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RotoBaller staff's fantasy baseball Week 9 waiver wire pickups for 2026. Expert advice for waiver wire hitter, pitcher, and closer targets from Andy, Joey, Andersen, Frank, Keith, and Nicho.
Welcome, RotoBallers, to another Staff roundtable ahead of Week 9 of the fantasy season. Below, you will see some of our top wiaver wire picks for the week, including suggestions from Andy Smith, Frank Ammirante, Keith Hernandez, Andersen Pickard, Nicho Roessler and Joey Pollizze.
This week, we will look at several emerging starting pitchers from the Minnesota Twins and several young hitters who either just earned their MLB debuts or are on the verge of a promotion.
Who should we look to pick up this week? Let's dive in!
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Hitter Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups
JJ Bleday, OF, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds outfielder JJ Bleday has emerged as a solid power-hitting option for fantasy managers on the waiver wire. Over his last seven games, Bleday is 9-for-29 with two home runs, eight RBI, one walk, and five strikeouts. In total this season, he owns a .299/.402/.636 slash line with six homers, 20 RBI, a 15.2% walk rate, a 15.2% strikeout rate, and 178 wRC+. He's having the best season of his career (by far), but fantasy managers haven't quite come around, as he's still rostered in just 40% of leagues.
That means that managers in 60% of leagues have the opportunity to add Bleday and his impressive bat off the waiver wire. It's a worthwhile move, as Bleday has been consistently productive all year long. He has a decent schedule coming up, too, with three games against the Cardinals, whose pitchers have the 12th-worst ERA and the second-fewest strikeouts.
- Andersen Pickard
Travis Bazzana, 2B, Cleveland Guardians
Cleveland Guardians rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana debuted to plenty of fanfare on April 28 after the Guards took the Australian infielder first overall in 2024 out of Oregon State, and the highly-regarded prospect has quickly made his mark in the majors. The 23-year-old left-handed-hitting second baseman has gone 21-for-73 (.288) in his first 21 big-league contests, adding two home runs, nine RBI, seven stolen bases, and 10 runs scored across 88 plate appearances.
Bazzana isn't going to be a major asset for fantasy managers in the power department, but his advanced approach at the plate is already paying dividends as Cleveland's starting second baseman of the future. The 5-foot-11, 199-pounder has been especially hot in his last eight games, going 13-for-32 (.406) with a homer, three RBI, and three runs scored in his 33 plate appearances. Fantasy managers in need of a boost in on-base percentage at the second base position should look no further than Bazzana, who is currently available in over half of Yahoo leagues.
- Keith Hernandez
Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Minnesota Twins
Back-to-back games with a roundtripper for Kaelen Culpepper 🚀
The @Twins' No. 2 prospect has eight RBIs over his past six games for the Triple-A @StPaulSaints. pic.twitter.com/vZx8ZARW5w
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 6, 2026
Culpepper is currently slashing .250/.357/.464 with nine home runs and nine stolen bases in 199 plate appearances at Triple-A. The 23-year-old shortstop has impressive plate discipline metrics, including a 12.6% walk rate and a 19.1% strikeout rate.
This is a hitter who put up 20 homers and 25 steals across all minor-league levels last year, so there's plenty of upside in this profile. At 23 years old, there's not much left for him to prove in the minors.
The Twins are currently 23-27 with a low chance of doing any damage this season, so they'd be wise to see what they have in their young players. It's only a matter of time for Culpepper to be up with the big league team.
We already saw the Twins make an aggressive move in sending Royce Lewis down to the minors. It was surprising that Culpepper wasn't called up then, but expect it to happen soon.
Right now, Brooks Lee (92 wRC+) is playing shortstop, Luke Keaschall (75 wRC+) is at second base, and Tristan Gray (89 wRC+) is at third base. There are plenty of options for Culpepper to come up and play every day.
You're going to want him on your roster if that happens, so keep a close eye on Culpepper.
- Frank Ammirante
Sam Antonacci, 2B/3B/OF, Chicago White Sox
The second issue we will spotlight this week is very useful, as he has positional eligibility at several positions on the diamond. The White Sox promoted Antonacci much sooner than anticipated after a dominant start to the season in Triple-A. After spending the 2025 season with High-A and Double-A, Antonacci was given the green light to begin the 2026 season at Triple-A.
