7 Must-Add Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 22 Fantasy Baseball (2026)

August 22, 2026

Andy breaks down his must-add fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 22 of the 2026 MLB season. Add these players now off the waiver wire and win more.

Hello, RotoBallers! Welcome back to another edition of our 7 Must-Adds ahead of Week 22 of the fantasy baseball season. Another week of MLB action is in the books, which means it's time to look towards the waiver wire and find some options to improve our rosters.

This week, we will look at some surging hitters, including a potential late-season breakout catcher. In terms of pitching, we appear to have a new closer in Los Angeles and a promising starter on the same roster. Be sure to follow RotoBaller MLB on X for all of our league-winning content and me @A_Smith_FS.

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2026 Fantasy Baseball Week 22 Waiver Wire Adds

Rafael Flores Jr., C/1B, Pittsburgh Pirates

15% rostered

There may not be a hitter who has been as hot as Rafael Flores Jr. Over his last seven contests, the young backup has launched an eye-catching five home runs while holding a .435/.480/1.130 slash line. During this noted surge, he has tallied 10 RBI while scoring eight runs.

While the sample size of his success in the majors is very small, his current production has already pushed him into the top of the waiver wire target at this position. Under the hood, Flores has generated a .413 xwOBA with a .604 xSLG and a 51.5% hard-hit rate, all of which would place him among the top percentile of qualified hitters.

The rookie catcher has spent most of the 2026 season at the Triple-A level (65 games), where he has posted a .228/.365/.377 slash line with just 11 home runs and a modest .742 OPS. However, he has begun to see an everyday role in Pittsburgh with Endy Rodriguez on the shelf and Henry Davis carrying a low .212/.312/.287 slash line since the start of July.

Flores has also seen occasional starts at first base, and if he maintains this current pace, he should remain a key contributor in this lineup.

Those needing a catcher in 12+ team leagues or additional corner infield depth should target one of the hottest hitters in the sport.

Rafael Flores Jr. ties the game with his second homer of the day! pic.twitter.com/YOL71hAMDo

— MLB (@MLB) August 19, 2026

Jeff McNeil, 1B/2B/OF, Athletics

19% rostered

Like the name above, another hitter signing as something hot is utility man Jeff McNeil. While McNeil may not possess the raw power potential of Flores, he is a top asset for those needing a late-season batting-average boost.

Since July 18 (his last 27 games), McNeil has posted an elite .364/.387/.523 slash line with five doubles, three home runs, and five stolen bases. Additionally, during this noted stretch, McNeil has been an elite asset in the post-points leagues, as evidenced by his minuscule 8.6% K%.

On the season, the veteran infielder carries a .261/.313/.357 line, but his underlying marks suggest he could continue to see his batting average rise down the stretch. Per Baseball Savant, the 34-year-old sits in the 86th percentile in xBA (.277), which is nearly 20 points higher than his face-value average.

As shown below, his xBA against all three pitch types has also steadily improved over the past two months, suggesting his recent surge is not a fluke and could be usable over the back half of the campaign.

Those falling behind in batting average should view McNeil as a priority target.

Henry Bolte, OF, Athletics

8% rostered

Bolte looked like a potential league-winner over his first month of MLB action. Through his first 21 games with the Athletics, the rookie outfielder posted a dominant .328/.397/.391 line with a .788 OPS. During this stretch, Bolte did not hit a home run, but hit four doubles and chipped in four stolen bases.

However, following this hot start, he endured some serious growing pains. From June 6 through July 30, Bolte would carry a pedestrian .208/.294/.292 line with three doubles and his first three MLB home runs. However, his stark drop in batting average likely sent him to the waiver wire in most formats.

Despite the near two-month slump, Bolte has quickly begun to find his swing. Over his last 19 games, Bolte has seen his average return to a much-higher .333 with three home runs and two stolen bases. While the hefty 25.0% K% does lower his floor in points leagues, Bolte is one of the few outliers widely available who can contribute in both power and speed categories.

Prior to his MLB debut, Bolte posted a strong .348 AVG with 12 home runs and 17 stolen bases across 37 Triple-A games. Bolte may endure some inconsistencies, but he has the upside to finish the season with near 15 home runs and over 20 stolen bases.

Walker Jenkins, OF, Minnesota Twins

7% rostered

The final hitter we will spotlight is a stash option. Following the promotion of Joshua Baez and the impending debut of Kade Anderson, it is now time to turn our attention to the next "big-name" prospect knocking on the MLB door.

