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Andy breaks down his must add fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 1 of the 2026 MLB season. Add these players now off the waiver wire and win more.
The first week of the 2026 season is in the books, and it's already time to look at the waiver wire. Even though it is early in the season, last season we saw Tyler Soderstrom and Ben Rice emerge as early-year waiver-wire targets and become lineup staples all summer.
In this piece, we will highlight seven players who are must-adds across all formats and league types for Week 1 of the fantasy baseball season. All players referenced are rostered below 45% in all Yahoo leagues.
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2026 Fantasy Baseball: Week 1 Waiver Wire Adds
Francisco Alvarez, C, New York Mets
Francisco Alvarez enjoyed a strong second half in the 2025 campaign and appears to have carried that momentum into 2026. In his season debut, the former No. 1 overall prospect wasted little time going 2-for-4 with a solo blast and two runs in their victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Even though he was batting in the nine-hole, Alvarez was busy on the scoreboard.
Before the All-Star break in 2025, Alvarez was going through a rough skid, posting a low .234/.319/.333 slash line with just 11 home runs. However, after the All-Star break. Alvarez would go on to post an impressive .276/360/.561 line with an eye-catching .921 OPS. He credits this improvement to a mechanical fix and has already begun to reap the rewards in 2026.
He is a top target if you need some help behind the dish.
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Francisco Alvarez gives the people what they want with his 429-foot BLAST!
(MLB x @MountainDew) pic.twitter.com/j9vQetAbqa
— MLB (@MLB) March 26, 2026
Jordan Lawlar, 3B/OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Jordan Lawlar is also a former top prospect like Alvarez, but has yet to put it all together in the major leagues. During his first two MLB stints (2023 and 2025), the former sixth overall selection posted a rough .165/.241/.237 line wth onyl sevne doubled, and no home runs over a 47-game stint. However, through 91 career games at Triple-A Reno, Lawlar flashed high-end five-category potential, posting a .328/.414/.576 line with 18 home runs and 24 stolen bases.
In spring training, the Diamondbacks opted to move Lawlar to the outfield to provide him with everyday at-bats following the acquisition of Nolan Arenado. In camp, Lawlar made his case to earn a starting role, posting a .333 AVG with four long balls and one stolen base over 17 games.
In the team's opening game against the Dogers, Lawlar got the starting nod in left field and went 1-for-3 with a double. Given that Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (knee) remains on the IL, Lawlar should continue to see every day at-bats in the lineup. His five-category potential makes him a top target as a depth corner infielder or outfielder.
Dominic Canzone, OF, Seattle Mariners
Dominic Canzone was an intriguing late-round flyer in drafts but is quickly approaching must-start status in all formats. On Opening Day, Canzone went 2-for-4 with two solo shots during their loss to the Cleveland Guardians. Last season, Canzone was limited to just 82 games due to being in a strict platoon, but was highly effective when in the lineup.
Over this stretch. Canonze posted a .300/.358/.481 line with 11 doubles, 11 home runs, and a 59:20 K:BB. He also chipped in three stolen bases. However, under the hood, Canzone generated elite metrics suggesting that if he were given an everyday role, he could break out.
In 2025, the 28-year-old generated a .376 xwOBA, .290 xBA, and a .533 xSLG, all of which would have scored among the best marks in the sport if he logged enough plate appearances. With him already carving out a role, he should be a priority target in all formats.
Carson Benge, OF, New York Mets
The final hitter to consider adding this weekend is rookie Carson Benge of the Mets. Benge was in competition for a starting role throughout camp and secured the job following Mike Tauchman's knee injury. With limited depth behind him, Benge should be given plenty of leeway as he finds his footing in the major leagues.
Fortunately, the former 19th overall pick from the 2024 MLB Draft wasted little time making a splash. In his MLB debut, Benge went 1-for-3 with a home run, a stolen base, and two walks during their dominant victory over the Pirates. In camp, he looked just as comfortable, carrying a .366/.435/.439 line. Benge has 20/20 upside with a clear path to everyday at-bats. Don't be afraid to drop a large percentage of your FAAB budget on this potential star.
Carson Benge Goes Deep in MLB Debut in Win Over Pirates https://t.co/TGiu9QLXRA
— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) March 27, 2026
Cody Ponce, SP, Toronto Blue Jays
Cody Ponce has yet to make his season debut in 2026, but he should be a top pitcher to target. Ponce last appeared in the majors back in 2021 before moving overseas to pitch in the NPB (2022-2024) and the KBO (2025). With the KBO last season, Ponce was nothing short of dominant, tossing 180 2/3 innings to the tune of a 1.89 ERA with a 0.94 WHIP.
He posted an incredible 36.2% K%, the highest of any single season in his career. Following this performance, Ponce inked a three-year, $30 million deal with the reigning American League Champions in the winter.
In camp, Ponce continued to enjoy this success, logging 13 2/3 innings with a near-perfect 0.66 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and a 12:4 K:BB. While he may endure some growing pains over his transition back to the major leagues, Ponce has taken a major step forward in his development and could turn in a massive bounce-back season in Toronto.
Matthew Liberatore, SP, St. Louis Cardinals
Like Ponce, another pitcher whose stock rose in spring training was Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore. Liberatore has struggled to find consistency in the majors, but took a step forward in camp, tossing 15 innings with a strong 1.80 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP. He struck out 19 batters and showed strong command, walking only two.
He was given the Opening Day nod and held his own against the Tampa Bay Rays, logging five innings of one-run ball with seven hits, two walks, and two punchouts. While the strikeout totals were low compared to the spring, Liberatore has the skill set to rack up whiffs, as his No. 2 pitch, his slider, posted a high 31.9% whiff rate last summer.
He should remain locked into the Cardinals rotation and is a viable low-end SP4/SP5 in all formats.
Jordan Romano, RP, Los Angeles Angels
Rounding out our initial must-add waiver wire list will be our target for saves. While Kirby Yates appeared to be the frontrunner for saves in Los Angeles, he hit the 15-day IL (knee) shortly before Opening Day, which paved the way for Jordan Romano to get the call on Thursday. Romano entered the game in the final frame and shut the door, tallying a strikeout and a walk en route to earning the save.
While left-hander Drew Pomeranz could mix in for opportunities against a left-handed heavy lineup, seeing Romano earn the first save suggests he is the clear frontrunner in this committee. If he performs well for the next two weeks, he could remain in this role for the foreseeable future, even when Yates and Robert Stephenson (elbow) return from injury.
Romano had a rough 2025 season, posting an 8.23 ERA, but was once a go-to option in the ninth inning, earning at least 30 saves in 2022 and 2023 and 23 saves back in 2021. Managers needing saves should push Romano up their waiver wire priority list this weekend.
Jordan Romano Notches First Save With Angels https://t.co/wK0VChkZuC
— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) March 27, 2026
Other Waiver Wire Targets >50% Rostered
- Chase DeLauter, CLE
- Kevin McGonigle, DET
- Jose Soriano, LAA
- Connelly Early, BOS
- Griffin Jax, TB
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