Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Picks: 5/11

Welcome to the Waiver Wire Picks, our every day fantasy baseball article that appears at one of the best gamers in baseball that you need to be including to your rosters. We’ll have a look at the gamers which are prone to be out there in most leagues, in addition to some deep league waiver wire choices, and we’ll additionally have a look at probably the most added gamers in fantasy baseball throughout the main websites, and allow you to know which gamers so as to add, and which gamers you may depart on the wire.

High Precedence Gamers to Add

Jordan Beck (COL), OF (22% rostered on Yahoo, 7.9% on ESPN)

Beck obtained his first style of main league motion final season and finally struggled mightily. He hit simply .188 with three homers in three homers, and issues didn’t go a lot better to start out 2025. He was sitting at simply .167 by his first 12 outings, and solely considered one of his base hits went for additional bases.

Nevertheless, Beck has flipped the swing since then. He’s hit .311 with a 1.070 OPS and 6 homers over his final 16 contests, and he’s added six homers and a steal.

The facility appears legit. He had 60-grade uncooked energy as a prospect, and he’s made elite contact to date this season. He ranks within the 97th percentile for barrel fee, and his .571 xSLG places him within the 87th percentile. Beck does have plenty of swing-and-miss in his recreation, however he’s able to hitting the ball an extended when when he makes contact.

Beck’s general method on the dish additionally seems to be improved utilizing Course of+:

Beck has been hitting close to the highest of the Rockies’ lineup not too long ago, and he’ll get to play roughly half of his video games at Coors Area. There are worse issues in life than that. Add in some stolen base upside—he has 4 steals to date this season—and he’s a possible five-category contributor.

J.P. Crawford (SEA), SS (21% Yahoo, 13.4% ESPN)

The Mariners’ offense was one of many worst in baseball final season, however they’ve been massively improved to date this yr. They’re third within the league in wRC+, and so they’re sixth in runs per recreation. They’re doing that regardless of taking part in in probably the most pitcher-friendly parks in baseball, which is tremendous spectacular.

Crawford has been a giant a part of their success. He’s moved into the leadoff spot not too long ago, and he’s hit a scorching .346 over his previous 19 video games. He’s by no means going to be an enormous contributor when it comes to energy or pace, however he has managed to membership three homers over that time-frame. His .433 xSLG can be roughly 50 factors increased than his precise mark, so he may present a bit extra in that division transferring ahead.

Crawford must also proceed to have loads of run-scoring alternatives atop a rejuvenated Mariners’ lineup. He must be a strong supply of common at a minimal, and he’s even higher in OBP leagues: his stroll fee places him within the 91st percentile, and his OBP is at the moment above .400.

Yahoo and ESPN Most Added Gamers

Saturday’s most-added gamers on Yahoo featured a quartet of streaming pitchers: Stephen Kolek, Lance McCullers Jr., Tobias Myers, and Andrew Heaney.

Kolek drew a good matchup in opposition to the Rockies, who’ve been the worst offensive crew in baseball by a mile this season. That recreation did are available in Coors Area, however even at dwelling, the Rockies have managed simply an 85 wRC+ in opposition to right-handers. Regardless of the expectations had been for Kolek on this spot, he completely knocked them out of the park. He pitched a whole recreation shutout with seven strikeouts, and he allowed simply 5 hits and two walks. Kolek additionally obtained 21 runs of assist from his offense, so he was in a position to cruise to a straightforward victory. He’s now but to permit a run by 14.1 innings, so he’s somebody to regulate transferring ahead.

McCullers made his long-awaited return to a serious league mound earlier this week, and he pitched okay. He lasted simply 3.2 innings, however he managed to maintain the White Sox off the scoreboard. He struggled along with his management, surrendering three walks in his restricted pitches, however he did add 4 strikeouts. Sadly, he got here crashing again to actuality in a giant manner on Saturday. He didn’t make it out of the primary inning vs. the Reds, dealing with simply eight complete batters. He walked three of them and gave up 4 hits, and he was finally charged with seven earned runs. At this level, we are able to most likely pump the brakes on the McCullers redemption tour.

Myers took the sector in a strong spot vs. the Rays, however he additionally didn’t ship the products. He wasn’t almost as unhealthy as McCullers, however he nonetheless lasted simply 4.0 innings. He allowed two earned runs over that time-frame, and he added simply three strikeouts. Myers failed to supply in any class for fantasy functions, and till he begins pitching deeper into video games, he’s a reasonably clear keep away from.

