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Five hot fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups, streamers, and sleepers for Week 2 (2026). Undervalued hitters outperforming their ownership percentage and should be more widely owned.
With nearly two weeks of the MLB season in the books, we now have plenty of data to begin to take deeper dives at some of the early season breakout hitters. In this weekly column, we will continue to spotlight five hitters who have seen their fantasy value soar and determine if managers should look to pick them up.
This week, we will spotlight a former top prospect in Milwaukee who might be enjoying his long-awaited breakout season and a catcher in Detroit who is making a strong case to be rostered in all standard leagues. More importantly, these players are still relatively under the radar (under 25% rostered on Yahoo) compared to the other top breakout picks of the season, and they will not cost you much of your FAAB budget.
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Luke Raley, 1B/OF, Seattle Mariners
15% rostered (Yahoo)
While Dominic Canzone has taken much of the headlines in the opening weeks in Seattle, Luke Raley has turned in a strong start as well. Through his first five games, Raley went 5-for-8 with three long balls. He has at least one hit in each game and has hit a home run in each of his first three. However, since then, his bat has cooled down, as he has gone just 3-for-15 with a double over his last five games.
The 31-year-old has been a 20+ HR hitter before and could be re-entering this territory in 2026. In 2025, Raley was a major disappointment for fantasy as he hit just four home runs over 73 games while carrying a .202 AVG. However, in 2024, Raley went deep 22 times over 137 games with the Mariners while carrying a .243/.320/.463 line.
In 2023, Raley was just as sharp, holding a .249 AVG with 19 round-trippers across a smaller 118-game stint with the Tampa Bay Rays. While his 2025 production left a bad taste in managers' mouths, he appears to be on track for a nice rebound season.
Through the early going, Raley has generated an elite .474 xwOBA, .322 xBA, 29.4% barrel rate, and a 58.8% hard-hit rate. While these metrics were based on a small sample, he is hitting the ball much more effectively as we look more closely. Throughout the first two weeks, Raley has generated a 14.8-degree launch angle, which is very similar to the 17.3-degree and 13.5-degree angles he generated back in 2023 and 2024. More importantly, in 2025, he posted a much lower 9.8-degree launch angle.
Additionally, Raley has brought his ground-ball rate below the 50.0% rate (41.2%), as it was in 2023 and 2024, compared to the much higher 52.8% ground-ball rate he generated last summer.
While his 11.8% Pull AIR% could be higher, seeing Raley keep the ball off the ground and hitting at an ideal launch angle, he is setting himself up to return to his high power totals. If he can maintain these stellar batted-ball metrics (hard-hit rate, barrel rate), Raley could be in the mix to set a career-high in home runs.
Even though the Mariners will continue to keep him on the strong side of a platoon, which hinders his value in weekly lineup leagues, Raley is a prime corner infielder/No. 5/No. 6 outfielder in daily lineup leagues, as he should continue to find great success against right-handed pitching.
Luke Raley (3)
Two-Run Home RunMarch 28th, 2026
Pitcher: Connor Brogdon
Opponent: Cleveland Guardians pic.twitter.com/qBMkXRjRAK— MarinersHR (@MarinersHR) March 29, 2026
Nasim Nunez, 2B/SS, Washington Nationals
5% rostered
While Raley is the target for power in this week's column, Nasim Nunez is the complete opposite. Nunez has seen most of the starts at the keystone this season in D.C. and has held a modest .200/.282/.200 line with four runs and three RBI through nine games. However, even though his average and counting stats will remain low, he is a high-end target for stolen bases.
Throughout this short stint, Nunez has already swiped seven bags, the most in the National League. In 2025, Nunez appeared in 39 games for the Nationals and swiped nine bags while holding a low .232 AVG.
On a 162-game pace, Nunez would have stolen 37 bases, making him well worth rostering in deeper category formats. He made his MLB debut in 2024 but stole only eight bags over a slightly larger 51-game stint. While his bat has yet to take the next step in the major leagues, his raw speed translates quite well.
As he progressed through the Washington system, the 25-year-old showcased immediate high-end speed but specifically held a more stable batting average. Across 63 games at Triple-A (all in the 2025 season), Nunez posted a .254/.339/.313 line with 36 stolen bases. While managers should not expect him to post a near .250 AVG in 2026, he can finish in the .230-.240 range, which will not make him a complete non-factor in this category.
Under the hood, Nunez currently holds a .221 xBA, nearly 21 points higher than his face-value mark. In 2025, Nunez posted a .232 AVG with a .239 xBA, and the year prior, he held an even higher .246 AVG.
His production in runs, RBI, and HRs will remain very low, but when looking for speed on the waiver wire, Nunez should be the top target. If he continues to see a near-every-day role in this offense, a 45+ SB season is not out of the question.
If he can also continue to keep his on-base clip high (.329 OBP in 2024/2025), his stolen base totals will remain very consistent despite his shaky batting average.
Kyle Isbel, OF, Kansas City Royals
15% rostered
The lefty-hitting outfielder has been mostly kept in the No. 9 spot in the lineup on a strict platoon, but has been extremely effective when in the Royals starting lineup. Through nine games, Isbel has posted an eye-catching .429/.467/.679 slash line with one double, two home runs, four stolen bases, and a 5:2 K:BB.
Can the 29-year-old continue this near five-category production pace?
