MLB Fantasy Waiver Wire: Top Pickups & Sleepers of the Week
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It’s another week of waiver wire pickups. Although notable players like Roman Anthony, Jacob Misiorowski, and Christian Moore recently made their debuts, we don’t have any prospects on this waiver wire addition.
We have a few veterans who have worked their way back into the fantasy value conversation, along with a cheat code of a pitcher who will steal you some innings. Without further ado, let’s dive in.
Stats as of first pitch June 15. Ownership percentages via ESPN.
Alejandro Kirk – C – Toronto Blue Jays (46%)
2024 Stats: .322/.363/.433, 5 HR, 31 RBI
Kirk has returned to fantasy relevance after being on a hiatus since 2022. The contact-oriented, low strikeout, and low power bat is hitting everything, and his .322 average is tough to ignore. Not only is he hitting, but his power has ticked up slightly, already matching last season’s home run output in half the games.
As I mentioned last week with Kyle Teel, finding offensive catchers in June can be difficult. If you struggle to get production from the position, I highly suggest picking up whoever’s hot and riding it until they cool off. In Kirk’s case, you might get the rest of the season with how great he’s been.
Jose Quintana – SP – Milwaukee Brewers (13.2%)
2025 Stats: 48.1 IP, 3.35 ERA, 1.43 FIP, 35 K
Quintana has never been the sexiest pickup, but we have all rostered him before. His strikeouts have continued to go down as he ages, but his ability to miss barrels still makes him effective enough. I’m not expecting huge numbers, but I am sure you are dealing with injuries, and Quinatana can help.
I’m mostly relying on a veteran who continues to prove time and time again that he’s an acceptable backend option. In a fantasy space where chasing upside is fun, sometimes having the steady option is more important.
Jeff McNeil – UTL – New York Mets (18.8%)
2025 Stats: .268/.361/.528, 7 HR, 22 RBI
Here’s a name you shallow leaguers likely haven’t considered. McNeil was an asset in 2022 when he won the batting title and has a higher wRC+ (146) this season. His .268 average is good enough to help you out, but his .260 ISO is a career best and worth noting.
McNeil is on pace to blow past his average of about 10 home runs, and his positional flexibility will help construct your lineups. He’s once again a key part of a good offense, so run production opportunities will be there.
Shelby Miller – RP – Arizona Diamondbacks (9.9%)
2025 Stats: 28.2 IP, 1.57 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 29 K, 7 SV
Rostering “Closers: has never been more difficult. More and more teams are leaning into the closer-by-committee approach, and Arizona was no different. However, Justin Martinez and AJ Puk have hit the shelf, giving Miller a clearer path to collecting saves.
He’s already collected seven saves and has looked fantastic while doing so. The Diamondbacks are good enough to warrant a roster spot for their (now) primary closer. Keep a close eye on this one because Miller could slip.
Sawyer Gipson-Long – P – Detroit Tigers (5.9%)
2025 Stats: 8.1 IP, 4.32 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 8 K
Gipson-Long has just returned from over 600 days off due to injury. While he’s not a household name, trust me when I say his stuff is gross. He can be a good backend option with strikeout potential, but the role he is in is something you can capitalize on.
Gipson-Long has been working bulk innings after a starter. If you are in a league where you have a limited number of starts, Gipson-Long can give you starter innings without counting towards your total number of starts. We’ll see how long this cheat code works, but ride it until it fails.
Wait and See
Jo Adell (OF – Los Angeles Angels), Hunter Dobbins (SP – Boston Red Sox), Grant Holmes (SP – Atlanta Braves)
Adell and his power have been hot topics in fantasy. While I like his adjustments, I want a larger sample before I give away a roster spot. If I miss out, so be it.
Dobbins has been a name on the waiver wire due to his 3.74 ERA through 55.1 innings with Boston. He’s similar enough to Quintana and has upside, but I chose the track record instead. Holmes has allowed three or fewer runs in each start since the beginning of May. He has strikeout ability, but I have not been a huge believer. Maybe I need to change my mind, but I’m cautious.
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