Five Injured Players to Stash in Fantasy Baseball - Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 21 (2025)

August 19, 2025

Kipp highlights five injured fantasy baseball players worth stashing in redraft leagues, as of August 15, 2025 (Week 21). His waiver wire pickups for IL players.

We've got another edition of the Injured Players to Stash in Fantasy Baseball series for Week 21 as we plunge into the dog days of summer. Today's article examines injured players, including Ryan Yarbrough, Landen Roupp, and Colton Cowser, among others.

With the 2025 fantasy baseball season starting to enter the dog days of summer, several injured players who are out there have low roster percentages and may be available on your league's waiver wires. These players can provide significant value to fantasy managers, especially if they have an IL spot available on their roster.

This article will be featured weekly with updated players for fantasy managers to consider picking up and stashing off the waiver wire. We will typically highlight two pitchers as well as three hitters who should be added with a sense of urgency before your league mates can scoop them up. Without further ado, let's look at what Week 21 of the fantasy baseball season has to offer.

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Ryan Yarbrough, SP, New York Yankees

Rostered: 9% Yahoo
Estimated Return: TBD/Early-September

2025 Stats: 3.90 ERA/49 K/17 BB/55 1/3 IP

We are going to start this week's article with a pretty well-known player, Yarbrough. Yarbrough is now a member of the Yankees after being a long-time Tampa Bay Ray and has found himself on the IL with a dreaded oblique injury. While he is not expected to return until the end of this month at the earliest, he could still provide some value for the very end of the playoffs for some fantasy managers.

Yarbrough was having a pretty solid season in 2025, having struck out 49 batters while posting a sub-4.00 ERA across eight starts. He also posted a very respectable 1.17 WHIP, which is one of the lowest marks of his career. While he has allowed 10 home runs this season, the power metrics suggest he just got a bit unlucky. This is noted by the fact that he allowed an 81.0 mph average exit velocity, which ranks him in the top 21% of the league.

He also has posted a 3.5% Barrles/BBE mark, which ranks him in the top 10% of the league. The Yankees should be rather desperate to get him back in the rotation once he is healthy, as their rotation has been in flux all season. Look to add him within the next week or two, as his rehab assignment begins on August 14. While he is currently just 9% rostered, this could feasibly tick up over the weekend if he has a solid outing.

Ryan Yarbrough Tosses Live Batting Practice https://t.co/bjF9N1PWZm

— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) August 12, 2025

Landen Roupp, SP, San Francisco Giants

Rostered: 27% rostered
Estimated Return: Late-August

2025 Stats: 3.11 ERA/95 K/42 BB/101 1/3 IP

Roupp has been on the IL since the end of last month with general elbow soreness, but has been sent on a rehab assignment and is working his way back. He should be able to return within the next week or two, and that is great news for fantasy managers. Roupp has had a very successful 2025 campaign in which has has posted a 3.11 ERA and 95 strikeouts across 101 1/3 innings pitched.

He has also limited hard contact, as he has allowed just 23% of baseballs to be hit 95+ mph, which ranks him in the top 40% of the league. He also has the benefit of pitching in an extremely forgiving ballpark for pitchers. On the season, he has posted a sterling 1.80 ERA at home while also posting a ridiculous 0.0 HR/9. I had to double-check that stat, and it is factual, as he has not allowed a single home run at home this season.

Roupp should be able to return once he ramps up to around 75 pitches on his rehab assignment, so fantasy managers should look to add him now. He is still 27% rostered in Yahoo leagues despite the fact that he has been on the shelf for several weeks. I would expect his roster percentage to increase somewhat significantly once he is activated, as fantasy managers are always looking for starting pitching depth.

Landen Roupp Tosses Three Innings in Rehab Start https://t.co/5S5vVCf0TJ

— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) August 11, 2025

Colton Cowser, OF, Baltimore Orioles

Rostered: 35% Yahoo
Estimated Return: Late-August

2025 stats: .213/.279/.401/9 HR/22 RBI/6 SBs

I am not going to lie; Cowser has been a major disappointment in 2025, given his expectations coming into this season. I rostered him in drafts and held onto him during his first IL stint, only to drop him later when his production did not pick up. That being said, he could provide some value down the stretch to fantasy managers desperate for outfield depth.

Cowser has hit nine home runs across 56 games this season, but the power metrics have still been there. Overall, he has posted an average exit velocity of 91.2 mph, which ranks him in the top 19% of the league. He has also posted a Barrels/PA mark of 6.5%, which ranks him in the top 37% of the league. While he has struggled against left-handed pitching, he still has a .741 OPS and seven home runs against right-handed pitching.

Cowser is currently on the IL with a concussion and should be able to return within the next week. Look to add him if you are desperate for outfield depth and are willing to take a flier on a guy who has shown he can perform at the big league level in the past.

Jacob Wilson, SS, Athletics

Rostered: 59% Yahoo
Estimated Return: Late August

2025 stats: .312/.354/.439/10 HR/45 RBI/5 SBs

We are going to keep Jacob Wilson in the article this week, as it is just too difficult to pass up a player of his caliber. He is currently rostered in 59% of Yahoo leagues, but this number is definitely going to trickle up once he is set to return. He is currently on the IL with a forearm fracture, but has resumed hitting activity and could be activated within the next two weeks.

This is perfect timing for the fantasy baseball playoffs, and Wilson could certainly help out some teams in several ways. In 2025, he has posted a solid .312 AVG while getting on base at a clip of .354. While he has hit left-handed and right-handed pitching rather well, he shines most against lefties, as noted by his .908 OPS. He has also benefited from playing in Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, where he has posted an .884 OPS.

Wilson can provide value to fantasy managers in the categories of AVG, OBP, and R. While he does not steal a ton of bases, Wilson also has a sprint speed that ranks him in the top 34% of baseball, so this could be a bonus category if he starts running a bit more.

Hyeseong Kim, 2B/SS/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Rostered: 7% Yahoo
Estimated Return: Late-August

2025 Stats: .304/.338/.406/2 HR/15 RBI/6 BB/12 SBs

Hyeseong Kim is currently on the IL with a shoulder injury, but should be cleared to take live batting practice within the next week. He is a versatile fantasy player with eligibility up the middle infield as well as in the outfield. He has had a successful 2025 thus far, as noted by his .304 AVG and 12 SB across his first 58 games. The fact that he plays in a potent Dodgers' lineup will also help his value.

If he is able to get back on track and return to the lineup before Tommy Edman, he should see plenty of playing time at second base, which has been an extremely difficult position to fill for fantasy managers this season. Look to add him in all leagues where you could use a boost at second base once the rehab assignment is announced.

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