Points League Hitters: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 4 (April 21 - April 27)

April 20, 2025

Nicklaus' H2H points fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters in Week 4 (2025) - April 21 through April 27. Free-agent hitters to add in points leagues.

Welcome, RotoBallers, to our H2H points fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters for Week 4 of the 2025 season. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of April 21 - April 27, looking at players below ~50 percent rostered on ESPN or Yahoo points leagues.

We'll be doing this points league roundup every week here at RotoBaller because we know points players get neglected, and we're here to help. Player values can vary wildly from platform to platform, so we'll highlight where players are the best and worst fits, with waiver-wire targets being evaluated in terms of the different scoring systems on ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, Fantrax, and NFBC.

Position eligibility is taken from Fantrax, and players are grouped by their most valuable fantasy position, using a hierarchy of C > 2B > OF > 3B > 1B > SS. Stats and rankings are calculated using games through Saturday, April 19.

Waiver Wire Caveats and APR Explanation

Roster% Thresholds

We use a combination of roster percentages to assess who is in our target pool, relying mostly on Yahoo and ESPN. For some players, you'll notice a wide discrepancy between the two. This is because ESPN's roster percentage is heavily weighted by points players, with guys who don't do well in their system (often because of an inflated strikeout rate) lagging behind the Yahoo! roster percentage.

For this reason, you'll sometimes see players (especially early) who might make you question my sanity in including them in a waiver-wire article, but don't worry, it's just a necessary glitch for coverage purposes.

APR stands for "Average Platform Rank" and is the average hitter rank between the four major point platforms: ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, and Fantrax. All player data is from FanGraphs and Baseball Savant, with injury information pulled from the Roster Resource section on the former.

Fantasy Baseball First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Rhys Hoskins, MIL, 1B (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 9%) - Hoskins saw a big jump in his typical strikeout rate last season after returning from missing all of 2023, but it looks like his discipline is rounding into form, currently running a 23 percent strikeout rate and 9.8 swinging-strike rate. He'll get seven games in Week 4 (@SF, @STL), with all but two coming against RHPs.

Only the THIRD HR of the week for @rhyshoskins, not bad https://t.co/cjmVAlAtXQ pic.twitter.com/sOjkfWjdnH

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 20, 2025

Gavin Sheets, SD, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 10%) - Sheets is just doing to righties what Sheetz does to right...IE crushing fools. In 54 PA vs. RHP this season, Sheets has a 58 percent hard-hit rate, with a .398 wOBA and .920 OPS. That .415 BABIP? Well, never you mind that. The Padres have six games this week (@DET, vs. TB), with no LHPs on the menu.

Next Choices

Michael Toglia, COL, 1B (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 5%) - Toglia has been slow to start 2025, but nothing says getting back on track better than getting a series in Colorado.

Wilmer Flores, SF, 1B (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 43%) - After finishing in the top-50 for three weeks in a row and seeing his roster percentage rate drastically rise, Flores is currently running just a 148 APR headed into Sunday. Ahh, the old Flores-swerve -- we should've seen it coming. One mediocre week does not make a drop, however, and Flores is still a strong option in a week that will see him play seven games (vs. MIL, vs. TEX) and face two left-handed pitchers.

Nolan Schanuel, LAA, 1B (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 10%) - Well, this has been a dud -- Schanuel has just a 213 APR heading into Sunday. The profile still plays, though, and he'll get six games in Week 4 (vs. PIT, @MIN), with two coming against his fellow left-handers.

Carlos Santana, CLE, 1B (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 15%) - Continuing this week's (apparent) theme of "good points process, bad points result", Santana has a 185 APR in Week 3 but is still worth rolling out in Week 4. He'll get six games at home against the Yankees and Red Sox, and we'll see two of the LHPs he tends to crush.

Desperate Choices

Tim Tawa, ARI, 1B/2B (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Tawa has carved himself out a more regular role recently, banishing Garrett Hampson back into benchville. While a .217 AVG is nothing to get excited about, Tawa has shown early discipline and is striking the ball well, with a .269 xBA and .384 xwOBA.

