Week 4 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups - RotoBaller Staff Roundtable

April 19, 2026

RotoBaller staff's fantasy baseball Week 4 waiver wire pickups for 2026. Expert advice for waiver wire hitter, pitcher, and closer targets from Eric, Joey, Frank, and Andy.

With another week of MLB action in the books, it's time to hit the waiver wire. We asked several writers from our fantasy baseball staff to share their top waiver wire targets and stash options ahead of Week 4 of the fantasy baseball season.

This week, we will spotlight several emerging starting pitchers, including a rookie in Chicago, a former top prospect in Minnesota, and a top option for power in Los Angeles.

Who should we look to pick up this week? Let's dive in!

Hitter Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

Moises Ballesteros, C, Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs rookie Moises Ballesteros has been on an offensive tear since the beginning of last week. He is hitting an absurd .600 (12-for-20) with three home runs and eight RBI over his last eight games. Considering Ballesteros is locked in as the Cubs everyday designated hitter against right-handed pitching, he's worth grabbing in 12-team leagues.

Ballesteros has the tools to be a consistent hitter in his first full season in the big leagues. His bat speed (74.3 mph) ranks toward the top of the league, and his early-season metrics suggest a breakout campaign could be in store. The 22-year-old has a .525 expected slugging, a 93.8 mph average exit velocity, a 16.7% barrel rate, and a 60% hard-hit rate. Even though he won't start against southpaws, he's still worth adding in leagues.

- Joey Pollizee

Xander Bogaerts, SS, San Diego Padres

As a Red Sox fan who followed Xander Bogaerts' career from his early days in the minor leagues, it feels a bit nostalgic to include him in a waiver wire article. Is Bogaerts still an All-Star caliber player and one of the top players at his position? Of course not, that's why he's available in over 60% of Yahoo leagues. But can Bogaerts still provide enough to be a fantasy-relevant option? Absolutely.

In his first 77 plate appearances this season, Bogaerts is slashing a solid .268/.325/.423 with three home runs, 13 RBI, and a pair of steals. Mostly all of his metrics in terms of contact, approach, and quality of contact are better than league average as well, including a 87.1% zone contact rate, 81.5% overall contact rate, an 89.7 mphn AVG EV, and a 40.6% hard-hit rate. Bogaerts has even cut his already solid 17% strikeout rate from 2025 to an impressive 9.1% this season.

Bogaerts' best days are certainly behind him, but he's still a player who can provide double-digit home runs and double-digit steals with a solid batting average as well.

- Eric Cross

Jorge Soler, OF, Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jorge Soler is currently serving a four-game suspension for his role in a brawl last week. But that shouldn't matter much to those fantasy managers looking to pick him up ahead of Week 4 because his suspension will officially end on Saturday. That means he will not miss any games next week due to that suspension.

If you are in need of some power on your fantasy roster, Soler is the perfect target. He has already hit five home runs and driven in 18 runs across 18 games played, and his power numbers make him an ideal target in both roto and point leagues. While the 13-year veteran will have a low batting average throughout the year, he does have 30-homer potential. Soler currently ranks in the 85th percentile in barrel rate (14.6%).

- Joey Pollizze

Jake Burger, 1B, Texas Rangers

Burger is coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign, which pushed him into the final rounds of most drafts this spring. In 2025, Burger hit just 16 home runs, while posting a low .236/.269/.419 line. However, the summer before, Burger was one of the most potent sluggers in the game, launching 29 round-trippers with a .250/.301/.460 line.

Through the opening weeks of the 2026 campaign, Burger has looked like his 2024 self, as he has gone deep five times while carrying a .253/.278/.507 line. While the sample size is small, Burger has made the necessary adjustments to suggest this surge is quite sustainable.

The 30-year-old has generated a high .479 xSLG, 13.2% barrel rate, and a 50.9% hard-hit rate, all of which place him well above the average marks of qualified hitters. His 74.3 mph average bat speed also places him within the 73rd percentile among hitters.

However, the most important component of his profile behind his early-season power production is his Pull AIR%. Through 19 games, Burger has generated an elite 24.5% Pull AIR%, which is among the highest marks in the sport and is on pace to be the highest of his career. While this mark may not be sustainable, it is a massive jump from the 13.5% Pull AIR% he generated last summer.

Even a 6-8% incrase would put him back on pace to contend for a 25-HR campaign as he did in 2024. His counting stats should also benefit from his increase in power totals, especially batting in the cleanup spot on a daily basis.

