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

Points League Hitters: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 1 (March 31 - April 6)

Kyle Manzardo - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Prospects Waiver Wire, Draft Sleepers

Nicklaus' H2H points fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters in Week 1 (2025) - March 31 through April 6. Free-agent hitters to add in points leagues.

Welcome RotoBallers to our H2H points fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters for Week 1 of the 2025 season. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of March 31 - April 6, looking at players below ~50% rostered on ESPN or Yahoo points leagues.

We'll be doing this points league roundup every week here at RotoBaller because we know points players get neglected, and we're here to help. Player values can vary wildly from platform to platform, so we'll highlight where players are the best and worst fits, with waiver-wire targets being evaluated in terms of the different scoring systems on ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, Fantrax, and NFBC.

Position eligibility is taken from Fantrax, and players are grouped by their most valuable fantasy position, using a hierarchy of C > 2B > OF > 3B > 1B > SS. Stats and rankings are calculated using games through Saturday, March 29.

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

 

Waiver Wire Caveats and APR Explanation

Roster% Thresholds

We use a combination of Roster% to assess who is in our target pool, relying mostly on Yahoo and ESPN. For some players, you'll notice a wide discrepancy between the two. This is because ESPN's Roster% is heavily weighted by points players, with guys who don't do well in their system (often because of an inflated K%) lagging behind the Yahoo Roster%.

For this reason, you'll sometimes see players (especially early) who might make you question my sanity in including them in a waiver-wire article, but don't worry, it's just a necessary glitch for coverage purposes.

APR stands for "Average Platform Rank" and is the average hitter rank between the four major point platforms: ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, and Fantrax. All player data is from FanGraphs and Baseball Savant, with injury information pulled from the Roster Resource section on the former.

 

Fantasy Baseball First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Rhys Hoskins, MIL, 1B (Yahoo: 52%, ESPN: 19%) - More likely to be found available on ESPN (and their (-1) per K), his possible whiffery wouldn't be scaring me off. Hoskins gets seven games (vs KC, vs CIN) at the friendly dimensions of Miller Park, with some subpar pitching and three LHP currently on the schedule.

Spencer Torkelson, DET, 1B (Yahoo: 29%, ESPN: 19%) - Tork already has one bomb after hitting five in spring training while slashing .340/.389/.680, and is wooing the fantasy world again. Listen, even if this is all just yet another clever ruse that will suck us in only to inevitably end (again!) in Triple-A heartbreak*, you still have to find out if the former No. 1 overall pick has finally put it all together.

Say it with me now; prospects do not always have a linear progression...prospects do not always have a linear progression...prospects do no-.

*Leave me alone because I'm definitely not speaking from personal experience, okay???

Next Choices

Nolan Schanuel, LAA, 1B (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 3%) - I spent a lot of time recommending Schanuel for point leagues last season, and I expect I'll be doing it again this year. It's not that Schanuel is a budding superstar; his boring roto possibilities just happen to come with a very points-friendly profile. Especially considering all of the PAs he'll likely compile batting in the top-third of the Angels lineup.

The Angels have six games this week (@STL, vs CLE) and will only face one LHP.

Jeimer Candelario, CIN, 1B (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 8%) - May I interest anyone in a Jeimer Candelario renaissance? I mean, if you can't declare something a renaissance after three days, what are we even doing here? Regardless, the lightly-rostered Candelario gets seven games at good ballparks in Week 1, with three in Texas before coming home for four more against the Brewers.

Desperate Choices

Carlos Santana, CLE, 1B (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 19%) - What is dead may never die -- Santana will be useful in points until five years after he's dead. He'll get six games in Week 1 (@SD, @LAA), with two coming vs the left-handed pitchers that he still trucks.

Josh Bell, WSN, 1B (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 10%) - Nobody ever wants to start Josh Bell, but if you have to, he'll probably be at least boringly startable. Bell gets six games in Week 1 (@TOR, vs ARI), with only one coming vs an LHP.

 

Fantasy Baseball Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Otto Lopez, MIA, 2B (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 7%) - The world might not be making many Ottos anymore, but this one has been making its way into my heart since last summer.

Lopez quietly took over second base last season for the Marlins and never gave it back up, starting most games from May on and finishing with 434 PA in 117 games. He slashed .270/.313/.377, with just a 17.3 percent K rate, and while his lack of pop hurts him in Roto, there is no such necessary baggage in most point leagues.