However, the utility man needed only 16 games with Charlotte to prove he was ready for the big leagues. Though this short 14-game stint, Antonacci posted a .313/.500/.479 line with a .979 OPS. He went deep twice and swiped five bags. Given that he only launched five home runs over the entire 2025 season, seeing him tap into his raw power in his quick stint at the top club is a great sign.
Since moving to the major leagues, Antonacci has not looked overmatched and has continued to improve as he has grown more accustomed to MLB pitching. Over his first 12 games, he endured some minor growing pains, posting a low .207 AVG with a .699 OPS. However, since this brief slump, Antonacci has quickly flipped the script, posting a .338/.416/.426 line with four doubles, four stolen bases, and an .842 OPS over his last 20 games.
Based on his underlying metrics, it appears his recent turnaround is quite sustainable.
Per Baseball Savant, Antonacci sits in the 96th percentile in xwOBA (.399) and 100th percentile in xBA (.338). While his 36.8% hard-hit is below the average marks, he has optimized his swing, with an elite 41.4% LA Sweet-Spot% and 32.9% chase rate. Additionally, in terms of contact, he is striking out at a low 12.1% rate and whiffing at pitches at a 15.7% rate.
While managers should not expect a 15+ HR campaign from Antonacci, he possesses elite contact skills and should remain an elite asset for batting average. He also sits in the 77th percentile in sprint speed and has already swiped four MLB bags. In terms of counting stats, the White Sox have recently bumped him to the leadoff spot against right-handed pitching, which should provide him with ample scoring opportunities, batting in front of budding sluggers Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery.
- Andy Smith
A.J. Ewing, OF, New York Mets
New York Mets rookie outfielder A.J. Ewing, the team's top prospect per MLB Pipeline, has gotten his MLB career off to a nice start in Queens, hitting .276 (8-for-29) with a homer, a triple, four RBI, six runs scored, two stolen bases, eight walks, and 11 strikeouts in his first 10 games across 39 plate appearances. The 21-year-old left-handed hitter not only offers five-category upside for fantasy managers short and long term, but he also has eligibility at outfield and second base in Yahoo leagues, making him an even more attractive prospect to roster in 2026 and beyond.
The 5-foot-10, 160-pounder could develop more power eventually, but right now, that's probably where he's the weakest. Ewing excels at making contact at the plate, though, and he's a plus-plus runner on the basepaths and in the outfield. Ewing can spray the ball all over the field and will continue to play regularly in New York's outfield with Luis Robert Jr. (back) not any closer to a return from the injured list. Ewing is currently rostered in 41% of Yahoo leagues.
- Keith Hernadnez
Colt Emerson, 3B/SS, Seattle Mariners
Following the injury to Brendan Donovan, Emerson was promoted to the MLB roster to serve as the primary third baseman. In his first four games in the big leagues, Emerson has been a bit quiet at the dish, going 2-for-11 with one home run and a 5:2 K:BB.
However, managers should not be overly concerned with the slow start and should look to pick him up if needing a boost in the infield.
At Triple-A this season, Emerson flashed high-end five-category potential. The former 22nd overall pick posted a .255/.347/.469 line with an .819 OPS. During this stint with Triple-A Tacoma, Emerson launched seven round-trippers while swinging an additional 10 bags.
During the 2025 season, Emerson went deep 16 times and added 14 stolen bases with a .285 AVG over 130 games, most of which were spent in the lower levels of the system. Even though he may endure some growing pains, his five-category skill set makes him a priority target in all standard formats.
COLT EMERSON'S FIRST MLB HIT IS A HOME RUN! pic.twitter.com/NgPJHApZzO
— MLB (@MLB) May 19, 2026
- Andy Smith
Carson Benge, OF, New York Mets
Carson Benge saw his fantasy value skyrocket late in the spring after he was announced to have made the Opening Day roster. While he enjoyed an outstanding start to his MLB career, launching a home run in his debut, he hit a lengthy cold skid and was likely sent to the waiver wire in most leagues.
However, growing pains are inevitable for even some of the top prospects in the sport. Fortunately, the former first-round pick from the 2024 MLB Draft has begun to find his footing and is quickly reclaiming his previous fantasy value.
Since May 3 (his last 17 games), Benge has begun to showcase his prospect pedigree, posting a dominant .377/.427/.493 slash line with five doubles, one home run, two stolen bases, and an 11:5 K:BB. Over 116 games in the minor leagues last summer, Benge showed a strong five-category potential, hitting for a 281 AVG with 15 home runs and 22 stolen bases.
