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RotoBaller staff's fantasy baseball Week 7 waiver wire pickups for 2026. Expert advice for waiver wire hitter, pitcher, and closer targets from Eric, Joey, Andy, and Frank.
With another week of MLB action behind us, it's time to head to the waiver wire and bolster our fantasy baseball teams.
This week will highlight several top prospects who recently earned the call to the majors, including a high-end power bat in the Yankees system and one of the top pitching prospects in the sport in the Marlins system.
Who should we look to pick up this week? Let's dive in!
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Hitter Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups
Samuel Basallo, C, Baltimore Orioles
While catcher is very deep right now, Samuel Basallo being available in two-thirds of Yahoo leagues was surprising to see. Getting off to a .140/.234/.298 line through 16 games certainly played a factor in that, but Basallo has been a force to be reckoned with over the last few weeks.
In 52 plate appearances over his last 14 games, Basallo has slashed a stellar .396/.442/.667 with eight extra-base hits, two home runs, seven runs scored, and 10 RBI.
Samuel Basallo rips his first career triple!
He's a home run shy of the cycle 👀 pic.twitter.com/kO1xuVBSh1
— MLB (@MLB) May 6, 2026
As expected, Basallo is hitting the ball hard this season with a 10.7% barrel rate, 92.6 mph AVG EV, and a 48.7% hard-hit rate. He's also been hitting the ball in the air at a 63.2% clip, albeit with a below-average pull and pull-air rate.
I'm not really anticipating Basallo's average to climb much higher than what he's currently at due to his below-average contact rate, but he's already established himself as one of the best power-hitting backstops in the game with a real shot at hitting 25 home runs in his rookie season.
- Eric Cross
Casey Schmitt, 1B/2B/3B, San Francisco Giants
When looking for a boost in the infield, managers should consider adding Giants utility man Casey Schmitt. Schmitt has never been known for offensive output during his MLB career, but has begun to turn the corner in his fourth MLB season. Through his first 31 games in 2026, the infielder has posted an impressive .296/.444/.539 slash line with eight doubles, six home runs, and two stolen bases.
He appeared in a career-high 95 games for the Giants last season and was far less productive, posting a .237/.305/.401 line. Despite playing in nearly a third of these games, Schmitt has nearly halved his previous career-high HR total (12) while posting an average nearly 60 points higher.
While some managers may not be willing to truly trust the breakout, as evidenced by his lower roster percentage relative to his current production, his underlying metrics are quite impressive. In the early going, Schmitt has generated a strong .281 xBA with an elite .536 xSLG. His .371 xwOBA places him in the 83rd percentile, while his 46.7% hard-hit puts him in the 75th percentile.
However, the catalyst for his breakout has been the surge in his barrel rate. Through the opening month, Schmitt has generated an elite 16.9% barrel rate, which is seven points higher than his 2025 mark. Pairing this barrel rate with his current 32.2% Pull AIR%, his power numbers have soared. While his Pull AIR% is highly unsustainable, the rise in barrel rate should keep him on track to flirt with a 20+ HR campaign.
Even with the surge in power totals, Schmitt has posted a 20.8% K%, a nice decline from his 2025 mark, which has kept his value high in the points league. When looking for an all-around hitter to cover multiple infield positions, managers should look to scoop up the 27-year-old ahead of his true breakout.
Casey Schmitt homers in a second straight game 🚀 pic.twitter.com/0WrHg3UFIU
— MLB (@MLB) May 6, 2026
- Andy Smith
JJ Bleday, OF, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds outfielder JJ Bleday is making a strong first impression on his new team. After starting the season down at Triple-A Louisville, Bleday was eventually called up on April 25 to replace an injured Eugenio Suarez on the active roster. Since coming up, Bleday is slashing .278/.395/.667 with four home runs and seven RBI in 43 plate appearances.
WELCOME TO CINCY, JJ. @BledayJay pic.twitter.com/N3meixR6UZ
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 26, 2026
It might only be a small sample size, but the 28-year-old is making the most of his opportunity. He has a .383 expected batting average, a .814 expected slugging, a 23.1% barrel rate, a 61.5% hard-hit rate, and a 65.4% launch angle sweet-spot rate. This is one of those instances where fantasy managers should ride the hot bat and see what happens. Bleday did have a 20-homer season just two years ago.
- Joey Pollizze
Charlie Condon, 1B, Colorado Rockies
🚨Charlie Condon sets a new team record for runs in a game with his RBI single! 🚨
B8: Duke City 24, Chihuahuas 6 pic.twitter.com/MIcD4s3gLN
— Albuquerque Isotopes (@ABQTopes) May 2, 2026
The Rockies are a rebuilding team that seems to be finally on the right track, with new management showing they can get more value out of their players. Chase Dollander and Antonio Senzatela are two good examples of that.
With that in mind, it's only a matter of time before they call up Condon, who is their top hitting prospect. Condon is currently slashing .248/.396/.390 with four home runs in 134 plate appearances at Triple-A.
