The latest wave of add‑drop activity on CBS and Yahoo has turned the waiver wire into a treasure map for fantasy baseball managers, especially those who target players who entered the week with less than 40 % roster ownership. While the majority of the spotlight falls on high‑profile names, a handful of under‑the‑radar hitters and arms are posting the kind of statistical spikes that can shift a league’s balance in a single weekend.
Must‑Roster Hitters
Heriberto Hernández is inching toward must‑roster status with 14 home runs in just 258 plate appearances, while Ty France has already matched his career‑high exit velocity at 92.5 mph and sits at 16 homers in 265 PA. Christian Encarnacion‑Strand, though still raw, has shown 19 homers in Triple‑A and three blasts in his first 22 big‑league at‑bats, hinting at a power breakout. Willi Castro continues to blend 9 homers with 7 stolen bases and a .259 average, and Lane Thomas has posted a .330 OPS over his last six games. Tommy White is batting .348 with a .835 OPS and a 57 % ground‑ball rate, giving him a rare combination of contact and power. Joey Ortiz has contributed 5 homers and 8 steals in 266 PA despite a .235 average, and veteran Jim Jarvis is batting .286 in 60 PA while stealing 32 bases in Triple‑A. Griffin Conine’s .270 average and 7 homers in 113 PA make him a steady source of middle‑of‑the‑order production, while Victor Mesa Jr. has supplied 8 homers in 123 PA but has seen inconsistent playing time. Tim Tawa rounds out the group with 11 homers and 10 steals in 355 career plate appearances, maintaining a .212 average.
Armament of the Week
On the pitching side, Keider Montero has posted a 3.09 ERA and a 1.19 xFIP over his last three starts, establishing himself as a reliable streamer. Kyle Leahy has lowered his ERA to 2.23 and trimmed his WHIP to 0.99 since early June, making him an attractive weekly option. Brandon Pfaadt, now fully integrated into the rotation, boasts a 2.33 ERA and a 4.34 xFIP since his promotion, while Zac Thornton has been flawless in his last two July starts, surrendering no runs in 13 innings while striking out seven. Jordan Montgomery is slated for a 2026 debut after a 5.52 ERA in rehab outings, and Brady Singer continues to impress with a 2.57 ERA and a 3.16 xFIP over his recent outings. Luinder Avila’s recent stretch features a 60 % ground‑ball rate and 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings, and Ronel Blanco’s upcoming start could solidify his value after a strong recent run. Matthew Liberatore, despite a 5.18 ERA and 1.52 WHIP, remains a marginal streaming candidate, whereas Kohl Drake looks to build on a solid debut start. Erick Fedde has delivered a 2.70 ERA, a 2.64 xFIP, and 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings across three July starts, while Janson Junk’s 7.92 ERA and 5.02 xFIP over the last six starts suggest a need for caution. David Peterson’s 5.57 ERA and 5.25 xFIP place him in the 5.00+ ERA tier, and Robert Gasser’s extreme flyball profile yields a 1.9 home runs per nine innings rate. Braxton Garrett’s 2.34 ERA and 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings in Triple‑A highlight his dominance, as do Quinn Mathews’ 3.13 ERA and 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings in 92 innings at the same level. AJ Smith‑Shawver’s 1.53 ERA and 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings in 17 rehab innings and Jackson Jobe’s 1.23 ERA with 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings in seven rehab frames signal a deep pool of emerging arms.
Catchers and Game‑Changing Backstops
Behind the plate, Keibert Ruiz has compiled a solid season with 7 homers and a .272 average, providing steady production in the catching slot. Harry Ford has started four of the last eight games since his promotion, offering a fresh source of playing time. J.T. Realmuto continues to contribute 7 homers and a .224 average in 280 plate appearances, while Tyler Stephenson adds 8 homers and a .249 average in 276 PA. Yainer Diaz’s recent bat‑speed loss of 2.2 mph has correlated with a declining OPS, and Nick Fortes, though batting .281, lacks additional offensive contributions beyond his average.
Streaming the Undervalued
Streaming strategies remain a cornerstone for maximizing weekly points, and the recent performances of Montero, Leahy, and Pfaadt make them prime candidates for short‑term plugs. Zac Thornton’s back‑to‑back scoreless outings illustrate the upside of targeting starters with favorable matchups, while relievers like Erick Fedde, with a 2.70 ERA and 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings, can provide high‑leverage value in streaming roles. By monitoring injury updates and platoon situations, managers can exploit the volatility of the wire to secure cheap, high‑upside options that may otherwise be overlooked.