There are times during the season when fantasy baseball managers should be focused on adding players with substantial long-term potential. However, this is not one of those times. With just 10 days remaining until the All-Star break, wise managers will focus on players who can deliver impactful statistics immediately, either due to an uptick in playing time or a favorable schedule.
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Most of the players listed below fit that description, as they will help next week and then can be sent back to waivers over the All-Star break, at which time wise managers will start to stash players who could benefit from real-life trades that will occur in late July.
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups
Shelby Miller, RP, Diamondbacks, 39%
Miller isn’t getting enough respect from fantasy managers as an effective reliever who is clearly the closer on a respectable team. The 34-year-old has posted excellent fantasy stats (2.04 ERA, 0.99 WHIP), which are backed up by a 39:11 K:BB ratio. And Miller is far from a one-year wonder, having logged a 2.98 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP across the past three seasons. Aside from a couple 3-inning saves in blowout wins, Miller has earned all of the team’s five saves since Justin Martinez was lost for the season due to an elbow injury.
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Ronny Henriquez, RP, Marlins, 21%
Miami is as hot as any team in baseball, and Henriquez has earned four of the team’s five saves since June 22. He leads the team in appearances and has an impressive 58:16 K:BB ratio. He also has six holds, which shows that he was regularly working high-leverage innings before transitioning to the ninth inning. I would rather add Miller, but Henriquez is a nice consolation prize.
Nick Martinez, SP/RP, Reds, 27%
Martinez should be scooped up now, as he is the best option in a weak group of two-start pitchers for the coming week. Although the 34-year-old has been inconsistent this season, he has had plenty of effective starts en route to logging a 3.97 ERA and 1.09 WHIP since the beginning of May. He has plenty of potential for upcoming outings against the Marlins and Rockies, who are both below average in runs scored and have combined for a 59-113 record. Having RP eligibility makes Martinez even more appealing in head-to-head leagues.
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Lucas Giolito, SP, Red Sox, 43%
Giolito seems to have turned a corner in his return from a long absence, having produced a 0.72 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP and a 24:7 K:BB ratio in his past four starts. He has a reasonable matchup against Michael Soroka (4.70 ERA) and the Nats on Friday before a very appealing start at home against the 20-67 Rockies next week.
Emmet Sheehan, SP, Dodgers, 21%
Adding Sheehan is a speculative move that could pay off this weekend and beyond. The Dodgers have yet to finalize their pitching plans for Sunday, but there is speculation that Sheehan could be recalled to start that game. And once the 25-year-old rejoins the rotation, he will immediately become the most coveted starter on the waiver wire. Sheehan struck out six across four innings of one-run ball in his only 2025 appearance, and in the minors he has accumulated 36 punchouts in 19.2 innings. Put him on one of the best teams in baseball, and Sheehan becomes a set-and-forget starter.
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Nolan Schanuel, 1B, Angels, 17%
Schanuel has always been an on-base machine, with his lack of counting-stat appeal being the sole reason that he hasn’t been rostered in more leagues. He took steps towards rectifying that issue last month by raising his launch angle and producing four homers, two steals and 18 RBI. Still just 23 years old, Schanuel has plenty of potential for growth and has already amassed over 1,000 plate appearances. Managers should grab the left-handed hitter now. Starting Saturday, he will face right-handed starters in every game until the All-Star break. He has an .819 OPS those matchups this year.
Ha-Seong Kim, SS, Rays, 5%
Managers in deeper formats should add Kim right away, while those in 12-team leagues keep an eye on him. The shortstop was activated on Thursday from a season-opening stint on the injured list. He knows how to stuff the stat sheet; his 162-game paces for his career includes 14 homers and 23 steals. As the highest-paid player in a cost-conscious organization, Kim is seen as valuable by Rays’ management and will be a full-time player right away.
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Austin Hays, OF, Reds, 17%
Hays has improved his average exit velocity this year, which has resulted in an impressive .861 OPS. I have doubts that the soon-to-be 30-year-old can keep up this pace throughout the summer, but he has an excellent chance to stay hot until the All-Star break. The Reds will face the Marlins (4.75 ERA) and Rockies (5.50 ERA) next week. Having all seven games at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park is the icing on the cake.
Ramon Laureano, OF, Orioles, 16%
Sometimes, boring is good. Such is the case with Laureano, who is on the wrong side of 30 and has played on four teams in the past three seasons. Nonetheless, Laureano has been a rare bright spot in an otherwise disappointing Orioles offense, establishing himself as a full-time player and hitting .279 with 10 homers and 59 R+RBI in 59 games. He can be considered in 12-team leagues and is a real asset in any leagues deeper than that.
