Points League Hitters: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 6 (May 5 - May 11)

May 4, 2025

Nicklaus' H2H points fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters in Week 6 (2025) - May 5 - May 11. Free-agent hitters to add in points leagues.

Welcome, RotoBallers, to our H2H points fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters for Week 6 of the 2025 season. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of May 5 - May 11, 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, May 3.

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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

Michael Toglia, COL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 4%) - Dear Mr. Toglia,

Have you considered being good again? Or, perhaps just striking out less than your current 38% clip?

Sincerely,

Us.

Toglia teased us with a top-50 performance week before last but has gone right back to mediocrity, currently running a 187 APR entering Sunday. But we all know what can cure what ails him -- Coors homestand, babies.

Eric Wagaman, MIA, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 5%) - After two straight weeks in the top-75, the lightly-rostered Wagaman has gone back to playing like his exposure, currently with a 194 APR in Week 5. But there is a lot to like about Wagaman, starting with his roster position, having now started 16 games straight, batting second/third/fourth in all but one start (fifth).

Wagaman has also shown excellent discipline (15% K%) and is running x-stats that are way more impressive than his current reality. His .257 AVG is backed by a .297 xBA, while a .704 OPS and .311 wOBA have respective .841 xOPS and .362 xwOBA behind them. Miami faces the best and worst of times in Week 6, with three games each against the Dodgers and White Sox.

Eric Wagaman is heating up... pic.twitter.com/HWhenzoVVS

— Marlins Radio Network (@MarlinsRadio) April 17, 2025

Next Choices

Ryan O'Hearn, BAL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 13%, ESPN: 7%) - O'Hearn has had exactly one "bad" period (No. 349 in Week 1) but has been pretty solid, besides, with four top-100 weeks and one top-150 performance rounding out his season. And while he still can't hit lefties for nothing, at least he's only been an auto-sit for about half of them this year -- that's something, right? O'Hearn has a 106 APR for the season and gets six games in Week 6 (@MIN, @LAA), with only one LHP (Tyler Anderson) on the schedule.

Ty France, MIN, 1B (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 8%) - France is wrapping up another terrific period (No. 38 in Week 5) but remains widely ignored, probably because his name is Ty France. But France has always had a point-friendly profile and piling up a ton of PAs in Minnesota -- he's started every game but one in 2025 and hasn't batted lower than fifth since April 26.

Lots of PAs, middle of the order, and points-friendly? Besides it being Ty France, what's not to love?

Desperate Choices

Carlos Santana, CLE, 1B (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 11%) - Our not-so-puny points god took two weeks off, but he's right back to being the top-100 stalwart he loves to be in Week 5, sitting at No. 70 entering Sunday. Santana gets six games (@WSH, vs. PHI) in Week 6, with two scheduled against those coveted lefties.

On the IL

• Christian Encarnacion-Strand, CIN, 1B (lower back inflammation - no timetable)
• Luke Raley, SEA, 1B/OF (strained oblique - 6 to 8 weeks)
• Jeimer Candelario, CIN, 1B/3B (strained back - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Jonathan India, KC, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 42%) - India is bumped up against our Roster% threshold but has yet to do anything spectacular, currently with a 204 APR, with a 141 APR representing his weekly high for the season.

Jonathan India restores the lead with his first @Royals home run 😤 pic.twitter.com/n6bFsZu6tj

— MLB (@MLB) May 4, 2025

However, playing almost every day while leading off in front of Bobby Witt Jr. is an excellent position from which to compile points, and India will have a chance to do so in matchups with substandard pitching (vs. CHW, vs. BOS, one LHP) in Week 6.

Gabriel Arias, CLE, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 11%) - Arias has been in a slide the past couple of weeks but still plays enough to compile a decent amount of counting stats, even if a strikeout rate in the high-20's isn't ideal. The Guardians get six games in Week 6 (@WSH, vs. PHI), with two scheduled vs. LHPs.