Set for six games in Week 1 (vs NYM, @ATL), Lopez already has five hits in the young season, not to mention a stolen base with an ever-rare home run. Everything's turning up Otto, y'all -- get some while you can.

Counterpoint: He's a Marlin, named Otto; this is not generally a recipe for fantasy success.

Kyle Farmer, COL, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 1%) - If we're not streaming Kyle Farmer in a week when there are three LHP on the menu and three games in Colorado, why are we even playing? Sure, he could go 0-for-Farmer, but these are exactly the streaming odds you're generally looking to play.

Next Choices

Gavin Lux, CIN, 2B (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 5%) - Who's ready for another season of all hype, no lasting production??? Longtime readers know I certainly am. Let me dust off my evergreen notes; ahh, yes, here they are:

"Your best-case scenario is that you're able to correctly guess the four weeks that Lux will be good, before he inevitably turns back into a Lux-shaped pumpkin who gets rage-dropped by all but the zealots."

Desperate Choices

Michael Massey, KC, 2B (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 33%) - This is a broken record: I've always loved Massey's skills, but the Royals simply have never shown much taste for letting him start vs LHP. Until that changes, his value remains limited beyond an excellent streamer in some weeks. Probably not this week, though, as the Royals will see LHP in two of their six games (@MIL, vs BAL).

 

Fantasy Baseball Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Eugenio Suarez, ARI, 3B (Yahoo: 90%, ESPN: 41%) - This is only for our ESPN laggards -- go pick up Suarez immediately, if he's somehow still around in your league. I get that he doesn't seem like a good fit in a full-point strikeout league like ESPN standard, but Suarez hits enough to out-produce his way through that negative wall.

For example, last season, when he finished as the No. 52 hitter on ESPN? Or maybe this pre-season, when ATC projected him to be a top-50 hitter, again? Or maybe in these first three games that he's gone full ham in, hitting four home runs and currently sitting in the No. 1 hitter spot?

Seriously, your league isn't really one of the ones where he's available, right? Go check!

Joey Ortiz, MIL, 3B (Yahoo: 25%, ESPN: 19%) - Projected by ATC to be a top-125 hitter on every platform except NFBC (#159), feel free to scoop up Ortiz, if available, if only to strongly bolster your bench. Ortiz gets seven games at home in Week 1 (vs KC, vs CIN), with three coming vs LHP.

Kyle Farmer, COL, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 1%) - If we're not streaming Kyle Farmer in a week when there are three LHP on the menu and three games in Colorado, why are we even playing? Sure, he could go 0-for-Farmer, but these are exactly the streaming odds you're generally looking to play.

Next Choices

Jose Miranda, MIN, 3B (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 1%) - Miranda showed just how friendly his points profile can be, slashing .284/.322/.441 over 429 PA, with just a 15.4 percent K rate. The third base job is his for now, with Brooks Lee (back) and Royce Lewis (hamstring/being Royce Lewis) both on the IL; while it is, Miranda could be an excellent substitute.

The Twins have six games this week (@CHW, vs HOU), with two scheduled vs LHP.

Desperate Choices

Gio Urshela, ATH, 3B (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - If you know Nicklaus, you know I love me some good point profiles on bad teams. Urshela checks those boxes, as he's always had a very points-friendly profile and is definitely on our nomadic Athletics. He'll get three games at home against mostly mediocre Cubs starters before heading to the mountains of Colorado to hopefully do some Coors Field things.

 

Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Trevor Story, BOS, SS (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 10%) - I'm just as skeptical about Story's long-term health as the next person, but also, c'mon, people. He's still Trevor Story and still only 32 years old, batting in the middle of a good Boston lineup in a good hitters park; he probably shouldn't be on the wire.

While healthy, what are the realistic chances Story will only produce at a "waiver-wire level"? And what if he actually stays (relatively) healthy? That's probably found gold, baby -- best go pan it before he moves downstream.

The Red Sox have six games this week (@BAL, vs STL) and are scheduled to face one LHP.

Next Choices

Jacob Wilson, ATH, SS (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 2%) - You should probably just assume I'm going to recommend Wilson until he proves me really, really wrong. Maybe he doesn't end up being an excellent Roto asset, or maybe he ends up being Nick Madrigal -2.0 -- but Wilson has a very points-friendly skill-set and should get plenty of opportunity to showcase it for the hapless Athletics.

