Top Hitter Streamers and Starts - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 3 (April 14 - April 20)

April 13, 2025

Dan's top hitter streamers and starts as fantasy baseball waiver wire adds for Week 3 of 2025 (April 14 - April 20). He analyzes streamers with favorable matchups, schedules.

If you're like me, you have at least one team with an IL already filled with players, and we are not even a full month into the MLB season. Whether you are looking for injury replacements or just some streaming options, you've come to the right place, as I break down the best and most widely available options on the wire (for hitters) here every week!

Our hitter streamers fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups column will identify hitters with good matchups who can be considered waiver wire streamers ahead of the Sunday night waiver wire runs for leagues with weekly transactions. Players who appear in this article will always be rostered in 40 percent or fewer leagues on Yahoo!

In this piece, every week, I'll look to find hitters playing in the most games and who have the most favorable matchups to help you plug those gaps and fill those holes in your roster. You can also check out the rest of our fantasy baseball streamer content here at RotoBaller.

What Teams Offer The Most Streaming Value in Week 3?

Most teams are playing six games this week.

However, the Tigers, Royals, Mets, Yankees, Giants, Cardinals, Rays, Nationals, Pirates, and Phillies play seven games.

Ballpark Upgrades:

• BOS (Three games at Tampa)
• NYY (Three games at Tampa)
• SEA (Three games in Cincinnati)
• WSH (Three games at Colorado)

Week 3 Fantasy Baseball Hitter Streamers

I'll recommend only players who are 40 percent rostered or lower, and all roster percentages are from Yahoo!

Geraldo Perdomo, SS - ARI (39 percent rostered)

Ketel Marte is out at least another few weeks, so we should continue to see Perdomo hit up in the order (usually second vs. RHPs and leadoff vs. LHPs). He's a hitting machine who does a great job of getting on base ahead of Corbin Carroll and Josh Naylor.

He should continue to be a great source of batting average and runs scored with a few steals mixed in.

Kyle Manzardo, 1B - CLE (37 percent rostered)

Manzardo's hot start slowed down quite a bit this week as his average dropped to .200. But he also hit his fourth home run of the season, this time off a righty.

Kyle Manzardo blasts his 4th home run of the season! 💪 pic.twitter.com/JVCpenW0hI

— MLB (@MLB) April 10, 2025

I'm still bullish on him this season. It's a great ballpark in Cleveland for left-handed power, and Manzardo has the kind of hit tool to carve out a decent average throughout the season, too. He's now hitting cleanup and playing every day, either at first base or at DH. There is a lot to like here.

Zach McKinstry, 2B/3B/SS/OF - DET (32 percent rostered)

McKinstry is the ultimate utility man. I snagged him in a bunch of leagues where I lost Matt McLain to injury because of his 2B eligibility. It's pretty wild he is eligible at three infield positions and outfield, and it allows him to be a Swiss Army knife for your roster if you are missing multiple players.

He's hitting .326 and playing every day for Detroit, even leading off a few times. Detroit's offense has been surprisingly effective so far this year, and while it is not likely to finish the season near the top of many offensive statistics, it's perfectly fine to ride the hot hand here and use some Tigers bats while they are getting it done at the plate.

Sean Murphy, C - ATL (31 percent rostered)

He's back! The Atlanta backstop debuted this week and hit three bombs in four games! It was a much-needed infusion of offense for a Braves lineup that has struggled early in the season.

Sean Murphy - Atlanta Braves (3) pic.twitter.com/khpEA2rNKN

— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) April 12, 2025

It was a great sign to see him play three games in a row before getting a day off. He should continue to be the main catcher for the Braves going forward, assuming he can stay healthy, and his power is substantial.

Let's not forget that Murphy hit .250 with 18 and 21 home runs in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Wilmer Flores, 1B - SF (27 percent rostered)

I know you don't want to add him, and neither do I. But can we ignore the month that Flores is having? He's now up to six home runs and 19 RBI while hitting in the bottom third of the San Francisco lineup.

The Giants have seven road games this week, and while they have to go to Philadelphia first, at least they should miss Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler. Then they should get some better matchups against the Angels in their second series.

Cam Smith, 3B/OF - HOU (27 percent rostered)

The dynamic rookie may finally be breaking out of his early season slump. After sitting down for a few games, he's come back and gone 5-for-14, including his first home run and stolen base of the season. There's still so much potential here, and I am buying low where I can.

THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

Cam Smith with his first Major League Home Run! pic.twitter.com/Hb91OjGUgk

— Houston Astros (@astros) April 12, 2025

Sal Frelick, OF - MIL (21 percent rostered) 

I'm a fan of Frelick's game, even if he doesn't have much power in his bat. He grinds at the plate and almost always finds a way to get a hit every night. He's been active on the basepaths, too, with four steals this year, including two this last week.

He continues to hit fifth in the order, where he has some RBI potential. If you need a steady presence in your outfield, Frelick is pretty reliable.

Josh Smith, 3B/SS/OF - TEX (14 percent rostered)

Smith is another utility player who you should be considering if you need to plug a hole in the infield or outfield. He hits no matter where they bat him in the order, and they simply can't keep him out of the lineup in Texas. He's now stolen three bases on the year, too. He's a great guy for the end of your bench.

Mike Yastrzemski, OF - SF (12 percent rostered)

Yaz is heating up and now hitting .316 on the season after belting his second home run of the year against the Reds this week. He's been leading off against RHP this weekend against the Yankees, so keep an eye on that trend as it could help keep his value high if it continues.

Jonathan Aranda, 1B/2B - TBR (11 percent rostered)

A cleanup hitter who is batting .378 on the season with two home runs is available in nearly 90 percent of leagues? Oh yes, he's eligible at 2B, too! I snagged Aranda where I could last week when Matt McLain went down, and I feel pretty good about it after he's gone 6-for-13 with a home run and four RBI so far this week.

This kid can hit, and I think he's going to have a lineup spot in the heart of the lineup as Tampa has a very non-traditional lineup without many power hitters.

Nolan Schanuel, 1B - LAA (10 percent rostered)

I almost took Schanuel off the list this week, and then he went and hit a home run (his first of the year) yesterday. He collected at least one hit in every game this week, but hasn't had much of an impact in runs scored, RBI, or home runs yet.

He's hitting sixth in the order, but if the Angels ever decide to lead him off or move him up in the order, I think his value would increase substantially.

Week 3 Deeper League Fantasy Baseball Hitter Streamers to Consider

Some widely available hitters (under 10 percent rostered) could be worth a look this week.

• Gavin Sheets, 1B/OF - SD (9 percent rostered)
• Luke Raley, 1B/OF - SEA (8 percent rostered)
• Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B - PIT (8 percent rostered)
• Josh Bell, 1B - WSH (7 percent rostered)
• Dillon Dingler, C - DET (5 percent rostered)
• Pedro Pages, C - HOU (3 percent rostered)

Good luck this week, and choose those streaming options wisely!

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