Next Choices

Gavin Lux, CIN, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 26%) - You can feel it already, can't you, Gavin-Lux apologists...Lux is the No. 45 hitter -- "It's breakout time! We'll finally be rewarded for our patience!"...Lux is the No.80 hitter -- "Totally fine. It's not like Nick is right and Lux is only capable of being good for about five total weeks a season"...Lux is the No. 137 hitter -- "Nope! Nothing to see here. This definitely isn't the start of an inevitable slide that ends with him turning into a Gavin Lux-shaped pumpkin. Nope, definitely not".

Lux gets seven games in Week 6 (@ATL, @HOU), with two coming vs. LHP.

Desperate Choices

Lenyn Sosa, CHW, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) - I'm not sure I can provide better proof of the slimness of these second base pickings than having to recommend a White Sox. Sosa has little to offer besides compiling hope, as he's started virtually every game since the second week of April, but when you're desperate, you can't always be choosy.

On the IL

• Willi Castro, MIN, 2B/3B/SS/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa, PIT, 2B/3B/SS (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Nick Gonzales, 2B, PIT (fractured ankle - no timetable)
• Casey Schmitt, SF, 2B (strained oblique - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Josh Smith, TEX, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 17%) - After back-to-back weeks in the dumps (No. 264, No. 201), Smith has burst his way back into the top-100 with a 90 APR in Week 5. Okay, maybe "burst" is a tad extreme -- how about "dipped his toe back in"?

Regardless, Smith's profile remains as points-friendly as ever, piling up PAs by only sitting in occasional matchups vs. LHP, while carrying a 21% K% and 10% BB%. He's also moved up in the order, leading off for three straight games, and in five of his last 10. The left-hander is set up for a good period in Week 6, with no LHPs on the schedule in six games at Boston and Detroit.

Eric Wagaman, MIA, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 7%, ESPN: 5%) - After two straight weeks in the top-75, the lightly-rostered Wagaman has gone back to playing like his exposure, currently with a 194 APR in Week 5. But there is a lot to like about Wagaman, starting with his roster position, having now started 16 games straight, batting second/third/fourth in all but one start (fifth).

Wagaman has also shown excellent discipline (15% K%) and is running x-stats that are way more impressive than his current reality. His .257 AVG is backed by a .297 xBA, while a .704 OPS and .311 wOBA have respective .841 xOPS and .362 xwOBA behind them. Miami faces the best and worst of times in Week 6, with three games each against the Dodgers and White Sox.

Jonathan India, KC, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 42%) - India is bumped up against our Roster% threshold but has yet to do anything spectacular, currently with a 204 APR, with a 141 APR representing his weekly high for the season.

However, playing almost every day while leading off in front of Bobby Witt Jr. is a great position from which to compile points, and India will have a chance to do so in matchups with substandard pitching (vs. CHW, vs. BOS, one LHP) in Week 6.

Next Choices

Gabriel Arias, CLE, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 11%) - Arias has been in a slide the past couple of weeks but still plays enough to compile a decent amount of counting stats, even if a strikeout rate in the high-20's isn't ideal. The Guardians get six games in Week 6 (@WSH, vs. PHI), with two scheduled vs. LHPs.

Ryan McMahon, COL, 3B (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 4%) - Ol' Captain Mediocre, himself, makes the list for one reason and one reason only -- you guessed it; Coors homestand. McMahon is the No. 100 hitter in Week 5, so that's nice, I suppose, but let's be real. A stream for McMahon is one that banks on some Coors Field magic.

Javier Baez, DET, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 12%) - An 83 APR last week and is No. 25 this week? Is Javy back? Umm, I'd probably temper your expectations. Baez is still allergic to walks (4% BB%) and has a .300 AVG with a .239 xBA and .375 BABIP behind it, with a .662 xOPS and .288 xwOBA that feel a lot more like the Javy we all know (and probably don't love).

Desperate Choices

Miguel Vargas, CHW, 3B/OF (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 2%) - Starting a White Sox is never ideal, but Vargas plays every day and has creeped his way back into the top-third of the order, batting second/third in the last three games. He'll get seven games this week (@KC, vs. MIA), with two scheduled vs. LHPs.

Chase Meidroth, CHW, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 4%, ESPN: 1%) - The excitement over his callup was quickly doused by an IL stint, but Meidroth is back and batting leadoff. Not that it counts for much on a team like the White Sox, but still, it's something. If Meidroth plays every day and gets on-base anything like in the minors, his profile could make him a low-budget, useful compiler.

Lenyn Sosa, CHW, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) - I'm not sure I can provide better proof of the slimness of these pickings than having to recommend a White Sox. Sosa has little to offer besides compiling hope, as he's started virtually every game since the second week of April, but when you're desperate, you can't always be choosy.

On the IL

• Willi Castro, MIN, 2B/3B/SS/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa, PIT, 2B/3B/SS (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Jeimer Candelario, CIN, 1B/3B (strained back - no timetable)
• Ramon Urias, BAL, 3B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Paul DeJong, 3B/SS, WSH (fractured nose - no timetable)
• Yoan Moncada, 3B, LAA (sprained thumb - no timetable)
• Gage Workman, CHW, 3B/SS (strained hip - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Josh Smith, TEX, 3B/SS (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 17%) - After back-to-back weeks in the dumps ( No. 264, No. 201), Smith has burst his way back into the top-100 with a 90 APR in Week 5. Okay, maybe "burst" is a tad extreme -- how about "dipped his toe back in"?

Regardless, Smith's profile remains as points-friendly as ever, piling up PAs by only sitting in occasional matchups vs. LHP, while carrying a 21% K% and 10% BB%. He's also moved up in the order, leading off for three straight games, and in five of his last 10. The left-hander is set up for a good period in Week 6, with no LHPs on the schedule in six games at Boston and Detroit.

J.P. Crawford, SEA, SS (Yahoo: 13%, ESPN: 9%) - Another year of J.P. Crawford doing J.P. Crawford things; another year of him being contained to waiver-wire purgatory. With a 57 APR for the period entering Sunday, Crawford has managed to compile himself right back to the top-100ish range he loves to quietly live in, currently the No. 80 hitter overall in 2025. No, seriously.

Crawford is again set up for compiling success in Week 6, getting six games (@ATH, vs. TOR), with all but one vs. RHP.

Next Choices

Gabriel Arias, CLE, 2B/3B/SS (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 11%) - Arias has been in a slide the past couple of weeks but still plays enough to compile a decent amount of counting stats, even if a strikeout rate in the high-20's isn't ideal. The Guardians get six games in Week 6 (@WSH, vs. PHI), with two scheduled vs. LHPs.

Desperate Choices

Javier Baez, DET, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 12%) - An 83 APR last week and is No. 25 this week? Is Javy back? Umm, I'd probably temper your expectations. Baez is still allergic to walks (4% BB%) and has a .300 AVG with a .239 xBA and .375 BABIP behind it, with a .662 xOPS and .288 xwOBA that feel a lot more like the Javy we all know (and probably don't love).

• Tyler Fitzgerald, SF, 2B/SS (fractured rib - no timetable)
• Willi Castro, MIN, 2B/3B/SS/OF (strained oblique - no timetable)
• Paul DeJong, 3B/SS, WSH (fractured nose - no timetable)
• Gage Workman, CHW, 3B/SS (strained hip - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Kyle Stowers, MIA, OF (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 13%) - What if I were to tell you that the No. 5 overall hitter in Week 5 (and No. 35 for the season) is currently available in 75 percent of leagues?

Stowers is having a start for the ages, posting not only great numbers but ones backed by terrific expected stats. He's slashing a ridiculous .324/.392/.552 but an x-line of .313/.387/.564 isn't too far behind, with Stowers also running a .407 wOBA (.408 xwOBA) and .537 wOBAcon (.539 xwOBAcon. Seriously, that's fairly ridiculous.

The leftie will feast on nothing but right-handed pitchers in Week 6, starting off the week against the juggernaut Dodgers (but missing their ace pitchers) before heading to the South Side bandbox to face the hapless White Sox.

Victor Scott II, STL, OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 14%) - There are zero reasons - good ones, anyways - that Scott shouldn't be universally rostered. Scott currently has a top-75 APR for the season, and while yes, a .352 BABIP isn't ideal, you also have to put some of those expectations of regression aside when dealing with the wheels of someone like Scott.

As long as he's playing every day, he'll continue to compile points, though it is worth noting he has sat out the previous two games facing a leftie. The Cardinals have six games (vs. PIT, @WSH) this week, with all but one scheduled against right-handers.

Max Kepler, PHI, OF (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 4%) - Sweet lord, is Max Kepler back? Kepler is looking to lock up his second-straight top-50 week (No. 46, No. 28) and finished in the top-120 in two of the three weeks previous. Not too bad. Granted, he's never going to start against left-handed pitchers, but good news, bucko's -- Philly has six games in Week 6 and all are scheduled vs. RHPs.

TJ Friedl, CIN, OF (Yahoo: 42%, ESPN: 17%) - If the week ended now, Friedl would have his worst APR of the season... No. 142. When your basement is still a top-150 hitter, things aren't awful. Friedl gets seven games to bounce back in Week 6 (@ATL, @HOU), scheduled to face five RHPs and two LHPs.

Michael Toglia, COL, 1B/OF (Yahoo: 33%, ESPN: 4%) - Dear Mr. Toglia,

Have you considered being good again? Or, perhaps just striking out less than your current 38% clip?

Sincerely,

Us.

Toglia teased us with a top-50 performance week before last but has gone right back to mediocrity, currently running a 187 APR entering Sunday. But we all know what can cure what ails him -- Coors homestand, babies.

Next Choices

Jordan Beck, COL, OF (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 8%) - After a top-five performance last week, Beck has come back to earth with a 133 APR in Week 5. Maybe not top-5 but he certainly didn't hurt you and he'll have another chance to blast-off with a homestand in Week 6 (vs. DET, vs. SDP, one LHP). Just be forewarned if your league has a strikeout penalty because Beck's 35% K% probably isn't going anywhere.

Mike Yastrzemski, SF, OF (Yahoo: 19%, ESPN: 17%) - Yastrzemski has had a down week this period but is now up to a surprising top-75 APR, buoyed by his super-compiler power being activated by batting leadoff. He's now started 10 straight games, batting leadoff in every game but the one against a left-handed starter (batted fifth).

With a points-friendly 20% K% and 13% BB%, a bunch of PAs is all baby Yaz needs to keep being startable. The Giants have six games this week (@CHC, @MIN), with all but one coming vs. RHP.

Jonathan India, KC, 2B/3B/OF (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 42%) - India is bumped up against our Roster% threshold but has yet to do anything spectacular, currently with a 204 APR, with a 141 APR representing his weekly high for the season.

However, playing almost every day while leading off in front of Bobby Witt Jr. is a great position from which to compile points, and India will have a chance to do so in matchups with substandard pitching (vs. CHW, vs. BOS, one LHP) in Week 6.

Sal Frelick, MIL, OF (Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 33%) - Frelick has had back-to-back mediocre weeks (No. 203, No. 166) but still has a top-75 APR for the season and will get six games (vs. HOU, @TB) with no LHPs in Week 6.

JJ Bleday, ATH, OF (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 30%) - Okay, I guess we're going to keep doing this in 2025, just like we did all of 2024. Attention: JJ Bleday is pretty damn good in points. You should pick him up.

Bleday is the No. 26 hitter in Week 5, entering Sunday, and is now up to an 85 APR for the season. He will have a tough schedule in Week 6, though, facing Seattle and the Yankees, with LHPs scheduled in two games.

Desperate Choices

Jake Meyers, HOU, OF (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 2%) - Don't look now, but the No. 11 hitter in Week 5 is Jake Meyers, which would give him his third top-100 week in the past four periods. He's probably not sustainable as a starter, but his profile is points-friendly enough to be a band-aid while he's playing a lot.

Gavin Lux, CIN, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 40%, ESPN: 26%) - You can feel it already, can't you, Gavin-Lux apologists...Lux is the  No. 45 hitter -- "It's breakout time! We'll finally be rewarded for our patience!"...Lux is the  No.80 hitter -- "Totally fine.

It's not like Nick is right and Lux is only capable of being good for about five total weeks a season"...Lux is the No. 137 hitter -- "Nope! Nothing to see here. This definitely isn't the start of an inevitable slide that ends with him turning into a Gavin Lux-shaped pumpkin. Nope, definitely not".

Lux gets seven games in Week 6 (@ATL, @HOU), with two coming vs LHPs.

Javier Baez, DET, 3B/SS/OF (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 12%) - An 83 APR last week and is No. 25 this week? Is Javy back? Umm, I'd probably temper your expectations. Baez is still allergic to walks (4% BB%) and has a .300 AVG with a .239 xBA and .375 BABIP behind it, with a .662 xOPS and .288 xwOBA that feel a lot more like the Javy we all know (and probably don't love).

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)
• Luke Raley, SEA, 1B/OF (strained oblique - 6 to 8 weeks)
• 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)
• Tyler Freeman, COL, OF (strained oblique - 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)
• Mike Tauchman, CHW, OF (sprained hamstring - no timetable)
• Manuel Margot, DET, OF (strained knee - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Hunter Goodman, COL, C/1B (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 23%) - He's been our Best Choice for weeks now, but I suspect he'll be crossing over our Roster% threshold after this week. Goodman is wrapping up his third-straight top-100 week (fourth in five weeks) and gets a homestand against Detroit and San Diego. Last call, y'all.

⚾ Hunter Goodman crushes his 5th home run for the Colorado Rockies! ⚾

What a shot! Goodman is lighting up the field and making waves—Rockies fans, get ready for more excitement!

Check out the explosive moment: ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/aiMLDCjF9O

— MiloX Sports MLB (@MiloXSportsMLB) April 29, 2025

Next Choices

Sean Murphy, ATL, C (Yahoo: 44%, ESPN: 28%) - Murphy loves following up studs with duds, and he didn't disappoint, currently running a 235 APR this week after finishing  No. 27 last week. He'll get seven games (vs. CIN, @PIT) against mostly shaky pitching, but, more importantly, is scheduled to face four LHP.

Ryan Jeffers, MIN, C (Yahoo: 16%, ESPN: 8%) - Jeffers is in the middle of his best period of the year (No. 31) and continues to rack up PAs, with more DH at-bats being available as the Twins continue to drop like flies. More impressive for his points profile is that Jeffers is again improving his discipline, currently running a 17.5% K% after posting a 20% K% in 2024 that was a giant departure from the 28%-30% rates he'd always run previously.

Getting a lot of PAs while running a .360 OBP is a quick way for a catcher to get relevant.

Desperate Choices

Gabriel Moreno, ARI, C (Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 37%) - Just as mediocre in points as he is in roto, Moreno is a classic compiler, combining plate-discipline with PAs to produce someone slightly above replacement level. If that's what you need, he'll get seven games at home against super tough teams this week (vs. NYM, vs. LAD), with just one LHP on the menu.

On the IL

• Ivan Herrera, C, STL (knee inflammation - rehab assignment)
• Kyle Higashioka, TEX, C (strained intercostal - no timetable)
• Endy Rodriguez, PIT, C/1B (finger laceration - no timetable)
• Gary Sanchez, BAL, C (wrist inflammation - no timetable)
• Nick Fortes, MIA, C (strained oblique - rehab assignment)
• Jake Rogers, DET, C (strained oblique - 4 to 6 weeks)
• Korey Lee, C, CHW (strained oblique - no timetable)

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