Looking for the top fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for this week? Fantasy Alarm has everything you need.

One would think, with the way the MLB Injury Report is loaded up with player, the waiver wire would be flush with talent, but unfortunately that’s just not the case. We lost Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez but the Chicago White Sox just don’t have the depth to both replace and satisfy the needs of fantasy owners. The Atlanta Braves lost Spencer Strider and we’re still searching for the elusive fifth starter to support our rotations. Some leagues may be shallow enough that Orioles superstar Jackson Holliday is available, but overall, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find strong talent that can consistently produce for you.

 

 

That doesn’t man we ignore the waiver wire. Staying on top of all the available players in your league is paramount to your success and those of us with injuries have to replace players to even try to keep pace. The lesson here is to not blow your top waiver priority or FAAB budget (unless you can acquire Holliday), patch up your roster holes and prepare to fight another day. Grab guys on the cheap now while you can and stay category-focused. You won’t find anyone who stuffs the stat sheet in all categories, so target the players who can help you the most in the categories you need.

Let’s look to see who might be available in your league and if they’re worth the add.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Catchers

Henry Davis, Pittsburgh Pirates

Guess who finally picked up that catcher-eligibility. While a slow start has driven Davis’ overall numbers into the ground, he’s shown signs of breaking out of the early-season slump with hits in three-straight games, a span where he’s also got one extra-base hit, three walks and two RBI. He’s shown he can hit for average in the minors, so if you need a body behind the plate who’s seeing regular at-bats, grab him. FAAB: 3-5%

Patrick Bailey, San Francisco Giants

Like Davis and most other backstops, Bailey isn’t offering much outside of regular at-bats. He plays as the primary backstop in San Francisco which means opportunities are there. If he can continue to maintain the plate discipline he’s currently showing, then he’s going to be a decent add for those waiting for their primary catcher to heal or develop. FAAB: 3-5%

Ivan Herrera, St. Louis Cardinals

Where Herrera differs from the aforementioned catchers is that he actually has really nice power potential. So much so that even when Willson Contreras returned from his hand injury, Herrera forced manager Oli Marmol to keep his bat in the lineup by hitting three homers in a six-game span. Unfortunately, at-bats are going to be tough to come by soon as Lars Nootbaar returned from the IL and both Dylan Carlson and Tommy Edman are due back sooner than later. If you need a week-long stop-gap, then give him a look, but don’t expect him to play every day. FAAB: 2-3%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: First Basemen

Nathaniel Lowe, Texas Rangers

Always check that waiver wire for players on the mend. Lowe has been on the IL with an oblique issue since the season opened, but is now heading out for a rehab assignment and should return to first base for the Rangers by the end of the week. He’s got 20-25 home run power and the surrounding lineup is great, so if someone dropped him in your league, grab him while you can. FAAB: 12-15%

Ty France, Seattle Mariners

After missing three games for paternity leave, France is back and continues to perform well, hitting safely in three of his last four with two multi-hit performances. His ceiling is probably 10-15 homers but he can contribute with a decent batting average and some RBI opportunities. Nothing outlandish as this Seattle team has been terrible, but once they start hitting as a group, it should be contagious. FAAB: 8-10%

LaMonte Wade, San Francisco Giants

He offers multi-position eligibility and is currently hitting for a solid average. The runs and RBI should eventually come, but don’t expect more than 15 homers on the year and just a handful of stolen bases. He’s the stop-gap you use for short-term help. FAAB: 3-5%

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Second Basemen

Jose Caballero, Tampa Bay Rays

The GM Jim Bowden and I differ on opinions here. I’m not saying he’s going to be a fantasy savior, but if you’re looking for some speed, he’s got 20-25-steal potential. Jim doesn’t like him because he’s apparently a handful off the field and in the clubhouse; says the Rays will tire of him and trade him away. It’s definitely possible, but I’m not looking for Mr. Right when Mr. Right-Now will steal me some bases and help me out for a little while. I’m all about riding the wave til it breaks and this sucker isn’t even cresting yet. FAAB: 10-12%

Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals

The multi-position eligibility is a big asset and his glove keeps him on the field at second base while Nolan Gorman handles DH duties. He can hit for a decent average and tends to be in the top half of the order which means more at-bats and more opportunities for runs scored. I have him as a bench guy in a couple of leagues, simply because I know that when an injury hits my squad, I have plenty of roster flexibility. FAAB: 5-7%

Michael Massey, Kansas City Royals

Masey is currently on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha and is being re-evaluated to see if he’s ready to return from his back injury. The Royals have been using veteran Adam Frazier at the keystone, but Massey should probably slide right in once he is ready. There’s a little bit of pop in the bat, maybe some speed for 8-10 steals, so if you are in need of middle infield help, you could probably add him for next to nothing and load him into your lineups as early as this week. FAAB: 1-2%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Third Basemen

Michael Busch, Chicago Cubs

Amazing that this guy is rostered in just 29-percent of Yahoo league and less than eight-percent on ESPN.com. He’s hit safely in six of his last seven games and is currently batting .293 with a .375 OBP, three home runs and eight RBI. He was a decent prospect in the Dodgers system and now the Cubs are giving him every opportunity to shine for them as their first baseman. He’s player 13 games there but still has that third-base eligibility where, unless you have an injury at first, he has the most value. It’s a 25-30 home run bat when it fully develops and his plate discipline has been rock-solid thus far. If you need a solid corner infielder, he’s your guy. FAAB: 12-15% 

