It's Week 8 of Risers and Fallers. The weather is warming up, and so are many hitters around baseball. Some of these guys won't remain on your league's waiver wire for long.

There's a nice influx of youth around the game and some of the top prospects could soon get the call to the big leagues. Some of these names need to be on your roster.

Editor’s Note: to read about waiver wire options, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily. Prefer using your phone? Our free waiver wire app is available for download in the Apple & Android Stores.

 

Fantasy Baseball Risers

Hitters

Salvador Perez (C, KC) – Perez has stepped up big time lately, with three straight multi-hit games and a 5-for-5 game against Minnesota earlier this week. He is up to seven home runs and 25 RBIs and should continue to be among the game’s best backstops.

Matt Wieters (C, BAL) – Wieters recorded his fifth straight multi-hit game this week and is hitting a solid .294 on the season. The 30-year-old backstop has some mileage on his legs and a move to first base at some point in the future is likely. For now, he is catching and is a very strong. Keep in mind that he hasn’t played in more than 75 games since 2013.

Cameron Maybin (OF, DET) – Maybin has hit safely in all nine game he has played this season, including seven multi-hit games and two three-hit games. His .545 average won’t hold up for too long, but ride the wave as long as you can. The 29-year-old has been leading off for the Tigers the last few games, which would boost his value.

Eric Hosmer (1B, KC) – Hosmer has his average near the .300 mark and has three steals to go with his eight home runs. The Royals seem to have gotten past their early season doldrums as a team and Hosmer should continue to produce all year.

J.D. Martinez (OF, DET) – J-Mart has now completely shaken off the slow start he had in April, with five multi-hit games in his last nine contests. He’s now hitting .261 with 10 bombs on the season and should continue to produce at a nice clip. The 28-year-old is in his prime and capable of very big things again this year after hitting a career-best 38 home runs in 2015.

Nomar Mazara (OF, TEX) – Mazara went deep for the second straight game and has three home runs in his last four games entering Thursday. The blast he hit on Wednesday traveled an estimated 491 feet. He’s hitting .320 with eight home runs and at just 21 years-old could be a monster in the making.

Brett Gardner (OF, NYY) –  Now 32, Gardner has five home runs and eight steals and should have something left in the tank if he maintains his health. It’s nice to see the power and speed combo that Gardner flashed the last two seasons, when he combined for 33 home runs and 41 stolen bases. The warm weather should be a blessing for Gardner and the Yankees.

Evan Gattis (DH, HOU) – Gattis has four home runs in eight games since returning to Houston. If he acquires eligibility at the catching position he will have a sharp uptick in value. He is capable of homering in bunches and has three straight seasons with over 20 home runs entering 2016.

Leonys Martin (OF, SEA) – Martin ran his hitting streak to nine games on Wednesday before being removed from the game with a lower body injury. It would be a shame if he is out for any length of time, as the 28-year-old is displaying a terrific blend of power and speed with nine home runs and eight steals so far.

Paulo Orlando (OF, KC) – Orlando has collected multiple hits in five of his last seven games, including a trio of three-hit games. He is sitting on a .397 average (29-for-73) and if he maintains anything close to this pace will have to be taken more seriously. Veteran Alex Gordon just hit the disabled list with a wrist sprain, so the opportunity will be there for Orlando.

Khris Davis (OF, OAK) – Davis continues to display the power that allowed him to hit 49 home runs over the last two seasons in Milwaukee. He is on pace for well over 30 home runs and if he can keep his average around the .250 mark and steal 10 bases or so, could be a real gem of a find for many an owner.

Rajai Davis (OF, CLE) - Davis recorded four straight multi-hit games last week, going 9-for-16 with two home runs, nine RBIs, 10 runs and two stolen bases. It doesn’t get much better than that as Davis was unstoppable in a four-game ‘home-and-home’ series with the rival Reds. He has five home runs and 11 steals thus far, and will continue to get at-bats with Michael Brantley still sidelined.

Jose Ramirez (2B/SS/3B/OF, CLE) – Ramirez has become very valuable to the Indians and has seen a sharp increase in ownership. The 23-year-old utility-man is hitting .287 and is gaining confidence by the day. He mashed two home runs during a doubleheader against the White Sox this week. He had six home runs, 14 doubles and 10 steals in 97 games a year ago.

