues hitting, he could push for a regular spot at someone else’s sake. He is worth adding if your third base spot is weak or if you need a significant power boost.

Casey Mize (SP – DET): 37% Rostered

Casey Mize admitted late in spring training that his feel for pitches was off, yet that has not stopped him from shoving in his first start. He dominated the Arizona Diamondbacks for six innings, with only one run, four hits and two walks allowed. Mize’s nine strikeouts in this start were his third-most ever.

Last season was a step in the right direction for the former first overall draft pick. He posted a quality 3.87 ERA, with a 3.66 xERA,3.97 xFIP and 3.96 SIERA. Last season was Mize’s best to date. He now lines up to face the Twins in Minnesota and the Marlins in Detroit this week. He should be rostered in most leagues for these two starts and potentially held beyond them.

Taj Bradley (SP – MIN): 26% Rostered

Taj Bradley disappointed everyone in 2025. After displaying positive signals for a breakout in 2024 — an 18.5% K-BB, a 3.62 xFIP and a 3.69 SIERA — Bradley posted an egregious 5.05 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. The Rays traded Bradley midseason to the Twins, where his performance further declined. However, the Twins did not give up on him and have potentially reworked him into a quality starter.

Bradley’s average fastball velocity is up to a career-high 97.8 miles per hour (MPH). How long this sustains is to be determined, but it seems to be working after two starts. Bradley has 12 strikeouts and a 0.87 ERA through 10.2 innings. His next two starts come this week against the Tigers in Minnesota and the Blue Jays in Toronto. These will be tough tests, but Bradley is worth the ride in leagues of 12 teams or more for the strikeout upside.

Joe Boyle (SP – TB): 10% Rostered

This is a new Joe Boyle. He has ditched half of his four-seam fastball usage for a new sinker and increased his slider usage. This has resulted in his highest K-BB ever, with two impressive starts thus far, leading to a 3.18 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. Boyle was always a breakout darling, but his general command issues prevented a quality starter from emerging.

This season, he may skip “quality” starter and jump to very good or even great, if the early results have any merit. Boyle’s elite fastball velocity and “stuff” have to be rostered for at least his next three starts against the Cubs, White Sox and Reds.

Riley O’Brien (SP – STL): 32% Rostered

The Cardinals’ bullpen was ambiguous leading up to the season, but Riley O’Brien appears to have a hold on the job at the moment. He has the two most recent saves on the team and two of the three overall. Ryne Stanek earned the team’s first save, but that may have been a one-off situation.

JoJo Romero and Matt Svanson were also in the mix for saves entering the season. Svanson has struggled, while Romero is likely valued earlier in the game to target stacks of lefties. Romero earned eight saves to O’Brien’s six last season, but things can change over an offseason. If O’Brien continues to shut games down, he will be valuable in fantasy baseball as he rolls with the job. Save-only leagues with three or more relief pitcher slots should all roster him.

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