As expected, his underlying metrics are quite impressive (given his dominant base statistics). Isbel has generated a high .290 xBA with a .422 xSLG, both of which are on track to be the highest marks of his career. He has also posted a low 24.6% chase rate, 20.0% whiff rate, and 16.1% strikeout rate, all of which are well above the average marks.
In 2025, Isbel turned in a .255 AVG but hit only four home runs and stole four bases. He has already matched his stolen base total and is halfway to matching his power total.
As we noted for Raley, Isbel has significantly increased his launch angle, which has been the driving force behind his power surge. Through the opening weeks, Isbel has generated a 16.8-degree launch angle and an 8.3% barrel rate, both of which are on pace to match his previous career-highs. Even though his 37.5% hard-hit rate remains on track with his career norms, he is lifting the ball at a much higher rate.
His 37.5% ground-ball rate would also mark the first time this mark is below 40.0% in his career (removing the 35.8% ground-ball rate he posted during his brief rookie campaign in 2021).
Also, with the Royals moving in the fence at Kauffman Stadium this winter, any slight jump in launch angle and fly-ball rate will boost his power numbers. Isbel has the skill set to hit for an elite batting average and push for a 15/15 season. He is worth adding in all five-outfielder leagues.
Garrett Mitchell, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
15% rostered
The name on this list that has garnered the most attention is former first-round pick Garrett Mitchell. The former 20th overall pick has battled several injuries throughout his career and has seen limited time in the majors. Entering the 2026 season, Mitchell appeared in just 141 MLB games (from 2021-24) and held a .254/.333/.433 line with 13 home runs and 23 stolen bases.
The upside was already noticeable in his profile, and that is why I highlighted him in an offseason breakouts piece, as his 20/20 skill set was very intriguing at an all-time low price tag on draft day.
Mitchell has opened the season as the primary center fielder (against right-handed pitching) and has not disappointed. Through nine games, Mitchell has held a .333/.419/.556 line with a stellar .975 OPS.
He has gone deep once, added three doubles, swiped three bases, and tallied an impressive 13 RBI, batting in one of the game's top lineups. In his last two starts, the Brewers have opted to move him into the top four spots of the lineup, which has only bolstered his counting stats further.
The underlying metrics look quite promising and suggest we could be looking at a breakout. Mitchell has generated a .384 xwOBA with a .286 xBA, .529 xSLG, and an elite 53.3% LA Sweet-Spot%.
Mitchell has also generated a 93rd percentile bat speed while placing in the 79th percentile in sprint speed, suggesting his raw power and speed profile is sustainable. Additionally, he has posted a max exit velocity of 112.6 mph, one of the highest marks in the game, while drawing walks at a strong 12.5% BB%.
While his hefty 40.6% K% will have to come down for him to be a valuable asset in points leagues, Mitchell has a 20/30 outcome in his profile this season. Batting in the heart of a top lineup should also keep his counting stats (especially RBI) very high as well. Buy him with confidence.
His lengthy injury history and mostly unproven track record should keep his FAAB cost relatively low compared to other breakout outfielders (Jordan Walker and Cam Smith).
That's a big-league slide by Christian Yelich to score a second run on Garrett Mitchelll's go-ahead hit. pic.twitter.com/hPRYvFuNhy
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) April 7, 2026
Dillon Dingler, C, Detroit Tigers
20% rostered
Rounding out this week's column will be a catch, Dillon Dingler of the Tigers. While the catcher position appeared to be as deep as ever entering the season, several players have gotten off to slow starts, which may have encouraged some managers to look toward the waiver wire.
Unless you are rostering Drake Baldwin, Shea Langeliers, or Ben Rice, you are likely unimpressed by your early round starting catcher.
Through nine games, the primary backstop in Detroit has gone deep twice while holding a .207/.343/.448 line. He has added seven RBI and scored five runs. In 2025, he posted a solid .278 AVG but hit only 13 home runs over a 126-game stint. Even though his batting average has been a bit underwhelming to begin the season, a rise in power could make Dingler a viable low-end C1.
Currently, Dingler has generated a stellar .295 xBA, suggesting positive regression is on the way, while holding a .462 xwOBA (99th percentile) and a .674 xSLG. Dingler has also hit the ball exceptionally hard, generating a 60.0% hard-hit rate and a 25.0% barrel rate.
While hitting the ball hard is an important component for most power hitters, hitting the ball effectively is just as important, as we identified for Raley and Isbel.
Dingler has seen his fundamentals greatly improve, generating a stellar 25.0% Pull AIR%, a stark 19.6% jump from 2025. The backstop has also raised his LA Sweet-Spot% to 50.0% (compared to the 42.3% from last season) and raised his overall Pull% rate from 38.7% to 40.0%.
While his 25.0% Pull AIR% and 50.0% LA Sweet-Spot% are unlikely to be sustainable, even if they drop slightly, these improvements can set him up for a career-best campaign in terms of power. With the expected positive regression in batting average, Dingler could turn in a +.270 AVG with 20+ HRs, which would make him a solid starting option in standard leagues.
Dingler is likely already rostered in most two-catcher leagues but should be added in these formats ahead of Week 3. Managers who are not seeing consistent production from their C1 in standard leagues should also consider adding Dingler to their bench, as he could eventually emerge as a top-10 option at the position.
Given the perceived depth at this position, Dingler won't cost you much to acquire his services in FAAB leagues.
Detroit dinger 🛎️ pic.twitter.com/mk8eb1k4Mo
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 3, 2026
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