Five Injured Players to Stash in Fantasy Baseball - Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5 (2025)

April 27, 2025

Kipp highlights five injured fantasy baseball players worth stashing in redraft leagues, as of April 25, 2025 (Week 5). His waiver wire pickups for IL players.

We've got another edition of the Injured Players to Stash in Fantasy Baseball series for Week 5 as we continue the 2025 season. Today's article examines injured players such as Jared Jones, Brandon Marsh, and Paul DeJong, and others.

With the 2025 fantasy baseball season underway, there are several injured players out there who 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. Without further ado, let's look at what Week 5 of the fantasy baseball season has to offer.

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Jared Jones SP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Rostered: 53 percent Yahoo!
Estimated Return: Early July

2024 Stats: 4.14 ERA/131 K/39 BB/120 2/3 IP

This is a claim for fantasy managers who have a roster spot available and/or an IL spot open, as Jones is not expected to return until early July. That being said, he can have a major impact on fantasy teams down the stretch later this season.

In 2024, Jones averaged over a strikeout per inning pitched and also managed to keep his ERA respectable for a rookie with a mark of 4.14. He was also able to maintain some length, averaging nearly 5 2/3 innings pitched per start.

Jones is especially valuable when he pitches in PNC Park as well. This is noted by the fact that he posted a 2.87 ERA and 9.5 K/9 across his 69 IP at home.

Again, add Jones if you have the available roster space or an IL spot to burn in the coming weeks, because as we get close to July, his roster percentage will only increase above its current 53 percent.

Jared Jones is an absolute 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗧 😤

6.0 IP
4 H
1 R
2 BB
𝟕 𝐊

Jones' 39 K trails Zack Wheeler (44) of leading the 𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗥𝗘 MLB in strikeouts 💥pic.twitter.com/RtmOKsCXlt

— The Bucco Beat (@TheBuccoBeat) April 23, 2024

Lucas Giolito, SP, Boston Red Sox

Rostered: 6 percent Yahoo!
Estimated Return: May 1

2023 Stats: 8-15/4.88 ERA/204 K/10 BB/184.1 IP

Lucas Giolito is making his second appearance in this article as he is now set to return on May 1. He is worth an add now and might be worth waiting a start or two to see how he settles into Boston's rotation.

We all know how it is tough to find decent pitching on the waiver wire during the regular season, but Lucas Giolito might be just that this season. Although he has not pitched since 2023, he did post 204 strikeouts across 184.1 IP during that campaign.

While the 4.88 ERA leaves a bit to be desired, the strikeout upside cannot be ignored. He makes for a solid stash in most leagues and should make two more rehab starts before joining the Red Sox rotation.

Brandon Marsh, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

Rostered: 4 percent Yahoo!
Estimated Return: April 27

2024 Stats: .249/.328/.429/16 HR/60 RBI/19 SB

I was a bit surprised to see that Brandon Marsh is only rostered in four percent of Yahoo! leagues. Marsh had a very respectable 2024 campaign in which he hit 16 home runs and stole 19 bases.

He did this while also posting a very solid .249 batting average. The fact that he bats in a highly potent Phillies lineup will only help his value upon his return later next week as well. Upon his return, he should have no issue posting a double-digit home run and stolen base season.

If he had not missed a month of the season, Marsh could have certainly been a 20/20 candidate, but fantasy managers will only be concerned with what he can produce upon his return, and he should be worth the addition moving forward.

Brandon Marsh gets the party started in South Philadelphia #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/wFLugqe44a

— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) April 20, 2024

Paul DeJong, 3B/SS, Washington Nationals

Rostered: 1 percent Yahoo!
Estimated Return: April 26

2025 Stats: .204/.246/.278/0 HR/2 RBI/2 SB

Paul DeJong can provide some fantasy managers with infield depth upon his return next week. Although he has started the 2025 campaign a bit slowly, he had a tremendous 2024 campaign.

In 2024, DeJong smacked 24 home runs, and although he only stole two bases, he has already equaled this total through his first 16 games in 2025. He is not going to set the world on fire with his sprint speed by any means, but he could post a 20/10 season or better, which is nothing to turn your nose up at from your bench.

Again, DeJong is a solid bench piece right now, and adding him to your roster could help in the near term. He will hit in a Nationals lineup that is posting a 103 wRC+ since the beginning of the month against right-handers, which is who DeJong does a majority of his damage against.

Thairo Estrada, 2B, Colorado Rockies

Rostered: 7 percent Yahoo!
Estimated Return: Early May

2024 Stats: .217/.247/.343/9 HR/47 RBI/2 SB

This is not the most fun addition, but Estrada does have the advantage of playing his home games at Coors Field this season, which is not something you can say for many of the guys in these articles.

Estrada has shown average power in the past, having back-to-back 14 HR seasons in 2022 and 2023, before tailing off slightly last season with nine dingers. In 2022 and 2023, Estrada also hit 22 and 26 doubles, respectively. This is important, as Coors Field plays well to doubles more so than to power.

Feel free to add him and platoon him at home and/or against right-handed pitching as he has posted a .701 OPS vs. right-handers since 2023.

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