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The hunt for those elusive first base and third base fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 7 – May 6 through May 12 — is intensifying as we get further into the fantasy baseball season.
Whether you're shoring up your infield with a reliable 1B or bolstering your hot corner with a dependable 3B, the waiver wire presents an array of tantalizing options waiting to be claimed.
From breakout sluggers to under-the-radar performers, navigating the waiver wire landscape demands keen insight and a knack for seizing opportunities. So, let's dive into the pool of available talent and uncover the hidden treasures primed to make a significant impact on your fantasy squad in the week ahead.
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Waiver Wire Pickups for Shallow Leagues (30-50% rostered)
Tyler Nevin, 1B/3B/OF, Oakland Athletics (34% rostered)
Don't look now, but the A's are ahead of the Houston Astros in the AL West standings. That's right -- the reigning worst team in the league actually isn't bad this season, or at least, they've been playing some solid baseball of late. They're 8-2 in their last ten games and are on a six-game winning streak. One of their hottest players has been Tyler Nevin, who's slashed .360/.452/.720 in his last seven games.
Tyler Nevin goes yard 🧨 pic.twitter.com/mUfAQeHEwU
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) April 30, 2024
Prior to this week, the 26-year-old was just one percent rostered in fantasy leagues and had yet to leave the yard. That all changed within the last few days, riding a nine-game hitting streak that ended on Friday and included three home runs and five RBI. He also walked three times in a rout of the Marlins on Saturday. Nevin's offensive output nearly tripled his rostered percentage. His hot streak doesn't seem to be slowing down, and Nevin's making things interesting in Oakland.
Jorge Polanco, 2B/3B, Seattle Mariners (44% rostered)
After a slow start to the season, the Mariners and Jorge Polanco are beginning to heat up. Seattle leads the AL West and Polanco is beginning to resemble the player the M's were hoping to get when they acquired him from the Twins. His .193 batting average doesn't inspire much confidence, but he boasts a .846 OPS with a pair of homers and five RBI in his last seven appearances.
Jorge Polanco solo shot! pic.twitter.com/U3JSbprXxV
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 4, 2024
Unfortunately, the 30-year-old still strikes out a ton, going down 12 times in 28 at-bats in that span. Luckily, he's offsetting his whopping K rate by drawing free passes -- ranking in the 94th percentile in BB percentage -- and recently hitting the baseball and scoring runs. With only a one-game lead over the Rangers, the Mariners need Polanco to continue to step it up.
Waiver Wire for Deeper Leagues (10-30% rostered)
Nick Senzel, 3B/OF, Washington Nationals (13% rostered)
After beginning the season on the injured list with a fractured right thumb, Nick Senzel was activated on April 15 by his new club, and he's recently begun to make his presence known in the nation's capital. The former Cincinnati Red is batting .296/.406/.593 with two long balls, a double, seven RBI, and four walks in his last seven contests.
The @Nationals were down 7-0.
After Nick Senzel's 2nd homer of the game, they are now up 9-7. pic.twitter.com/ASSDR1MfQe
— MLB (@MLB) April 28, 2024
For being a second-overall draft pick, the 28-year-old has had a fairly quiet MLB career. However, he has shown signs of life offensively at points within the last few seasons. For example, Senzel was named NL Player of the Week on May 1, 2023, after going 10-for-21 (.476) at the plate. Despite the strong start, it wasn't the breakout the Reds were hoping for, causing the club to move on from Senzel in the offseason. Perhaps a fresh start in Washington will get him going.
Tyler Black, 2B/3B, Milwaukee Brewers (25% rostered)
The past week has seen the promotions of multiple prospects, with one of them being former 33rd-overall draft pick Tyler Black. The 23-year-old was called up following the placement of Wade Miley on the 60-day injured list. Black was mashing at Triple-A, hitting .303 with a double, three triples, five home runs, and 18 RBI across 25 games.
"And there's a base hit to right field from my boy, Tyler Black."
Tyler Black's dad got to make the call during his son's Major League debut. 🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/SZFIveAkp0
— MLB (@MLB) May 1, 2024
In his first taste of MLB action on April 30 against the Rays, Black collected his first major league hit -- a double -- and added another hit and a run scored. He doubled again in his second career game but has gone hitless in his last two. Fear not, though, as Black was the Brew Crew's fourth-ranked prospect and he's just getting started.
Kyle Manzardo, 1B, Cleveland Guardians (11% rostered)
Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan sustained a hamstring injury on Saturday and was placed on the injured list. In a corresponding move, the Guardians are promoting top first base prospect Kyle Manzardo. He is MLB's No. 53 ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline. The 23-year-old has nothing left to prove in the minors after slashing .303/.375/.642 with nine home runs, 20 RBI, and 25 runs over 29 games for Triple-A Columbus.
The Cleveland Guardians are calling up Kyle Manzardo to the majors, per @ZackMeisel pic.twitter.com/ua8kuvVx3i
— Milb Central (@milb_central) May 5, 2024
With Kwan sidelined, Manzardo will have a clear path to playing time as Cleveland's primary designated hitter. He has elite power, evidenced by homering eight times over his last 13 games in Triple-A before Sunday's promotion. Fantasy managers searching for power or need help with RBI or runs can look to add Manzardo to all league formats.
Deeper Waiver Wire Options to Consider (Under 10%)
Carlos Santana, 1B, Minnesota Twins (8% rostered)
For the first time since 1991, the Twins have won 12 baseball games in a row. Despite the impressive streak, Minnesota is still a game and a half back of the AL Central-leading Guardians. Therefore, if they hope to keep pace with Cleveland in the division, the whole lineup needs to contribute, and that includes Carlos Santana.
Do you like the way Carlos Santana hit that one???? pic.twitter.com/m7qcAMSPXU
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) April 28, 2024
While Santana hasn't been a major factor in the Twins' recent success, the veteran slugger has still added a pair of homers and driven in seven runs in his last seven appearances. Plus, it's never a bad idea to pick up a player from the hottest team in the league.
More Waiver Wire Pickups to Consider
- Josh Bell, 1B, Miami Marlins (23% rostered)
- Vidal Brujan, 2B/3B/SS, Miami Marlins (6% rostered)
- Alec Burleson, 1B/OF, St. Louis Cardinals (1% rostered)
- Brett Harris, 3B, Oakland Athletics (0% rostered)
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