Fantasy Baseball Week 26 Waiver Wire Adds: Michael Busch, Nolan Schanuel, Luke Weaver, Keibert Ruiz, Masataka Yoshida and More

It’s time for another week of fantasy baseball, which means we have some waiver wire options to discuss.

I hoped to have some more options than in the last waiver wire article, but things didn’t improve a ton over the weekend. I expanded my search a little bit and have several hitters and a reliever to discuss.

We avoid starting pitchers in this article because most of them are covered in streaming stories. Also be sure to check out the daily takeaway stories, where more waiver wire options might be found.

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Tommy Edman Fantasy Outlook

Edman had a solid weekend showing, which kept him atop the waiver wire page. He’s up to 65% owned now.

Since joining the Dodgers on August 19, Edman has played in 24 games (23 starts). He has a .300 average and .333 on-base percentage since that point, along with three doubles, a triple and five home runs among his 27 total hits. Edman also has 15 RBIs, 13 runs scored, five walks and stolen bases and 18 strikeouts in that span.

All five of the home runs have come in the past five games, and he only has three strikeouts over that span. He’s one of the hottest hitters in the league and is one of the few who is available in a good amount of leagues. If you are looking for more hitting help down the stretch, add Edman and get him in your lineup while he’s hot.

Michael Busch Fantasy Outlook

Busch was part of the weekend takeaway story after popping three home runs, so it’s no surprise to see him as a waiver option. He’s at 43% owned now.

Busch has seven hits over the past four games, including the three homers and a double. He’s drove in eight runs, scored three times, walked once and struck out four times.

He’s been a streaky hitter most of the season, and a late-season hot streak would be perfect for your fantasy team to take advantage of. His own percentage suggests he should be a deep league option, but at this juncture of the season, I’d be fine adding Busch in any format.

Pavin Smith Fantasy Outlook

Smith had four hits over the weekend, including a three-hit game, so his own percentage is rising. He’s at just 5% rostered.

Smith drove in four runs this weekend, while also scoring twice, walking once and striking out once. He had a double among the four hits.

He’s not a huge fantasy baseball asset, but is definitely a waiver wire guy to consider in deeper leagues for the time being. If he can stick in the lineup, he can definitely help fantasy teams out a bit.

Nolan Schanuel Fantasy Outlook

Schanuel is on a six-game hitting streak, so his own percentage is rising. He’s rostered in just 11% of fantasy leagues.

In that six-game hitting streak, Schanuel has 10 hits, but just one extra-base knock (a home run). He has six RBIs, two runs scored, four walks and just one strikeout in that span.

I’m a bit surprised to see his own percentage so low. I know he’s on a weak offense, limiting his chances of being a good/great fantasy hitter, but he’s not striking out and taking away fantasy points right now, so he’s a pretty good option.

I’d only consider him in deeper leagues, but would be fine adding and immediately starting him this week. Take advantage of his hot hitting while you can.

Ryan Jeffers Fantasy Outlook

Jeffers doesn’t really have any standout numbers recently, but with a couple hits and being at a weak fantasy position, he’s a waiver wire option for sure. He’s at 48% rostered.

Jeffers is hitting just .232 this season, but has 20 home runs among his 88 hits. He hasn’t homered across the past five games, and has just three hits (two singles, one double) in that span. He does have three RBIs, three runs scored, no walks and just one strikeout, but there’s not a ton to suggest an increase in own percentage.

It really comes down to he’s a catcher who is playing often, and that’s enough to make him one of the better fantasy options at the position right now. I’d like to think there’s a hotter fantasy catcher available to you, but if not, the daily starts are enough to at least roster Jeffers in some deeper formats, or on fantasy teams desperate for fantasy catcher help.

Lane Thomas Fantasy Outlook

Thomas posted a couple more hits over the weekend, so his own percentage continues to rise. Thomas is rostered in 65% of leagues.

Thomas homered and doubled among his two weekend hits. He drove in a run and scored twice, while failing to walk and striking out five times.

Thomas is playing often and providing some hits and a little power, but the high strikeout numbers are definitely not good for fantasy teams. I’m fine targeting him in standard leagues if it’s just for a start or two here and there, not an everyday option.

I do like Thomas still in deeper leagues as a starter - you want guys in your lineup who are playing a bunch, and the upside of hits and some power offset the downside of the strikeouts.

Luke Weaver Fantasy Outlook

Weaver is the relief pitcher appearing in this waiver article. He’s up to 30% rostered.

Weaver earned a two-inning save over the weekend, striking out five along the way. This season, Weaver is 5-3 with a 3.09 earned run average, 22 holds and two saves. He’s got 91 punchouts over 78 2/3 innings.

Weaver has been a sneaky good fantasy option all season, especially in leagues where holds and strikeouts are just as valuable as saves. He’s not a waiver option for every league without a bunch of saves, but with both saves coming in the past week or so, he’s getting a little standard league love.

The strikeout work is probably enough to take a late-season gamble on Weaver, even if he doesn’t earn any more save chances. He’s pitching in high-leverage situations, which gives him a good amount of fantasy upside.

Keibert Ruiz Fantasy Outlook

Ruiz has hits in four straight games, so his own percentage is rising as the season winds down. He’s at 45% rostered.

Across those four games, Ruiz has six hits, including three doubles. He’s also got three RBIs, a walk, two strikeouts, but no runs scored in that span. Being on a bad offensive team really limits him as a fantasy hitter.

Still, he’s at a weak fantasy catcher position, and those hits and low strikeout numbers should be appealing to fantasy owners in all league types. There’s not a high ceiling with Ruiz, but he has a solid enough floor to consider in all league types. I’d take the help in the hit department, especially if I had weak fantasy catchers.

Masataka Yoshida Fantasy Outlook

Yoshida is the last player I want to discuss today. He has hits in three straight games and is now rostered in 64% of leagues.

Yoshida has really been solid most of September, with a .268 average and .333 OBP. He has four doubles and a home run among his 11 hits across 12 games (11 starts). Yoshida has six RBIs, four runs scored, two walks and four strikeouts this month.

He doesn’t have much power upside, but with a .290 average on the season and a little hot streak of late, there’s enough value there to consider adding him in any league type. He’s playing often and not hurting himself much with strikeouts, so deciding whether or not to add him really comes down to if you need fantasy help in the outfield.