This weekend's fantasy baseball waiver wire highlights emerging relief pitchers and outfielders, with key pickups including Connelly Early and Zebby Matthews. Both players have shown strong performances recently, making them valuable additions for fantasy teams.
Key points
Focus on emerging relief pitchers and outfielders for pickups
Connelly Early has shown strong consistency in his starts
Zebby Matthews recently held the Marlins scoreless in his outing
Temporary infielder options are available for those in need
Starters listed can help head-to-head teams secure wins
Red SoxTwinsRaysMarlins
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This weekâs list is heavy on relievers and outfielders, as both positions have had several players emerge in recent days. Those who are looking for an infielder would be wise to scroll down to the Weekend Streamers section, as the temporary options will make up for a lack of long-term contributors. There are also several starters listed at the bottom of this article who could push head-to-head teams into the win column by Sunday night.
Pitchers to add
Connelly Early, SP, Red Sox, 47%: Sure, heâs still evening out the rough spots, but Early has far too much upside to remain available in the majority of Yahoo leagues. The 24-year-old has been consistent, allowing no more than three runs in all but one of his eight starts. And he is coming off his best outing, when he struck out eight across seven shutout innings against the Rays. Although I have some reservations about using him Friday against a Braves offense that leads the majors in runs scored, itâs full steam ahead after that outing.
Zebby Matthews, SP, Twins, 4%: Admittedly, Matthews has teased fantasy managers for a couple years as someone who posts an impressive K:BB ratio but gives up too much hard contact to have success. The right-hander was recalled from Triple-A on Thursday, and he attracted attention immediately by holding the Marlins scoreless across seven innings. Those in 12-team leagues can consider adding Matthews, and he is a must-add player in any deep format.
Gregory Soto, RP, Pirates, 42%: After sharing early season save chances with a few relievers, Pirates manager Don Kelly has settled on Soto as his closer. The right-hander has earned saves in three of his past four outings, with his consistency and swing-and-miss skills (11.0 K/9 rate) likely being the reasons that he pushed ahead of . In leagues where saves are scarce, Soto must be added right away.
Q&A
Who are the top relief pitchers to add for fantasy baseball this weekend?
The top relief pitchers include Connelly Early and Zebby Matthews, both of whom have demonstrated strong performances recently.
What are the recent performances of Connelly Early in fantasy baseball?
Connelly Early has been consistent, allowing no more than three runs in all but one of his eight starts, and recently struck out eight in seven shutout innings.
Why should I consider adding Zebby Matthews to my fantasy team?
Zebby Matthews is a must-add player in deep leagues after holding the Marlins scoreless across seven innings upon his recall from Triple-A.
What other positions should I focus on for fantasy baseball pickups this weekend?
In addition to relief pitchers and outfielders, it's advisable to check the Weekend Streamers section for temporary infielder options.
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Rico Garcia, RP, Orioles, 36%: Baltimore closer Ryan Helsley is not yet throwing while he recovers from right elbow inflammation, which should ensure that Garcia leads a closer committee for a few more weeks. The right-hander has been one of baseballâs best relievers this year (0.47 ERA, 0.42 WHIP), which has earned him the 32nd overall spot in the Yahoo Player Rater. He should have at least three more weeks of value for those who are chasing saves and could be a permanent roster member for managers who are concerned about their ratios.
Aaron Ashby, RP, Brewers, 36%: Like every fantasy writer, I encourage managers to devalue wins when assessing pitchers, due to the significant impact of luck on the category. But there are times when a pitcherâs win total must be considered, which is the case with Ashby, who leads the majors with seven victories. The combination of his superior strikeout skills (14.3 K/9 rate) and ability to work multiple innings causes Brewers manager Matt Arnold to often use him in high-leverage situations, which could result in Ashby earning more wins in the coming weeks. Additionally, if we ignore one game where he served as an opener, Ashbyâs 43 whiffs are tops among relievers.
A.J. Ewing, OF, Mets, 38%: Ewing enjoyed a memorable debut on Tuesday when he reached base four times, drove in two runs, scored twice and swiped a base against the Tigers. And he followed up that effort by hitting his first home run on Thursday. The Mets may have found a sparkplug for an offense that ranks 28th in runs scored, and there is a chance that Ewing could ascend to their leadoff role in the coming days. The 21-year-old can already challenge the likes of Nasim Nuñez and Chandler Simpson for the title of baseballâs best base stealer, as he swiped 70 bags last season and had 17 steals in 30 minor-league contests this year before he was promoted to the majors.
Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Diamondbacks, 16%: Although Waldschmidt didnât explode out of the gate like Ewing, he has held his own (.705 OPS) since joining the D-backs on May 8. Coming off a 2025 season in which he hit .289 with 18 homers and 29 steals, Waldschmidt has the diverse skill set that fantasy managers covet. And although we havenât yet seen his plate patience in the majors, he logged a career .421 OBP in the minors. Managers can base their Ewing vs. Waldschmidt decision on whether they prefer a pure speedster or a balanced contributor.
Brandon Marsh, OF, Phillies, 44%: Thanks to an improved strikeout rate (18.7%), Marsh could be on his way to a career year. Sure, a .395 BABIP has helped as well, but the outfielder has consistently logged high marks in that area (career .373 BABIP), and his .306 xBA is impressive. Perhaps most importantly, the left-handed slugger has hit .267 against southpaws this season, which is good enough to keep him out of a platoon role. While managers chase shiny new toys such as Waldschmidt and Ewing, Marsh may prove to be the better option.
Hitters with favorable weekend matchups
Rockies vs. Diamondbacks
Nolan Arenado, 3B, Diamondbacks, 22%: Third basemen are hard to find this season, which makes Arenado even more appealing when he returns to his old stomping grounds at hitter-friendly Coors Field. After a slow start to the season, the slugger has hit .333 with six homers and a .998 OPS across 27 games since April 12.
Ezequiel Duran, 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF, Rangers, 30%: Although he wonât dominate any category, Duran can contribute in all areas and has posted a .938 OPS in May. This weekend, he will face an Astros staff that ranks last in baseball with a 5.59 ERA. And with the widest range of position eligibility of anyone in this game, heâs easy to fit into a lineup.
Pitchers to stream this weekend (ranked in order of preference)
