Points League Hitters: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5 (April 28 - May 4)

Nicklaus' H2H points fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters in Week 5 (2025) - April 28 through May 4. Free-agent hitters to add in points leagues.

Welcome, RotoBallers, to our H2H points fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters for Week 5 of the 2025 season. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of April 28 - May 4, looking at players below ~50 percent 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, April 26.

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Waiver Wire Caveats and APR Explanation

Roster% Thresholds

We use a combination of roster percentages 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 percentage is heavily weighted by points players, with guys who don't do well in their system (often because of an inflated strikeout rate) lagging behind the Yahoo! roster percentage.

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: 35%, ESPN: 11%) - Hoskins remains one of the best options on the wire, though his ceiling remains more in the top-100ish range.  It's a nice set against the Chicago's, going to the Southside before facing the Cubs at home. Unfortunately, only one LHP is on the schedule.

Wilmer Flores, SF, 1B (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 42%) - Looks like the rest of the world is catching on to what we true believers have never doubted -- like a silver-haired Artemis to his twin-brother, Carlos Santana's Apollo, Flores is a points god and will be until the day he retires. Possibly after? Flores has been the #38 hitter through the first month of the season and is still apparently available in some leagues.

Do your part to make that stop, lest ye risk rising the anger of a vengeful god.

Next Choices

Ty France, MIN, 1B (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 3%) - France continues to carry a low Roster% despite getting plenty of playing time and a points-friendly profile. Plus, his x-stats are even rosier; a .491 xSLG backs France's .340 SLG, while his .306 wOBA has a .369 xwOBA behind it. He'll get seven games in Week 5 (@CLE, @BOS), and is scheduled to face two left-handers.

Josh Bell, WSH, 1B (Yahoo: 6%, ESPN: 5%) - Filling in with someone like Bell is never exciting, but he should compile enough points in his seven games (@NYM(1), @PHI, @CIN) to be a reasonable band-aid.

Desperate Choices

Eric Wagaman, MIA, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 7%) - That's two good weeks in a row for Wagaman, who continues to pile up PAs in the middle of Miami's order, starting the last 10 games, never lower than cleanup. Six games in Week 5, but the first set comes in Los Angeles against the behemoth Dodgers.

Ryan O'Hearn, BAL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 5%) - Sure, you could risk playing O'Hearn and hope he mashes in three games because you know he's not playing in the three that are scheduled against left-handed starters (vs. NYY, vs. KC).

On the IL

• Christian Encarnacion-Strand, CIN, 1B (lower back inflammation - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Jorge Polanco, SEA, 2B (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 20%) - Polanco has been one of our best choices almost every week, and he continues to reward our support, now up to a 59 APR for the season, and is currently the No. 6 hitter in Week 4. He'll only get five games (vs. LAA, @TEX), however, with two coming vs. LHPs.

⚾Jorge Polanco, @Jorge_Polanco1! HR (7, 2nd of the game)
My, oh, my! 🌧️

4/26/25 @ SEA, ⬇️ 4th
vs RHP George Soriano

99.7 MPH / 32° / 389 ft to RF
Off a 86.8 MPH changeup

▶️It's a home run in 30/30 parks.◀️

📺: https://t.co/TNflQkzqnf pic.twitter.com/PPHx116eXS

— Home Run Report (@homerunreport) April 27, 2025

Next Choices

Christopher Morel, TB, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 18%) - You have to ride the lightning with Morel, as he's just as capable of giving you a top-50 week as a bottom-50 one. He'll get six games in Week 5 (vs. KC, @NYY), but with two against the LHPs that have vexed him this season so far.

Otto Lopez, MIA, 2B (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 17%) - My guy is back, baby! Okay, maybe a 171 APR isn't "back" but I'll take it. The Marlins have six games this week (@LAD, vs. ATH), with two coming vs. LHPs.

Desperate Choices

Gavin Lux, CIN, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 14%) - Okay, it's Lux's second-straight decent week, so looks like we're about two weeks away from a slew of "Gavin Lux is finally breaking out!" articles that will inevitably be proven wrong in the fortnight that follows. Regardless, he'll get seven games in Week 5 (vs. STL, vs. WSN), with three scheduled against his fellow left-handers...Good luck, Lux'ers!

