Welcome to the Waiver Wire Picks, our daily fantasy baseball article that looks at the best players in baseball that you should be adding to your rosters. We’ll look at the players that are likely to be available in most leagues, as well as some deep league waiver wire options, and we’ll also look at the most added players in fantasy baseball across the major sites, and let you know which players to add, and which players you can leave on the wire.
Top Priority Players to Add
Matt Shaw (CHC), 2B/3B/SS (48% rostered on Yahoo, 23.2% on ESPN)
Shaw was a popular sleeper this offseason, especially after winning a spot in the Cubs’ starting lineup out of spring training. Unfortunately, he was unable to hold that job for long. He hit just .174 with one homer and zero steals in his first 18 games, ultimately earning him a trip back to the minor leagues.
The good news is that Shaw found his stroke again in the minors, posting a 150 wRC+ with six homers and five steals in just 24 games. That was good enough to earn him a promotion back to the majors, and this time around, Shaw has continued to hit. He’s hit .313 in his four games since being recalled, and he’s added two steals, two RBI, and three runs scored. He’s yet to go yard since being promoted back to Chicago, but three of his five hits have gone for extra bases.
Given Shaw’s elite prospect pedigree, he’s someone to get aggressive for on the waiver wire (if he’s still available). He has the potential to be a true five-category contributor, and he’s eligible at nearly every spot on the infield.
Daulton Varsho (TOR), OF (14% Yahoo, 7.8% ESPN)
Varsho is known way more for his work with his glove than his bat. He took home a Gold Glove for his work in the outfield last year, which more than made up for his slightly below-average wRC+.
However, Varsho is trying to change that narrative in 2025. He’s already launched seven homers this season through his first 18 games, resulting in a massive .377 ISO. That’s by far the best mark of his career, and Varsho is someone who has hit as many as 27 homers previously. He grades out extremely well in terms of bat speed, while his 19.1% barrel rate is absolutely elite: it would rank ninth in the league if he had enough at-bats to qualify.
That makes Varsho a potentially undervalued source of power that is available in most leagues. He’s going to hurt your team’s batting average—he has just a .203 AVG and .228 xBA—but there is upside for 30+ homers. Varsho has also recently moved up to the No. 3 spot in the Blue Jays lineup, which should lead to plenty of RBI and run-scoring chances as well.
Yahoo and ESPN Most Added Players
The big news this weekend is the Red Sox’s decision to promote top prospect Marcelo Mayer to the active roster. It remains to be seen how long he’ll stick in Boston, but he should have the chance to play just about every day with Alex Bregman landing on the IL. That’s a big blow for the Red Sox lineup—Bregman has been absolutely awesome to start the year—but the addition of Mayer softens that blow just a bit. Mayer hit .271 with nine homers and two stolen bases in Triple-A this season while providing solid defense at three different spots on the infield. Even top prospects can struggle in their major league debuts—see Shaw above—but the talent with Mayer is enough to justify adding to your roster.
Chase Meidroth was also in the Red Sox’s uber-talented minor league system before ultimately being shipped to the White Sox as part of the Garrett Crochet deal. That has allowed him to reach the majors a bit quicker than if he had stayed in Boston, and he’s proven more than up for the challenge. He’s currently hitting .313 with eight stolen bases, though he has just one homer for the year. He’s also recently moved to the top of the White Sox’s lineup, which makes his ability to put the bat on the ball a bit more valuable. The ceiling is a bit limited in what is a weak lineup, but he’s a solid addition for those looking for batting average and steals.
Gavin Sheets spent his first few seasons with the White Sox but was ultimately unable to make a consistent impact. However, he’s breaking out with the Padres in 2025. He already has nine homers this season, including three on Thursday and Friday. He’s also hitting .285 with solid underlying peripherals. Overall, his 134 wRC+ has made him a solidly above-average hitter, so he could be worth scooping to see where this hot streak goes.
Two streaming pitchers round out Saturday’s top adds on Yahoo: Hunter Dobbins and Jake Irvin.
Dobbins had pitched well this season, but he unfortunately could not keep it up vs. the Orioles. He lasted just four innings and surrendered four earned runs, though he did manage seven strikeouts. Still, a 9.00 ERA is not what you’re looking for from a streaming option.
Things went much better for Irvin. He was absolutely brilliant vs. the Giants, pitching eight scoreless innings before handing the ball to the bullpen. He surrendered just three hits and two walks while adding seven strikeouts, and he also managed to pick up the win. Basically, he contributed in every possible category for a starting pitcher. Irvin’s advanced metrics suggest he’s possibly due for some regression moving forward, but he lowered his ERA to 3.42 for the year. He’s someone who has put himself on the radar as usable in the right matchups, though his next scheduled start for Friday in Arizona definitely doesn’t qualify.
Saturday’s top adds on ESPN features a quartet of pitchers: Merrill Kelly, Logan Henderson, Will Warren, and Andrew Abbott. Most of these players have been touched on in recent columns, but Warren is a somewhat new addition. He got off to a shaky start with the Yankees this season, but he’s found his groove recently. Warren has allowed six earned runs across four May starts, and more impressively, he’s racked up 34 punchouts in just 22.2 innings. Any pitcher with that kind of strikeout upside is intriguing, so Warren is someone to consider adding to your rotation. His upcoming schedule isn’t ideal—Sunday vs. the Rockies in Coors Field, Saturday vs. the Dodgers in Los Angeles—but there’s plenty of upside here.
Taylor Ward is the lone hitter on ESPN’s list, and he’s been red hot at the dish recently. He’s up to 15 homers for the year, which puts him fifth in the entire MLB. Nine of those homers have come in May, including five in his past seven games entering Saturday’s contest vs. the Marlins. His underlying Statcast metrics also look good, ranking in the 94th percentile for barrel rate, 83rd percentile for hard-hit rate, and 82nd percentile for average exit velocity. Ward has reached the point where he’s not available in most leagues, but if he’s still out there, it’s hard to do much better from a power standpoint.