- Andy Smith

Jeremiah Jackson, 2B/3B/OF, Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jeremiah Jackson has been the most-added fantasy player dating back to last weekend. He has really come on strong over the past week and simply can't be stopped at the plate right now. Jackson is batting .406 with five home runs, two doubles, and 13 RBI across his last eight games. Those strong numbers firmly make Jackson a top waiver wire target heading into Week 4.

While there are some concerns about Jackson's long-term fantasy value once Jackson Holliday (wrist) returns, managers shouldn't worry too much about that. If Jackson continues to hit the ball well, the Orioles will find a spot for him one way or another. Considering he has a .275 expected batting average, an 11.6% barrel rate, and a 73.5 mph bat speed, the 26-year-old is a post-hype breakout candidate this season.

- Joey Pollizze

Luke Raley, 1B/OF, Seattle Mariners

While many Seattle hitters have gotten off to cold starts this season, Luke Raley has not been one of them. In his first 66 plate appearances this season, Raley is slashing .328/.379/.623 with four home runs.

With Raley, it's important to understand the profile that you're investing in. If you're picking him up hoping for the high average to stick, you'll probably be disappointed. Raley is currently running a 36.4% strikeout rate and downright atrocious contact rates. However, when he does make contact, Raley has been hammering the ball with a 93.3 mph AVG EV, 54.1% hard-hit rate, and a 21.6% barrel rate.

Everything to do with the quality of contact right now is highly impressive for Raley, and that's why you should want to target him. He's a platoon player who isn't likely to contribute a good batting average moving forward. He's also in a strong-side platoon role with only two plate appearances against southpaws this season. This is strictly a recommendation for those who need a power boost and can absorb the batting-average hit.

- Eric Cross

Colt Emerson, SS, Seattle Mariners

Colt Emerson starts the Triple-A season with a homer.pic.twitter.com/rZqLRDdlun

— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) March 27, 2026

Mariners' general manager Jerry Dipoto publicly stated that Emerson is getting close to a promotion. This is a polished hitter who is currently slashing .255/.333/.392 with one home run and three stolen bases in 58 plate appearances at Triple-A. While the 31.0% strikeout rate is discouraging, remember that he put up a 22.2 K% in Triple-A last year, plus a sub-20 K% in both Single-A and Double-A.

It would make sense for the M's to call up Emerson soon. For one, the team signed him to an eight-year, $95 million extension, so they should see what they have in their young infielder. Secondly, at the time of this article, Seattle has an 8-11 record. With Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, and Josh Naylor struggling at the plate, Emerson could be the spark that the team needs.

On top of that, Cole Young has cooled off a bit, slashing .215/.311/.369 with two homers in 74 plate appearances. That gives the Mariners the option to send Young down and replace him with Emerson at second base.

In any case, it's only a matter of time before Emerson is up. Once that happens, there's a good chance that he can produce at a 15/15 pace with a rock-solid batting average due to his strong plate discipline. Make sure to stash Emerson before your league mates get him.

- Frank Ammirante

Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

Noah Schultz, SP, Chicago White Sox

While his first outing didn't go so well, Noah Schultz is still a rookie pitcher worth targeting in fantasy leagues right now. The 6-foot-10 southpaw was one of the top pitching prospects in the game entering 2025, but a down season took some helium out of his prospect balloon.

Noah Schultz has dominated this season in Triple-A.

3 GS, 14 IP, 1.29 ERA, 0.43 WHIP, 4.3% BB, 40.4% K, .089 BAA

Your window to buy low in dynasty is closing quickly.#WhiteSoxpic.twitter.com/IADObzeBtV

— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) April 9, 2026

But fortunately, now that he's fully healthy, Schultz bounced back in a big way in the minor leagues before his promotion to the White Sox. In his three outings with Triple-A Charlotte, Schultz posted an exceptional 1.29 ERA, 0.43 WHIP, .089 BAA, 4.3% walk rate, and a 40.4% strikeout rate.

Schultz attacks hitters with a 4-seamer and sinker around 97 mph while mixing in a cutter around 90 mph and a low-80s sweeper. Don't let the numbers from last season deter you, as Schultz was pitching through ailments for part of the season. He's one of the best left-handed pitching prospects in the game, and the upside is highly intriguing for fantasy purposes.

- Eric Cross

Spencer Arrighetti, SP, Houston Astros

Arrighetti made his MLB debut back in the 2024 season and tossed 145 innings with a 4.53 ERA and a modest 1.41 WHIP. He struck out an impressive 171 hitters, but his 10.3% BB% kept his fantasy value inconsistent.

