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

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters - Category Boosters for HR, SB, RBI, AVG, Runs (Week 9)

Chase Meidroth - MLB Prospects, Rookies, Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Rankings

Mike's fantasy baseball waiver wire hitters to add as category boosters for Week 9 of 2025. His top hitters to pick up or stream for HR, RBI, SB, AVG, and runs.

Welcome back to our Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters - Category Boosters column for Week 9 of the 2025 MLB season. I don't know anyone who has not been impacted by player injuries this year. Now, we are also dealing with ineffective players; those guys we drafted who may not be coming through for us.

Struggling to determine what your team needs to be competitive in your league? There are ways to cover your needs by combing the waiver wire for needed stats. This week, we feature productive players on bad teams, like Nolan Schanuel and Chase Meidroth. The bottom of your roster should be churning most weeks, and we will help you find players to plug into your weekly lineups or your bench.

We will aim to give you three options for each of the five offensive categories in a standard five-by-five league. Our rule: All hitters will be listed according to their percentage of rostered players on Yahoo!, with a maximum of 50 percent. Let's look at names that might be under the radar, but who can help you now.

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

 

Runs Scored (R) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters

Brandon Lowe, 1B/2B, Tampa Bay Rays (44% rostered) 

Lowe has been staring at us on the waiver wire for some time now, but he should be rostered in almost every league. He is hitting .293 this month with six homers and 14 RBI, while adding 17 runs scored in May. Of those runs, eight have come in the last week. Lowe is hitting the ball hard and getting good results. See the increase in Lowe's average exit velocity over the last few years below.

Gabriel Moreno, C, Arizona Diamondbacks (32% rostered)

I rarely give catchers much love here, despite being a retired catcher myself! But Moreno has become a mainstay in the Arizona lineup. He's hitting .324 this month with four home runs, 12 RBI, and 12 runs scored while hitting in a stacked lineup.

Moreno hits the ball hard and doesn't strike out, leading to more balls in play and better results. Given that he plays every day and usually only gets one day off per week, you can count on Moreno to pile up at-bats, score runs, and hit for a good average. Consider him if you are struggling for offensive consistency behind the plate on your team.

Nolan Schanuel, 1B, Los Angeles Angels (10% rostered) 

He's hitting .313 this month, and while there may not be lots of pop in this profile, Schanuel can hit. He has also scored 15 runs this month while holding the No. 2 spot in the batting order. Of course, you may like to see more power production from the first baseman on your team, but if you can augment that in another spot, Schanuel will give you runs and a good batting average.

 

Home Runs (HR) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters

Gavin Sheets, 1B/OF, San Diego Padres (31% rostered)

Sheets continues to hit home runs and knock in runs in San Diego. He's a good addition right now in both categories. I added him here due to the seven home runs Sheets has this month. Most of his at-bats are now coming from playing right field or manning the designated hitter spot.

Sheets should continue to get playing time, but be aware that he is a streaky hitter. No matter; he's on a good streak right now and should be added in most formats.

Miguel Vargas, 3B/OF, Chicago White Sox (17% rostered)

I have been touting Vargas and put the chart below to help make my case. He is getting daily at-bats for the White Sox and doing damage. He has seven home runs in May and boasts a low 17.7% strikeout rate. Vargas puts the ball in play, and his batting average is on the rise after a brutal first two weeks in April.

Add in that he has third base and outfield eligibility, and that he will soon have first base eligibility as well, and you have a useful player in most formats. I love that he is proving all the naysayers wrong by playing well in this extended opportunity. See his growth in May below.

Daulton Varsho, OF, Toronto Blue Jays (14% rostered)

Varsho appears to be a forgotten man in many fantasy leagues. The veteran outfielder won't hit for a high average, but he has power, as evidenced by his eight home runs since his return in late April from the injured list. He has also contributed 12 runs scored in that time.

He only has one stolen base, but that's ok; this is why he is on the waiver wire. But if you can absorb the batting average, then the home runs and the runs are a good reason to roster Varsho. Consider him if you are behind in home runs.

 

Runs Batted In (RBI) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters

Jonathan Aranda, 1B/2B, Tampa Bay Rays (49% rostered) 

I loved Aranda at the beginning of the season, being a left-handed hitter in a minor league ballpark, playing half of his games in Florida. All he has done is hit .309 with seven home runs and 23 runs scored in 2025. Aranda has 16 RBI this month while hitting an outstanding .320. He has also chipped in three homers.