Category-Specific Players to Add
Will Benson (CIN), OF (29% Yahoo, 14.8% ESPN)
We’ve been here before with Benson. He’s capable of going scorched-earth for short periods, but eventually, his lack of contact catches up to him. It’s a big reason why he started the season in Triple-A instead of with the big-league club.
That said, Benson is scorching hot for the time being. He’s clubbed five homers through his first 36 plate appearances, and he’s even added a stolen base. His batted-ball data is phenomenal, while his strikeout metrics are slightly better than usual. He’s struck out in just 24.4% of his at-bats so far with the Reds, compared to 31.3% in 2023 and a ridiculous 39.7% in 2024.
If Benson can keep the strikeouts in check, maybe this is the time when the production actually sticks. That remains to be seen, but it could be worth riding the hot streak while it lasts.
Daniel Palencia (CHC), RP (11% Yahoo, 1.5% ESPN)
The backend of the Cubs’ bullpen was expected to feature Ryan Pressly and Porter Hodge this season. However, Pressly pitched so poorly to start the year that he ultimately squandered the closer gig. Hodge recently landed on the IL, opening the door for someone else to assume the role for Chicago.
Enter Palencia. He looks the part of a closer, with his average fastball velocity checking in at 99.1 miles per hour, and he’s pitched to a 2.16 ERA so far this season. Palencia failed in his first shot, blowing a save on Monday, but he bounced back to record his first save of the year on Wednesday. The fact that Craig Councill went right back to him shows the confidence that he has in Palencia for the time being.
Ultimately, he has the opportunity to grab this job and run with it if he pitches well. Hodge wasn’t exactly lighting it up before going down with his injury, so while his stint on the IL is expected to be short, there’s no guarantee he returns to the closer role. That makes Palencia extremely enticing for those looking for saves.
Gavin Williams (CLE), SP (40% Yahoo, 14.o% ESPN)
Williams is tentatively scheduled for two starts next week, though his first matchup is far from ideal. He’s expected to toe the rubber vs. the Dodgers on Monday, who have one of the best offenses in baseball.
However, Williams’ second matchup vs. the Angels is much friendlier, and he’s worth stashing in anticipation of that matchup. Williams has bounced back from a subpar sophomore season, and he’s been fantastic in four May starts. He’s allowed just five earned runs while recording 29 strikeouts in just 20.0 innings. His fastball is absolutely elite, and he’s getting enough production from his secondaries to make him a worthy add. He should continue to pile up the strikeouts at a minimum.
Streaming Pitchers
Be sure to check out the great Nick Pollack’s SP Streamer Rankings to see his favorite choices. There are a handful of decent options to choose from on Sunday, including Bailey Falter:
Bailey Falter (PIT), SP (8% Yahoo, 6.5% ESPN)
It’s hard to knock what Falter has done recently. He’s allowed just one earned run across 23.1 innings, including three straight scoreless starts. Three of those outings have come against the Padres, Mets, and Braves, so he’s more than held his own against some quality opponents.
Falter isn’t going to give you a ton of upside, but his 3.35 xERA is good enough to warrant consideration in the right matchups. Sunday’s showdown with the Brewers certainly qualifies. Milwaukee is merely 25th in wRC+ vs. right-handers, so Falter is in a great spot to keep the production flowing.
Speculative Adds
Mick Abel (PHI), SP (16% Yahoo, 5.2% ESPN)
The Phillies have assembled an abundance of riches at pitcher. It’s hard to ask for a better trio than Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, and Ranger Suárez, and Aaron Nola has a proven track record of success. He hasn’t lived up to that level so far this season, but perhaps that will change after a stint on the IL.
With Nola sidelined recently, Mick Abel was promoted to make his first MLB start. He passed in flying colors, pitching six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts against the Pirates. His xERA was under 2.00 in that contest, and while the Pirates are an easy matchup, it appears that Abel could be ready for MLB action.
Unfortunately, Abel was sent back down to the minors after that start, and the Phillies have an even better prospect waiting in the wings in Andrew Painter. That means it’s tough to forecast if and when Abel will be able to make an impact. But guys that can pitch six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts don’t just grow on trees, so he’s definitely someone to keep an eye on.
Parker Meadows (DET), OF (10% Yahoo, 3.8% ESPN)
Meadows is the type of player who doesn’t hurt you in any one particular area. He was one of the Tigers’ top offensive options last season, posting a 111 wRC+ with nine homers and nine steals in 82 games.
Meadows has yet to appear in a game for the Tigers this season, but he just started a rehab assignment in the minor leagues. He’s expected to spend the next few days rehabbing with the Triple-A club in Toledo, and a return to Detroit could happen relatively quickly. If you’re looking for an outfield and have an IL spot available, stashing Meadows could pay dividends in the coming weeks.
Deep League Players to Watch
Robert Hassell III (WAS), OF (6% Yahoo, 1.8% ESPN)
Hassell was part of the package that landed Juan Soto in San Diego. Unfortunately, while guys like James Wood and MacKenzie Gore have started to flourish in Washington, the same cannot be said for Hassell. He was arguably the headliner of that trade when it went down, but his stock has taken a serious hit in recent years.
However, Hassell hit extremely well in Triple-A to start the year, posting a .288 average with four homers and nine stolen bases. With Dylan Crews landing on the IL, Hassell will now get the opportunity to prove that he belongs in the big leagues. He doesn’t offer much from a power standpoint, but he already has one steal through his first two MLB games. We’ll see if the bat is good enough to stick.
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