Austin Lowell | Sun, May 10th 2026, 9:42am EDT

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups by Category (Week 7)

At this point in the season, roster management becomes less about big swings and more about precision. Targeting category-specific help can be the difference between climbing the standings or treading water. Whether you’re chasing ratios, power or speed, this week’s fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups offer a mix of high-floor contributors and upside plays worth your attention.

While most of these players will contribute across multiple categories, their primary value comes from the one they’re listed under. I rarely repeat players from week to week, so it’s not a bad idea to read previous articles to see if any of those players are still available.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups by Category

Here’s a deeper look at the top pickups by category. All players listed are rostered in 50% or fewer of Yahoo leagues.

ERA

Michael McGreevy (SP – STL): 30%

I can’t ignore Michael McGreevy any longer. Despite his looming battle in Sacramento against the A’s, he’s still worth snagging off the waiver wire. The metrics will tell you no, but that is mainly because McGreevy doesn’t strike out many hitters. A 2.18 ERA through eight starts is nothing to scoff at, however, and fantasy managers would do themselves a favor if they took the gamble.

McGreevy doesn’t rely on overpowering hitters, but he does excel at weak contact and getting ground balls. He mixes seven different pitches effectively, which helps him keep hitters off balance and the ball in the yard. He also rarely gives up a free pass, evident by his low 1.99 BB/9.

The Cardinals hurler has now delivered five quality starts and just shut down both the Dodgers and Padres in back-to-back outings. Even with some inevitable regression coming, he profiles as the type of arm who can quietly aid your ratios long term.

WHIP

Foster Griffin (SP, RP – WSH): 50%

Foster Griffin spent the past three years pitching in Japan’s highest affiliate league, the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization (NPB). There, he was able to fine-tune his craft and wrapped up his final season with a tidy 1.62 ERA and 0.95 WHIP.

The NPB isn’t exactly the Major Leagues, but pitchers who perform that well there often continue to thrive here. And that’s exactly what Griffin has done.

Through eight starts stateside, Griffin has produced a minuscule 2.12 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. He’s also amassed four wins, four quality starts and 42 strikeouts.

Griffin throws seven different pitches, with six of them resulting in a positive run value. He leads with his cutter, and the results speak for themselves, with an opposing batting average of .195. He also keeps his free passes to an acceptable amount at 2.89/9. His line-drive rate is also low at 17%.

Griffin won’t strike out the world, but he does keep hitters off balance. With such a controlled repertoire, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Nationals’ ace continue to limit base runners at around one per inning. As an added bonus, he offers dual starting pitcher/relief pitcher eligibility, which allows you to get starter volume at the relief pitcher position in head-to-head (H2H) leagues.

Strikeouts

Robby Snelling (SP – MIA): 29%

If you’re chasing strikeouts, Robby Snelling is one of the better upside plays available. The left-hander has legitimate swing-and-miss stuff, and when he’s locating, he can pile up the strikeouts in a hurry.

Snelling was a dominant force down on the farm, racking up strikeouts with ease, the past few seasons. His 1.86 ERA and 40% strikeout rate in Triple-A this season were good enough to rank Snelling as the top pitching performer in Triple-A so far by FanGraphs.

The Marlins prospect didn’t have the best stuff in his debut, but you have to believe better days are coming for the curveball specialist. Snelling’s worth the risk because of the enormous upside he retains.

Wins

Logan Henderson (SP – MIL): 30%

Wins are often about context as much as performance, and Logan Henderson finds himself in a favorable one. Pitching for a competitive Brewers team gives him a consistent chance to come away with victories, even if he’s not dominating every start.

Henderson profiles as a steady, innings-capable arm who can keep his team in games. That’s often all you need when the offense and bullpen can handle the rest.

Henderson has been nasty when given the opportunity this season, registering a striking 33% K-BB ratio over two starts. His strikeouts were also enormous in the minors this year, with a 35.6% strikeout rate.

If Henderson can keep walks in check, the runs allowed should stay low, allowing for victories. Henderson’s an excellent option for managers looking to chip away at the wins category without taking on much risk.