I am not sure what it will take to have more fantasy players buy into Aranda. He is holding down the cleanup spot and seems a cinch to drive in runs. Check out Aranda's hard-hit percentage growth throughout his career below.

Austin Hays, OF, Cincinnati Reds (29% rostered)

Hays makes the most of his playing time in Cincinnati. He continues to knock in runs, with 12 in 69 May plate appearances. Hays is also hitting .308 on the season and has slammed six home runs in total. Manager Terry Francona sees the wisdom in having Hays as part of his daily lineup. You should, too.

Connor Norby, 2B/3B, Miami Marlins (17% rostered)

Norby continues to fly under the radar despite being a productive player in Miami. Norby has moved to the No. 3 spot in the lineup and has an RBI in five of his last six games. He's hitting. 296 this month with two home runs, two stolen bases, and 13 RBI. The eligibility at both second and third base adds another element here as well. Norby should be rostered in more leagues.

 

Stolen Bases (SB) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters

Matt Shaw, 2B/3B/SS, Chicago Cubs (48% rostered)

Shaw was recalled last week by the Chicago Cubs after being given a month in Triple-A Iowa to find his swing again. Since he has returned to the major league roster, Shaw is hitting .355 with four stolen bases on his record. He has also scored six runs in those eight games. Fantasy players are getting wise to Shaw being on the waiver wire, so take a look at him if you need infield depth and speed.

Victor Scott II, OF, St. Louis Cardinals (34% rostered)

I am not sure why fantasy players are not bigger fans of this guy. Scott doesn't have much power, but he hits for a decent average (he's at .268 for the season), steals bases (16 so far, six in May), and scores runs (27 in total, 13 in May). I will posit to people sometimes that we are in such a hunger for power that we often exclude players like Scott, who can help in three offensive categories. Take a longer look at him this weekend.

Chase Meidroth, 2B/3B/SS, Chicago White Sox (38% rostered)

I love Meidroth, and not just because of my undying White Sox loyalty. See below. I cherry-picked some stats to make the case for Meidroth. He doesn't strike out, and he takes walks. His on-base percentage is a robust .380. He gets on base, and he steals bases. He has seven steals this month and is hitting .299. He will not hit a bunch of home runs, but he can help in the other categories while also boasting eligibility at three different infield spots. There is value here.

 

Batting Average (AVG) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters

Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/OF, Baltimore Orioles (33% rostered) 

The automatic assumption, most of the time, is that platoon bats are not worth rostering. O'Hearn is the exception here. He is hitting .340 right now and has nine home runs as well. And for those who do not know, he is no longer a platoon bat; he has 98 plate appearances this month and should continue to receive playing time for the struggling Baltimore Orioles. Fantasy players are going to wake up soon and snag him; get him now if you can.

Carlos Narvaez, C, Boston Red Sox (16% rostered)

I have passed on Narvaez often over the last few weeks, as catcher wasn't a need for me on most teams. But Narvaez continues to make a case for being rostered in more leagues. He has wrestled the starting job in Boston away from veteran Connor Wong, and he continues to hit. He's batting .385 this month, and while not a huge help in other categories, he's a productive batting average at the very least from a position that can be a drag on averages.

Kody Clemens, 1B/2B/3B, Minnesota Twins (5% rostered)

This one is going a little deeper, but Clemens has found his stride this year with the Minnesota Twins. If I am being honest, I never saw this level of production coming. Yet, Clemens is hitting .333 in May and has chipped in five home runs and 12 RBI.

His eligibility all over the infield is also a feather in his cap and a boon to your roster. With the returns of Byron Buxton and Matt Wallner nearing, there could be a roster crunch coming in the Twin Cities, but Clemens has also made some starts in the outfield to help cement his roster spot. Roll with him now while he is hot and playing daily.

 

I hope this helps you out! Good luck and happy hunting, RotoBallers! You can always message me @mdrc0508 on X to complain about picks or make other suggestions!



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!



More Fantasy Baseball Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Carlos Santana

Hits Grand Slam on Wednesday
Alec Bohm

Homers, Drives in Four on Wednesday
Clarke Schmidt

Strikes Out Seven in Win on Wednesday
Hunter Goodman

Homers, Doubles Twice on Wednesday
Marcelo Mayer

has First Multi-Homer Game in Win Over Rays
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Leaves Wednesday's Game Early With Groin Tightness
TreVeyon Henderson

Hard to Miss at Offseason Workouts
Brandon Nimmo

Launches Two Home Runs
Jaylen Brown

Undergoes Successful Knee Procedure
Michael Gallup

Sitting at Minicamp Due to Hamstring Strain
David Peterson

Throws Complete-Game Shutout
Kevin Porter Jr.