Jenkins is currently viewed as the No. 14 prospect on MLB.com and is the top name in the team's system. While injuries have limited him throughout his MiLB career, Jenkins has looked quite comfortable at Triple-A and is making a strong case to debut over the final weeks of the season.

Over his last 24 games with Triple-A St. Paul, Jenkins has posted an elite .333/.413/.538 slash line with seven doubles, five home runs and six stolen bases. He has shown an elite year at the dish, drawing 13 walks and striking out just 18 times.

Even though the Minnesota outfield is currently full, an injury can create a path for an immediate call-up. Managers who have an empty N/A spot following these recent call-ups should look to get ahead of stash Jenkins next.

Walker Jenkins blasts a leadoff homer for the Triple-A @StPaulSaints 💪

MLB’s No. 15 prospect (@Twins) is batting .392 with 7 XBH over his past 13 games: pic.twitter.com/jqXOHV9dWm

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 19, 2026

George Klassen, SP, Los Angeles Angels

5% rostered

Before we look at our starting pitcher recommendation, let's first address Kade Anderson. The top prospect is set to debut on Saturday but has already eclipsed the 35% rostered mark on Yahoo. If available, he is a must-add in all formats.

The Angels promoted Klassen to the majors back in April, but his first stint did not go as planned as he allowed six earned runs over his first 4 2/3 innings. However, after spending some time at Triple-A, Klassen has since returned to the big leagues and has looked far more competent against the sport's top hitters.

Over his last three outings since rejoining the MLB roster (since August 4), Klassen has logged 17 innings to the tune of a 1.59 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. During this three-start stretch, Klassen struck out 15 hitters while walking eight. While the sample is small, like the previously noted Flores, Klassen did flash upside in the minor leagues and could hold viable fantasy value down the stretch.

In July, Klassen was near unhittable at Triple-A Salt Lake, logging 36 1/3 innings to the tune of a 2.48 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. In June (20 1/3 innings), the right-hander held a similar 2.66 ERA.

So far, Klassen has generated a high-end 52.5% ground-ball rate in the majors with an impressive 33.3% whiff rate.

Ben Joyce, RP, Los Angeles Angels

20% rostered

While it appeared Samy Natera Jr. was going to contend with Joyce on this committee, he re-entered the 15-day injured list with a back injury, paving the way for Joyce to operate as the clear-cut starting man in Los Angeles. Joyce had a delayed start to the regular season while recovering from labrum surgery but has since returned to them and is also feeling quite comfortable.

Joyce made his 2026 season debut with the Angels on August 5 and has made six near-perfect appearances. He has yet to allow a run and has held a sharp 0.33 WHIP. He has struck out eight hitters and allowed just one free pass. While he did not earn a save over his first three appearances, he has tallied in each of his last three outings and is in complete control of this bullpen.

Back in 2024, Joyce logged a career-high 34 2/3 innings for the Angels while carrying a 2.08 ERA with a 33:14 K:BB. Even though the Angels may not have the most save opportunities compared to most clubs, Joyce is expected to get the call for the bulk of them going forward.

Additionally, unlike the name below, Joyce has the upside to post high-end strikeout numbers while delivering elite ratios, and to help in double-digit saves by the end of the season.

103.4 MPH 🔥

Ben Joyce seals an Angels win with GAS! pic.twitter.com/pwFXrNFAfW

— MLB (@MLB) August 19, 2026

Jordan Romano, RP, Colorado Rockies

10% rostered

The final player we will look at in this week's edition is another closer. While Joyce is the preferred option on the waiver, Romano is a worthwhile target for these in deeper 12+ team leagues, falling behind in the save category.

Romano opened the 2026 season with the Angels but was eventually designated for assignment. However, he has since joined the Rockies and has quietly claimed the ninth-inning job.

Since moving to Colorado, Romano has logged 13 2/3 innings to the tune of a sharp 2.63 ERA and a modest 1.39 WHIP. During this stretch, the right-hander has gone 8-for-9 on save opportunities and tacked on another hold.

Since allowing three runs on August 4 and August 8, Romano has tossed four straight innings while going a perfect 2-for-2 on save opportunities.

The upside may not be as high as Joyce given his shaky 12.7% walk rate, but he remains the clear favorite for saves in this bullpen, and should provide value in deeper formats, especially for those needing late-season saves.

Other Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets

• Angel Genao, CLE
• Cam Smith, HOU
• Dominic Canzone, SEA
• Cole Carrigg, COL
• Jake Mangum, PIT
• Christian Encarnacion-Strand, BAL
• Zac Thornton, NYM
• Justin Martinez, ARI
• Steven Cruz, KC

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