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Mike's fantasy baseball waiver wire hitters to add as category boosters for Week 1 of 2026. 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 1 of the 2026 MLB season. As always, week one has had its fair share of interesting moments to start the season.
While every fantasy player will tell you that they trust their preparations and process going into draft season, we are now where the rubber meets the road. Are there players on the waiver wire who can help you already? Yes, there are always available players.
We will give you three options for each of the five offensive categories in a standard five-by-five league. All hitters will be listed according to their percentage of rostered players on Yahoo!, with a maximum of 50 percent. Let's find some bargains.
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Runs Scored (R) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
Chase Meidroth, 2B/3B/SS, Chicago White Sox (14% rostered)
Meidroth will be on this list frequently across a number of categories. He's batted leadoff in all three starts for the White Sox this year, and should continue to do so. He's scored two runs already, and could easily score 80 this season while stealing 15-20 bases.
Add in the fact that he has eligibility at three key infield positions, and you have a player who can help you in multiple ways.
Jordan Walker, OF, St. Louis Cardinals (11% rostered)
Walker is the perennial prospect we have all been waiting for in St. Louis. Has he finally arrived? Yes, I know the chart below is based on a ridiculously small sample size, but dare we dream? The young outfielder has already scored six runs this season.
Walker has tantalizing skills that could coalesce at any time. Grab him and watch to find out.
Brady House, 3B, Washington Nationals (6% rostered)
House made this list a few times last season, and at 6% rostered, is completely ignored. The Nationals are bad, but House appears to have the everyday third base job and has hit third in three of four games. He has scored four times in those three games.
Home Runs (HR) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
Jake Burger, 1B, Texas Rangers (32% rostered)
I love Burger. The guy can mash, as long as he stays healthy and is in the lineup. Burger hits cleanup in what I think could be a surprising Texas lineup. Below, you can see what he does well: get the barrel of the bat on the ball. He has 30+ HR power potential.
Luke Raley, 1B/OF, Seattle Mariners (20% rostered)
Raley often gets passed over because of being in a constant platoon situation in Seattle with Victor Robles. He will get the starts in right field against right-handed pitching. When he plays, he hits; three of his four hits this season have left the yard. He also has first base eligibility.
Joey Wiemer, OF, Washington Nationals (28% rostered)
Wiemer surprisingly made the Nationals at the expense of Dylan Crews, who was relegated to Triple-A. He has made the most of it, reaching base in 10 consecutive plate appearances before making an out. Power is his calling card, and he looks to have a chance in D.C.
Runs Batted In (RBI) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
Miguel Vargas, 1B/3B, Chicago White Sox (15% rostered)
Vargas should continue to contribute to what should be a better White Sox team in 2026. Vargas should get most of the starts at third base, and he could hit 20 homers, steal 10+ bags, and knock in 70+ runs. He's under the radar again to start this season.
Brett Baty, 2B/3B, New York Mets (14% rostered)
Baty has both second and third base eligibility. Baty should get regular at-bats, and he knocked in three runs on Opening Day, hitting sixth. He should get an extended runway in New York this season, and results could follow with that opportunity.
Nolan Gorman, 2B/3B, St. Louis Cardinals (8% rostered)
I feel like we have been waiting for years for Gorman to get a real opportunity with the Cardinals, and that the time may finally be upon us. Gorman looks to hit fifth on most days and should be able to drive in runs; he has four RBI to start the season.
Stolen Bases (SB) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
Royce Lewis, 3B, Minnesota Twins (46% rostered)
I was targeting Lewis in many late drafts after he came through Spring Training healthy. He could put up a monster year if he is available to play most days. Last year, he surprised most of us by stealing nine bags in September. That production is in there.
Lewis could be the type of guy who wins leagues this season if he is able to play 145 games.
Andres Gimenez, 2B/SS, Toronto Blue Jays (29% rostered)
Gimenez has gotten off to a good start with the bat in 2026, and with his ankle healed, should be able to steal 25-30 bases easily. He doesn't have much power (10-12 HR seems the upper reach here), but could hit .250 with 80 runs and 25-30 stolen bases. Not bad for a waiver wire find.
David Hamilton, 2B/SS, Milwaukee Brewers (4% rostered)
I am not sure whether Hamilton can actually hit, but when he plays, he will score runs and steal bases. See below; he has one hit this season but has scored three runs and stolen three bases. Hamilton has a clear opportunity in Milwaukee and will get third base eligibility soon.
Hamilton has seasons of 33 and 22 stolen bases in his big league career.
Batting Average (AVG) - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Boosters
Nolan Schanuel, 1B, Los Angeles Angels (24% rostered)
There has not been much doubt that Schanuel can hit. The question has been: Will he ever be able to hit for power, as he has hit 13 and 12 home runs, respectively, in two full seasons? Schanuel has two homers thus far and is hitting .280 in 29 plate appearances.
See the chart below as his exit velocities climbed a bit each year. You know he is going to get the at-bats in a lineup that does not have any other first base options. Schanuel should help your team with batting average this season, and hopefully swat a few more homers.
Owen Caissie, OF, Miami Marlins (19% rostered)
Caissie was the centerpiece in the Edward Cabrera trade to the Chicago Cubs this winter. The young outfielder is hitting .400 in the young season with a home run and a stolen base, knocking in six runs and scoring three runs.
Caissie should continue to see ample playing time in Miami, hitting sixth and playing right field most days. He could hit for an average near .260, hit 15 home runs, and steal a few bases as well. Not bad for a waiver wire find in most leagues.
Dominic Canzone, OF, Seattle Mariners (13% rostered)
Canzone does not always get the playing time fantasy players feel he should, but he is usually effective when he does. In a platoon with Rob Refsnyder, Canzone should get the at-bats versus right-handed pitching.
See the chart below. Granted, small sample size this season, but Canzone has always hit the ball hard in his time in Seattle. I expect an average of .250-.260 with double-digit home runs, with more at-bats than he is projected for.
Good luck and happy hunting, RotoBallers! You can always message me @mdrc0508 on X to complain about my picks or make other suggestions! Please always remember to take care of your mental health daily. It is the most important thing you can do for yourself.
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