On the IL

• Willi Castro, MIN, 2B/3B/SS/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Luke Keaschall, MIN, 2B (fractured forearm - no timetable)
• Nick Gonzales, 2B, PIT (fractured ankle - no timetable)
• Richie Palacios, TB, 2B/OF (sprained knee - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Noelvi Marte, CIN, 3B (Yahoo: 25%, ESPN: 12%) - Okay, maybe it wasn't just the 'roids? Marte has been heating up and will see three LHPs in a seven-game homestand (vs. STL, vs. WSH).

Zach McKinstry, DET, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 39%, ESPN: 35%) - He saw his Roster% drop after a dud in Week 3 but has bounced back with a 41 APR in Week 5. He'll get seven games on the road (@HOU, @LAA) but with only one coming against a fellow left-hander.

Next Choices

Christopher Morel, TB, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 18%) - You have to ride the lightning with Morel, as he's just as capable of giving you a top-50 week as a bottom-50 one. He'll get six games in Week 5 (vs. KC, @NYY), but with two against the LHPs that have vexed him this season so far.

Brooks Lee, MIN, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 2%) - The rookie is heating up (80 APR in Week 4) and gets seven games in Week 5 (@CLE, @NYY), with only one vs. an LHP.

Desperate Choices

Eric Wagaman, MIA, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 7%) - That's two good weeks in a row for Wagaman, who continues to pile up PAs in the middle of Miami's order, starting the last 10 games, never lower than cleanup. Six games in Week 5, but the first set comes in Los Angeles against the behemoth Dodgers.

On the IL

• Chase Meidroth, CHW, 3B/SS (thumb inflammation - no timetable)
• Willi Castro, MIN, 2B/3B/SS/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Paul DeJong, 3B/SS, WSH (fractured nose - no timetable)
• Yoan Moncada, 3B, LAA (sprained thumb - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Jacob Wilson, ATH, SS (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 47%) - Hardee-har-har...Surely, it's still not available in your league, right? This is all just an elaborate troll -- Wilson is the No. 50 player in this young season and absolutely needs to be rostered. This is the last time I'll ask nicely.

Jacob Wilson pic.twitter.com/dku7kSK9XB

— John Peabody (@PeabodyHitDev) April 26, 2025

Zach McKinstry, DET, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 39%, ESPN: 35%) - He saw his Roster% drop after a dud in Week 3 but has bounced back with a 41 APR in Week 5. He'll get seven games on the road (@HOU, @LAA) but with only one coming against a fellow left-hander.

Next Choices

Brooks Lee, MIN, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 2%) - The rookie is heating up (80 APR in Week 4) and gets seven games in Week 5 (@CLE, @NYY), with only one vs. an LHP.

Desperate Choices

J.P. Crawford, SEA, SS (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 4%) - If you look up "unsexy", J.P. Crawford's handsome mug will be staring back at you. He's an unexciting compiler who can get you in the top 125-ish range, but not much more. The Mariners only have five games this week (vs. LAA, @TEX); however, cutting the legs out from under any super-compiler powers.

• Chase Meidroth, CHW, 3B/SS (thumb inflammation - no timetable)
• Willi Castro, MIN, 2B/3B/SS/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Paul DeJong, 3B/SS, WSH (fractured nose - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Austin Hays, BAL, OF (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 20%) - Time is running out to roster Hays -- he was the No. 16 hitter in his first week back and is No. 18 heading into Sunday's action. With seven games and three LHPs on the menu, this might be your last chance to snag a piece.

Victor Scott II, STL, OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 14%) - Another one of our best choices doing work, Scott has a 28 APR in Week 4, bringing him up to a 74 AP for the season. Tell me again why he isn't universally rostered? The Cardinals have seven games in Week 5 (@CIN, vs. NYM), with two coming vs. LHPs.

Mike Yastrzemski, SF, OF (Yahoo: 18%, ESPN: 16%) - Baby Yaz Renaissance! Yastrzemski continues to be lava, averaging a 60 APR over the last four periods. He'll get six games in Week 5 (@SD, vs. COL), getting to face inept Colorado pitching and none of his fellow lefties.

TJ Friedl, CIN, OF (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 15%) - He was our best choice last week and will remain one of the best in Week 5 after putting up another top-75 week. The Reds have a seven-game homestand against mostly substandard pitching (vs. STL, vs. WSH), with three coming vs. left-handers.

Zach McKinstry, DET, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 39%, ESPN: 35%) - He saw his Roster% drop after a dud in Week 3 but has bounced back with a 41 APR in Week 5. He'll get seven games on the road (@HOU, @LAA) but with only one coming against a fellow left-hander.

