Week 1 Waiver Wire Rankings - Fantasy Baseball Pickups Include Matt McLain, Kevin McGonigle, Daylen Lile, Connelly Early, Caleb Durbin, more

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Fantasy baseball waiver wire rankings for Week 1 of the 2026 MLB season. These are free agent options to add off waivers, and our rankings will help you prioritize.

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Outlooks

First Base - Week 1 Waiver Wire Rankings

Second Base - Week 1 Waiver Wire Rankings

Third Base - Week 1 Waiver Wire Rankings

Shortstop - Week 1 Waiver Wire Rankings

Outfield - Week 1 Waiver Wire Rankings

Catcher - Week 1 Waiver Wire Rankings

Starting Pitchers - Week 1 Waiver Wire Rankings

Relief Pitchers - Week 1 Waiver Wire Rankings

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While most fantasy baseball drafts have been completed or are on their way to being finished, it's never too early to research the waiver wire and add players that could bolster your roster. Today, we begin our waiver wire ranking series with our fantasy baseball waiver wire rankings for Week 1 (March 26 - March 29) of the 2026 MLB season. Key players such as Seiya Suzuki, Jeremy Pena, J.P. Crawford, Bryce Miller, and Zach Neto are day-to-day with injuries.

It is essential to stay on top of the player news as we guide you through the injuries, prospect call-ups, and closer role changes. For those searching for injury replacements or whose teams need a boost, we have you covered with our latest fantasy baseball waiver wire rankings. We've been working hard to put together a list of 100 players to consider for various league sizes to help you prioritize your waiver wire decisions.

As always, we are here to help you prioritize which player to add using our waiver wire rankings article. This edition features players such as Matt McLain, Kevin McGonigle, Sal Stewart, Daylen Lile, Robert Garcia, Connelly Early, and Caleb Durbin, who are listed in our initial waiver wire rankings. Read more to see where these players rank in our waiver wire rankings for Week 1.

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Who To Pick Up for Fantasy Baseball Week 1

Waiver wire pickup options, including how to prioritize them for your league - depending on the league size:

