Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups by Category (Week 8)

The secret is out on A.J. Ewing. He’s still available in just over 60% of leagues, but that number will continue to drop rapidly. Ewing was brought up to light a spark under the Mets’ underachieving offense, and it seems he’s already done so. In his first three games, the lefty-swinging Ewing hit a homer, stole a base, scored four runs and drove in three runs. New York also won all three of those games.

Ewing is just 21 years old. And while he’s still got some filling out to do, the Mets’ newest center fielder has speed to burn. Ewing stole 70 bags in the minors last year and was already up to 17 this season before his promotion. He moved through the ranks quickly, spending only about two weeks in Triple-A. But Ewing’s got the skills to produce and, more importantly for this exercise, steal bases.

With Luis Robert Jr. out with no timetable to return, Ewing should have plenty of starts heading his way. He also qualifies at second base, which massively boosts his profile.

Batting Average

Henry Bolte (OF – ATH): 18%

Henry Bolte was the Athletics’ second-round pick back in 2022. He has slowly evolved into one of their top young hitters and was promoted earlier this week. The 22-year-old produced a robust .348/.418/.658 triple slash line in Triple-A this year and should fit in nicely with the baby A’s. He also stole 17 bags after swiping 44 the year prior.

Bolte is already 5-for-10 and will likely start regularly. He should be good for a handful of home runs, a solid batting average and a decent amount of steals. Bolte’s counting stats could also be beneficial, as the Athletics rank in the top 10 in offensive output. He’s worth a look in most league types.

Home Runs

Luke Raley (1B, OF – SEA): 26%

Luke Raley has the rare distinction of maintaining a top 1% barrel rate and hard-hit rate while ranking in the bottom 1% of whiffs and strikeouts. With those polarizing attributes, Raley tends to be one of the streakier players in the league. The tricky part is knowing when to play him. Judging by his latest output, the time is now.

Over his last nine starts, the 31-year-old masher has sent five long balls into the seats while collecting 14 RBI. Last year, the Mariners outfielder dealt with a handful of injuries, but in 2024, Raley managed to pop 22 homers in just over 400 at-bats.

Raley won’t start against southpaws, but he’s been a machine against righties. Raley’s clubbed 10 homers already this season and has pushed his OPS up to .920. He also bats fifth in the order against righties, so his RBI total should continue to grow. Unfortunately, the Mariners are set to face a slew of lefties to start the week, so you may just want to keep him on your bench for now. But for the long haul, Raley is a prime candidate to boost your power numbers.

Runs

The Reds need a leadoff hitter, and who better to fill the void than their hottest hitting prospect, Edwin Arroyo. Arroyo hasn’t been called up yet, but it shouldn’t be long. He can do just about everything on the baseball diamond, and similar to JJ Wetherholt and Kevin McGonigle, the young shortstop could be the perfect catalyst atop the lineup.

The 22-year-old is batting .347 with a .414 on-base percentage (OBP) in Triple-A this season. Arroyo also stole seven bases and hit nine home runs. He has been taking reps at third base to help his roster flexibility once he reaches the show.

In redraft leagues, it’s difficult to add a player that has yet to get the call, but my instinct says he’ll be up by the end of the week. The only problem is that he’ll likely be unavailable in your league if you wait. Arroyo can be left on the scout squad in shallow leagues, but should be added in the next couple of days in deeper leagues.

Wins

River Ryan (SP – LAD): 8%

This recommendation is a bit of a leap of faith, but with Blake Snell lost for at least a few months, River Ryan could step in. Anytime a quality pitcher starts for the Dodgers, they have a good chance of earning the win.

Ryan looked exceptional in his MLB debut back in 2024. Over four starts, Ryan was able to hold opponents to just three earned runs, resulting in a 1.33 ERA. His numbers in the minors were also exemplary.

Now, after a year of rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, River is back throwing his heater over 100 MPH. He’s looked great in his rehab starts, and while he’s no shoo-in to get the call, Ryan is their best MLB-ready starter not already on the active roster. If and when he does get the call, pitching for Los Angeles is always a recipe for gaining victories.

ERA

Casey Mize (SP – DET): 52%

Casey Mize returned from the injured list (IL) on Saturday and immediately held the Blue Jays to zero runs over six innings. Mize’s ERA dropped to a sterling 2.43, while his WHIP fell to a solid 1.05. He’s also averaging 9.5 K/9.

The Tigers have been a bit of a disappointment this year, not offering as much run support as they did in 2025. So while he may not reach 14 wins again, the rest of Mize’s numbers seem to be improved. He looks extremely confident out on the mound and has allowed just four runs over his last five starts. Mize should be added off the waiver wire immediately.

WHIP

Ben Brown (SP, RP – CHC): 22%

Ben Brown mowed down the Atlanta Braves on Thursday afternoon like they were a local JUCO team. His knuckle curve consistently made hitters look foolish, while his heater and change-up helped keep them off balance.

Brown lowered his WHIP to a sparkling 0.86 with Thursday’s performance and is now set to face Milwaukee in a showdown against National League Cy Young candidate Jacob Misiorowski. Brown started the year in the bullpen, but after a slew of injuries to the starters, he has filled in better than anyone could have hoped. He’s only gone four innings in each of his two starts, but he’s been masterful in each, allowing zero runs, just one hit and two walks in total.

Brown showed flashes of brilliance last season, and now the 6-foot-6 righty seems ready to take off. If he can stay healthy, Brown has a good chance to stick in the rotation all season long. His upside alone is worth taking a gamble on.

Strikeouts

Grayson Rodriguez (SP – LAA): 23%

Grayson Rodriguez was one of the top pitching prospects in baseball just a handful of years ago. While he’s had his ups and downs, Rodriguez has always been able to rack up strikeouts, and coming off his latest rehab appearance, it seems he hasn’t lost his touch. The 6-foot-5, 26-year-old was facing Low-A hitters, but he did strike out 11 in fewer than five innings.

Rodriguez will take on the Dodgers today, but even if he doesn’t pitch well, he’s still a solid option for the long haul. Throughout his career, even when he wasn’t at his best, Rodriguez averaged over a strikeout per inning. The Angels hurler is worth a speculative add in most league types.

Saves

Tanner Scott (RP – LAD): 44%

The closer role continues to be a revolving door each week for a multitude of teams, but this week, we’ll turn our attention to the Dodgers’ newest closer, Tanner Scott. Scott was sketchy at times last year, but he’s looked every bit the part this season, stepping in for the injured Edwin Diaz.

Scott secured all of his latest save chances and has only allowed one baserunner in his last five outings. Los Angeles should present him with plenty of save opportunities, making him a must-add in all leagues that count saves.