Pavin Smith, ARI, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 12%) - When Pavin Smith posts top-100 weeks in three out of four periods, I guess we have to talk about Pavin Smith. And what we should talk about is how he's rocking a ridiculous .586 BABIP and a bunch of x-stats that are all about 100 points less than his actual numbers.

IE. Pavin Smith crash, incoming. But if you doubt it, feel free to roll with him in Week 4, when he'll be at home for sets against the Rays and Braves.

On the IL

• Christian Encarnacion-Strand, CIN, 1B (lower back inflammation - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Tyler Fitzgerald, SF, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 11%) - Oooh, that preseason hype-train is heating up. Fitzgerald enters Sunday as the No. 14 hitter in the period and is now up to a 101 APR for the year. With seven games at home in Week 4 (vs. MIL, vs. TEX), your chances to jump on are dwindling.

Gavin Lux, CIN, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 4%) - If I've said it once, I've said it at least 11 times -- Gavin Lux will suck most of the time but there will be 20(ish)-day periods where he'll tear things up. Why not now? Lux is coming off a top-50 week and gets three games in Colorado.

Jorge Polanco, SEA, 2B (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 16%) - Polanco is in the middle of a bleh week but is still slashing .246/.352/.558 for the season, with a .391 wOBA and 13 percent strikeout rate. He'll get six games in Week 4 (@BOS, vs. MIA), and is scheduled to face two LHPs.

Next Choices

Jonathan India, CIN, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 46%) - Only recently picking up third-base eligibility, India is seeing his roster percentage rate drop due to his poor performance, but he'll look to get off the schneid in a six-game homestand against the Rockies and Astros.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa, PIT, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 14%) - It's nothing sexy -- IKF is a compiler who never strikes out and piles a lot of PAs. He'll get the chance to keep giving you a very slow (but steady) drip of points in a west-coast swing against the Dodgers and Angels.

Desperate Choices

Otto Lopez, MIA, 2B (Yahoo: 25%, ESPN: 18%) - Back-to-back lackluster weeks have to mean he's due, right? Science! It might be a stretch, though, as Lopez will face some mean pitching from the Mariners and Reds (okay, just Nick Lodolo).

Tim Tawa, ARI, 1B/2B (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Tawa has carved himself out a more regular role recently, banishing Garrett Hampson back into benchville. While a .217 AVG is nothing to get excited about, Tawa has shown early discipline and is striking the ball well, with a .269 xBA and .384 xwOBA.

On the IL

• Nick Gonzales, 2B, PIT (fractured ankle - no timetable)
• Richie Palacios, TB, 2B/OF (sprained knee - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Cam Smith, HOU, 3B (Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 11%) - Uh-oh, it's a rookie rising -- put the town on alert! Smith is following up his top-50 finish in Week 3 with a slightly less lava-esque top-100 this week, and a 30 percent strikeout rate is still going to be a killer in leagues with a strikeout penalty.

First career multi-homer game for Cam Smith! pic.twitter.com/Qv3Lilxhf1

— MLB (@MLB) April 19, 2025

Next Choices

Jonathan India, CIN, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 46%) - Only recently picking up third-base eligibility, India is seeing his roster percentage rate drop due to his poor performance, but he'll look to get off the schneid in a six-game homestand against the Rockies and Astros.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa, PIT, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 14%) - It's nothing sexy -- IKF is a compiler who never strikes out and piles a lot of PAs. He'll get the chance to keep giving you a very slow (but steady) drip of points in a west-coast swing against the Dodgers and Angels.

Desperate Choices

Chase Meidroth, CHW, 2B (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 2%) - The rookie has at least gotten on base since getting called up, posting an early 13 percent strikeout rate and a 16 percent walk rate while leading off for the White Sox. But it's the last part of that sentence that's the problem, because if you're getting on base at the top of a White Sox order, does it really matter that much?

Meidroth gets seven games in Week 3, playing one in Boston before six more on the road against the Twins and Athletics.

Jeimer Candelario, CIN, 1B (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 5%) - A 32 percent strikeout rate makes him hard to play in leagues with a strikeout penalty, but three games in Colorado (after three in Miami) make the whiffs risk worth it.

