Top Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 7 (2026)

The waiver wire is often loaded in May. 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.

Ryan Waldschmidt (OF – ARI): 9% Rostered

The Diamondbacks called up top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt. He projects to play every day, but is starting at the bottom of the order (typical for rookie hitters).

Luckily, Waldschmidt projects as a potential leadoff bat with his ability to take walks and make solid, consistent contact. He dominated the minor leagues at every level and should be ready to contribute instantly to a Diamondbacks offense in need of a spark.

Waldschmidt is likely more of a well-rounded fantasy hitter than a stud in any particular category. However, on-base percentage (OBP) leagues could benefit from his patient approach. Leagues of 12 teams or more should pick up and hold Waldschmidt until at least the end of May.

Addison Barger (3B, OF – TOR): 28% Rostered

The Blue Jays just activated Addison Barger from the injured list (IL). The 2025 breakout hitter has been off to a slow start in 2026, due to his injury and underperformance at the plate. Barger is slashing .053/.174/.105 in 23 plate appearances and missed significant time with an injury to both ankles.

Nevertheless, Barger is reportedly healthy now and ready to contribute. The Blue Jays seem to trust him enough to immediately slot him back as the two-hitter in their order. This belief is not unfounded after a sophomore season with 21 home runs in 502 plate appearances.

Barger is a talented player at the plate and in the field. If he stays healthy, the offensive production should course correct shortly. He should not be rostered in shallower leagues until the production returns, but 12+ team leagues can take the shot, especially if third base is a need.

Zack Gelof (2B, OF – ATH): 7% Rostered

Zack Gelof is back in our good graces. After a horrendous 2025 season, Gelof is producing and playing regularly. Max Muncy‘s injury opened the door for Gelof, and he has taken it in stride. Gelof has three home runs, two stolen bases, 12 runs, 11 RBI, and a .273 batting average in 61 plate appearances.

Gelof’s strikeout rate (24.6%) is below his breakout 2023 season’s strikeout rate (27.3%), while his ISO is similar. There is only a small sample of 2026 data to work with, but we can be concerned about his .362 wOBA, which is well above his .315 xwOBA. However, the beauty of Athletics hitters is the boost they get in Sacramento’s bandbox stadium.

Gelof should be picked up in deeper formats, with a watchful eye on his continued performance this coming week, along with Muncy’s health.

Brooks Lee (2B, 3B, SS – MIN): 38% Rostered

This was another productive week for Brooks Lee. The former eighth overall draft pick continues to produce significant counting stats while offering multi-position versatility. Lee has five home runs, 17 runs, 23 RBI, two stolen bases and a .278 batting average in 136 plate appearances this season.

Many will point to his .341 wOBA being higher than his .273 xwOBA, but Lee has managed to become a quasi-Isaac Paredes at the plate. His five home runs are “Mickey Mouse” homers, but home runs nonetheless. All five were pulled to the shortest portion of left and right field.

Lee has taken advantage of his switch-hitting ability to pull baseballs in either direction and get “luckier” than the typical hitter. This plan could be thwarted if pitchers adjust to him throughout the season. For now, Lee is someone to ride with in fantasy baseball. He can be picked up in 12+ team leagues and trusted in lineups for as long as he produces.

Robby Snelling (SP – MIA): 29% Rostered

The Marlins called up Robby Snelling after his scorching start to the minor league season. Snelling posted a 1.86 ERA in six starts, with an astounding 40% strikeout rate. While that strikeout rate was met with an inflated 13.6% walk rate, this did not impact Snelling’s peripherals significantly. His 2.94 FIP and 2.66 xFIP were both excellent, especially for a 22-year-old in Triple-A.

Unfortunately, Snelling’s initial MLB start did not go as well as expected. He allowed five hits, four walks and three earned runs in five innings. He posted just two strikeouts in this start, but there is a silver lining. The Washington Nationals rank second in wRC+ against left-handed pitching this year. This may surprise some, given their personnel and expectations entering the season.

Furthermore, this is just one start for an excellent prospect. If Snelling is worth his weight, he will shake it off and reset for his second appearance against the Twins. This matchup is much easier. Even if it were not, Snelling is a talented starting pitcher who should be universally rostered as he earns his first few opportunities.

Keider Montero (SP, RP – DET): 10% Rostered

With Tarik Skubal (elbow) out, the Tigers’ “ace” for the next 2-3 months may be Keider Montero. He has been a gem this season. Despite starting the season in Triple-A, he could be the reason Detroit stays in the playoff race. Framber Valdez and Jack Flaherty are unreliable, while Casey Mize is recovering from a groin injury.

Nevertheless, Montero’s 3.18 ERA is a tad fugazi. This is backed by a 4.60 xFIP and a 4.49 SIERA. Those peripherals, combined with his fantastic 3.34 xERA, suggest he is probably closer to a high-3.00 ERA, which is perfectly fine.

Montero is a trusty streamer, or back-end fantasy piece. He is not a must-have starting pitcher, but he can be trusted against offenses that struggle with home runs or in friendly pitching environments.

Ben Brown (SP, RP – CHC): 9% Rostered

Ben Brown has been too good to keep in the bullpen, but injuries are what really changed his projection for the season. Cade Horton and Matthew Boyd are hurt, while Justin Steele had a setback while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

This leaves Brown with an opportunity to lock down a starting job, at least until Boyd returns after his knee injury. He has pitched as a starter before, and just completed four innings in his most recent start.

Brown has a stellar resume this season:

1.82 ERA
2.59 xERA
3.28 xFIP
3.25 SIERA

Brown achieved this with a transition to shorter outings via the bullpen and an increase in his groundball rate (52.6%).

Brown’s K-BB this season is lower than in past years, but not drastically. He has exchanged some swing-and-miss for softer contact (34.6% hard-hit rate). If he can sustain a chunk of the gains made as a reliever, Brown will be a crucial fantasy starting pitcher.

Gregory Soto (RP – PIT): 36% Rostered

The Pirates have their closer. Dennis Santana had the job, but lost it after two blown saves and generally poor showings, albeit with a 3.78 ERA.

Gregory Soto has earned two saves this week, upping his 2026 mark to three, and his career mark to 59. He earned 30 saves in 2022 with the Tigers, but could not reclaim the closer role as a journeyman since then. Regardless, Soto has reinvented himself with his best stuff yet. He has a career-high 35.7% strikeout rate this season, with a career-high 25.7% K-BB rate.

To make up for his incremental drop in velocity, Soto has adjusted his pitch mix. He is throwing more sliders than ever, with his lowest sinker rate. This is working wonders for his strikeouts, while not adding much to his walks beyond a career-average rate.

Assuming Soto continues this surge of dominance, he should be rostered in all formats.