Week 17 Waiver Wire Spotlight
As Week 17 of the 2026 fantasy baseball season approaches, the waiver wire becomes a lifeline for managers seeking a late‑season boost, especially in shallow leagues where the threshold for pickup is under 40 % rostered and in deeper formats where the bar drops to 30 %.
Among the most compelling options is Cade Cavalli, who sits at a 3.83 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP and 110 strikeouts across 98 innings this year, yet remains under the radar in many lineups.
Merrill Kelly, another veteran with seven wins and a 5.38 ERA, has recently shown a velocity uptick in his last two starts, suggesting a potential turnaround that could translate into more quality starts for his owners.
Jared Jones has been turning heads with back‑to‑back outings that featured eight strikeouts against the Atlanta Braves and nine against the Cleveland Guardians, underscoring his upside as a high‑risk, high‑reward starter.
Shane Drohan offers a polished profile: four wins in nine starts, a 3.09 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP and a 22.9 % strikeout rate, highlighted by a five‑start stretch in which he allowed three runs or fewer.
Gage Jump, despite a couple of rough outings in his last three starts, demonstrated promise in his most recent outing before the break, fanning seven hitters and hinting at a breakout if he can iron out the inconsistencies.
Christian Scott continues to impress with a 2.87 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP and 72 strikeouts in 59 innings, and his recent back‑to‑back strong starts make him a prime candidate for pickup.
Brady Singer has been delivering length, logging at least seven innings in two consecutive starts while striking out five and six batters respectively, a durability that could pay dividends in the final weeks.
Sean Manaea’s June and July stretches produced a 3.73 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP and 36 strikeouts in 41 innings, indicating that the left‑hander is finding a rhythm that could carry forward.
Dean Kremer, after a 4.09 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP over 22 innings, has shown the ability to limit baserunners while still generating strikeouts, making him a solid streaming option.
Brandon Pfaadt, who has allowed just three runs over more than 15 innings since his June recall, boasts three wins and a walk‑free rate of one, positioning him as a sleeper with upside.
Key Takeaways
The message is clear: act now, monitor the waiver wire closely, and leverage these under‑the‑radar starters before the season’s final stretch locks inrosters.