It took him some time, but he has begun to find his footing against MLB pitching and make an impact in the box score. Managers should view him as a priority target in all formats as he has become the primary leadoff hitter against both right-handed and left-handed pitching.
Carson Benge brings home a HUGE insurance run! pic.twitter.com/Nja3ndGFH5
— Mets'd Up Podcast (@MetsdUp) May 9, 2026
- Andy Smith
Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups
River Ryan, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Last week, the Dodgers placed Blake Snell on the injured list, joining another starting pitcher, Tyler Glasnow. While it appeared starting pitching depth was not a concern of the reigning two-time champions, especially following the emergence of Justin Wrobleski and potential "re-emergence" of Roki Sasaki, Ryan now has a legitimate path to join the MLB roster.
Additionally, following a lengthy stint on the IL at Triple-A, Ryan's value as a stash candidate plummeted early in the season. However, now that not only is Ryan back in action at Oklahoma City, but the Dodgers also need additional depth, the right-hander is firmly back on the radar for an immediate promotion.
In his first appearance at Triple-A in over a month, Ryan looked very comfortable, logging four innings of one-run ball against Albuquerque with two hits, one walk, and four punchouts. Through three outings at Triple-A this season, Ryan has logged 11 frames with a 4.09 ERA and a strong 14:3 K:BB.
Unlike the names below, Ryan has not only debuted in the major leagues but was not overmatched in his first stint. In 2024, Ryan earned a call to Los Angeles, made four starts (20 1/3 innings), and posted a strong 1.33 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. During this short stint, Ryan struck out 18 hitters but had shaky command, walking 11.1% of the batters he faced.
Unfortunately, Ryan was unable to take the mound at all in 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but he is back to near full strength and could provide immediate assistance to a pitching staff that is down several options.
For managers looking for the "immediate" impact among pitching prospects, they should view Ryan as the top option. While his upside is not as high as the two names below him on this list, Ryan has a very clear path to joining the pitching staff before the end of the month. If his command remains steady at Oklahoma City, Ryan could surpass his previous production in the big leagues.
River Ryan a Must-Stash Candidate with Clear Path to Starting Role? https://t.co/LpANxhkLdg
— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) May 18, 2026
- Andy Smith
Zebby Matthews, SP, Minnesota Twins
The first Minnesota Twins starting pitcher we will spotlight in this piece is Zebby Matthews. The former top prospect has typically flashed elite upside in the minor leagues but has never achieved much success in the major leagues. Last season, the right-hander tossed 36 2/3 innings with Triple-A St. Paul and posted a near-perfect 1.72 ERA with a 47:9 K:BB.
However, this elite production did not carry over to the majors, as he posted a hefty 5.56 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP over 79 1/3 innings with the Twins. He managed to strike out 88 hitters, but his high ratios made him a very tough fantasy asset to trust on a weekly basis.
As a result, Matthews was sent back to St. Paul to open the 2026 season. However, unlike last season, the right-hander did not enjoy the same success with the top club in the minor leagues and eventually earned a return to the majors, with Taj Bradley and Mick Abel both on the injured list.
While his promotion did not generate much excitement, Matthews has quickly put himself back on the fantasy radar. In his season debut, Matthews logged seven shutout frames with a 5:1 K:BB against the Marlins. In his second outing, he proved this was not an outlier as he tossed six innings of two-run ball with a six-pitch unearned run and no walks.
The primary driving force behind his hot start has been a slight tweak to his pitch usage. After relying on his slider as his No. 2 option last summer, Mathews has instead turned to his curveball. Over two outings, he has deployed this pitch 16.4% of the time, a stark jump from the 5.8% it saw in 2025.
This pitch has been very effective in the limited sample, generating a 27.3% whiff rate with a .282 xwOBA. His primary pitch, his four-seamer, has taken a massive step forward due to this tweak, posting a .238 xwOBA, a massive drop from the .394 xwOBA it held a season ago. While his track record of success is limited, the right-hander's near-perfect command should keep his value high as he should turn in an elite WHIP, even if his ERA begins to gradually increase.