The A's of nowhere have six games in Week 1 (vs CHC, @COL), and three in Colorado is never a bad thing.

Desperate Choices

Geraldo Perdomo, ARI, SS (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 1%) - Every year, Perdomo is better than we think he should be and for longer, too. He might have fallen off big-time after being a near top-100 hitter in 2023, but was still a top-175 hitter on most platforms last season and was a sneaky-good streamer over stretches. He'll get six games in Week 1 (@NYY, @WSN), with three coming vs LHP.

 

Fantasy Baseball Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Victor Robles, SEA, OF (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 11%) - Seattle has played three games (2 RHP, 1 LHP), and Robles has batted leadoff in all three -- I hereby declare that this is the year we officially proclaim that Victor is actually good. Huzzah! Don't expect him to be around your waiver for long, if he even still is. The Mariners have six games this week (vs DET, @SF) and will face LHP in two of them.

Next Choices

Jake Fraley, CIN, OF (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) - Available virtually everywhere, Fraley gets seven games in favorable parks (vs TEX, @MIL) and the left-handed hitter will see RHPs in five of them.

Jordan Beck, COL, OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 1%) - Listen, I don't make the rules; Beck is a right-handed hitter who has three LHP on the upcoming schedule, with three games coming in Colorado. I have to recommend him; it's in the bylaws.

Desperate Choices

Sal Frelick, MIL, OF (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 1%) - Frelick is off to a banger, collecting three hits in his first two games, but also, they were all singles, so is that really a "banger"? Regardless, he'll pile up a bunch of PAs in his seven games this week, and even though three will come against his fellow lefties, Frelick's splits haven't shown much favoritism in that department at the beginning of his big-league career. The Brewers have a seven-game homestand in Week 1, with three scheduled vs LHP.

Tommy Pham, PIT, OF (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 1%) - Longtime readers know I'll rarely say a bad word about Pham, due to my underlying general fear that if I do, there is a non-zero chance he'll show up at my doorstep, looking to pop me right in the mouth.

Putting fear aside, however, Pham can be a useful fill-in at points, if getting plenty of playing time. Luckily, he's now in Pittsburgh, where generations of mediocre players have extended their starter careers well past when their ability says they should have been able to. Currently leading off(???), Pham should get plenty of playing time in the immediate future and has six games in Week 1 (@TB, vs NYY), with all scheduled vs RHP.

 

Fantasy Baseball Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Hunter Goodman, C, COL (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 2%) - A Colorado catcher with four games at home is almost always going to be interesting, and Goodman is actually playing at catcher, starting two of Colorado's first three games. He'll have three games against tough pitching in Philadelphia, but will then fly home to face the hapless A's in the thin air of home.

Next Choices

Jose Trevino, CIN, C (Yahoo: 1%, ESPN: 0%) - Oh, man, starting the year off with Jose Trevino as a Best Choice cannot be a good sign for the state of the position. Trevino has at least shown he can be useful for (small) stretches of time, plays in a friendly home park, and only has Austin Wynns pushing him for playing time. The Reds have seven games in Week 1 (vs TEX, @ MIL) and are scheduled to face two LHP.

Desperate Choices

Korey Lee, CHW, C (Yahoo: 0%, ESPN: 0%) - What did I tell you? We're already at the "have to recommend a catcher on the White Sox" portion of the proceedings...I hope none of your backstops suffer injury, or may Jeebus have mercy on your fantasy soul. Lee gets six games (vs MIN, @DET) in Week 1, with only one lefty (Tarik Skubal) and a whole mess of solid (okay, not terrible) RHP on the menu.

 

Fantasy Baseball Utility Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Joc Pederson, TEX, UT (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 10%) - For now, it looks like Pederson will be the Rangers' cleanup hitter when facing RHP, and that's all Texas has on the books in Week 1 (@CIN, vs TB). You have to bob-and-weave to get the value of Pederson, but in RHP-only weeks, the decision is easy.

Next Choices

Kyle Manzardo, CLE, UT (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 17%) - The young slugger with a prospect pedigree won't stay available for long if he keeps smashing -- Manzardo has gone 3-for-6 in his first two games with a home run, double, and triple. He'll get six games in Week 1, but two will come against fellow lefties.

Desperate Choices

Kris Bryant, COL, UT (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 2%) - Welp, we might as well use him until one of his soft tissues inevitably explodes. Bryant gets six games in very friendly hitter-parks (@PHI, vs ATH), and three of the six will come against LHP.