Saves

Rico Garcia (RP – BAL): 29%

With Ryan Helsley still on the mend, the Orioles have turned to unsuspecting relief ace Rico Garcia to close out games. The veteran has been freakishly impossible to hit this year, allowing just one hit through 17 innings.

That one hit was a home run, but it’s the only run Garcia has given up all season. He has struck out 19 while walking just six and is an obvious choice if you’re looking for saves in the short term.

Home Runs

Spencer Jones (OF – NYY): 31%

Spencer Jones is the definition of a power upside play. At 6-foot-7, he generates elite raw power. When he connects, the ball tends to travel a long way. That alone makes him worth a speculative add.

There are legitimate concerns about contact, which could impact his long-term role — especially with Giancarlo Stanton‘s return not too far off. But in the interim, Jones has an opportunity to make an impact.

The production speaks for itself — 35 home runs last season and already 11 in just 33 games this season. If Jones can even maintain a passable contact rate, the power output should play.

Yankee fans have been clamoring for quite some time for Jones to be brought up, and now he’s finally getting his opportunity. He’s an exciting high-risk, high-reward add for managers chasing homers.

RBI

Bryce Eldridge (1B – SFG): 12%

Bryce Eldridge is just getting started, but the early signs are encouraging. His first career home run came this past weekend, and it’s likely the first of many given his power profile.

Batting fifth in the lineup puts him in an ideal spot for RBI production immediately. He’ll have opportunities with runners on base, and his natural strength gives him the ability to capitalize on those chances.

Like most young hitters, there may be some adjustment periods, but the role and skill set align well for run production. If you’re looking for a longer-term RBI contributor with upside, the Giants’ top prospect is a name to get ahead of.

Runs

Brooks Lee (2B, 3B, SS – MIN): 38%

Brooks Lee’s development hasn’t been entirely linear, but he looks like a player who has finally settled in. Now in his third season, Lee is turning into a reliable offensive contributor for the Twins.

Batting second against right-handed pitching gives Lee consistent opportunities to score. He’s getting on base at a higher clip and hitting in front of run producers, which is exactly what you want when targeting runs.

What makes Lee especially valuable is his versatility. He contributes across multiple categories and qualifies at several positions, making him an easy fit on most rosters. For the season, Lee is sitting pretty with a 17/5/23/2/.267 stat line, and he has been even better lately. If he continues this trajectory, he won’t be available for long.

Stolen Bases

Ryan Waldschmidt (OF – ARI): 9%

Ryan Waldschmidt steps into a clear opportunity after the Diamondbacks moved on from Alek Thomas. As one of their top prospects, he’s expected to get every chance to prove he belongs, taking over as the everyday center fielder.

Waldschmidt’s appeal sits across many categories, but his speed should continue to play in the Majors. Waldschmidt stole 29 bases in the minors last season and was already up to six this season before his call-up. With Arizona having a history of aggressive base running, Waldschmidt should have the green light more often than not.

The former Kentucky star has all the tools to contribute across the board. There may be some growing pains along the way, but the Diamondbacks are invested in his development. In deeper leagues, he’s a strong upside play for stolen bases with plenty more to offer.

Batting Average

Zack Gelof (2B, OF – ATH): 7%

Zack Gelof has come alive recently, scattering 11 hits over his last 10 games. During that span, the former top prospect produced a healthy .324 average to go along with two homers, two steals, seven runs and seven RBI.

Gelof has been slightly injury-prone to start his career, but he has shown glimpses of greatness when on the field. In his rookie campaign in 2023, Gelof produced a 14/14 season in just 69 games. He then followed that up with a 17-home run, 25-stolen-base campaign.

I’m placing Gelof in the batting average category. Besides his increase in hard-hit rate and pitches he has squared up, Gelof has cut his strikeout rate by over 20%. That is a significant improvement. His line drive rate sits at a fine 23.1%, and he’s pushed his contact rate up to 72%.

Now fully healthy and with a bit more experience under his belt, Gelof could be in for a banner year as a five-category contributor. He was once a highly touted prospect and seems to have now settled into his role.

I like Gelof better than another popular pickup this week, Ezequiel Duran, for long-term production. He’s a sneaky good middle-infielder pickup.

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

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