Rank	Player Name	Position	% Ros.	Baller Move
1	Wilyer Abreu	OF	69	Add in All Leagues
2	Griffin Jax	RP	65	Add in All Leagues
3	Bryan Abreu	RP	67	Add in All Leagues
4	Matt McLain	2B	70	Add in All Leagues
5	Sal Stewart	1B	60	Add in 10+ Team Leagues
6	Kevin McGonigle	SS	62	Add in 10+ Team Leagues
7	Jac Caglianone	1B/OF	67	Add in 10+ Team Leagues
8	Shane Baz	SP	71	Add in 10+ Team Leagues
9	Kris Bubic	SP	64	Add in 10+ Team Leagues
10	Chase DeLauter	OF	20	Add in 10+ Team Leagues
11	Connelly Early	SP	41	Add in 10+ Team Leagues
12	Heliot Ramos	OF	68	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
13	Seranthony Dominguez	RP	53	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
14	Addison Barger	3B/OF	59	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
15	Brandon Lowe	2B	65	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
16	Jorge Polanco	2B/3B	67	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
17	Kerry Carpenter	OF	67	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
18	Daylen Lile	OF	52	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
19	Max Muncy	3B	41	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
20	Bryson Stott	2B/SS	55	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
21	Jackson Holliday	2B/SS	61	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
22	Jordan Romano	RP	1	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
23	Kodai Senga	SP	46	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
24	Ernie Clement	1B/2B/3B/SS	64	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
25	Robert Suarez	RP	69	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
26	Braxton Ashcraft	SP/RP	41	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
27	Trent Grisham	OF	53	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
28	Otto Lopez	2B/SS	65	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
29	Robert Garcia	RP	32	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
30	Royce Lewis	3B	43	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
31	Samuel Basallo	C	41	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
32	JoJo Romero	RP	12	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
33	Jordan Lawlar	3B	15	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
34	Marcell Ozuna	DH	21	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
35	Jack Leiter	SP	33	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
36	Mike Burrows	SP/RP	39	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
37	Francisco Alvarez	C	30	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
38	Caleb Durbin	2B/3B	37	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
39	Carter Jensen	C	25	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
40	Cam Smith	OF	6	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
41	Ryan Weathers	SP	24	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
42	Cody Ponce	SP	33	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
43	Jordan Beck	OF	19	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
44	Carson Benge	OF	26	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
45	Sal Frelick	OF	25	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
46	Matthew Liberatore	SP	11	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
47	Paul Sewald	RP	21	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
48	Clayton Beeter	RP	11	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
49	Garrett Cleavinger	RP	21	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
50	Justin Crawford	OF	21	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
51	Kyle Harrison	SP/RP	10	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
52	Will Warren	SP	27	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
53	Shane Smith	SP	27	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
54	Grant Holmes	SP	20	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
55	TJ Friedl	OF	24	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
56	Brady Singer	SP	26	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
57	Chris Bassitt	SP	27	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
58	Jose Soriano	SP	31	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
59	Cade Cavalli	SP	14	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
60	Andrew Painter	SP	28	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
61	Joey Cantillo	SP/RP	24	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
62	Drew Pomeranz	SP/RP	3	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
63	Lucas Erceg	RP	7	Add in 12+ Team Leagues
64	Jeremiah Estrada	RP	22	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
65	Parker Messick	SP	19	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
66	Max Meyer	SP	10	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
67	Mick Abel	SP	13	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
68	Dillon Dingler	C	19	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
69	Willi Castro	2B/3B/OF	22	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
70	Brett Baty	2B/3B	10	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
71	Dustin May	SP	4	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
72	Dominic Canzone	OF	5	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
73	Luisangel Acuna	2B	3	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
74	Coby Mayo	1B	8	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
75	Chris Martin	RP	3	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
76	Cole Sands	SP/RP	2	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
77	Reynaldo Lopez	SP	18	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
78	Garrett Mitchell	OF	1	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
79	Joe Boyle	SP/RP	2	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
80	Didier Fuentes	SP	10	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
81	Justin Sterner	RP	4	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
82	Josh Smith	1B/3B/SS/OF	16	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
83	Matt Svanson	RP	6	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
84	Carson Williams	SS	4	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
85	Brandon Sproat	SP	5	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
86	Mike Yastrzemski	OF	4	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
87	Tyler Stephenson	C	6	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
88	Jasson Dominguez	OF	12	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
89	Grant Taylor	RP	13	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
90	Hogan Harris	RP	2	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
91	Randy Vasquez	SP	1	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
92	Jake McCarthy	OF	2	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
93	Logan Henderson	SP	22	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
94	Moises Ballesteros	C	7	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
95	Owen Caissie	OF	5	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
96	Cole Young	2B	4	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
97	Aaron Ashby	RP	2	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
98	Colt Emerson	SS	7	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
99	Drew Anderson	RP	0	Add in 15+ Team Leagues
100	Zach Agnos	RP	0	Add in 15+ Team Leagues

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Outlooks

Some of the top names include Kevin McGonigle, Dylan Crews, Andrew Painter, Matthew Liberatore, Roki Sasaki, and more. We recap why these players rostered under 70% in Yahoo! leagues should be on your waiver wire radar for Week 1.

Kevin McGonigle, Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers shortstop prospect Kevin McGonigle is staying in big-league camp on Wednesday rather than playing in the spring breakout game, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. "Their focus is in big-league camp and continuing to try to make an impression, state their case to be part of our puzzle," manager A.J. Hinch said.

With just over a week to go until Opening Day next week, McGonigle remains in the Tigers' big-league camp in spring training. The former first-rounder has hit .242 (8-for-33) with two home runs, six RBI, eight runs scored, two stolen bases, and a 7:10 K:BB in 44 plate appearances over 16 Grapefruit League games, and he continues to play well beyond his years.