Matt Carpenter (3B, StL) – Carpenter homered and drove in six runs as part of a three-hit day against the Rockies recently. Carpenter now has nine home runs and 32 RBIs on the season, and the window to buy low on him has all but closed. The 30-year-old has a career .285 average and looks to be getting hot as the weather warms up.

 

Pitchers

Rich Hill (SP, OAK) – Hill (7-3. 2.18) continues to defy the odds as he puts up one of the best half seasons of his career. He just threw another eight shutout innings and has 65 strikeouts in 57.2 innings. It’s the most work he has had in a season since 2013, when he tossed 38.2 innings in 63 relief outings for Cleveland. It remains to be seen how long he can hold up physically.

Alex Wood (SP, LAD) – Wood (1-3, 4.03) piled up 13 strikeouts in six innings against the Padres in his last start. The 25-year-old southpaw has 43 strikeouts in his last five starts but hasn’t been able to crack the win column since April 13. He tossed a career-high 189.2 innings in 2015 and won 12 games with a 3.84 ERA. Pitching in a rotation with Clayton Kershaw has to have some benefits for Wood.

Martin Perez (SP, TEX) – Perez (2-4, 3.13) has completed at least six innings in eight of his 10 starts this season and has flown under the radar in Arlington. He deserves a few more wins but if he keeps pitching deep into games they should come. He could use a little more run support as well.

Jeanmar Gomez (RP, PHI) – Gomez (16 saves, 2.55 ERA) has been one of the best relievers in baseball this season. The 28-year-old had a 3.01 ERA in 74.2 innings in 2015 and has managed to improve upon those numbers while getting all the save opportunities. If the Phillies manage not to fall off in the second half, Gomez will continue to lock them down.

Nick Tropeano (SP, LAA) – Tropeano (3-2, 2.86) has been excellent for the Halos recently, allowing just three runs total in his last three start covering 18.2 innings. He’s kept his walks down the last two games, which has allowed him to pitch deeper into games. He’ll face Houston on home on Sunday, and it looks like a decent matchup for him.

Ivan Nova (SP, NYY) – Nova (3-2, 3.65) has been solid in May, posting a 2.92 ERA in 24.2 innings so far. He has 23 strikeouts and just five walks as well, but he’ll have to be consistent in order to gain the full confidence of potential owners. He has been oft-injured in the past. His next start is Monday in Toronto, and it may be one to avoid.

Sam Dyson (RP, TEX) – Dyson (5 saves, 1.96 ERA) has been pretty good thus far since taking over the closer’s role from Shawn Tolleson last week. He’s recorded four saves and allowed just one run in his last five outings. Scoop him up if he’s still available.

Colby Lewis (SP, TEX) – Lewis (4-0, 3.38) has completed seven innings in five of his last six starts. He has struck out 25 and walked just three in his last 40 innings. The 10-year veteran has a career ERA of 4.73 and a slight correction is likely in the offing. This year, he has pitched to a 1.73 ERA in 26 innings on the road and a 4.50 mark in 38 innings at home.

Matt Wisler (SP, ATL) – Wisler (2-3, 2.93) has been terrific in May, posting a 1.80 ERA over his first four starts of the month. He has been better on the road this season, with a 1.86 ERA in 29 innings as opposed to a 4.10 ERA in 26.1 innings at home. The wins will continue to be tough to come by, but Wisler should be a solid streaming candidate from time to time.

 

Fantasy Baseball Fallers

Hitters

Brian Dozier (2B, MIN) – Dozier has been hovering around the .200 mark all season, hitting just his fifth home run of the year this week. It’s not exactly hitter’s weather in Minnesota during the early part of the season, and Dozier will have to come up with a serious hot streak. He’s a career .237 hitter but it’s getting late early.

Gerardo Parra (OF, COL) – Parra was scorching in April but has cooled a bit in the last two weeks. He’s hitting just .209 with nine strikeouts and zero walks in the last 15 days. Parra and the Rockies offense tend to perform better at home, so pick your spots with him.

Brandon Belt (1B, SF) – Belt is hitting .163 over the last 15 days with 12 strikeouts, and suffered a mild ankle sprain on Wednesday night. It doesn’t’ look to be serious, but Belt will need to regain his groove to restore confidence in owners. He’s still stuck on just four home runs.