Next Choices

JJ Bleday, ATH, OF (Yahoo: 25%, ESPN: 31%) - Well, at least he's not sub-10 percent rostered like he was all last season? Bleday continues to get no respect, even though he continues to be a top-100 points hitter. He'll get seven games (@TEX, @MIA) in Week 5, with only one coming against a southpaw.

Christopher Morel, TB, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 18%) - You have to ride the lightning with Morel, as he's just as capable of giving you a top-50 week as a bottom-50 one. He'll get six games in Week 5 (vs. KC, @NYY), but with two against the LHPs that have vexed him this season so far.

Trevor Larnach, MIN, OF (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 3%) - Welcome to the party, pal! Larnach is the No. 5 hitter in Week 4 and gets seven games in Week 5 (@CLE, @BOS).

Desperate Choices

Gavin Lux, CIN, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 14%) - Okay, it's Lux's second-straight decent week, so looks like we're about two weeks away from a slew of "Gavin Lux is finally breaking out!" articles that will inevitably be proven wrong in the fortnight that follows.

Regardless, he'll get seven games in Week 5 (vs. STL, vs. WSN), with three scheduled against his fellow left-handers...Good luck, Lux'ers!

Ryan O'Hearn, BAL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 5%) - Sure, you could risk playing O'Hearn and hope he mashes in three games because you know he's not playing in the three that are scheduled against left-handed starters (vs. NYY, vs. KC).

On the IL

• Willi Castro, MIN, 2B/3B/SS/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Lane Thomas, CLE, OF (bone bruise - no timetable)
• Victor Robles, SEA, OF (shoulder dislocation - expected to miss ~three months)
• Matt Wallner, MIN, OF (sprained hamstring - no timetable)
• Jake Mangum, TB, OF (strained groin - no timetable)
• Garrett Mitchell, MIL, OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Brandon Marsh, PHI, OF (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
• Jonny DeLuca, TB, OF (strained shoulder - expected to miss two to four weeks)
• Jose Siri, TB, OF (fractured shin - expected to miss eight to ten weeks)
• Griffin Conine, MIA, OF (shoulder dislocation - no timetable)
• Dairon Blanco, KC, OF (achilles - no timetable)
• Jason Heyward, SD, OF (knee inflammation - no timetable)
• Austin Slater, CHW, OF (knee surgery - expected to miss 4-6 weeks)
• Derek Hill, MIA, OF (sprained wrist - no timetable)
• Brandon Lockridge, SD, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Mike Tauchman, CHW, OF (sprained hamstring - no timetable)
• Manuel Margot, DET, OF (strained knee - no timetable)
• Richie Palacios, TB, 2B/OF (sprained knee - no timetable)
• Tyler Freeman, COL, OF (strained oblique - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Hunter Goodman, COL, C/OF (Yahoo: 25%, ESPN: 12%) - There's no need to get cute -- Goodman is finishing up his third-straight top-100 week and gets four games at home next week (vs. ATL, @SF)

Next Choices

Sean Murphy, ATL, C (Yahoo: 42%, ESPN: 26%) - He's still available in a majority of leagues, but time is running out to snag Murphy following his return from the IL. Murphy has a 16% APR for Week 4, entering on Sunday, and has been a top-50 player since returning. He'll get six games in Week 5, with four coming in Colorado (@COL, vs. LAD).

“Austin Riley is the hottest hitter on the Braves right now”

“No it’s Sean Murphy”

Eli White entering the conversation:

pic.twitter.com/l0dEsWviHq

— Riley (@Ri_S_OB) April 27, 2025

Desperate Choices

Agustin Ramirez, MIA, C/1B (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 11%) - Ramirez got the call from Triple-A last Sunday and has started off hot, collecting seven hits in four games, with one home run and a stolen base. Trusting a young, Miami catcher generally isn't ideal, but Ramirez has a pretty sexy fantasy profile for a catcher.

At Double-A and Triple-A last season (being traded from NYY), Ramirez had 25 HRs and 22 SBs in 548 PA.

Jonah Heim, TEX, C (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 14%) - Heim remains in the lower-level of startable catchers but has enough power to pop off in the occasional period, currently running a 178 APR. He'll get to see two left-handers in the Rangers' seven-game homestand (vs. ATH, vs. SEA).

On the IL

• Ivan Herrera, C, STL (knee inflammation - rehab assignment)
• Connor Wong, C, BOS (fractured pinkie -rehab assignment)
• Endy Rodriguez, PIT, C/1B (finger laceration - no timetable)
• Korey Lee, C, CHW (strained oblique - no timetable)

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