On the IL

• Paul DeJong, 3B/SS, WSH (fractured nose - no timetable)
• Yoan Moncada, 3B, LAA (sprained thumb - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Jacob Wilson, ATH, SS (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 37%) - Toot-toot -- let's keep this train rolling all the way to 50 percent...and beyond! Wilson is only a top-100 hitter this week (as opposed to a top-50 the last two periods) but is now up to a 56 APR for the season. He'll get six games at home this week, with matchups against the hapless White Sox, as well as a start from Patrick Corbin. Huzzah!

Tyler Fitzgerald, SF, 2B/SS (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 11%) - Oooh, that preseason hype-train is heating up. Fitzgerald enters Sunday as the No. 14 hitter in the period and is now up to a 101 APR for the year. With seven games at home in Week 4 (vs. MIL, vs. TEX), your chances to jump on are dwindling.

Next Choices

Carlos Correa, MIN, SS (Yahoo: 35%, ESPN: 48%) - He's rarely exciting at this stage, but Correa remains a strong points profile that will compile his way to relevance as long as he actually stays on the field. Corea gets six games at home this week (vs. CHW, vs. LAA), with all but one coming vs. RHP.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa, PIT, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 14%) - It's nothing sexy -- IKF is a compiler who never strikes out and piles a lot of PAs. He'll get the chance to keep giving you a very slow (but steady) drip of points in a west-coast swing against the Dodgers and Angels.

Desperate Choices

Luisangel Acuna, NYM, 2B (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 3%) - The man many call Lil' Acuna* is slowly heating up, posting a top-100 APR in back-to-back weeks but it'll be hard to trust him as a fantasy asset until you can count on him to be in the lineup most every day. Still sharing second base with Brett Baty, Acuna gets six games in Week 4 (vs. PHI, @WSN), with two scheduled vs. LHPs.

*No one calls him that

• Paul DeJong, 3B/SS, WSH (fractured nose - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

TJ Friedl, CIN, OF (Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 10%) - Friedl has rewarded our best choice award from last week with a solid 86 APR in Week 3, but more importantly, Coors. As in, Friedl will head to Colorado for a three-game set after taking on the Marlins for a trio to start the week.

TJ Friedl stays in the game after hurting his shoulder on this RBI double

That man is tough#Reds pic.twitter.com/6GvAIBr9cZ

— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) April 19, 2025

Sal Frelick, MIL, OF (Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 27%) - Frelick continues to prove that his roster percentage rate is criminally low, as he's currently in the middle of yet another top-50 week. He'll get seven games on the road in Week 4 (@SF, @STL), with two scheduled against his fellow lefties.

Gavin Sheets, SD, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 10%) - Sheets is just doing to righties what Sheetz does to right...IE crushing fools. In 54 PA vs. RHP this season, Sheets has a 58 percent hard-hit rate, with a .398 wOBA and .920 OPS. That .415 BABIP? Well, never you mind that. The Padres have six games this week (@DET, vs. TB), with no LHPs on the menu.

Byron Buxton, MIN, OF (Yahoo: 42%, ESPN: 17%) - Great Scott! He's still not on the IL? Okay, everyone play it very, very cool and very, very quietly. We wouldn't want to spook him.

Buxton has a 79 APR in Week 3 and is now up to a 65 APR for the season. And, as mentioned, he is not currently on the IL! He'll play six games at home this week (vs. CHW, vs. LAA), with all but one scheduled against right-handed pitchers.

Gavin Lux, CIN, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 4%) - If I've said it once, I've said it at least 11 times -- Gavin Lux will suck most of the time but there will be 20(ish)-day periods where he'll tear things up. Why not now? Lux is coming off a top-50 week and gets three games in Colorado.

JJ Bleday, ATH, OF (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 32%) - Ho-hum -- this is what I did all last year. Make jokes about Bleday being a top-50 hitter who was sub-10 percent rostered, and watch him have another top-50 week - rinse and repeat. But hey! He's already up to the lofty heights of +25 percent, so maybe there is hope for my sanity* after all!

*Yeah, there actually isn't ; )

Next Choices

Jake Mangum, TB, OF (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 7%) - Mangum continues to quietly impress, piling up a ton of PAs (started every game but three since being called up) and posting a minuscule 11 percent strikeout rate. He's still in the bottom-third of the lineup but is now up to a 90 APR for the year and will get six games in Week 4 (@ARI, @SDP), with just one scheduled against a lefty.