Likely to Decline Player Option
Matt McCarty

Comes Off Season-Best Showing at RBC Canadian Open
Jalen Coker

Back on the Field
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

Working Through Undisclosed Injury
Justin Thomas

Desperate to Continue Good 2025 Season
Kevin Durant

Knicks Not Looking to Trade for Kevin Durant
Jon Rahm

Seeks Revenge at U.S. Open
Miles Sanders

Works With First-Team Offense
Tom Kim

Aiming for Improvement in U.S. Open
Brent Rooker

Homers Twice in Four-Hit Game
Spencer Schwellenbach

Strikes Out Nine in Complete Game
PGA

Sungjae Im Expects Solid Performance at Oakmont
Brian Harman

Aims to Rebound From the Memorial
Tony Finau

has Been Up and Down at U.S. Open
Brendan Donovan

Not Concerned He'll Land on Injured List
Shane McClanahan

In "Shut-Down Mode," to See Nerve Specialist
Patrick Cantlay

Hoping This is the Year at Oakmont
Akshay Bhatia

Improving in Time for U.S. Open
Davante Adams

Feels Rejuvenated With Rams
Jackson Jobe

to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Returning on Wednesday
Germaine Pratt

Signs One-Year Deal With Raiders
Trevon Diggs

Hopes to Return in Week 1
Buffalo Bills

Joey Bosa Expects to be Full-Go by Training Camp
Colston Loveland

Might Not be Full-Go for Start of Training Camp
Jalen Nailor

Bulks Up
Omarion Hampton

Chargers Impressed With Omarion Hampton
Aaron Rodgers

Steelers Could Limit Aaron Rodgers' Exposure
Baker Mayfield

Bucs Offense Focused on More Explosive Plays
Jacob Wilson

A's Hopeful Jacob Wilson Will Return on Friday
Jesús Luzardo

Jesus Luzardo Bounces Back With 10-Strikeout Performance Against Cubs
Treylon Burks

Brian Callahan "Hopeful" to Have Treylon Burks Cleared for Training Camp
Tetairoa McMillan

Misses Wednesday's Practice
Brian Thomas Jr.

Leaves Practice with Injury
Cole Ragans

Goes Back on Injured List With Rotator-Cuff Strain
Breece Hall

Thinks he's a Three-Down Back
Ben Sinnott

Standing Out This Offseason
Noah Brown

Carted Off the Field on Wednesday
Freddie Freeman

Managing Quad Issue
Christian Yelich

Out Again With Swelling in his Wrist
J.K. Dobbins

to Get Long Look at Third-Down Role
Xander Schauffele

Primed for Another Major Championship Run
Cameron Young

May Struggle at U.S. Open
Collin Morikawa

Eyeing Third Major Championship Title
Matt Fitzpatrick

Seeks to Avenge Oakmont Collapse
Jordan Spieth

Can Contend at Oakmont
Shane Lowry

a Strong Value Play at U.S. Open
Brooks Koepka

Seeks Another Major Win at Oakmont
Viktor Hovland

Still Can Improve at U.S. Open
Michael Kim

a Boom-or-Bust Value Play at U.S. Open
Russell Henley

Looking to Play the Weekend at Oakmont
Tyrrell Hatton

a Safe Option at U.S. Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Eyeing Third U.S. Open Title
Darius Garland

Kings Targeting Darius Garland
Kevin Durant

Expected to Be Moved Soon
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Reportedly Has "No Trade Market"
Jarace Walker

Remains Out Wednesday
Tyrese Haliburton

"Fine" For Wednesday's Action
Manny Machado

Extends Hitting Streak, Drives in Five Against Dodgers
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Punches Out 12 in No-Decision in Stellar Start
Denny Hamlin