Even if Detroit decides to have the 21-year-old start in the minors, it shouldn't be long before he's contending for starting duties at the 6 in Detroit. McGonigle needs to be stashed in all redraft formats and should already be rostered in dynasty leagues.

Matt McLain, Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (illness) is back at second base and is batting second in the team's exhibition game on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. McLain caught a bug going around the team's clubhouse and was held out of Monday's exhibition game. The 26-year-old former 17th overall pick in 2021 out of UCLA has major bounce-back potential for fantasy managers in 2026, near the top of a powerful Reds lineup.

McLain turned heads as a rookie in 2023 with a .290/.357/.507 slash line with 16 homers, 50 RBI, and 14 stolen bases, but he missed all of 2024 due to injuries and returned as a disappointment last year. He hit .220/.300/.343 in 2025 with 15 homers, 50 RBI, and 18 steals in 147 games played.

McLain has mashed this spring, going 27-for-51 (.529) with seven homers and 16 RBI in 17 Cactus League games. He's an excellent choice as a starting second baseman in fantasy after some of the high-end names at the position come off the board.

Andrew Painter, Philadelphia Phillies

On Wednesday, Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect Andrew Painter made what is likely his final spring appearance before the regular season gets underway, twirling four innings of one-hit ball against the Braves, allowing just one hit and a walk while striking out three.

The Phils' top pitching prospect had a bumpy outing his last time out (three earned runs), but Wednesday's performance made it three scoreless appearances out of four this spring with an 8:2 K:BB in a total of 11 2/3 innings of work.

The 6-foot-7 hurler is expected to be the team's fifth starter once the regular season begins, and if he lives up to the former hype, the right-hander could remain there for the rest of the season. The former first-rounder struggled to a 5.40 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and a 13.7 percent K-BB% in 106 2/3 innings at Triple-A in 2025, his first time pitching in minor league regular-season games since 2022 after elbow problems and eventually Tommy John surgery cost him all of 2023 and 2024.

Most fantasy managers may want to wait and see before rostering the tall right-hander, but proactive managers in deeper leagues with available bench space may consider stashing him in the event his spring success carries over into the regular season.

Matthew Liberatore, St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Matthew Liberatore will get the nod as the team's Opening Day starter in 2026, taking on the Tampa Bay Rays at home on Thursday, March 26. The left-hander was second on the team in wins, quality starts, and strikeouts last season behind Sonny Gray, who is no longer with the club, so Liberatore will assume the role of ace of the staff. The 6-foot-5 southpaw recorded a 4.21 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 122 strikeouts in 151 2/2 innings pitched last season, which doesn't really move the needle much for fantasy.

The former first-rounder has looked good so far this spring, though, as he's allowed three earned runs in 10 innings of work (2.70 ERA) while registering a 1.00 WHIP and an impressive 14:1 K:BB in his three starts, so perhaps he's ready to take a step forward in 2026. The 26-year-old is going undrafted in most fantasy leagues, owning an ADP of 359, right around his RotoBaller ranking of 341 overall.

Roki Sasaki, Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that right-hander Roki Sasaki will be in the team's Opening Day starting rotation despite his struggles in spring training, according to Jack Harris of The Los Angeles Times. Sasaki has been a roller coaster in Cactus League action this year, and it continued in his latest outing on Tuesday night against the Kansas City Royals, when he allowed three runs on four hits, four walks, and five strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings pitched.

He has shown progress with his newly-added cutter, but overall, Sasaki has been underwhelming this spring. When left-hander Blake Snell (shoulder) eventually makes his 2026 season debut, Sasaki may end up back in the bullpen, where he was thriving last fall to close out the season.

Struggles with command have been the biggest issue for the 24-year-old Japanese hurler, making him a boom/bust fantasy option in 2026. In 36 1/3 innings in his MLB debut in the regular season last year, Sasaki had a 4.46 ERA with 28 K's and 22 walks in 10 outings (eight starts).