In 2025, Arrighetti logged only 35 1/3 innings in the majors as he battled numerous injuries. In 2026, he began the campaign with Triple-A Sugar Land, but following several injuries to the MLB roster, the Astros turned back to Arrighetti to make a spot-start. The right-hander did not disappoint in his MLB return, as he logged six innings of one-run ball with three hits, four walks, and 10 punchouts against the Colorado Rockies.

In this outing, Arrighetti's curveball led the way, generating an elite 72.7% whiff rate with a .063 xwOBA. In 2024, Arrighetti's cruvbeall was just as sharp, generating a 42.4% whif rate with a .211 xwOBA. While Arrighetti only threw his four-seamer 16.0% of the time (which would be the lowest of his MLB career), it was not overly effective back in 2024, so leaning more on his curveball should generate better results.

In 2024, Arrighetti's four-seamer generated a modest .369 xwOBA but held a solid 19.9% whiff rate. Another pitch to monitor is his sweeper, which posted a 38.6% whiff rate back in 2024 and was deployed 17.0% of the time in his first outing in 2025. His sweeper and elite curveball should keep his strikeout totals in the high-end range.

Earlier this season, prior to his MLB promotion, Arrighetti was looking just as dominant at Triple-A, striking out 20 hitters over 14 1/3 innings (with a 1.26 ERA). With several starting pitchers on the shelf in Houston, including Hunter Brown, Tatsuya Imai, Cody Bolton, and Cristian Javier, Arrighetti should remain locked into a starting job for the foreseeable future.

- Andy Smith

Reid Detmers, SP, Los Angeles Angels

I'll admit that I was a bit skeptical about Reid Detmers entering the season, but he's impressed me in the early going. In his first four starts of the season, Detmers has recorded a 3.57 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 6.4% walk rate, and a 27.4 strikeout rate. He's also coming off his best outing of the season on Tuesday against the Yankees, when he struck out nine in seven innings while allowing four hits, one earned run, and didn't walk a single batter.

Now back in the rotation, Detmers has adjusted his arsenal a bit since he was in the bullpen last season. He's dropped the curveball usage from 21.1% to 9.2% while sprinkling in more changeups and sinkers. Both the changeup and curveball currently have a whiff rate north of 40%, and Detmers' slider also has a solid 32.4% whiff rate and .177 BAA as his second most used offering.

Overall, Detmers has an impressive 38.7% chase rate and 30.1% whiff rate so far this season, while also having a career-best walk rate. I'm certainly encouraged with this version of Detmers and would look to add him where he's available.

- Eric Cross

Mick Abel, SP, Minnesota Twins

Mick Abel saw his fantasy value spike in spring training, but a slow start sent him to the waiver wire in most standard leagues. However, Abel has turned in back-to-back dominant outings and is emerging as a must-starter starting pitcher. Over his first two outings of the season, Abel allowed nine runs over 7 1/3 innings while striking out just seven hitters.

In his last two outings, Abel has logged 13 straight shutout frames with 16 punchouts, with just three walks and eight hits. In his last start, he totaled a career-best 10 punchouts.

Abel has leaned on his four-seamer (42.9% usage) and has been a major asset in generating whiffs. Through four outings, this pitch posted a high 33.8% whiff rate. However, it has generated a rough .480 xwOBA, which suggests he should see some regression in his ratios. His No. 2 pitch, his changeup, has been elite, boasting a 31.3% whiff rate with a stellar .264 xwOBA.

In 2025, he threw this pitch just 8.8% of the time, but it has developed into his true No. 2 option in 2026, which can be the driving force behind his breakout. While he has not thrown it as often as he did last season, his curveball has remained very effective, generating a low .217 xwOBA with a 19.0% whiff rate.

His overall 67% whiff rate suggests his strikeout numbers should remain high. While he may face some regression as his fastball is still quite hard, he should remain an above-average contributor when looking for strikeouts.

- Andy Smith

Landen Roupp, SP, San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp posted solid numbers in his first season as a starter in 2025. He had a 3.80 ERA and 102 strikeouts across 106 2/3 innings pitched. Now, Roupp appears to be taking his game to the next level. The 27-year-old is off to a strong start on the mound in 2026, carrying a 2.38 ERA, a 0.971 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts across his first four starts.

