Top Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 9 (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.

Jackson Holliday (2B – BAL): 25% Rostered

The Orioles activated former top prospect Jackson Holliday last week. Holliday (hand) missed the first two months of the season after undergoing surgery in spring training. He was expected to be activated sooner, but complications in recovery extended his absence several more weeks.

Nevertheless, Holliday is back and producing already. He has a home run and two stolen bases in four games thus far. The upside for 2022’s first overall pick is still high, especially considering that he is only 22 years old.

Holliday took a step up in 2025, but he still has not performed as a “good” hitter yet (96 wRC+ in 2025). Hopefully, he can finally put it together as he matures physically. He should be rostered in 12+ team leagues as a bench option, at worst.

Spencer Steer (1B, OF – CIN): 28% Rostered

The former fantasy baseball darling is earning his way back into our hearts (and lineups). Steer’s 2025 season was derailed early by a nagging offseason shoulder injury. After receiving treatment, he managed to play 146 games and hit more home runs with a higher average in 2025 than in 2024.

However, Steer’s stark drop in stolen bases tanked his fantasy value. Any offensive player who drops from 25 steals to seven without a significant jump in other counting stats will lose major fantasy utility.

Despite stealing only three bases thus far in 2026, Steer is hitting like his 2023 self again and is deservedly getting added. His .271 average mirrors his career-high, while his 19.8% strikeout rate is a career-best.

Steer is playing every day again and should be picked up in 12+ team leagues. If he starts stealing more often, he will be a must-have fantasy player in all formats.

Jake Bauers (1B, OF – MIL): 22% Rostered

The Brewers have worked their “devil magic” on Jake Bauers. He has transformed into an above-average hitter since 2025 and is providing valuable fantasy numbers this season.

Bauers’ 114 wRC+ in 2025 was his first in the triple-digits, and he is following it with a career-high 134 wRC+ in 2026. He has seven home runs, four stolen bases and a .285 batting average this season through 45 games.

Given his .333 batting average on balls in play (BABIP), Bauers’ average should regress, but it could still be high enough to make a fantasy impact in the heart of Milwaukee’s order. The real issue for Bauers is his platoon. He plays regularly against right-handed pitching, but seldom against lefties.

Unless injuries strike elsewhere for the Brewers and he starts playing every day, Bauers should only be considered in 12+ team leagues with corner infielder slots or extra outfielder spots.

Nolan Arenado (3B – ARI): 24% Rostered

Another familiar name has found himself in this week’s waiver wire pickups. Nolan Arenado has found life in his new home. The former Rockies superstar is having his best offensive season since 2022.

Arenado’s seven home runs, .273 batting average, 26 runs and 27 RBI are impressive through 48 games. Aside from a career-high 18.6% strikeout rate, Arenado’s profile has not changed much this season.

Arenado is generating more barrels, but this resurgence is likely from his new home stadium. Take a look at his home/road splits:

Home: .325/.407/.538, 167 wRC+
Away: .222/.293/.407, 95 wRC+

Arenado can be considered in 12+ team leagues, but he is best utilized as a home streamer.

Roki Sasaki (SP – LAD): 29% Rostered

Is Roki Sasaki finally… here? His last three starts are not indicative of a full breakout, but they are a massive step in the right direction:

First six starts: 28.2 innings, 5.97 ERA, 5.74 xERA, 5.11 xFIP, eight home runs allowed, 8.2% K-BB
Last three starts: 17 innings, 3.18 ERA, 3.63 xERA, 2.94 xFIP, one home run allowed, 20.6% K-BB

Sasaki’s next two starts come against the Phillies and Angels, both of whom struggle against righties. Sasaski should be rostered in all formats for at least the next month.

Peter Lambert (SP – HOU): 20% Rostered

Peter Lambert left the Rockies and finally started pitching well. It is a shame that Coors Field continues to fail young starters, but seeing them set free is always nice (unless you’re a Rockies fan).

The former second-round pick and top-125 prospect had high expectations entering Colorado’s rotation, yet he managed to post a mediocre 6.28 ERA across his six seasons in Colorado. After a stint in Japan last year, Lambert is back and producing as a member of the Astros.

Lambert’s 3.79 ERA, 8.93 K/9, 4.02 BB/9 and 4.09 xFIP do not make him a must-add player, but his division is relatively easy to pitch in, and he regularly pitches deep into games.

Lambert has thrown at least six innings in four of his seven starts this season. He is lined up to face the Brewers, Athletics, Royals and Guardians in the coming weeks. If you need a streamer to hold for a bit, Lambert is your best bet.

Kai-Wei Teng (SP, RP – HOU): 4% Rostered

Two Astros starters for the price of one waiver wire article. Kai-Wei Teng, like Peter Lambert, is in his first season with Houston. Unlike Lambert, Teng’s path to starting was unorthodox. He has made 17 appearances this season, but only four starts. Teng has oscillated between long relief and short relief, but now finds himself in the rotation.

Teng has completed at least five innings in his past two outings. This is a massive step for any converted reliever, because they can now provide wins or, potentially, quality starts. Teng’s stats this season are good: 2.19 ERA, 3.56 xERA, 3.80 xFIP and 3.72 SIERA.

Unfortunately, sustaining these numbers as Teng scales up into regular, deep starts is the big question. He is worth picking up speculatively, but I prefer Lambert in the short term.