Waiver Wire Gems: Players Poised for Breakout
The waiver wire remains a fertile hunting ground for fantasy baseball managers seeking undervalued assets, especially as rosters tighten and injury clouds loom over several starters.
Among the position players making quiet moves, Royce Lewis has emerged after a swing overhaul in Triple‑A, while Lars Nootbaar is shaking off his recent injury list evaluation, and Jake McCarthy continues to deliver a steady stream of batting average and stolen bases. Spencer Horwitz is starting all the time with seven home runs and a high batting average, and Jacob Young, though his average lags, has added eight home runs and four stolen bases, making him a dual‑threat option.
Curtis Mead and Bryce Eldridge are also carving out regular at‑bats, with Mead posting eight home runs and three stolen bases, and Eldridge showing a solid batting average over his last ten games. Paul Goldschmidt, a perennial power hitter, is currently starting every game with seven homers and a high average, while Jorge Mateo, after a stretch of daily starts, has now missed the last four contests, creating a potential opening.
Pitching Options on the Rise
On the mound, a handful of arms are turning heads with surprisingly clean stat lines. Gage Jump boasts a solid ERA, WHIP and strikeout rate, positioning him as a top target for streaming purposes, while Dustin May has refined his pitch mix and posted a respectable xFIP despite a high leave‑on‑base percentage. Christian Scott, though walking more batters than ideal, maintains a strong ERA and strikeout rate, and Sean Burke offers a steady profile with solid ERA, WHIP and strikeout numbers.
Prospects such as River Ryan, Karson Milbrandt and Hurston Waldrep are posting impressive ERA, WHIP and strikeout rates in the minors, suggesting they could soon translate into major‑league value. Meanwhile, veteran relievers like Trevor McDonald and Brandon Young are showing flashes of dominance, though consistency remains a question.
The broader narrative for fantasy managers is clear: identifying low‑roster‑percentage players who are trending upward can provide a competitive edge. Whether it is a hitter like Leody Taveras, who is starting nine of ten games and delivering a high average alongside stolen bases, or a pitcher like Walbert Ureña, whose high strikeout and groundball rates could flourish with better control, the opportunity window is narrow but promising.