Roupp has been a big surprise in the early going. He has allowed just one run in his last 12 innings of work, and both his breaking ball pitches and offspeed pitches have become game-changers on the mound. His Breaking Run Value currently ranks in the 99th percentile, and his Offspeed Run Value ranks in the 95th percentile. With an elite curveball and a dominant changeup, the Giants pitcher is an add in most leagues.

- Joey Pollizee

Payton Tolle, SP, Boston Red Sox

Remaining in our No. 1 spot is Payton Tolle of the Boston Red Sox. In his most recent outing, the hard-throwing southpaw impressed, tossing five shutout frames with just three hits and one walk against Triple-A Columbus. In this game, Tolle struck out six hitters.

This was his first shutout outing of the young season. He struggled in his first outing, allowing six runs (four earned) over four innings, but quickly bounced back in his second start, allowing just two runs (one earned) while striking out seven hitters over six frames.

While the Boston starting rotation is still full, Tolle continues to make a strong case to join the MLB roster, which makes him the top pitching prospect to stash. When looking at pure upside, especially in the strikeout department, Tolle stands alone on our list.

During the 2025 campaign, the TCU product made his professional debut (after being drafted in the 2024 MLB Draft) and wasted little time making a name for himself. The Red Sox had him begin his professional career with High-A Greenville, and he needed just 49 2/3 innings to earn the call to the upper minors.

With High-A, Tolle struck out an eye-catching 79 hitters while holding a 3.67 ERA. With Double-A, Tolle made six appearances (five starts) and posted a near-perfect 1.67 ERA with a 37:7 K:BB over a short 27-inning stint. This dominance then moved him to Triple-A Worcester, where Tolle needed just 15 innings to prove he was ready to join Boston for the stretch run.

In his first stint with Triple-A, Tolle racked up 19 punchouts over 15 innings while allowing seven runs (six earned). Unfortunately, he was unable to carry this momentum into his first MLB stint, as he allowed 11 earned runs with only 19 strikeouts over a 16 1/3-inning stint.

Currently, Connelly Early occupies the "final" spot in the rotation but has been very successful in his second MLB stint, logging 19 2/3 innings with a 2.29 ERA. However, Tolle could replace or serve as a No. 6 starter if Brayan Bello continues to stumble. Over his first 14 2/3 innings, Bello has surrendered 10 earned runs and posted a 9:9 K:BB.

Tolle will likely need to wait for an injury to earn the call, but his elite strikeout potential makes him worth holding ahead of his call-up. He is a top option to stash in all 12+ team leagues.

Payton Tolle's last two starts in Triple-A.

4/5: 6 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 7 K
Today: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, BB, 6 K#DirtyWater pic.twitter.com/gRAoHHZk1o

— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) April 12, 2026

- Andy Smith

Bryan Baker, RP, Tampa Bay Rays

Rounding out our list will be the potential new closer in Tampa Bay. While Griffin Jax opened the campaign as the favorite, his slow start to the season pushed him to a low-leverage role, which opened the door for Baker to emerge, especially with Edwin Uceta and Garrett Cleavinger both off the shelf.

Through 7 1/3 innings this season, Baker has tallied four saves with three earned runs and a 7:2 K:BB. This week, Baker earned two saves for the Rays (April 14 and April 16) and allowed just one base runner in both outings combined.

Under the hood, the 31-year-old has posted a promising 2.65 xERA and .212 xBA, both of which are well above average. Additionally, Baker has posted an elite 38.9% whiff rate, suggesting higher strikeout totals are on the way, as his low 24.1% K% does not correlate with this elite mark. He has also posted an above-average 6.9% BB%, which should keep his WHIP low.

While Uceta's eventual return and Jax's recent improved play (four-straight shutout frames entering Friday) do make his seat warm, Baker has emerged as the leader in this bullpen. Managers falling behind in saves should prioritize him on the waiver wire.

- Andy Smith

Enyel De Los Santos, RP, Houston Astros

The Houston Astros entered the season with Bryan Abreu as their closer, but his early-season struggles have removed him from that role. Relief pitcher Enyel De Los Santos now looks to be the team's closer until Josh Hader returns. De Los Santos has saved each of the Astros' past two wins, which included a perfect ninth inning against the Rockies on Wednesday.

As a result, the right-hander is a nice waiver wire target for Week 4. He appears to be the team's closer right now and could thrive in this role with a .147 expected batting average against, a 4% walk rate, and a 0% barrel rate. Just don't overspend for De Los Santos because he is only a short-term closer option. Hader will return to being Houston's closer once he is fully healthy.

- Joey Pollizze

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