- Andy Smith
Connor Prielipp, SP, Minnesota Twins
The last starting pitcher we will spotlight made his MLB debut earlier this season. Connor Prielipp entered the campaign as Minnesota's No. 5-ranked prospect but stayed just outside MLB.com's top-100 ranking, which did not put him on the radar of many managers ahead of his early-season promotion. Prielipp made his MLB debut on April 22 and has remained in the starting rotation since.
Over his first five MLB outings, Prielipp has logged 25 innings to the tune of a strong 2.88 ERA and a stellar 0.96 WHIP. Across this brief taste, the southpaw has struck out 29 hitters and posted a solid 8.8% walk rate, putting him just above the average marks.
Prielipp relies primarily on two pitches, his four-seamer and slider, which make up just under 70% of his current pitch usage. His slider, his primary pitch, has been very effective for the young lefty, posting a .262 xwOBA and a 32.1% whiff rate. While his four-seamer has not been impressive, his No. 3 pitch, his changeup, has helped limit the damage, generating a .059 xwOBA with a 20.0% whiff rate.
Overall, his advanced metrics support his potential breakout campaign. Per Baseball Savant, the 25-year-old has generated a 3.08 xERA with a stellar .85 xBA, which places him in the 92nd percentile among qualified pitchers.
Given his above-average strikeout upside and strong pitch-mix, Prielipp should be viewed as a top starting pitcher target in all formats ahead of Week 9.
Connor Prielipp in his second career @MLB start:
5 IP / 1 H / 2 R / 3 BB / 5 K
He had a strikeout on three different pitch types and struck out five different hitters 👀@Twins | #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/OEHOrRwhZI
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) April 28, 2026
- Andy Smith
Hunter Greene, SP, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen on May 26, which will be the first time throwing off the mound since he underwent elbow surgery in mid-March to remove bone chips from his right elbow. Although the timeline to return in July is speculative based on his throwing progression, Greene has so much upside that, if your roster configuration can afford to grab him now, he could be a league-winner down the stretch, especially for teams comfortably at the top of their standings.
Coming into the season, Greene was a consensus top-20 starting pitcher, and is coming off back-to-back seasons with a sub-3 ERA and north of 27.7 percent strikeout rate. Greene, who is 26 years old, should be entering his prime, but has been repeatedly slowed by injuries throughout his career. Once he returns, he will immediately be slotted at the top of the Reds' rotation to go along with young star Chase Burns and Nick Lodolo.
- Nicho Roessler
Hogan Harris, RP, Athletics
The Athletics have given Hogan Harris more save opportunities in recent weeks. He saved a game against the Giants on May 15 and was called upon in a save situation in the 10th inning in Wednesday's win against the Angels. The A's continue to run a closer-by-committee, but Harris appears to be in line to tally more saves. The southpaw has a solid 3.00 ERA and 26 strikeouts across 24 innings pitched.
- Joey Pollizze
Grant Taylor, RP, Chicago White Sox
While it appeared Seranthony Dominguez had the lead for the White Sox closer job, Grant Taylor, a primary setup man, has begun to earn save opportunities and has looked far more impressive in this role. While Dominguez appeared to be in the driver's seat, given that he enters Friday's contest with 10 saves to his name, he has been struggling recently.
Over his last two outings, he has allowed four runs and blown one save. As a result, this had opened the door for Taylor to see an opportunity in the ninth inning. Fortunately for the young flamethrower, he has not disappointed during this short stint.
Following Dominguez's two rough outings, Taylor got the save on May 19 by striking out the side. Over the last 14 innings (since April 23), Taylor has not allowed an earned run while posting an incredible 22:4 K:BB.
While a committee and pitching for the most White Sox team could limit his save volume, his strikeout upside is immense. He should also provide strong ratios along the way. If Dominguez were to struggle in his next outing as well, Taylor could not only operate in a committee but eventually take the lion's share of opportunities.
- Andy Smith
Tanner Scott, RP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott has taken full command of the closer job since Edwin Diaz went on the injured list. Scott has allowed just one hit with seven strikeouts, three saves, and one win in the month of May. His 46.1% chase rate, 33.1% whiff rate, and 28.6% strikeout rate are encouraging metrics for him in that closer role until Diaz returns.
Tanner Scott strikes out Manny Machado! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/5hPdV1JgCm
— Hyeseong Kim Muse 김혜성 (@HyeseongKimMuse) May 20, 2026
- Joey Pollizze