Alexei Ramirez (SS, SD) – Ramirez went 3-for-20 over the last week and is hitting only .235 this season. The 34-year-old has a career average of .272, but San Diego is far from a hitter’s haven. He has six double-digit home runs seasons entering 2016, but has yet to leave the yard in 166 at-bats. Look elsewhere.

Kendrys Morales (DH, KC) – Morales played in 158 games a year ago, hitting .290 with 22 home runs, but has been a shell of that player so far this year. He’s hitting .187 with 38 strikeouts and 11 walks to go with his five home runs. It looks like manager Ned Yost will give him every opportunity to find his swing.

Corey Dickerson (OF, TB) – Dickerson has not been close to the player who hit .312 with 24 home runs in 436 at-bats with the Rockies in 2014. The move to Tampa has not worked out so far as he’s sporting a .197 average with eight home runs and 38 strikeouts in 128 at-bats. He should be able to get a little something going in the near future.

Yasmani Grandal (C, LAD) – Despite homering on Wednesday, Grandal has been terrible for the better part of a month. He’s hitting a brutal .114 (5-for-44) with 16 strikeouts and one walk over the last 15 days. There are plenty of other catching options, and Grandal will face the Mets gauntlet of starters this weekend.

Matt Kemp (OF, SD) – Perhaps nobody has been worse than Kemp lately. The polarizing Padres outfielder has seen his season average fall to .222 during his current 8-for-62 stretch. He’s racked up 43 strikeouts and walked just four times all season.

 

Pitchers

Sonny Gray (SP, OAK) – Gray (3-5, 6.19) just hit the DL with a strained trap muscle but is not expected to be out beyond the minimum 15-day period. Maybe this explains his poor season to date, as he’d allowed 21 runs in his last 19.2 innings. There’s still plenty of season for Gray to give owners a better return on their investment, but he’ll have to avoid any more setbacks.

Chris Archer (SP, TB) – Archer (3-5, 5.16) continues to get hit hard, as he allowed six runs on eight hits in just three innings to the Tigers earlier this week. He does have 65 strikeouts in his 52.1 innings this year, so his stuff seems to be there. Now would be the time to buy low on Archer, and for his owners, be patient.

Carlos Martinez (SP, StL) – Martinez (4-5, 4.25) has a 6.84 ERA in five May starts. In his most recent outing, he allowed six runs on six hits and three walks in five innings, marking the fourth straight start he failed to go beyond five frames. The Cardinals will need more from him and the rest of their starters, who have all been faltering lately. It would not be wise to cut bait with Martinez at this point.

Matt Harvey (SP, NYM) – Harvey (3-7, 6.08) was tattooed yet again this week, this time by the Nationals. He gave up five runs on eight hits with just one strikeout in five innings. He will remain in the Major League rotation and next pitch Monday at home against the White Sox. He has been very hittable the third time through the lineup and hasn’t had much life to his pitches later in games. The Mets don’t seem to be inclined to remove him from the rotation.

Michael Wacha (SP, StL) – Wacha (2-5, 5.04) has been pummeled his last two starts to the tune of 14 runs on 16 hits and five walks in just eight innings. Owners have not gotten what they paid for on Wacha, but he has shown flashes of excellence at times this season. He should turn things around before long, but he’ll face a stiff test in Washington this weekend.

Jaime Garcia (SP, StL) – Garcia (3-4, 3.59) gave up five runs on 10 hits in just 2.1 innings against the D-backs earlier this week. He has fallen off considerably in his last two outings, a troubling sign for owners who thought he had finally found some consistency in the big leagues. He faces the Nationals on the road this weekend.

Kenta Maeda (SP, LAD) – After a great start to his Major League career, Maeda (3-3, 3.29) has not gone beyond five innings in any of his last three starts. The scouting reports have evidently gotten around the league, so he’ll have to readjust in order to get the results he did in the early going.

Adam Conley (SP, MIA) – Conley (3-3, 4.15) has gotten beaten up in two of his last three starts, most recently allowing six runs on seven hits and a whopping seven walks in 5.1 innings to the Nationals. It was the third time he had pitched against the Nats this season, so perhaps a few starts outside of the division will serve Conley well. He takes on the Braves in Atlanta on Friday, a team he has not pitched against in 2016.

 

Live Expert Q&A Chats - Every Weekday @ 1 PM and 6 PM EST (DFS)

Fantasy Baseball Chat Room