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 Waiver Wire Advice




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

Shemar Stewart

Not Practicing With College Team
Uchenna Nwosu

Seahawks Place Uchenna Nwosu on PUP List
Taylor Decker

Alim McNeill, Taylor Decker Placed on PUP List
Tyrion Davis-Price

Titans Waive Tyrion Davis-Price
Tre Harris

Chargers Relying on Tre Harris to Be Starting X Receiver
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Expected Back Friday
Micah Parsons

Will Become Highest-Paid Non-QB
MarShawn Lloyd

Vying for RB2 Role
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith Finds End Zone in First Training Camp Practice
Tyler Shough

Pushing for Fully Guaranteed Rookie Deal
Ar'Darius Washington

Goes on PUP List
Lamar Jackson

to be Even Better in 2025?
Tre Harris

Agrees to Terms on Rookie Deal
Justin Herbert

Off to Good Start at Training Camp
Jameson Williams

Earning Rave Reviews from Lions Coaches
Christian Mahogany

Expected to Start for Lions
Zach Allen

an Extension Candidate in Denver?
Zaire Franklin

May Miss Start of Training Camp
Portland Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard Returning to Portland
Mason Taylor

to Play "Crucial" Role in Jets' Offense
Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
T.J. Watt

Once Again Becomes Highest-Paid Non-QB
RJ Harvey

Reaches Agreement on Four-Year Rookie Contract
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Believe Rashee Rice Will Receive Two- to Four-Game Suspension
Brooks Barnhizer

Grabs 19 Points, Nine Boards in Summer League Win
Jeremiah Fears

Scores 22 Points in Summer League Loss to Thunder
Isaiah Collier

Collects 17 Points In Summer League Win
Caleb Houstan

Joins Hawks
AJ Johnson

Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
Washington Wizards

Leaky Black Logs Double-Double in Loss to Jazz
Connor Norby

Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Trey Alexander

Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
Johni Broome

Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
Jahmir Young

Has Historic Summer League Outing
Rob Dillingham

Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
Tyrese Proctor

Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
Cody Williams

Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
LeBron James

Mavs Not Interested in "Gutting its Roster" For LeBron James
Josh Hart

Undergoes a Procedure on Right Finger
Jake Burger

Goes on 10-Day Injured List With Quad Strain
Sal Frelick

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain, TBD for Start of Second Half
Chris Sale

Plays Catch
Los Angeles Clippers

Bradley Beal Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
Rayan Rupert

Scores 24 Points in Summer League Win
Derik Queen

Collects Third Consecutive Double-Double in Summer League Loss
GG Jackson II

Records 13 Points in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Johni Broome

Logs Double-Double Against Wizards
DaRon Holmes II

Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
Kyle Schwarber

Named All-Star Game MVP
Harris English

Takes Stellar 2025 Performance to The Open Championship
Aldrich Potgieter

Seeks Better Result in Northern Ireland
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
Tony Finau

Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
Daniel Berger

Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Clayton Kershaw

Retires Both Batters In ASG Appearance
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Hit In Pinky In All-Star Game, X-Rays Negative
MLB

NL All-Stars Win On Tie-Breaker Home Run Swing-Off
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
Shane Lowry

Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
Brian Harman

Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
UTA

Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
Bowen Byram

Signs Two-Year Deal with Sabres
Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
Keegan Bradley

Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
Oneil Cruz

Ties Home Run Derby Distance Record
Cal Raleigh

Wins 2025 Home Run Derby
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Michael Lorenzen

Royals Put Michael Lorenzen on Injured List With Oblique Strain
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Junior Tafa

Unsuccessful in his Light-Heavyweight Debut
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Tosses Gem Against Giants
Shota Imanaga

Shuts Down Yankees on Sunday
Nathan Eovaldi

Dominant Again in Seventh Win
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Chicago White Sox

Billy Carlson Goes 10th Overall to White Sox
Cincinnati Reds

Steele Hall Selected Ninth by Cincinnati
Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays Select JoJo Parker with Eighth Overall Pick
Miami Marlins

Marlins Select Aiva Arquette With Seventh Overall Pick
Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates Select Seth Hernandez with Sixth Overall Pick
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
Erik Karlsson

Open to Move Away From Pittsburgh
Zach Hyman

Hopes to be Ready for Start of Next Season
SJ

Jeff Skinner Joins Sharks on One-Year Contract
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF