Week 5 Waiver Wire Rankings - Fantasy Baseball Pickups Include Austin Hays, Caleb Durbin, Roman Anthony, Luke Weaver, Zebby Matthews, more

The calendar page officially flips to May next week as we are a month into the MLB season. At RotoBaller HQ, we scour the waiver wire and help you prioritize who to add with our Week 5 of the MLB season -- April 28th - May 4th. The list includes the top 100 hitters and […]

Felix Bautista Picks Up Fourth Save On Monday

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Felix Bautista tossed a scoreless ninth inning to preserve a 4-3 win over the New York Yankees on Monday. Bautista was sharp in the frame, striking out two on 14 pitches without allowing a baserunner. The veteran reliever continues to be a stable piece to the Baltimore bullpen as he now has […]

Raisel Iglesias Notches Fifth Save Monday

Atlanta Braves closer Raisel Iglesias picked up his fifth save of the season in Monday's 6-3 win over the Rockies. Iglesias entered to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by three. He got the first two outs on a fly-out and a line-out, allowed a double, and ended the game with a strikeout. […]

Josh Hader Earns Eighth Save Of Season Monday

Houston Astros closer Josh Hader picked up his eighth save of the season in Monday's 8-5 win over the Tigers. Hader came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by three. He got the first two outs on a fly-out and a strikeout, allowed a double, and ended the game with another […]

Tyler Gilbert To Serve As Opener On Tuesday

Chicago White Sox left-hander Tyler Gilbert will serve as the team's opener for Tuesday's contest against the Milwaukee Brewers, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin. This will be Gilbert's third straight appearance in the opener role for the White Sox, with the 31-year-old southpaw throwing two shutout innings with a walk and three strikeouts his last […]

Andrew Kittredge To Throw Live Bullpen On Wednesday

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge (knee) will throw a live batting practice session on Wednesday. It will be the first time that Kittredge will face live hitters since having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee during spring training in March. The 35-year-old veteran reliever began the 2025 season on […]

Emilio Pagan Records Eighth Save

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Emilio Pagan was called upon to protect a two-run lead against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. The right-hander didn't need to do much work as he notched in eighth save of the season on seven pitches. Pagan has a 2.51 ERA, 0.49 WHIP, and 14/2 K/BB ratio with eight saves […]

Blake Treinen Shut Down For Undisclosed Period Of Time

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-handed reliever Blake Treinen (forearm) will be shut down for a to be determined amount of time. The Dodgers are in no rush to bring Treinen back to the major-league bullpen, and they shouldn't given how many capable arms they have. The 36-year-old veteran was placed on […]

Triston McKenzie Accepts Outright Assignment To Triple-A

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Triston McKenzie cleared waivers and accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A Columbus on Monday. With no other teams around MLB wanting to take a chance on McKenzie, the 27-year-old former 42nd overall pick in 2015 will likely head to Columbus' starting rotation in the minors. Cleveland designated the skinny right-hander for assignment […]

Trevor Stephan To Start Throwing In Games In May

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Trevor Stephan (elbow) is scheduled to start throwing in games at some time in May out of the team's spring training complex in Arizona. The Arizona Complex League Opening Day starts this Saturday. Stephan had UCL reconstruction on his right elbow last March and was forced to miss the entire 2024 season. […]

Paul Sewald Pulled Early With Shoulder Inflammation

Cleveland Guardians right-handed reliever Paul Sewald (shoulder) was pulled from his outing early on Monday against the division-rival Minnesota Twins due to right-shoulder inflammation. Sewald threw a pitch in the fifth inning and immediately waived to the dugout to come and take a look at him. The 34-year-old veteran reliever ended up throwing two-thirds of […]

Sam Long Begins Throwing Progression

Further imaging on Kansas City Royals left-hander Sam Long (elbow) on April 14 showed inflammation but no structural damage, and he was able to begin a throwing progression last Thursday. Long was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 13 with left-elbow inflammation and is expected to return in May. Whenever the 29-year-old southpaw […]

Hunter Harvey Could Begin Rehab Assignment This Week

Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Hunter Harvey (shoulder) started a throwing progression last Wednesday and has increased his workload since then. He could be headed for a minor-league rehab assignment this week. The 30-year-old reliever was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 11 (retroactive to April 8) with a right teres-major strain. Barring […]

Scott Effross Close To Facing Live Hitters

New York Yankees right-hander Scott Effross (hamstring) is getting close to facing live hitters in batting practice. It means that Effross is nearing a minor-league rehab assignment after starting the 2025 season on the injured list with a Grade 2 hamstring strain that he suffered in late February during spring training. The 31-year-old veteran reliever […]

Jonathan Loaisiga Still Weeks Away From A Return

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga (elbow) is still a few weeks away from joining the team. Loaisiga will have to get in back-to-back rehab appearances before he's activated from the injured list. When he does return, though, Boone doesn't necessarily view him as a one-inning guy out of the […]

Andres Munoz Secures Save No. 10, Tied For League Lead

Seattle Mariners closer Andres Munoz needed just nine pitches to earn his league-leading 10th save of the season on Sunday, nailing down the 7-6 win over the Marlins. The 26-year-old has been a force in 2025, tossing 14 innings of scoreless ball, allowing just five hits and six walks while striking out 18 (23.5 percent […]

Jordan Romano Earns The Save In Extras On Sunday

Philadelphia Phillies reliever Jordan Romano came on in the 10th inning of Sunday's matchup with the Cubs, dispatching Chicago on 13 pitches to secure the 3-1 victory and record the save. It was the righty's second save of the season, but he's not expected to log many more, as lefty Jose Alvarado remains the team's […]

Justin Martinez Shaky In Recording Third Save

Arizona Diamondbacks closer Justin Martinez recorded the save on Sunday in a 6-4 victory over the Braves, although it wasn't without some drama. The righty allowed four of the first five batters to reach base (one HBP, two walks, one double) with one run coming in to score, but was able to mix in a ground […]

Pete Fairbanks Notches Sixth Save On Sunday

Tampa Bay Rays closer Pete Fairbanks secured the 4-2 victory over the Padres on Sunday, pitching a clean ninth to record his sixth save of the season. Other than a tad too many walks, Fairbanks has been good this season, posting a 2.38 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and a 6:10 BB:K over 11 1/3 innings pitched. […]

Erik Swanson Starting Rehab Assignment On Tuesday

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Erik Swanson (forearm) is slated to report to Low-A Dunedin on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment. The right-hander has been sidelined at the start of the campaign due to carpal tunnel syndrome in his forearm. However, Swanson has progressed well and is nearing his return to the major leagues. […]

Slade Cecconi Throws Bullpen On Sunday

Cleveland Guardians right-handed pitcher Slade Cecconi (oblique) threw a bullpen session on Sunday. Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt noted that the 25-year-old "looked really good." This is an excellent sign for Cecconi as he has yet to make his 2025 season debut. Cecconi is working his way back from a left oblique strain he suffered in […]

The Cut List - Time to Let Go? Who To Consider Dropping for Fantasy Baseball (Week 5)

Welcome back to The Cut List as we head into Week 5 of the 2025 season. For every add, there is usually also a drop. For those unfamiliar, this is our weekly article examining players whom fantasy managers might consider cutting from their teams and struggling players who warrant a closer look. We'll examine players […]

Fantasy Baseball Players To Watch For The Week Ahead (April 28 - May 4)

Welcome back to my weekly Players to Watch for the Week Ahead series for 2025 as we look ahead to the week of April 28 - May 4. In this article, I'll look at players like Agustin Ramirez, Hunter Brown, Luke Weaver, and others. For those unfamiliar, I like to take a look around the league […]

Ian Anderson Claimed Off Waivers By The Braves

The Braves claimed pitcher Ian Anderson off waivers on Sunday from the Los Angeles Angels. It will be the 26-year-old's second go-round with the Braves after they traded him to Los Angeles earlier this year. Once a promising prospect who was even a key rotation piece during the Braves' 2021 World Series run, the righty […]

Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Report for Week 5 (2025)

It's an interesting part of baseball season: Spring break is over, and we're almost a month in, but "on pace for" stats are still pretty fun to play around with. Injuries are striking bullpens, rotations, and lineups around the league, and guys we've always trusted and relied on are suddenly untrustworthy and unreliable. Bullpen shakeups […]

A.J. Minter Lands On The 15-Day IL

New York Mets relief pitcher A.J. Minter has been placed on the 15-Day IL with a left lat strain. Minter was removed in the eighth inning of Saturday's 2-0 loss to the Nationals due to what was initially reported as left triceps tightness. After further evaluation, testing revealed a left lat strain, and the left-hander […]

Luke Weaver In Line To Get The Bulk Of Save Opportunities Moving Forward

According to New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, relief pitcher Luke Weaver will get most of the Yankees' save opportunities moving forward. Boone didn't rule out using Weaver earlier in games in a prominent spot and then leaning on other relievers in the ninth, though. This news broke shortly after Boone announced that Devin Williams […]

Devin Williams Removed From Closer Role

New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin Williams has been removed from the closer role for now, according to manager Aaron Boone. This news comes a few days after Williams blew a three-run lead to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. The Yankees had to make this move given nothing is going right for Williams right […]

Cade Smith Earns Third Save

Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Cade Smith was called upon in the ninth inning of the first game of Saturday's doubleheader with the Boston Red Sox. Fellow relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase (shoulder) has been banged up and struggled in the early part of the season. That being said, Smith has been given more chances in the […]

Will Vest Collects Third Save

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Will Vest was called upon in the eighth inning to hold a one-run lead against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday. The right-hander struck out two batters over 1.1 scoreless innings to record his third save of the season. Vest has tossed an impressive 11 straight scoreless innings as he's looking like […]