Top Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 4 (2026)

The waiver wire is often loaded in April. 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.

Sam Antonacci (2B, 3B – CWS): 7% Rostered

The White Sox made two big moves last week by calling up two of their best prospects, Noah Schultz and Sam Antonacci. Schultz is already rostered in almost 50% of leagues after a two-start week that included an incredible Sunday performance. Meanwhile, Antonacci remains readily available despite a very good fantasy ceiling.

Antonacci has a 60-grade hit tool, good speed, some pop and plays for a team with limited depth. The White Sox offense is not good, but they have improved this season. If he can nab the leadoff spot currently occupied by a streaky Andrew Benintendi, there is a lot to like.

The White Sox traded away Lenyn Sosa and opened up an everyday role for Antonacci. While this may not last if he does not produce, the lefty hitter should play every day given his skill set. Think of him as a poor man’s Nico Hoerner, with outfield and middle-infield eligibility.

Oswald Peraza (2B, 3B – LAA): 16% Rostered

The former Yankees infielder is raking in Anaheim (Los Angeles) this past week. Oswald Peraza is slashing .360/.448/.800 across the past eight games, with three home runs, six runs, six RBI and two stolen bases. He has struck out just four times in this span of 29 plate appearances, while walking three times.

Peraza struggled to stay healthy at times during his Yankees career and was inconsistent in the Majors from 2023 to 2025. He produced a grotesque 43 wRC+ and -1.1 fWAR in 162 games during this time. Fortunately, he is only 25 years old and at full strength this season. The power will simmer down soon, but his improved plate discipline could stick. Peraza was a quality hitting prospect in New York and possessed good fielding skills.

If he keeps this production steady, Peraza should be an everyday player with five-category production for a solid MLB offense.

Josh Jung (3B – TEX): 15% Rostered

Josh Jung has had some of the worst luck in recent years. In 2021, he suffered a stress fracture in his left foot during spring training. In 2022, he tore his labrum while lifting weights, also during spring training. In 2023, he fractured his thumb and required season-ending surgery. In 2024, he missed spring training with a calf strain, then fractured his right wrist in season and needed a procedure after returning to alleviate tendon issues in his hand. In 2025, he did not miss much time but was injured early in the season as a result of a broken bat lacerating his finger.

Somehow, Jung has already been hurt this season. He suffered an abductor strain during spring training. Luckily, this was early in the process, and he did not deal with any lingering issues or setbacks. Jung looks like the Jung we witnessed break out in 2023 with 23 home runs, 75 runs, 70 RBI and a .266 average. This version of Jung is an everyday player in the heart of a good offense at a shallow position (third base).

While it is still very early, Jung should be rostered in 12+ team points leagues or category leagues with batting average. On-base percentage (OBP) leagues can ignore him outside of deeper formats unless this improved plate discipline sustains or his power spikes.

Troy Johnston (OF – COL): 6%

The Rockies have found a diamond in the rough IN Troy Johnston. He is an older rookie at 28, but posted a 109 wRC+ in 44 games with the Marlins last season while underperforming his expected stats. Johnston currently has a 139 wRC+ in 19 games, with two home runs, seven runs, 10 RBI and a .323/.382/.516 slash line.

Rockies hitters have an intrinsic boost to their fantasy profile due to the conditions at Coors Field. Johnston has taken advantage thus far in colder months and could really break out as the weather heats up. Johnston has a good hitting profile with his contact ability, plate discipline and moderate power. His defense is lackluster, but the Rockies are fine with that while playing him at first base and in the outfield.

Shallower leagues should ignore Johnston for now, but 12+ team leagues in need of an average bump and Coors Field series upside should consider rostering him.

Carmen Mlodzinski (SP – PIT): 9%

The Pirates are not just good, but deep, especially in their rotation. Carmen Mlodzinski is a former second-round pick (31 overall) who has a career 3.10 ERA and is finally entrusted with a rotation job. He has a 1.77 ERA, 3.10 xERA, 3.57 xFIP and 3.65 SIERA through 20.1 innings this season.

Even with his pedigree and production, Mlodzinski is probably the Pirates’ fourth-best starting pitcher. That is not an indictment of him, but a reminder of their talent. He struggled with consistency in previous starting opportunities, yet should have a solid leash this season. The Pirates are ramping up former top prospect Jared Jones, but he might not have a full-time role this season if the rotation continues performing as well as it has.

This week’s two-start schedule is a great time to take a chance on Mlodzinski. The Rangers are a tough matchup, but the Brewers are vulnerable without stars Christian Yelich and Jackson Chourio.

Keider Montero (SP – DET): 10%

Despite pitching well below average through his first two seasons, Keider Montero’s 3.31 ERA this year is backed by a 1.88 xERA, 3.59 xFIP and 3.41 SIERA. It is still very early, but Montero could be a valuable fantasy starting pitcher for the next few weeks.

The Tigers should help him accrue wins, while his improved velocity and command are worth speculating on. Montero’s 20.6% K-BB rate thus far would double his career average, and his 3.2% walk rate is tied with Yoshinobu Yamamoto for sixth in baseball among pitchers with at least 10 innings this season.

Montero has been excellent to start the 2026 season and lines up for two starts this week.

Bryan Baker (RB – TB): 30%

Bryan Baker is a surprise closer this season. He was acquired via trade last season, but he only earned one save in 31 games for the Rays. Pete Fairbanks was the primary closer, but he is gone. A true successor was not announced, which led to speculation between Griffin Jax and Edwin Uceta. Uceta suffered a shoulder injury in the spring, leading many to pronounce Jax as the closer. Jax proceeded to struggle in his first few outings, leading to Baker in the ninth inning.

Jax is being used throughout games as a fireman, while Uceta’s shoulder continues to nag him, and the Rays’ other relievers are not as “high leverage” as Baker. Baker has four saves through nine outings and should carry on the closer role for the foreseeable future. His 4.32 ERA appears concerning, but it is backed by a 2.67 xERA, 3.36 xFIP and 3.19 SIERA.

Baker should be rostered in most leagues that utilize saves, especially if your team can start more than two relievers at once.

Brad Keller (RP – PHI): 17%

With Jhoan Duran sidelined due to a strained oblique, Brad Keller takes over as the Phillies’ presumed closer for the next few weeks. The Phillies are likely to take an extremely careful approach with the star reliever as he heals from one of the more annoying injuries for any baseball player (Duran is not at risk of losing his role if Keller dominates in his time as the closer).

Keller has transformed from a mediocre starter to an elite reliever over the past two seasons. He has a 2.30 ERA, 2.75 xERA, 3.29 xFIP and 2.83 SIERA in 78.1 innings since 2025. He was a high-leverage reliever with the Cubs last year, and carries over that role into his first season with the Phillies.

Keller’s improvement is largely tied to a jump in fastball velocity as a reliever. He averaged between 93 and 94 miles per hour (MPH_ as a starter, while averaging 97 MPH as a reliever. This jump, along with increased change-up usage (and velocity), has restarted his career.

Keller’s 4.15 ERA through nine games can be ignored. He should be rostered in every league with saves until Duran’s return.