That's an underwhelming slash line, but there are some encouraging metrics worth noting, namely with Condon's plate discipline. The Rockies' first base prospect has a 17.2% walk rate and 20.1% strikeout rate. You're likely going to see him mashing soon.
While TJ Rumfield has been a pleasant surprise for the Rockies, Condon doesn't need to supplant him to get called up. He can take over at DH for Edouard Julien, who can then move to second base. Make no mistake, the Rockies will find room for Condon if he starts to heat up in the minors.
While it's likely that we'll have to wait until after the All-Star break for this call-up, Condon should be able to make an impact by providing power while not hurting you in batting average.
- Frank Ammirante
Travis Bazzana, 2B, Cleveland Guardians
The potential is there for Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana to be a solid fantasy option in his first Major League season. He batted .287 with two home runs, 10 RBI, and eight stolen bases in 24 Triple-A games to begin the season and is starting to become more comfortable in the big leagues. Bazzana has tallied a hit in five of his past six games, which included launching his first career home run on Friday.
Therefore, the 23-year-old is the top waiver wire hitter this weekend. He could be a nice source of batting average and stolen bases in Year 1 and should continue to play every day in Cleveland. With an expected .292 batting average, a .371 xwOBA, a 32.6% squared-up rate, and a 20.6% walk rate, Bazzana is a nice pickup for Week 7.
- Joey Pollizze
Spencer Jones, OF, New York Yankees
I'm not going to sit here and pretend like I have a crystal ball for this one. Honestly, I have no idea how this season and beyond will play out for Spencer Jones. Yes, I could say that about every prospect that gets called up, but it's especially true with someone like Jones whose potential range of outcomes is so incredibly large. Jones' upside is enormous. But so is his downside.
Spencer Jones, the @Yankees’ No. 6 prospect, has now homered 4 times in 4 May games for the @swbrailriders! pic.twitter.com/4iiSJVVvSN
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 5, 2026
In 33 Triple-A games this season, Jones racked up seven doubles, 11 home runs, and seven steals with a .258/.366/.592 slash line. This comes after a 35-homer, 29-steal season in 2025. Jones could easily become one of the top power bats in the game, and one who can also add double-digit steals annually.
In Triple-A, Jones' quality of contact metrics were elite with a 95.7 mph AVG EV, 58.7% hard-hit rate, and a 29.3% barrel rate.
However, the downside with Jones is that his contact and strikeout rates have been downright terrible. Jones has run a strikeout rate above 32% in each of the last three seasons, and had a 70.6% zone and 56.7% overall contact rate this season in Triple-A. With this level of upside, it's worth taking a shot on him to see if it works out, but don't be surprised if you're dropping him for another hitter in a couple of weeks.
- Eric Cross
Brandon Marsh, OF, Philadelphia Phillies
The final hitter we will highlight is Brandon Marsh of the Phillies. Despite his dominant start, the outfielder is still widely available in most standard leagues. Through 34 games this season, Marsh is on pace to enjoy a career season, holding a .333/.359/.504 line with four home runs and three stolen bases. This is a major increase compared to the .280/.342/.443 line he carried during the 2025 campaign.
However, when looking under the hood, his recent production may be sustainable, which could set him up for a very valuable season in terms of fantasy. Per Baseball Savant, the outfielder has generated a stellar .294 xBA, which places him in the 90th percentile among qualified hitters, while his 50.0% hard-hit rate and 45.8% LA Sweet-Spot% are both well above the average marks.
He also generated a 16.7% Pull AIR%, which has helped boost his home run total, along with his surge in hard-hit rate, according to his 2025 production. Adiditonly, Marsh has continued to show a strong eye at the plate, striking out at a low 19.7% rate and flashing high-end speed on the basepaths, placing in the 76th percentile in sprint speed.
While the Phillies will likely continue to keep Marsh primarily on the strong side of a platoon, he has begun to draw occasional starts against southpaws, which will only boost his counting stats further. Those who need an outfielder should not be afraid to raise their FAAB bid on Marsh.
- Andy Smith
Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks called up their top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt ahead of Friday's series opener against the New York Mets. Although Waldschmidt did not start in Friday's game, he did come off the bench and tallied a hit in his first career plate appearance. The 23-year-old turned on an 87 mph cutter for a single to left field.
Waldschmidt has such a knack for hitting, which is why he is featured on this list. He batted .289 with 18 home runs, 78 RBI, and 29 stolen bases in his final full Minor League season in 2025 and has the potential to contribute solid numbers in the batting average, home run, RBI, and stolen base departments. He could make a serious impact in his first rookie campaign.
- Joey Pollizze
Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups
Robby Snelling, SP, Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins decided to call up their No. 2 overall prospect to make his Major League debut on Friday against the Washington Nationals. Unfortunately, Robby Snelling struggled a bit in his first career start by allowing three runs on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts across five innings. Still, Snelling is the top pitcher to add this weekend.