After Kolek, Heaney was one of the best among the many remaining choices. He made it by six innings with simply two earned runs allowed, although his underlying metrics weren’t almost as spectacular. His FIP checked in at 6.61 vs. the Braves, and he thrived primarily resulting from a .167 BABIP. Heaney has outpitched his peripherals all season, and his strikeout numbers are manner down from his prime. He can most likely be streamed in plus matchups, but it surely’s onerous to belief him any greater than that.

Daniel Schneemann was the lone batter amongst Saturday’s high provides, although he was not within the Guardians’ lineup vs. the Phillies. Fortuitously, that looks as if an outlier. He’s gotten loads of alternatives for the Guardians of late, seeing time at second base, third base, and all three outfield spots in Might. He’s additionally producing along with his possibilities, clubbing 5 homers whereas rating within the ninetieth percentile in xwOBA, ninety fifth percentile in xSLG, and 98th percentile in barrel fee. If he continues to hit like that, count on the Guardians to get him within the lineup in a technique or one other. His positional versatility makes him a really interesting bench bat.

Most of those gamers have been mentioned at size in these columns all season. Kyle Stowers was the featured participant in Friday’s column, and he’s approaching 60% possession on Yahoo. His possession has lagged manner behind on ESPN, so scoop him up if he’s out there and also you’re on the lookout for assist in the outfield.

Tony Gonsolin has additionally been mentioned at size not too long ago, and he’s been incredible since becoming a member of the Dodgers’ rotation. His 4.09 ERA doesn’t leap off the web page, however his 2.89 xERA is incredible. He’s additionally racked up 17 punchouts in simply 11 innings, giving him a large 38.6% strikeout fee. Add in the truth that he pitches for one of the best crew within the league, and it is a man who shouldn’t be out there.

Byron Buxton being out there in roughly 44% of ESPN leagues is fairly surprising. Buxton is without doubt one of the premier power-speed threats within the league, and he’s put that on show in 2025. He’s sitting on 9 homers and eight steals, and his underlying metrics in these departments are phenomenal. He ranks within the 93rd percentile for barrel fee and the a hundredth percentile for dash pace, so he ought to proceed to pile up homers and steals so long as he stays wholesome. Buxton checks in because the No. 5 outfield in ESPN’s Fantasy Participant Rater, so he must be universally owned in all codecs.

Javier Báez has additionally popped up on this part of late, and he has returned from the lifeless this season. He had produced principally nothing in his first two years in Detroit after signing a six-year, $140M deal, however he’s posted a .308 common with three homers in 2025. Sadly, it’s onerous to see that sustaining. He’s nonetheless swinging at every little thing, and all of his anticipated metrics recommend large looming regression. He’s merely working sizzling from a batted ball standpoint, posting a .385 BABIP. As soon as that comes again to actuality, Baez goes to return to being the identical participant he was the previous few years. That’s not somebody you need in your roster.

AJ Smith-Shawver is one other potential regression candidate. He lowered his ERA to 2.76 after one other robust begin on Saturday, however his xERA sits at 5.31. He’s stranded 85.4% of opposing baserunners, which is properly above common. Smith-Shawver does have first rate strikeout stuff, and he was a reasonably extremely regarded prospect. That provides him a minimum of some enchantment as a waiver goal, and he may very well be a strong streaming choice in his subsequent scheduled begin vs. the Nationals. Nonetheless, expectations must be low.

Class-Particular Gamers to Add

Colt Keith (DET), 1B/2B (18% Yahoo, 7.8% ESPN)

Keith is a former high prospect who had a tough begin to his season however is beginning to flip issues round. He’s made main strides from a decision-making standpoint of late, which has resulted in huge features in Course of+:

Keith’s season-long metrics are nonetheless unimpressive—.220 batting common, 4 homers—however his underlying metrics recommend loads of room for development. His anticipated batting common is considerably increased at .275, whereas his .386 wxOBA places him within the 87th percentile. Finally, it is a good younger hitter with a strong pedigree, and he’s hitting within the coronary heart of a Tigers’ lineup that ranks fourth in runs per recreation.

General, Keith is third amongst second basemen on the ESPN Participant Rater over the previous 15 days, so he’s a strong add in all codecs.

Victor Scott II (STL), OF (39% Yahoo, 15.8% ESPN)

Scott’s possession continues to test in considerably decrease than it must be. You’re merely not going to discover a base-stealer on the stage of Scott on the waiver wire fairly often. He has 11 steals for the yr, which is tied for the sixth-most in baseball.