Josh Smith, Texas Rangers

When Josh Jung went down with the fractured wrist the Rangers were looking at a straight lefty/righty platoon between Smith and Ezequiel Duran. Bit since that time, Smith has become the regular third baseman thanks to his .447 OBP and outside of one game where the Rangers faced a tough lefty, Smith has been out there. He tends to hit towards the bottom of the lineup, though we have seen him hit further up when regulars are getting some rest. There’s not a lot of power but we should see some decent RBI come from him, as well as that average and OBP. FAAB: 5-7%

Brett Baty, New York Mets

Here’s another guy the GM and I differ on. Again, I’m not saying Baty is the be-all, end-all of third basemen, but he was touted on his way up through the Mets system and he’s hit safely in seven-straight games. Jim points to the lack of power and just two extra-base hits through 49 at-bats, but I’ll add a guy like this while he’s hot and then go find some delusional Mets fan who thinks he’s the next Mike Schmidt. Nothing crazy, just someone to fill the gaps and sell high. FAAB: 3-5%

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Shortstops

Jackson Holliday, Baltimore Orioles

He’s listed here just in case you play in a shallow league and people were forced to drop him early on when he was sent to the minors. I don’t need to bust out any crazy analysis as we all know he’s got a strong hit tool and is expected to develop into one of the top players in the game. I will say that I would be aggressive enough to land him but not so aggressive that you blow your entire budget. He’s still developing. FAAB: 30-35%

Blaze Alexander, Arizona Diamondbacks

This is another ‘strike while the iron is hot’ guy to grab if you’re dealing with injuries to your middle infield. Alexnder has flashed some power and some speed in the minors and is trying to prove himself in the bigs with this opportunity. He’s hit safely in four of his last five games and has a pair of homers since taking over the starting job for the injured Geraldo Perdomo. Just keep in mind that when Perdomo comes back in a month, he will likely step back in as the better fielder. Still, this is a nice fix for the time being. FAAB: 10-12% 

Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals

We’ve mentioned Winn in previous articles, so if he’s still available in your league, you know you don’t need to put a big bid on him, especially with word that Tommy Edman could be back at the beginning of May. He continues to hit for a decent average and has some speed, so if you need some help, here you go. FAAB: 3-5%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Outfielders

Colton Cowser, Baltimore Orioles

I’m in shock that he’s only owned in 54-percent of leagues on Yahoo and only 22-percent on ESPN.com. Shocked. He’s absolutely crushing it right now, hitting .481 with three home runs, 12 RBI and one stolen base and we saw the Orioles bump him up to second in the lineup on Friday where he went 2-for-3 with a double and a home run. He’s already pushed Austin Hays to the bench and he should remain a regular starter, so add him right now if you can. FAAB: 20-25%

Brandon Marsh, Philadelphia Phillies

While we’ve seen him sit against tougher lefties, Marsh has been a staple in the Phillies lineup and he’s mashing right now. He’s hit safely in five-straight games with a double, two homers and four RBI. If you’re looking for power, he’s definitely someone I’d be looking to add. FAAB: 12-15%

Will Benson, Cincinnati Reds

The batting average is a little soft right now, but the speed is definitely there even though he’s only got two stolen bases on the season. The Reds are going to have their ups and downs, but so long as Benson is in the lineup every day, you’re getting fantastic opportunities both in the runs scored and stolen base departments. Nothing outlandish, but once this team starts hitting, the whole group is going to level-up. FAAB: 5-7% 

Blake Perkins, Milwaukee Brewers

He pops up on the radar right now as Christian Yelich was removed from Friday’s game with a back issue and we all know how troubling Yelich’s back has been. No word on how long he will be out, but Perkins should be the guy who slides into the outfield while he’s down. FAAB: 1-2%

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Starting Pitchers

Cody Bradford, Texas Rangers

When manager Bruce Bochy told the media that Bradford will stay in the rotation even when Michael Lorenzen comes off the injured list, the Texas southpaw became a much more enticing free agent target. He may not have big strikeout numbers, but the command and control have been fantastic and he is keeping hitters completely off-balance as he throws fastball-changeup most of the time and then drops in a curve to freeze you. Another “ride the wave until it breaks” candidate, especially with all the pitching injuries. FAAB: 12-15%

Ranger Suarez, Philadelphia Phillies

The 28-year-old lefty is off to a tremendous start, posting a 2.65 ERA and 10.06 K/9 through the first three starts of the season. He gets a home start against a soft Rockies lineup his next time out, but if you grab him, you may want to keep him on the bench right after as no one likes pitching at Great American Smallpark. From there you can move him in and out of your lineup based on match-up. FAAB: 6-8%

Michael Wacha, Kansas City Royals

The veteran righty may only have a 4.00 ERA, but the 2.75 FIP indicates he’s been pitching well and his defense needs some improvements. They will certainly put it together and Wacha should prove to be a rock-solid back-of-the-fantasy-rotation pitcher for you. Nothing crazy with the strikeouts, but he’ll keep your ratios nice and stabile. FAAB: 6-8%  

Bryce Elder, Atlanta Braves

OK, fine. So we whiffed on AJ Smith-Shawver last week. What can you do? But we’re still chasing this Braves fifth starter now that Strider is done for the year and that will take us to Elder who, according to my sources, will be the guy given the opportunity when the Braves really need to lock someone in. Smith-Shawver is definitely the better pitcher overall, but he’s still working out some kinks in the minors right now. Elder is probably just a stash for now, but I’m doing it in my leagues with a very sensible and low bid. FAAB: 3-5%

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Closers/Relief Pitchers

James McArthur, Kansas City Royals

We mentioned him last week, so if you were looking for saves, he did you just fine, grabbing two saves and one win over his last three appearances. It looks like he has supplanted Will Smith as the Royals closer, so while he won’t see a crazy number of opportunities, he’ll see enough to be worthy of the add. FAAB: 8-10%