The southpaw absolutely dominated at Triple-A Jacksonville to begin the season. He had a 1.86 ERA and 44 strikeouts across 29 innings pitched and tossed five no-hit innings with nine strikeouts in his final Minor League start before being called up. There aren't many pitchers with his ceiling on waivers right now, making him a must-pickup.
- Joey Pollizze
Logan Henderson, SP, Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers recalled Logan Henderson after placing front-line starter Brandon Woodruff on the 15-day injured list. While Woodruff is not expected to miss much time, Henderson has a path to claiming a full-time role, especially if he can pick up where he left off after his breakout MLB debut last season. In 2025, Henderson made five starts for the Brewers and was highly effective, logging 25 1/3 innings with a 1.78 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP.
During this stint, the right-hander struck out 33 hitters while walking 8.1% of the batters he faced. Despite his strong showing last season, the Brewers opted to open the 2026 campaign with Triple-A Nashville. However, he did not have to wait long to make his return, as he was given a spot start on April 4 against the Royals.
Unfortunately, Henderson did not enjoy as much success in this outing, allowing two runs over a brief two-inning outing. After a return to Triple-A, which saw him strike out 21 hitters over 14 2/3 innings with a 1.23 ERA, the Brewers recalled him to replace Woodruff in the rotation. In his most recent MLB outing, Henderson looked much more like his 2025 self.
Facing the Washington Nationals, the right-hander struck out the high hitters while allowing just two runs over six frames. While his track record is not overly extensive, his strategy upside is borderline elite, making him a top option on the wire. Henderson should see at least 2-3 more starts while Woodruff remains out and could even remain in the rotation if Brandon Sproat continues to struggle.
Logan Henderson, K'ing the Side in the 6th pic.twitter.com/qiJ1cCHGUB
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 3, 2026
- Andy Smith
Thomas White, SP, Miami Marlins
White was given an opportunity to win a job in the starting rotation out of spring training, but suffered an oblique injury early in camp, which deprived him of any of these chances.
After a rehab stint in the lower levels, the team's top prospect returned to action at Triple-A Jacksonville and is looking like his typical dominant self. Through his first three games of the campaign with Triple-A Jacksonville, White has logged 12 2/3 innings to the tune of a 2.13 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP. During this stint, the southpaw has struck out 19 hitters while walking only four hitters.
While White's workload is still being gradually increased, his upside is unmatched and potentially the highest among any name on this list. Managers should continue to monitor his usage with Jacksonville, as he could be cleared to pitch deeper into games in the coming weeks.
Last summer, White opened the season at High-A but was able to conclude the season at Triple-A. At High-A and Double-A (80 1/3 innings), the former 35th overall pick posted a strong 2.13 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP. He tallied an eye-catching 128 punchouts, but his hefty 41 free passes limited his fantasy ceiling.
During his brief late-season cup of coffee with Triple-A, White posted 17:10 K:BB over 9 1/3 innings with Triple-A. Seeing him not only find more success with Triple-A but also drastically improve his command is a great sign.
While he remains on track for a season-long debut, his upside is worth noting. Those in deeper leagues with NA spots should look to stash White before he enters Snelling territory.
- Andy Smith
Rico Garcia, RP, Baltimore Orioles
The other closer on our list may not hold the closer role as long as Santillan, but has far more job security. With Ryan Helsley on the 15-day injured list, Rico Garcia has taken over the closer job for the Orioles.
Over his last two outings, Garcia has picked up a victory and a save while pitching in the late stages of the contests. Over these 2 1/3 frames, Garcia has not allowed a hit or a run while holding a 3:2 K:BB. Overall, the right-hander has been among the sport's most dominant setup pitchers this season, logging 17 innings to the tune of a 0.53 ERA, 0.41 WHIP with seven holds, two saves, and a 19:6 K:BB.
Under the hood, his production appears to be very sustainable as the 32-year-old sits in the 97th percentile or higher in xERA, xBA, hard-hit rate, and whiff rate. His 59.4% ground-ball rate places him in the 95th percentile as well.
Given that Helsley is on the shelf with an elbow injury, there is an outcome in which the Orioles slow-play their primary closer to ensure he is ready for the second half. In the meantime, Garcia holds must-start upside as he should receive the bulk of the save opportunities for the Orioles.
Rico Garcia Earns Second Save, Emerging as Temporary Closer for Orioles https://t.co/qxkFnjZK0Y
— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) May 7, 2026
- Andy Smith
Gregory Soto, RP, Pittsburgh Pirates
The closer situation in Pittsburgh has gone back and forth between Gregory Soto and Dennis Santana all season. But Soto appears to have the leg up in that close role at the moment. The southpaw was manager Don Kelly's preferred option in the ninth inning in both Wednesday's 1-0 win and Thursday's 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Given Santana's recent struggles on the mound, Soto is a must-roster reliever in roto formats. He should continue to get save chances on this Pirates team, and has been one of the best relievers in all of baseball to begin the season. The two-time All-Star has a 1.42 ERA, a 35.7% strikeout rate, a 2.7% barrel rate, and a 27% hard-hit rate in 19 relief appearances in 2026.
- Joey Pollizze
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