Scott has additionally proven the flexibility to hit for common. He’s by no means going to wow you from a Statcast standpoint, and he’s not going to hit for a lot energy. However his common is at the moment sitting at .292, which will definitely play.

Finally, Scott is the No. 15 outfielder within the ESPN Participant Rater. He must be owned nearly universally at this level.

Cade Horton (CHC), SP (23% Yahoo, 7.9% ESPN)

Horton made his big-league debut for the Cubs on Saturday, and he largely lived as much as the billing. He made one huge mistake to Brett Baty, who crushed a pitch over the fence for a three-run homer, however these had been the one three runs he allowed. Horton additionally racked up 5 strikeouts, and he didn’t concern a single free cross.

Horton entered the yr as one of many high pitching prospects in baseball, and he did nothing to alter that in Triple-A. He posted a glowing 1.24 with greater than 10 strikeouts per 9 innings throughout six begins, and with Shota Imanaga at the moment on the IL, Horton ought to get an opportunity to show himself on the huge league stage. He’s ok to probably stick within the rotation for the remainder of the yr.

Streaming Pitchers

You should definitely take a look at the nice Nick Pollack’s SP Streamer Rankings to see his favourite decisions. There are a handful of first rate choices to select from on Sunday, together with Lucas Giolito:

Lucas Giolito (BOS), SP (16% Yahoo, 5.9% ESPN)

It has been a story of two begins for Giolito this season. He pitched extraordinarily properly in his first outing, racking up seven strikeouts throughout six innings vs. the Blue Jays. He did give up three earned runs, however all of them got here in his ultimate inning of labor. Giolito was additionally betrayed a bit by his protection, so it was a greater begin than it appeared on paper.

Sadly, issues couldn’t have gone a lot worse in his second begin. He allowed 10 hits and 6 earned runs in simply 3.1 innings of labor, whereas his strikeouts plummeted all the best way to 2. The truth that it got here in opposition to a Rangers lineup that has struggled all season is much more alarming.

Nonetheless, Giolito was top-of-the-line strikeout arms in baseball earlier than getting injured, so it’s price seeing if he has something left within the tank. The Royals are additionally simply twenty sixth in wRC+ in opposition to right-handers this season, so it’s a strong matchup as properly.

Speculative Provides

Ryan Gusto (HOU), SP/RP (8% Yahoo, 1.7% ESPN)

Gusto has pitched out of the bullpen for the Astros not too long ago, and it’s doable that he maintains that function for just a few extra video games. Nevertheless, the crew has talked about going to a six-man rotation throughout their present stretch, which options 17 consecutive video games with out a time without work. That is smart with the crew trying to protect McCullers.

Gusto has been nails whether or not he’s began or come out of the bullpen all yr. He’s pitched to a 2.93 ERA with 29 strikeouts throughout 27.1 innings, and his Ok-BB% sits at a wonderful 18%. That will rank twenty third within the league if he had sufficient innings to qualify.

Finally, he’s pitched properly sufficient to warrant consideration in deeper leagues. If he is ready to cement a spot within the rotation, he can be an interesting goal.

Max Kepler (PHI), OF (7% Yahoo, 6.4% ESPN)

The Phillies’ lineup hasn’t fairly lived as much as expectations this season, but it surely stays one of many deepest in baseball. Including Kepler this offseason has solely helped. He’s posted 5 homers to date whereas rating within the 69th percentile or higher in xwOBA, xBA, and xSLG.

Kepler isn’t going to play daily, however he has a pedigree of smashing right-handed pitchers. He ought to proceed to get the nod every time a standard pitcher is on the bump, and he’s able to doing injury in these spots.

Deep League Gamers to Watch

Jacob Misiorowski (MIL), SP (3% Yahoo, 0.8% ESPN)

Pitching prospects have been entrance and heart on most individuals’s minds of late. Horton made his MLB debut on Saturday, whereas Bubba Chandler’s debut doesn’t appear too distant.

You may add Misiorowski to the checklist of thrilling potential debutants. He has completely torn up Triple-A this season, pitching to a 1.49 ERA, 2.84 FIP, and 11.48 Ok/9 throughout 42.1 innings. He doesn’t have a lot left to show within the minors at this level, so he’s one other pitcher who may very well be pitching within the huge leagues sooner reasonably than later.

He’s top-of-the-line pitching prospects in baseball, so it’s a bit shocking that he hasn’t garnered as a lot fanfare as another pitchers shut to creating their debuts. You may definitely look to scoop him up in deeper codecs, and he’s somebody to regulate in shallower leagues as properly.