Mike Yastrzemski, SF, OF (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 18%) - Crap, am I really being tricked again into thinking Grand-Yaz is anything but a solid platoon guy? Could be! Yastrzemski is helping himself to a third top-50 week in a row and gets a seven-game homestand (vs. MIL, vs. TEX) in Week 4, with two scheduled vs. LHPs.

His x-stats might lag from the actual ones, but a .267 xBA, .447 SLG, and .368 xwOBA still aren't too shabby.

Desperate Choices

Kameron Misner, TB, OF (Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 13%) - Even with the Rays in the middle of a lefty-heavy stretch (four of the last eight), Misner is still producing points in limited PAs. This week, however, the Rays get six games (@ARI, @SDP), with just one scheduled versus a left-handed starter.

Pavin Smith, ARI, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 24%, ESPN: 12%) - When Pavin Smith posts top-100 weeks in three out of four periods, I guess we have to talk about Pavin Smith. And what we should talk about is how he's rocking a ridiculous .586 BABIP and a bunch of x-stats that are all about 100 points less than his actual numbers.

IE. Pavin Smith crash, incoming. But if you doubt it, feel free to roll with him in Week 4, when he'll be at home for sets against the Rays and Braves.

On the IL

• Victor Robles, SEA, OF (shoulder dislocation - expected to miss ~three months)
• Matt Wallner, MIN, OF (sprained hamstring - no timetable)
• Jonny DeLuca, TB, OF (strained shoulder - expected to miss two to four weeks)
• Jose Siri, TB, OF (fractured shin - no timetable)
• Dairon Blanco, KC, OF (achilles - no timetable)
• Jason Heyward, SD, OF (knee inflammation - no timetable)
• Austin Slater, CHW, OF (knee surgery - expected to miss 4-6 weeks)
• Derek Hill, MIA, OF (sprained wrist - no timetable)
• Brandon Lockridge, SD, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Mike Tauchman, CHW, OF (sprained hamstring - no timetable)
• Manuel Margot, DET, OF (strained knee - no timetable)
• Richie Palacios, TB, 2B/OF (sprained knee - no timetable)
• Tyler Freeman, COL, OF (strained oblique - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Hunter Goodman, COL, C/OF(Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 8%) - Goodman is in the middle of another top-100 week and is set up to shine again in Week 4. The righthander is scheduled to face four LHPs and ends the week in the sweet, thin air of Colorado.

Next Choices

Carson Kelly, CHC, C (Yahoo: 37%, ESPN: 49%) - We said last week that the hot-hitting Kelly was a good but not great stream, as he was only likely to start 2-3 games. Welp, we got the games right; Kelly has only played on Wednesday and Friday.

Also, he went totally bonkers on Friday, going deep twice, with three runs scored and five RBI. Okay, so apparently Carson Kelly is a fantasy god now and only needs a game or two to be worth streaming. He better be, anyway, if you're rolling with him in Week 4, as the Cubs have just five games (vs. LAD, vs. PHI), with one coming against a left-handed pitcher.

Jose Trevino, CIN, C (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 2%) - The rarely struck-out Trevino is having his second top-100 performance of the year and has a chance to keep going on the road, first against the subpar pitching of the Marlins before trying to get some early desserts in Colorado.

Desperate Choices

Liam Hicks, MI(Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 15%) - Anyone ready for some Liam *checks notes* Hicks(?) SZN? Yeah! Gimme a break -- the bar for a Miami catcher to hit the official "SZN" threshold is super, super, low. Hicks has a 70 APR in Week 3 and should continue to get the lion's share of PA, being backed by just Rob Brantley, with Nick Fortes injuring his oblique/going to the minors.

The left-handed Hicks will see five righties in sets with the Reds (at home), and the Mariners (on the road).

On the IL

• Ivan Herrera, C, STL (knee inflammation - expected to miss ~four weeks)
• Connor Wong, C, BOS (fractured pinkie - no timetable)
• Korey Lee, C, CHW (strained oblique - no timetable)

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