Charges Late to Win at Michigan
Carson Hocevar

Michigan Run is Derailed by A Late-Race Flat Tire
Kyle Larson

Up-and-Down Day Ends With Top-Five Finish at Michigan
Ross Chastain

Quietly Finishes Sixth at Michigan
Olivier-Maxence Prosper

Says Rehab Going "Great"
Vasilije Micić

Vasilije Micic Expected to Return to Europe
Myles Turner

Two Teams Seen as Potential Suitors for Myles Turner
Guerschon Yabusele

Wants a New NBA Contract
Jrue Holiday

Celtics Listening to Offers for Jrue Holiday
Corey Perry

Nets Power-Play Goal in Monday's Loss
Stuart Skinner

Gets Pulled in Heavy Game 3 Defeat
Evan Rodrigues

Extends Scoring Streak with Multi-Point Effort
Sam Reinhart

Collects Two Points in Monday's Win
Sam Bennett

Sets New Franchise Record with Four-Game Goal Streak
Brad Marchand

Nets Another Finals Goal
Chris Buescher

Takes Second Place After William Byron Runs Out of Fuel
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Has a Great Points Day to Build Buffer Over the Playoff Cut Line
Ryan Blaney

Flat Tire Results in Poor Finish for Ryan Blaney
Alex Bowman

Playoffs in Doubt After Stage 2 Crash at Michigan
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Expected to Play Monday
WAS

T.J. Oshie Announces Retirement
A.J. Greer

Returns to Panthers Lineup Monday
Darius Garland

Likely to Miss Time After Toe Surgery
Sean O'Malley

Submitted For The First Time In His Career
Merab Dvalishvili

Defends Bantamweight Belt At UFC 316
Julianna Peña

Julianna Pena No Longer A Champion
Kayla Harrison

Is The New Champion
Joe Pyfer

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Kelvin Gastelum

Drops Decision
Patchy Mix

Drops Decision In His UFC Debut
Mario Bautista

Extends His Win Streak
Vicente Luque

Submitted At UFC 316
Kevin Holland

Gets Submission Win At UFC 316
Alex Caruso

Drops 20 Points Off of the Bench
Chet Holmgren

Bounces Back in Game 2 Victory
Pascal Siakam

Struggles in Game 2
Jalen Williams

Provides A Bit Of Everything In Game 2
Tyrese Haliburton

Collects 17 Points In Game 2
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Dominates In Game 2 Victory
Daniil Tarasov

Has Begun Extension Talks with Blue Jackets
Anthony Duclair

Expected to Return to Islanders Next Season
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

a Game-Time Call Monday
Christian Braun

May Receive Contract Extension Soon
Denny Hamlin

is A Top Contender to Win At Michigan
Kyle Larson

Will Compete For The Win At Michigan
Chase Elliott

is One of the Most Favored DFS Options of the Week for Michigan
William Byron

May be A Top Threat to Win at Michigan
Kyle Busch

is Difficult to Recommend for DFS Lineups at Michigan
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Qualifies Ninth For the FireKeepers Casino 400
Alex Bowman

What Should Fantasy Managers Do With Alex Bowman at Michigan?
Austin Cindric

Should Austin Cindric be Considered For Michigan DFS Lineups?
Shane Van Gisbergen

Should Shane Van Gisbergen Be Rostered For Michigan DFS Lineups?
John Hunter Nemechek

Is A Solid Value Option For Michigan DFS Lineups
Zane Smith

Is Zane Smith Worth Rostering Outside of Tournament Lineups at Michigan?
Todd Gilliland

Is A Decent Value Option for Michigan DFS Lineups
Ryan Blaney

One of the Leading DFS Contenders, but Might Be Slightly Overpriced
Evan Bouchard

Enjoys Three-Point Period In Game 2 Against Panthers
Connor McDavid

Joins Rare Company with Three-Assist Effort
Sam Bennett

Makes NHL History with Another Goal Friday
Seth Jones

Fills Stat Sheet in Game 2 Against Oilers
Anton Lundell

Notches Two Assists in Friday's Win
Brad Marchand

Leads Panthers to Victory in Game 2 Against Oilers
Logan O'Connor

to Miss 5-6 Months Following Hip Procedure
Tyler Seguin

Nursing a Shoulder Injury
DAL

Pete DeBoer Fired by Stars
Sean O'Malley

Set For A Rematch
Merab Dvalishvili

Set For His Second Title Defense
Kayla Harrison

Could Become The New UFC Champion
Julianna Peña

Julianna Pena Set For Co-Main Event
Joe Pyfer

A Favorite At UFC 316
Kelvin Gastelum

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Mario Bautista

Looks For His Eighth Consecutive Win
Patchy Mix

Makes His UFC Debut
Vicente Luque

An Underdog At UFC 316
Kevin Holland

Set To Open Up UFC 316 Main Card
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF