👉 TAP TO SAVE 30% WITH CODE NEW
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

#1 Expert Projections
Save 30% Now
Import Your Leagues
Top-Rated Accuracy
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Eric Cross' Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups - Hitters and Pitchers (Week 3)

Brady House - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MLB Prospects, Draft Sleepers

Eric Cross' top fantasy baseball waiver wire adds for Week 3 of 2026 (April 13 - April 19). His favorite free agent hitters and pitchers under 40% rostered.

The first two weeks of the major league season have flown by. We need to remember that fantasy baseball is a marathon, not a sprint, especially when it comes to the waiver wire. Don't put yourself in a situation where you don't have many moves or FAAB left near the end of the season. But at the same time, we need to be addressing areas of weakness on our rosters before they become more prominent issues.

The players below are all under 40 percent rostered in Yahoo! leagues. Some of them might already be rostered in your leagues, but if they're available, I'd recommend considering them to see if they could be good fits for your fantasy teams.

Last week's waiver wire recommendations: Jake Burger (TEX), Mickey Moniak (COL), Liam Hicks (MIA), Kyle Harrison (SFG), Eric Lauer (TOR), Taj Bradley (TBR), Gregory Soto (PIT)

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball draft tools and resources:

 

Owen Caissie (OF - MIA)

25% Rostered on Yahoo

After being drafted by the Padres back in 2020, traded to the Cubs shortly thereafter, and then traded again to the Marlins this past offseason, Owen Caissie is finally getting his shot in the major leagues. It's been a solid first dozen games for the Canadian outfielder, too, slashing .324/.385/.618 with two home runs, one steal, and 12 RBI. In fact, Caissie is tied for sixth in the National League in RBI, only three behind Drake Baldwin.

When rostering Caissie, it's important to know and understand the pros and cons. He's a talented player with plenty of power upside, but he's also been incredibly streaky throughout his half-decade in professional baseball. We're seeing those pros and cons so far this season with a 27.3% barrel rate, 91.3 mph AVG EV, 33.3% strikeout rate, 33.8% whiff rate, and a 75.5% zone contact rate.

Caissie could easily hit 25 home runs and push double-digit steals this season, but I'd bank on the batting average being more in the .240-.250 range.

 

Josh Bell (1B - MIN)

15% Rostered on Yahoo

It feels like I include Josh Bell in a waiver wire article every season. This isn't a guy you get excited about drafting, but he always has stretches that push him onto fantasy teams at various points throughout the season. I'd be willing to bet that at least 75% of you reading this have picked up Bell at least once over the last few seasons, maybe even more than once.

Bell has smacked three home runs in his first 51 plate appearances to go along with 11 runs scored, 10 RBI, eight walks, and a .317/.431/.634 slash line. He's one of just four players to have at least three home runs, eight walks, 10 RBI, and 10 runs so far, joining Ben Rice, Yordan Alvarez, and James Wood.

Under the hood, Bell has a career-best 53.6% hard-hit rate and 15.7% walk rate in the early going, but what really stands out is his eye-popping 78.6% air rate, 53.6% pull rate, and 39.3% Pull AIR%. These will likely stabilize as the season progresses, but if Bell continues hitting the ball in the air and to his pull side more consistently than he has in previous seasons, it's possible that we see a bit of a late-career mini-breakout from the 11-year veteran.

 

Max Muncy (3B - ATH)

47% Rostered on Yahoo

Yes, I know Max Muncy is slightly above the 40% roster threshold I have for this article, but I allow myself to push that threshold several times per season. Muncy was one I wanted to include this week, as his roster rate is far too low right now. In his first 48 plate appearances, Muncy has two home runs, one steal, five RBI, and 11 runs scored with a .3196/.333/.574 slash line.

There's plenty to be excited about under the hood as well. Muncy is currently rocking a 95.5 mph AVG EV, 67.7% hard-hit rate, and a 16.1% barrel rate, along with an 85th percentile bat speed and 73rd percentile sprint speed. The batted ball angles have been great as well, with Muncy ranking near the top of the league in Pull AIR% (29%) and sweet-spot rate (48.4%).

However, I also need to inform you of Muncy's shortcomings. While the quality of contact has been great so far, Muncy also has a 35.6% chase rate, 33.3% strikeout rate, 2.1% walk rate, and a 37.5% whiff rate. I'm banking on him being more in the .250 range, but that could come with more than 20 home runs and double-digit steals.

 

TJ Rumfield (1B - COL)

20% Rostered on Yahoo

With all the big-name rookies making waves right now, a rookie like TJ Rumfield is flying way under the radar. The former Yankees prospect and current Rockies rookie is slashing an impressive .326/.388/.535 in his first 49 major league plate appearances, along with six runs, four extra-base hits, two home runs, and eight RBI. And out of the 22 rookies with at least 20 plate appearances so far, Rumfield's 144 wRC+ is the sixth-highest mark.

There are some encouraging metrics under the hood as well. Rumfield has recorded an 11.8% barrel rate and 41.2% hard-hit rate so far, while walking at a 10.2% clip and keeping his strikeout rate in check at 20.4%. He's also made contact in the zone at a stellar 90.2% mark, and his 76.6% overall contact rate is better than the major league average.

Rumfield won't provide many steals, but the bat is sneaky-good. It also helps that Rumfield has ideal batted-ball angles and gets to call Coors Field home. He's running a 70.6% air rate and 26.5% Pull AIR% rate so far.

 

Brady House (3B - WAS)

11% Rostered on Yahoo

The Washington Nationals are in the midst of a rebuild, so it makes sense for them to give all their younger players plenty of run this season. One of those names who is playing regularly and off to a solid start is third baseman Brady House. In his first 48 plate appearances this season, House is slashing .295/.354/.500 with two home runs, five RBI, and seven runs scored.

House is barrelling up pitches at a much higher rate this season (12.9%), and his 89.8 mph AVG EV mirrors his mark from last season. But what has me encouraged right now is the walk rate rising from 2.9% to 8.3%, along with minor improvements to his zone contact rate, chase rate, and overall contact rate. House has been more patient this season, looking for pitches he can do damage on, and the early results have been promising.

 

Ryan Weathers (SP - NYY)

27% Rostered on Yahoo

Ryan Weathers was a popular late-round flier in drafts this spring, but a poor showing in spring training let out a ton of helium from Weathers' hype balloon. However, Weathers is starting to gain that momentum back with two good starts in his first three outings of the 2026 regular season. His best outing came on Thursday, when he went eight innings, allowing seven hits, one earned run, and zero walks while striking out seven.

For the season, Weathers now has a 2.81 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 7.4% walk rate, and a 26.5% strikeout rate through his first 16 innings. He's been going to his 4-seamer and changeup less often in favor of more sinkers, and Weathers' sweeper has yet to allow a hit while recording a 44.4% whiff rate.

I'm sure we'll see some peaks and valleys from Weathers throughout the season, as he's never been a consistent pitcher. But if he can stay healthy and get up around 150 innings, the upside is a top-50 starter for fantasy purposes.

 

Joey Cantillo (SP - CLE)

28% Rostered on Yahoo

Without much fanfare, Joey Cantillo has gotten off to a really strong start to the season. In his first three outings for the Guardians, Cantillo has posted a 2.45 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and a 33.3% strikeout rate. This comes after Cantillo finished the 2025 season with a 1.59 ERA over his final seven starts.

Once again, Cantillo's changeup has been a dominant pitch for him, recording a .154 BAA and 48.3% whiff rate so far. He's also throwing more sliders than he did last season, and all three of his secondaries are at different velocities this season. Cantillo is throwing his changeup 2.2 mph harder, his curveball 1.9 mph harder, and his slider 2.1 mph slower.

As a below-average velocity guy, Cantillo needs to rely on location and good secondary offerings to succeed. I believe he can make it work and provide top-75 SP value this season.

More Fantasy Baseball Analysis



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!






POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

#1 Expert Projections
Save 30% Now
Import Your Leagues
Top-Rated Accuracy
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Paulo Costa

Makes His Light Heavyweight Debut
Azamat Murzakanov

Looks To Remain Unbeaten
Josh Hokit

Looks To Remain Undefeated
Curtis Blaydes

A Favorite At UFC 327
DJ Giddens

an Easily Replaceable Insurance Back
Kenny Moore II

and Colts Seeking a Trade
Hunter Henry

Could Be Impacted by NFL Draft
AJ Barner

a Mispriced Dynasty Asset
Cedric Tillman

Nearing Cut Candidacy in Dynasty Leagues
Josh Jacobs

Has a Health-Related Production Dip Left Josh Jacobs Undervalued?
Sam Carrick

to Miss Start of Playoffs
Alex Lyon

Questionable for Start of Postseason
Dakota Joshua

Unlikely to Return This Season
John Gibson

Exits Thursday's Game Due to Neck Problem
Miro Heiskanen

Uncertain for Playoffs
Brandon Hagel

Expected to Return Before End of Regular Season
Roman Josi

Nursing Upper-Body Injury
Trey Murphy III

Unavailable Against Celtics
Dejounte Murray

Remains Out Friday
Zion Williamson

Won't Suit Up Friday
Jalen Williams

Out on Friday
Jarrett Allen

Won't Play Against Hawks
Donovan Mitchell

Skips Friday's Action
Victor Wembanyama

Questionable Friday
Xavier Legette

Trending Down Ahead of Year 3
Rashod Bateman

a Cut Candidate in All Dynasty Leagues?
Ja'Tavion Sanders

Can Ja'Tavion Sanders Break Through in the Panthers' Offense?
Jayden Reed

Can Jayden Reed Bounce Back as a WR3/Flex in 2026?
Travis Hunter

to be Full-Time Cornerback, Part-Time Wide Receiver in 2026
Anthony Edwards

Considered Questionable for Friday
Devin Booker

Will Sit Out Friday's Game
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Questionable for Friday
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Won't Face Nuggets Friday
Stephen Curry

Set to Play Friday
L.J. Cryer

Back in Action Thursday Night
Charles Bassey

Available Against Lakers
Gui Santos

Won't Play Thursday
Rudy Gobert

to Rest on Friday
Tari Eason

is Cleared to Play on Thursday
Kobe Brown

Won't Play on Thursday
Ben Sheppard

to Miss Third Straight Game
Jarace Walker

is Available on Thursday
Sam Hauser

Available Against Knicks
Blake Coleman

Unavailable Thursday
Quinton Byfield

Cleared to Play Thursday
Thomas Chabot

Makes Surprise Return Thursday
Luke Hughes

to Miss Rest of Season
Stuart Skinner

Faces Devils Thursday
Nazem Kadri

to "Miss Some Games" With Finger Injury
Seth Jones

to Miss Rest of Season Due to Broken Foot
Corbin Carroll

Dealing With Hip Injury, Not Expected to Miss Much Time
NFL

Jordyn Tyson to Hold Individual Workout on April 17
Brent Rooker

Exits Early on Thursday Due to Apparent Injury
NFL

No New Injury Issues for Francis Mauigoa
Travis Hunter

to be "Limited Participant" During Offseason Workouts
Carolina Panthers

Denzel Boston Visiting With Panthers on Thursday
Mark Andrews

Ready for More Opportunities in 2026
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Part of a Muddled Giants Backfield Heading into 2026
Chimere Dike

Fantasy Value Potentially Limited by What He Offers in Return Game
Chase Brown

an Important Name to Monitor on Day 1 of the NFL Draft
Bijan Robinson

Could Just Be Entering His Prime
Jameson Williams

Consistency the Key to a True Jameson Williams Breakout
Zach Benson

Scores Twice in Comeback Victory
Logan Thompson

Shuts Out the Leafs
Zach Eflin

Undergoes Successful Elbow Surgery, Will Miss Remainder of 2026
Andrei Kuzmenko

to Be Re-Evaluated in 7-8 Days
Mason Appleton

Won't Play Thursday
Tony DeAngelo

Expected to Return Thursday
John Klingberg

Rejoins Sharks Lineup Wednesday
Alex Lyon

Dealing With Lower-Body Injury
Cole Ragans

"Should be Good" for Next Start
Reynaldo López

Reynaldo Lopez Handed Seven-Game Suspension
Jorge Soler

Suspended Seven Games, Will Appeal
Cole Ragans

Diagnosed With Thumb Contusion
Cole Ragans

Leaves Early on Wednesday After Being Hit in the Hand
Jacob deGrom

Expects to Make his Next Start
Konnor Griffin

Pirates Sign Konnor Griffin to Nine-Year Extension
Tyrrell Hatton

a Steady Option at The Masters
Justin Thomas

a High-Risk, High-Reward Option at The Masters
PGA

Sungjae Im a Volatile Option at the Masters
Nicolai Hojgaard

Carrying Momentum Into The Masters
Si Woo Kim

in Strong Form Heading to The Masters
Chris Gotterup

Ready to Make His Masters Debut
Patrick Reed

Brings Momentum to The Masters
Jon Rahm

Looks Poised for His Second Green Jacket
Jacob deGrom

Doesn't Have Structural Damage in his Knee
J.T. Realmuto

Leaves Game on Tuesday Due to Bruised Right Foot
Cody Ponce

to Have Knee Surgery, Expected to Miss Six Months
Alejandro Kirk

Facing Six-Week Absence
Jacob deGrom

to Undergo MRI on Tuesday
Mike Trout

Back in the Lineup on Tuesday
Hunter Brown

Diagnosed with Grade 2 Shoulder Strain
Adam Scott

Form Points to Him Competing at Masters
Jordan Spieth

Finding Consistency Heading to Masters
Hideki Matsuyama

Trending In Right Direction For Masters
Cade Horton

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Tommy Fleetwood

a Contender if his Putter Cooperates at The Masters
Jacob deGrom

Pitches Through Knee Issue on Monday
Dalton Rushing

Smacks Two Homers in Rout of Blue Jays
Max Scherzer

Dealing With Forearm Tendinitis, Expected to Make his Next Start
Collin Morikawa

Vegas has Lost Confidence in Collin Morikawa Ahead of Masters Tournament
Ludvig Aberg

One of the Top Plays For This Week's Masters Tournament
Rory McIlroy

Set to Defend his Long-Awaited Masters Victory
Bryson DeChambeau

Looks to Finally Claim a Green Jacket
Patrick Cantlay

Needs Plenty to Go Right at Augusta
Harris English

Playing Solid Golf Heading to Masters
Sam Burns

Bouncing Back Nicely After Slow Start to 2026 Season
Corey Conners

Quietly Putting Together A Strong 2026 Season
Russell Henley

Looks to Bounce Back At Masters
Chris Duncan

Suffers Second-Round Submission Loss
Renato Moicano

Gets Back In The Win Column
Tabatha Ricci

Gets Outgrappled
Virna Jandiroba

Bounces Back
Brendson Ribeiro

Suffers First-Round Submission Loss
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev

Earns First-Round Submission Win
Rafael Estevam

Suffers His First Loss
Ethyn Ewing

Dominates At UFC Vegas 115
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF